Course
Accounting & Finance
Offered by J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics
QS Accounting & Finance
QS Accounting & Finance Rank: Top 300 in the World (2026)QS World Rank: Top 300 (2026)
The J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics offers finance and accounting master’s programmes in a vibrant west-coast city with lower living costs than Dublin.
Key advantages
- Lower cost than Dublin
- Internationally accredited business school
- Friendly, vibrant city
- Professional accounting pathways
- Strong regional employer links
- One-year master’s format
- Programme & duration
- MSc Finance / MSc Accounting options: 1 year (full-time)
- Tuition (international)
- Approx. €20,000 – €26,000 total programme fee (indicative; verify on official website)
- Intakes
- September (main intake); selected programmes also start in January
- English requirement
- IELTS: 6.5 overall (min 6.0 in each band)TOEFL iBT: 90PTE: 61+
- Entry requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (2:1 / 60%+ equivalent) in business or a related field. CV, personal statement and references.
Employability & placement
Graduates work in banking, fund services, accounting and finance roles across Ireland, with many moving into Dublin’s IFSC.
Student experience
Galway is a vibrant, compact west-coast city known for its festivals and arts scene, and the university is a major centre for medical-device and biomedical research, with a very friendly student community.
Research strengths
Research in finance, accounting and business economics.