Stevenson University

What you'll study

Core study areas emphasise practical and analytical skills applied to real-world financial investigations.

• Forensic accounting techniques: tracing assets, financial statement analysis, and identifying manipulation or concealment in accounting records.
• Fraud examination and detection: interview techniques, evidence collection, and use of red flags and data analytics to detect irregularities.
• Legal and regulatory framework: principles of law relevant to financial investigations, rules of evidence, expert witness responsibilities and compliance obligations.
• Auditing and internal control: assessing control environments, testing procedures, and designing controls to prevent and detect fraud.
• Data analysis and technology: using spreadsheets, databases and forensic software to analyse transaction data and build investigative timelines.
• Communication and reporting: preparing clear investigative reports, testifying in legal settings, and presenting findings to stakeholders.

Entry requirements

Applicants typically need a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, criminal justice or a related field, or relevant professional experience. Admissions may consider prior coursework in accounting and statistics; some programmes expect professional certifications or experiential background for non-accounting graduates. Candidates should be prepared to submit academic transcripts, a résumé, letters of recommendation and a personal statement outlining investigative or accounting experience.

Career prospects

Graduates move into roles such as forensic accountant, fraud examiner, forensic auditor, compliance analyst, litigation support specialist and financial investigator. Employers include public accounting firms, corporate internal audit and compliance departments, government investigative agencies, law firms and consulting practices. With experience, professionals can advance to senior forensic consultant, practice leader or expert witness engagements.

Scholarships & funding angle

Financial support for graduate study may come from institutional scholarships, graduate assistantships, employer tuition reimbursement or external grants and industry scholarships tied to accounting and criminal justice organisations. Prospective students should explore university graduate funding pages, ask about assistantship opportunities that include stipends or tuition waivers, and investigate professional bodies that offer awards for forensic accounting study.