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MA Accountancy and Finance

Key information

Edinburgh Business School's MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance programme is designed to develop your skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in accountancy and finance. 

UCAS code
NN34
Level
Undergraduate
Delivery type
Full Time
Degree qualification
MA
Mode of delivery
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Location
Edinburgh
Start date
September

Our Accountancy and Finance programme is designed and taught by practising professionals and respected academics, and it is accredited by all major professional accountancy bodies in the UK. As Edinburgh is the UK’s second biggest financial centre outside of London, our university enjoys a well-established reputation in the world of accountancy and financial services. 

While studying this hands-on degree, you’ll develop a broad understanding of the contexts in which modern accounting operates. The programme examines the legal and ethical contexts, introduces insight into accountancy as a profession, and analyses business entities and the capital markets in which they operate. 

Throughout this four-year degree, you’ll develop key accountancy expertise in several areas, including:  

  • Recording and summarising transactions 
  • Preparing and analysing financial statements 
  • Analysing business operations 
  • Conducting financial analysis 
  • Introducing and reporting projections 

On the financial side, you’ll gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the areas of: 

  • Asset pricing 
  • Portfolio construction
  • Corporate finance 
  • Financial risk management 
  • Capital markets 

Each course included in the programme will equip you with highly employable expertise and skills in accounting and finance, from fundamentals of finance, and the economy, to discovering business, and principles of accounting. You’ll benefit from the industry relevance of the programme, which will set you up for life after graduation. Upon completion, you’ll have the relevant knowledge and skills to start a career in accountancy, finance, business and beyond.  

Your student experience

Our MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance programme is taught with a clear industry focus by experienced professionals and respected academics. They are accredited by professional bodies and will introduce you to professional-standard software in our state-of-the-art Bloomberg Trading Room.

Go Global

With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way. You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.

Inter-Campus Transfer: Dubai

Discover new friends and places with an inter-campus transfer to Dubai.

Inter-Campus Transfer: Malaysia

Discover new friends and places with an inter-campus transfer to Malaysia.

Course content

September Intake - Edinburgh

Mandatory September

  • The Economy
  • Critical Academic Skills
  • Management in a Global Context
  • Introduction to Accounting

Mandatory January

  • Sustainable Business
  • Introductory Finance
  • Introduction to Economic and Financial Analysis
  • Becoming a Professional

Fees and funding

intake tuition fees
StatusFee
ScotlandPaid by SAAS
England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland£9,250
International£19,456
  • Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
  • International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).

Scholarships and bursaries

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales

In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

  • Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
View details

Entry requirements

We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.

Standard entry requirements

  • Scottish Highers AABB
  • A-Levels BBC - ABB
  • Int. Baccalaureate 29 points
  • BTEC awards of DMM (in relevant subjects; Business, Accountancy or Finance preferred.)
  • HNC B in graded unit

Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.

Minimum entry requirements*

Scottish Highers BBBC
A-Levels BBC - ABB

* Under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our minimum and standard entry requirements.

Why Heriot-Watt

We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.

We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.

Employability

Work and study

This is what our MA Accountancy and Finance students are doing 15 months after graduating:
71%
are working
2%
are studying
16%
are studying and working

Salary

£23000
The average salary of students 15 months after graduating
£24000
The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course

Potential career paths

  • Finance Professionals
  • Business and public service associate professionals

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