MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance (Accelerated)

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The course

UCAS code
NN3Y
Duration
3 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time

An accelerated 3-year version of our MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance degree which starts at an advanced stage. Accredited by the major professional bodies in the UK and perfect for A-Level students.

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Got questions about this programme?

Contact our enquiries team.

Overview

Edinburgh Business School's MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance degree is accredited by all major professional bodies in the UK.

This 3-year accelerated degree is suited to those who have completed A-Levels. It prepares students to enter accounting or finance professions and features the use of professional-standard Bloomberg Trading Terminals throughout. As your studies progress through Years 1, 2 and 3 of this accelerated MA (Hons) programme you will study an increasing number of specialist accountancy and finance courses.

An industry-focused degree

MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance is an industry-focused degree with extensive professional accreditations that offers the strongest possible foundation from which to launch your career. By studying accredited courses on this degree, students can gain the maximum number of exemptions from professional accountancy exams upon graduation. The course content is designed and delivered by professionals with industry experience and respected academics with expert knowledge across the full range of disciplines related to accounting and finance. Students at the Edinburgh Business School can enhance employability in the area of finance through use of our state-of-the-art Bloomberg Trading Room - a professional-standard facility that provides access to live financial data from global markets and organisations. Use of Bloomberg Terminals is integrated into our courses to develop professionally relevant skills in data analysis, financial reporting, financial risk management and financial modelling.

Rankings and employability

Edinburgh is the UK's second biggest financial centre, making it a useful place to study accountancy and finance. This degree enjoys a well-established reputation with leading organisations in the world of accountancy and financial services, and our graduates are often sought-after by recruiters. Most graduates go on to become chartered accountants in either professional practice, industry, or the public sector, but many go on to successful careers in banking and finance. 

An employable skillset

This degree develops broad understanding of the contexts in which modern accounting operates. It examines legal and ethical contexts and provides insight into accountancy as a profession, and builds understanding around business entities and the capital markets in which they operate. Throughout this four-year degree, you will develop key accountancy expertise in a number of areas, including:

  • recording and summarising transactions
  • preparing and analysing financial statements
  • analysing business operations
  • conducting financial analysis
  • producing and reporting projections.

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

  • asset pricing
  • portfolio construction
  • corporate finance
  • financial risk management
  • capital markets.

Accreditation

Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner

Heriot-Watt University is accredited as a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner, recognising us as a leader in experiential learning in the area of finance. We are working with the following accreditation bodies to gain the maximum exemptions possible for this degree: 

  • The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
  • The Association of International Accountants (AIA)
  • The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW)
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS)

Course content

Year 1

Semester 1

  • Financial Markets Theory
  • Financial Reporting
  • Quantitative Methods 1
  • Elective: choose from across university portfolio

Semester 2

  • Corporate Financial Theory
  • Elective: choose from across university portfolio
  • Management Accounting in Organisations
  • Option: Statistical Techniques or Social and Environmental Accounting

Year 2

Semester 1

  • Auditing and Assurance
  • Management Accounting Techniques and Decisions
  • Option: Mergers and Acquisitions or International Bond and Currency Markets
  • Elective: choose from across university portfolio*

Semester 2

  • Contemporary Issues in Financial Accounting
  • Research Methods
  • Option: Managing Corporate Value or Financial Derivatives
  • Elective: choose from across university portfolio*

* The Accounting team recommend students choose 'Accounting Information' in Semester 1 and 'Taxation' in Semester 2.

Year 3

Semester 1

  • Accounting and Finance Dissertation 1
Semester 1 Options - Choose three from:
  • International Trade
  • Topics in World Economic History
  • Accounting History
  • Agency Theory and Corporate Governance
  • Accounting Theory
  • Managerial Accounting: Decision Making
  • Public Sector Accounting
  • Risk Management and Derivatives

Semester 2

  • Accounting and Finance Dissertation 2
Semester 2 Options - Choose three from:
  • Development Economics 2
  • Economics of the European Union
  • Professional and Critical Theory
  • Contemporary Issues in Finance
  • Corporate Reporting
  • International Accounting
  • Equity Markets and Fund Management

Discover Uni course data

Discover Uni provides data on each university's degree courses across a range of measures including student satisfaction, graduate jobs and salaries.

Employability

Work and study

This is what our MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance (Accelerated) students are doing 15 months after graduating:

  • 80% are working
  • 0% are studying
  • 10% are working and studying.

Salary

  • The average salary of students 15 months after graduating: £22000
  • The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course: £23000

Potential career paths

  • Finance Professionals
  • Business and public service associate professionals

Entry requirements

Year 1

Advanced Highers BB (including at least one: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths plus AABB at Higher)
A-Levels ABB - AAA (including at least one of: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths)
Int. Baccalaureate 34 points (including at least one of: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths at Higher Level 5)
HNC A in graded unit (Accounting)
HND BBB in graded units (Accounting or Business)

We operate contextual admissions defined by our Fair Access Policy which may mean entry requirements are flexible. We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK, Europe and International countries. Please contact the Admissions Officer for the programme for further information on the entry requirements for these.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2024 entry
Status* Scotland England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland International**
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £18,704

* 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. Find out more about tuition fees.

** '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). Read more about the application process for EU nationals.

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

Featured scholarships

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 about the Heriot-Watt University Bursary

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.