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Study Accounting & Finance, why & how to study

Study Accounting & Finance, and flex your mathematical muscles while applying technical know-how to business situations.

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CONTENTS

  1. What’s Accounting & Finance?

  2. What Accounting & Finance degrees can you study?

  3. What do you need to get onto an Accounting & Finance degree?

  4. What topics does an Accounting & Finance degree cover?

  5. How will you be assessed?

  6. Why study Accounting & Finance?

  7. Are bursaries and scholarships available to students studying Accounting & Finance?
  8. What do Accounting & Finance graduates earn?

  9. What jobs can you get as an Accounting & Finance graduate?

  10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

  11. Similar subjects to Accounting & Finance

  12. Have any questions?

What’s Accounting & Finance?

Accounting & Finance degrees are all about money, business and management.

Accounting is where you track, classify and summarise financial data. It helps companies to keep accurate records and understand their financial situation. Areas include double-entry bookkeeping and accrual accounting.

Finance focuses on an organisation's monetary funds. It is more strategic, where you plan for efficiency and optimisation of resources. Related areas are budgeting, investment, forecasting and risk management.

Take a look at the university league table for Accounting & Finance courses.

What Accounting & Finance degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in Accounting & Finance include single and joint honours degrees. Subject combinations include with economics and business. Examples of degrees are:

Accounting & Finance BA or BSc

This is a common Accounting & Finance course, where you cover both subjects. You can earn a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or a specialised Bachelor of Accounting (BA) degree.

Find Accounting & Finance courses

Accounting with Spanish BSc

Combine your studies with a language like Spanish. You study the two subjects separately but together they make a powerful combination. As well as developing your foreign language skills, you’ll be able to consider the role of accounting in different cultures.

Search for Accounting with Spanish courses.

Actuarial Science and Risk Management BSc

This is a more specialised degree, where you develop the theoretical and practical skills for working as an actuary in areas like insurance and pensions.

Find Actuarial Science and Risk Management courses.

Finance and Mathematics BSc

Study finance and maths together to refine your skill set in analytical methods. This degree provides a solid foundation for work in industrial economics and financial markets.

Search for Finance and Mathematics courses.

Banking & Finance BSc 

This degree will help you towards a career in the finance, banking and commercial sectors. Courses equip you with research, analytical and quantitative skills. You can graduate ready to gain Chartered Banking status.

Find Banking & Finance courses.

Accounting and Finance MAccFin

This is a four-year course with an integrated master’s degree. It provides an extra layer of training than a standard undergraduate course. You can develop specialist skills and move directly into a professional role.

Search for Accounting and Finance MAccFin courses.

Other options

Courses may include an integrated foundation year or a master’s degree. These offer opportunities for professional placements and studying abroad. Accelerated study and January start dates are often available too.

See the top 10 universities for Accounting & Finance.

What do you need to get onto an Accounting & Finance degree?

Must have 

Typically, entry to an undergraduate Accounting & Finance degree requires between 96–160 UCAS points. Qualifications could include: 

  • A Levels: A*AA–CCD 

  • BTECs: DDD–MMP 

  • Scottish Highers: AAABB–BBBB (Advanced Highers: AAA–BBB) 

  • International Baccalaureate: 37–28 

  • Universities usually ask for a good understanding of Maths or a related subject at A Level standard or similar and certainly at GCSE level 

Good to have 

  • Work experience somewhere like an accountancy practice or bank, or shadowing a financial adviser 

  • Sharpen your maths skills through competitions, online courses or problem challenge sites 

  • Knowledge of topical issues from media such as BBC business news, the Guardian, Financial Times or The Economist 

  • Checking professional body websites for educational or career resources, such as the Maths Careers website sponsored by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) 

  • If eligible, go to STEM summer schools run by the Sutton Trust or UNIQ

Look at our advice for applying to university.

What topics does an Accounting & Finance degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

  • Actuarial insurance
  • Contemporary issues in accounting
  • Credit and financial analytics
  • Ethics in finance and accounting
  • Financial mathematics for actuarial science
  • Introduction to corporate and business law
  • Management accounting
  • Mathematics and statistics for economics and business
  • Micro and macroeconomics for accounting
  • Taxation

How will you be assessed?

Assessments are usually carried out by a mixture of the following and will vary from module to module:

  • Coursework
  • Exams
  • Group assignments
  • Presentations

Why study Accounting & Finance?

Career-specific skills:

Knowledge of accounting and financial theories and practices, such as strategic investment, taxation, pensions and reporting standards.

Competences could include auditing, financial accounting, management accounting and preparing financial statements.

Skills with industry-standard IT such as Bloomberg terminals or accounting software.

Transferable skills:

  • Communication (written and oral)
  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Data analysis
  • Decision making
  • Problem solving
  • Project management
  • Research
  • Team working

Read more in our seven reasons to study Accounting & Finance.

Professional accreditation and organisations:

Degrees in accounting may be accredited by a wide range of professional accountancy bodies, like:

  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
  • Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

These offer exemptions from some of the required professional accounting exams.

Degrees in other financial areas may offer accreditation by:

  • Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT)
  • Chartered Banker Institute (CBI)
  • CFA Institute
  • Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)
  • Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

Degrees with maths or statistics may offer accreditation from:

  • Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)
  • Royal Statistical Society (RSS) 

Some universities offer students specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants to encourage diversity. It’s worth seeing if you're eligible, how to apply, and what it covers e.g., materials, tuition fees and/or living costs.

Read about university scholarships and bursaries.

What do Accounting & Finance graduates earn?

Starting salaries for an Accounting & Finance graduate range from £19,000–£25,000. If you join HMRC’s graduate tax programme, you could be paid £33,000–£35,000 while you train.  

What jobs can you get as an Accounting & Finance graduate?

Jobs for Accounting & Finance graduates can often be found in big, multinational professional services firms, banks or insurance companies. As well as an accountant, roles could include: 

  • Accountant
  • Accounting technician
  • Actuary
  • Auditor
  • Chartered accountant
  • Commercial analyst
  • Compliance manager
  • Credit controller
  • Data analyst
  • Financial adviser
  • Financial analyst
  • Finance manager
  • Forensic accountant
  • Investment banker
  • Production accountant
  • Retail banker
  • Stockbroker
  • Tax adviser

Read about the careers you can go into with an Accounting & Finance degree.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Examples of postgraduate degrees include: 

  • Accounting MSc 

  • Banking and Digital Finance MSc 

  • Corporate Finance MSc 

  • Financial Strategy PGDip 

  • Law and Finance MSc 

Similar subjects to Accounting & Finance

If you’re into figures or business-related topics, you could also consider:

Search undergraduate Accounting & Finance courses now!

Have any questions?

If you have questions about studying Accounting & Finance, you can email our experts at ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk. We’ll be happy to hear from you!

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