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Master of Science in Forensic Accounting (MSFA)

College of Business & Finance
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Ahlia University has offered its MSc in Forensic Accounting programme and has developed it to match curricula offered by leading business schools with a view to future enhance the attractiveness of its sought-after graduates for executive and leadership positions in Audit and consultations firms, Law firms, Governmental and judicial institutions, Governmental units of fighting electronic and financial crimes, e-Government, Public shareholding companies, Officials dealing with investigations of financial crimes, Employees of central bank and those working in financial sector (including banks and investment firms), Researchers in the field of corporate governance and financial crimes, Academicians willing to pursue their higher studies in accounting and auditing.

Programme Aims

  • To equip learners with professional skills to unravel financial crimes and develop accounting and auditing systems to secure high levels of financial security in the public and private sectors.
  • To qualify learners to be practitioners to provide high-level decision making at judiciary services related to accounting investigation to legislative bodies, companies, and government entities.
  • To equip learners to develop critical analytical skills to deal with the complex in accounting crimes, judiciary and financial disputes and provide practical solutions in compliance through all branches of accounting mental frameworks.
  • To equip learners with lifelong learning skills, autonomy, professional leadership, sensitivity to ethical issues and social responsibility to contribute to businesses and society at large.
  • To equip learners with critical knowledge and understanding related to forensic accounting to contribute to the sustainable development of auditing and accounting professions in Bahrain and the Gulf Region.

Employability and Learning Pathways

The Master of Science in Forensics Accounting is designed to prepare graduate students for a career in a new, exciting field of accounting. This programme is for people of various professional backgrounds including accountants, tax professionals, attorneys, bankers, insurers, law enforcement and criminal justice personnel, and various government employees. Forensic accountants are fortunate in having a diverse range of entry-level options available to them. Unlike other career paths in the accounting world, forensic auditors tend to perform the same functions throughout their career and move up from analyst, to manager, to supervisor/senior consultant over the course of their employment

  • Accounting Firms
  • Law Firms
  • Governmental Departments
  • Corporate Security & Risk Management
  • Financial Consulting Firms
  • Banking Sector

Programme Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and Understanding

A1.   Concepts and theories

Demonstrate a critical knowledge understanding of key principles, theories and concepts of forensic accounting.

A2.  Contemporary trends, problems and research

Use professional level of skills to apply specialized research in forensic accounting and the advancement of existing accounting knowledge.

A3. Professional responsibility

Demonstrate professional level of skills to apply professional standards and practices related to the field of forensic accounting.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lecturing, independent learning; Socratic method

Assessment Methods

Examinations (quizzes. Tests/finals); projects; graded homework; practical training exercises; oral enquiry.

B. Subject-specific skills

B1. Problem solving

Demonstrate professional level of skills related to Fraud detection and fraud investigation techniques, valuation of closely held businesses, lost profits analyses, and various types of litigation support services.

B2. Modeling and Design

Demonstrate creativity in the application of knowledge related to computer investigations, computer forensics laboratory, computer forensics tools, crime and incident scenes, digital evidence practices.

B3. Application of methods and tools

Utilize professional level of skills related to software-based forensic accounting and fraud examination systems for investigation.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Demonstration, In-class and In-Lab supervised work, Independent Learning

Assessment Methods

Examinations (quizzes, tests, finals); graded homework; problem sets

C. Critical-Thinking Skills

C1. Analytical skills

Critically analyze financial statements for evidence-based decision-making.

C2. Synthetic

Use a combination of approaches in relation to forensic accounting and computers in conjunction with professional judgment.

C3. Creative Thinking and innovation

Demonstrate originality and insights related to accounted accepted principles.

Teaching and Learning Methods

In-class supervised work; independent learning;

Assessment Methods

Examinations (Closed or Open book) [quizzes, tests, final]; case analysis; graded homework; multi task projects.

D. General and Transferable Skills (other skills relevant to employability and personal development)

D1. Communication

Use professional level of skills to communicate effectively with peers, instructors and professional colleagues by means of oral, electronic and written forms.

D2.  Teamwork and leadership skills

Operate at professional level teamwork and leadership skills within the framework of class-group projects and presentations.

D3.  Organizational and developmental skills

Operate at professional level in taking part at strategic level and lifelong learning to support professional development.

D4. Ethics and social responsibility

Demonstrate substantial understanding in ethics and social responsibility in the decision-making of corporations as informed by accounting judgments.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Independent Learning, Group supervised work, Socratic method.

Assessment Methods

Essay-based examinations (tests/finals); group projects/presentations; oral enquiry; case analysis.

Programme Structure

The MSc in Forensic Accounting program comprises of 36 credit hours distributed as follows: 18 hours core courses, (6) hours electives, in addition to 12 credit hours for thesis as illustrated in the following plan:

Course title Credit hours
Core Courses
Forensic Accounting & the Legal Environment 3
Computer Forensics & Auditing 3
Corporate Governance and Ethics 3
Fraud and Financial Crime Investigation 3
Cyber Forensics and Security 3
Research Methodology 3
Elective Courses (2 courses out of 4)  
Risk Management 3
Digital Criminology 3
Fraud Prevention Techniques 3
Expert Witnessing and Dispute Resolution 3
MSc Dissertation
Dissertation in Forensic Accounting 12
Total credit hours 36

Entry Requirements

Admission to Ahlia University (AU) is selective based on academic achievements. Applications are welcomed from all students regardless of race, colour, gender, religion, nationality, physical or learning disability. Admission is purely based on merit.

General Requirements

Ahlia University accepts Master programme applicants holding undergraduate degrees to join the University as new students provided that they meet the entry and application requirements set by the University and are in-line with the Bahraini Higher Education Council requirements.

  • The applicant must hold a recognised bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
  • The applicant must hold a recognised secondary school certificate or its equivalent.
  • The applicant must be medically fit for the academic programme they wish to apply for.
  • All applicants will be interviewed by a relevant programme committee

Only successful applicants in the interview will be considered for admission. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to stipulate deficiency requirements to any applicant offered admission where, in the judgment of the Committee, the mastery of the relevant subject matter has not been conclusively demonstrated by the academic transcript.

Programme Specific Requirements

Applicants admitted into the MSc in Forensic Accounting Programme will be admitted under the Ahlia University admission requirements for a master’s programme which include:

Accepted Specializations A four-year bachelor’s degree in Accounting from an approved university.

Applicants who hold a recognised bachelor’s degree in disciplines other than the one mentioned above, may be accepted in the programme subject to passing the interview at the programme level and successful completion of the Foundation Courses.

English proficiency of applicants will be assesed during the interview process.

CGPA Requirement GPA ≥ 2.5
Applicants with a GPA <2.5 are subject to passing an interview and taking foundation courses.

Postgraduate Tuition & Fees

Application Fee BD 40
Registration Fee BD 300
Foundation Courses (if applicable) BD 960
Course Fees BD 5,280
Dissertation Fees BD 2,640
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