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Accountancy and Finance

  • UCAS Code NN34
  • Duration Up to 4 years
  • Delivery type Full Time
  • Study location
  • Edinburgh
  • Number of places

  • 100 across all programmes

Overview

The Course

Our Accountancy and Finance programme is a specialist degree, particularly well suited to those seeking entry into the accountancy profession and careers in financial services or financial management.

Career Prospects

Many students enter training contracts with accounting firms, taking examinations for one of the professional accountancy bodies. However, many students also follow careers in banking, insurance, finance, law and management.

Programme content

Level 1

Students will follow introductory courses in Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Business Management as well as taking optional courses from a wide range of subjects including Legal Method, Information Skills, and Modern Languages.

Level 2

The study of Accountancy and Finance broadens. Accountancy subjects include Financial Reporting and Management Accounting in Organisations. Finance subjects include Finance Theory and Markets. Quantitative Methods is also taken. Optional choices available include Social and Environmental Accounting and Commercial Law.

Level 3

Accounting courses include Auditing, Management Accounting and Contemporary Issues in Financial Accounting. Research Methods is als o taken as preparation for the dissertation in fourth year. Optional choices for third year include Corporate Finance, Securities Markets, and Accounting Information.

Level 4

Students undertake a dissertation on an area of accounting or finance of particular interest to them. In addition six optional courses are taken from a range of specialisms including: Accounting Theory; Auditing; International Accounting; Management Accounting; Securities Markets; Corporate Governance; Corporate Finance; and Corporate Reporting.

Fatima Waheed <p> David Broadbent</p>

Fatima Waheed

School Trinity Academy, Edinburgh
Degree MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance
Present Job Assurance Associate - Ernst & Young
Fatima Waheed

"I decided to study at Heriot-Watt University because of its reputation as a truly cosmopolitan university and warm and welcoming environment. The reason I chose Accountancy and Finance was because of the wide range of career options available to those who graduate in it, the flexible nature of the programme and, most importantly the accreditation of the degree which provides full exemption from the first set of ICAS exams.

"The courses in first and second year really provide you with a good overall knowledge and understanding of various subjects like accountancy, business, finance, management, business law and economics, and then you are offered an opportunity to specialise in your favourite subject in third and fourth year which helps you further in your career. Auditing and Finance courses in third and fourth year greatly developed my interest in these two fields and, in my current job at Ernst & Young I am getting great exposure to both through my CA training as an auditor in the financial services industry and specialising in investment management service line.

"My degree has definitely provided me with a head start in my career by equipping me with skills and knowledge that are very much applicable in the practical world. The courses in fourth year help you develop your critical analysis and evaluation skills which make you examine scenarios in the business world from different perspectives, creating inclusiveness in your teams, and thus, giving you a leading edge."

David Broadbent

School St John Fisher Catholic High School, West Yorkshire
Degree MA (Hons) Economics and Finance
Present Job Analyst, Barclays Capital

"The superb campus, fantastic facilities and friendly staff all initially attracted me to Heriot-Watt University. Having its own campus gave Heriot-Watt a fantastic atmosphere, with the added benefit of being close enough to Edinburgh city centre to take advantage of its great night life and social scene.

"Studying Economics and Finance very much helped me to determine what career I wanted to do. The course offered a good balance between theory and practice and since starting work I have realised just how up to date the course was, teaching material that is at the very forefront of current research. I found the course to be extremely flexible, and the wide range of modules to choose from each year ensured that I could tailor the degree to fit my requirements.

When applying for a job to take up on leaving Heriot-Watt it became very apparent how well known and respected the University is. The economics and careers departments had some great contacts and were a huge help in preparing me for interviews. The degree has certainly stood me in good stead for my current job. I feel confident in saying that if you want to live in one of the UK's best cities and benefit from some of the best academics, then Heriot-Watt University is the one for you."

Entry Requirements

The University offers as its normal entry routes:
- entry at Level 1, mainly for students with Scottish Highers (or similar),
- entry at Level 2, mainly for students with A-levels (or similar).

There is nevertheless considerable flexibility, depending on the level of qualifications, for entrants with A-levels to opt to enter at Level 1 and for Scottish students to enter at Level 2. Direct entry into Level 3 is also possible for students who already have certain HE qualifications.

However, in order to gain the maximum number of available exemptions from the professional examinations of accountancy bodies such as ACCA and ICAS level 1 entry is the normal route for all students applying to our Accountancy & Finance programme.

Level 1 entry

  • Scottish Highers AAAB or BBBBC
  • GCE A Level BBB
  • Irish Leaving (Higher) A2, B2, B2, C1, C1
  • SQA Higher National Cert B in graded unit
  • Additional information Standard Grade/GCSE English and Mathematics

Level 2 entry

  • GCE A Level ABB in relevant subjects
  • SQA Advanced Highers BB in relevant subjects, plus AAAB at Higher.
  • SQA Higher National Cert Relevant HNC. Entry to second year will be considered for exceptional candidates on an individual basis.
  • SQA Higher National Dip BB in graded units, relevant HND.
  • Additional information Please note that level 1 entry is the normal route for those wishing to gain the maximum number of available exemptions from professional examinations of accountancy bodies.

Level 3 entry

  • SQA Higher National Dip Relevant HND. Entry to third year will be considered for exceptional candidates on an individual basis.

Tuition fees

Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,000 £10,730

* Your residency "status" is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the 3 years before the start of your programme. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries, not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales.

Scholarships & bursaries

See also

Contact

© Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK EH14 4AS, Tel: +44 (0) 131 449 5111
Scottish registered charity number: SC000278