MA (Hons) Accountancy
The course
- UCAS code
- NN40
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Delivery type
- Full-time
Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt's specialised accountancy degree, MA (Hons) Accountancy, is designed to prepare students for a career in professional accountancy, business and beyond.
Contact
Got questions about this programme?
Contact our enquiries team.
Overview
Whether you are considering a career as a chartered accountant in professional practice, industry or the public sector, or you are looking to work in other professional, commercial and industrial areas, our MA Accountancy programme has been designed to ensure you have the knowledges and skills that employers most value.
Over the course of studying our MA Accountancy programme, students can expect to develop a broad understanding of the context in which modern accounting operates, as well as developing accounting expertise in several areas including, but not limited to:
- Recording and summarising business transactions
- Preparing and analysing financial statements
- Analysing and making decisions on business operations
- Conducting financial analysis
- Producing and reporting projections
- Conducting audit
- Analysing governance issues
- Gaining awareness of the importance of business ethics.
In addition to these key accounting skills, our MA Accountancy programme allows students to expand their overall skillset through a combination of individual and group work, written reports, presentations and examinations. Throughout this programme we will develop skills such as:
- Analysis
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Negotiation
- Conflict resolution
- Presentation delivery.
On the whole, our MA Accountancy programme provides students with a solid foundation for their future career in accountancy, business or beyond.
Guest lectures and internship opportunities
Students will have the opportunity during their studies to gain first hand insights into accountancy practice through guest lectures.
Global College foundation pathway for this degree
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, have a look at foundation study with Heriot-Watt Global College, where you can follow an accelerated pathway which will get you onto the second year of this degree.
Accreditation
We are working with the following accreditation bodies to gain the maximum exemptions possible for this degree:
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.
The Association of International Accountants (AIA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations through the Accredited degree accelerated route.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.
Go Global
This course is currently only delivered at our Edinburgh Campus and there are no current opportunities to study at exchange partner institutions.
However, other Go Global opportunities may be available. Please contact goglobal@hw.ac.uk for more information
Course content
Year 1
Semester 1
- Introduction to Accounting and Finance
- Introduction to Marketing
- Academic Skills
- Management in a Global Context
Semester 2
- The Economy
- Discovering Business
- Becoming a Professional
- Elective
Year 2
Semester 1
- Principles of Accounting
- Fundamentals of Finance
- Elective
Semester 2
- Financial Accounting
- Management Accounting in Organisations
- Quantitative Methods 1
- Financial Markets Theory
Year 3
Semester 1
- Intermediate Financial Accounting
- Management Accounting Techniques and Decisions
- Corporate Financial Theory
- Introduction to Commercial Law
Semester 2
- Taxation (Tax Law)
- Auditing and Assurance
- Business Law and the Law of Corporate Governance
- Business Research Methods
Year 4
Semester 1
- Accounting and Finance Dissertation 1
- Optional courses:
- Governance and Professional Ethics
- Professional and Critical Theory
- Accounting Theory
- Risk Management and Derivatives
- Public Sector Accounting
- Managerial Accounting: Decision Making
- Agency Theory and Corporate Governance
Semester 2
- Accounting and Finance Dissertation 2
- Optional courses:
- Accounting History
- Strategic Management Accounting
- Corporate Reporting
- Contemporary Issues in Finance
- Equity Markets and Fund Management
- International Accounting
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 students are doing 15 months after graduating:
- 70% are working
- 2% are studying
- 16% are working and studying.
Salary
- The average salary of students 15 months after graduating: £23000
- The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course: £24000
Potential career paths
- Finance Professionals
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
Entry requirements
Year 1
Standard entry requirements
- Highers AABB (over two sittings)
- A-Levels BBC - ABB
- Int. Baccalaureate 29 points
- BTEC DDM (Business/Accountancy/Finance preferred)
- HNC B in graded unit
Minimum entry requirements*
- Highers BBBC
- A-Levels BBC - ABB
* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some 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
Year 2
- Advanced Highers BB (including at least one: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths plus AAAB at Higher)
- A-Levels ABB (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)
- Global College Successful completion of Accounting and Finance with Accelerator Programme
Year 3
- HND AAA in graded units (Accounting)
Additional information
- You must enter in year 1 to gain maximum exemptions from accountancy bodies such as ACCA and ICAS.
- If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
- Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
- For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you will have to show us that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please refer to our English language requirements.
Fees
| 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
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 our full range of undergraduate scholarships.