Heriot-Watt University

The course

Duration
4 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time

Edinburgh Business School’s dedicated accountancy degree, MA (Hons) Accountancy, is designed to prepare students for a career in professional accountancy, business and beyond.

Find out how to apply More about this subject area

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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

Depending on the availability of speakers, students will have the opportunity during their studies to gain first hand insights into accountancy practice through guest lectures.

Go Global

Dubai will be introducing this programme, so Go Global Dubai may be possible depending on the coronavirus situation. We will update this information when we know more.

Accreditation

The Accountancy and Finance degree programmes are accredited with the professional bodies AIA, ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW and ICAS.  There are potentially nine exemptions depending on the options taken and the professional qualification sought. 

Accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the Association of International Accountants (AIA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations through the Accredited degree accelerated route.

Accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

Accredited by 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

Detailed course guide

Year 1

  • Management in a Global Context
  • Introduction to Accounting and Finance
  • Introduction to Economics
  • Introduction to Marketing
  • Academic Skills
  • Becoming a Professional
  • Discovering Business
     

Year 2

  • Principles of Accounting
  • Fundamentals of Finance
  • Financial Accounting
  • Management Accounting in Organisations
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Financial Markets Theory
Optional courses available for Year 2 include:
  • Introduction to Economics
  • Management in a Global Context

Year 3

  • Intermediate Financial Accounting
  • Management Accounting Techniques and Decisions
  • Corporate Financial Theory
  • Commercial Law
  • Taxation
  • Auditing and Assurance
  • Business Entities
  • Business Research Methods

Year 4

  • Accounting Information Ststem and Technology
  • Advanced Financial Accounting
Choose 4 optional or elective courses from the following:
  • Governance and Professional Ethics
  • Accounting History
  • International Bonds and Currency Markets
  • Strategic Management
  • Corporate Reporting and Theory
  • Contemporary Issues in
  • Professional and Critical Theory

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements
  • Highers AABB (over two sittings)
  • A-Levels BBC
  • Int. Baccalaureate 29 points
  • BTEC DDM (Business/Accountancy/Finance preferred)
  • HNC B in graded unit

Minimum entry requirements*

  • Highers BBBC
  • A-Levels BCC

* 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)

Year 3

  • HND AAA in graded units (Accounting)

Additional information

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

Tuition fees for 2020 entry (by residency status)
Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales*** International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £15,080

* 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.

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

*** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

4 years for the price of 3

If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, study with us and save £9,250 over your 4-year degree.

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 starting undergraduate degree courses in 2020

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 students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.