UK Accounting and Finance Courses

Become an expert in financial accounting, management accounting, and financial management with an Accounting and Finance degree

An accounting and finance degree in the UK will help you craft unique perspectives and knowledge on economics, mathematics, political science, psychology and sociology. Students will learn how to prepare and interpret financial information, as well as gain a theoretical and practical understanding of the core financial practice.

Modules at each university will broadly be the same and cover topics such as bookkeeping, statistics and credit and financial analytics. Year 1 will introduce you to key financial and economic practices, laying the foundations for all future studies. Year 2 will continue to develop your understanding of corporate finance while also introducing optional modules you may wish to focus on. Year 3 will see you focus on a year long project, often in the form of a dissertation.

Accounting and Finance Course Duration

Most accounting and finance degrees in the UK last for three years, whilst masters in accounting courses last 1-2 years, depending on if they are taken full or part-time. The exact duration may also depend on the specific degree and university, as well as whether the program includes an optional industrial placement or a year abroad, which can extend the length of the degree.

Students studying Accounting and Finance will be assessed via report writing, essays, projects and teamwork, and will benefit from placements within the industry.

Accounting and Finance Degree Tuition Fees

International students can expect to pay between £15,000 to £29,000 per academic year when studying for an accounting and finance degree in the UK. Elements that affect international tuition fees include location, ranking and global reputation.

The LSE BSc Accounting and Finance degree, which is the number one ranked economics course in the UK, will cost EU and overseas students £25,656 per year. The Bangor University Accounting and Finance BA (Hos) degree, however, ranked 7th in the UK, is only £16,000 per year. Below is the UK’s top five accounting and finance programmes and their international fees.

An Accounting and Finance degree in the UK will help you craft unique perspectives and knowledge on economics, mathematics, political science, psychology and sociology. Students will learn how to prepare and interpret financial information, as well as gain a theoretical and practical understanding of the core financial practice.

Modules at each university will broadly be the same and cover topics such as bookkeeping, statistics and credit and financial analytics. Year 1 will introduce you to key financial and economic practices, laying the foundations for all future studies. Year 2 will continue to develop your understanding of corporate finance while also introducing optional modules you may wish to focus on. Year 3 will see you focus on a year long project, often in the form of a dissertation.

Types of Accounting Courses

Bachelor of Accounting

Undergraduate courses in accounting at UK universities generally last for four years (including placement option) and will provide a solid foundation for either further study or progression into your desired accounting or auditing profession.

Students will develop accounting knowledge and skills and undertake special ACCA-accredited (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) modules, meaning they will be exempt from a select number of ACCA professional exams if they choose to work towards their full accountancy qualification.

Master's in Accounting

A postgraduate qualification in accountancy will help boost your career prospects with specialist and advanced modules in financial reporting, corporate governance and data analysis. Many accounting courses at master's level also feature accelerated progression to CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), meaning you will be exempt from up to 11 CIMA certificate exams.

Types of Finance Course

Bachelor's Degree in Finance

A bachelor's degree in finance will help you learn how to examine international financial markets, manage money and assets and conduct risk management. Undergraduate finance degrees have been designed to offer learning in traditional and emerging financial fields, and students will have access to state-of-the-art Trading Room and Bloomberg terminals to develop analytical skills and experience.

Master's in Finance

A postgraduate finance degree in the UK will provide the flexibility to tailor your studies in areas that interest you, such as real estate finance, corporate finance and statistical machine learning. Once your study has been completed, there is a constant demand for skilled master's in finance graduates at investment banks, hedge funds and financial institutions.

Graduate Accounting and Finance Careers and Salary

Career options for accounting and finance graduates include accountancy, chartered accountancy, banking, insurance brokering, financial advisor, financial trading, investment analyst and tax advisor.

Because of the broad nature of the profession, employment opportunities are available at various companies and sectors, and salaries are very competitive. On average, accounting and finance graduates in the UK could expect a starting salary in the range of £20,000 to £30,000 per year.

Graduate Employability Rate for an Accounting and Finance Degree

According to the Guardian University Guide 2024 Accounting and Finance subject rankings, the following five universities have the highest percentage of graduates who find graduate-level jobs or are in further study at a professional or higher education level within 15 months of graduation.

1. London School of Economics and Political Science (97%)
2. University of Edinburgh (94%)
3. University of Warwick (93%)
4. University of Leeds (93%)
5. Queen’s University Belfast (93%)

Accounting and Finance UK Entry Requirements

Please note that entry requirements for accounting and finance courses vary at each UK university, but generally, students will need the following:

• Typical International Baccalaureate requirements: Minimum 35 points.
• Typical A-level requirements: AAB and studying at least one of accountancy, business or mathematics.
• Typical IELTS requirements: 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6.0 in any one component.

Where can I study Accounting and Finance in the UK?

To learn more about the best Accounting and Finance courses in the UK, find details on the top ten ranking Accounting and Finance universities in the Guardian University Guide 2024 below:

1. London School of Economics
2. University of Warwick
3. Durham University
4. University of Manchester
5. Bangor University
6. University of Edinburgh
7. University of Aberdeen
8. University of West London
9. University College London
10. Liverpool John Moores University

Study Accounting and Finance in the UK

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Accounting and Finance Degree FAQ

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