Edinburgh Business School’s MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance degree is accredited by all major professional bodies in the UK. It prepares students to enter accounting or finance professions and features the use of professional-standard Bloomberg Trading Terminals throughout.
**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.
Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Business School was ranked as the second best place in Scotland to study undergraduate accounting and finance degrees in the Guardian University League Tables 2019. 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. A survey by Unistats 2019 found that 91% of recent graduates were in work or further study 6 months after graduating.
**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 & 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**
Heriot-Watt University is accredited as a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner, recognising us as a leader in experiential learning in the area of finance.
This degree is accredited by a number of institutions for exemptions from professional examinations:
- Accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Accredited by the Association of International Accountants (AIA)
- Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW)
- Accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS)
Course Details - Modules
Modules are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Assessment Method
Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
NN34
Institution code:
H24
Campus Name:
Edinburgh Campus
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
For entry to Year 2: ABB including at least one of the following: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths.
HNC in a relevant subject with B in graded unit for entry to Year 1.
For Year 2 entry: HNC Accounting with A in graded unit.
For Year 2 entry: HND Accounting with BBB in graded units.
For Year 3 entry: HND Accounting with AAA in graded units.
including at least one of the following: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths plus AABB at Higher for entry to Year 2.
For entry to Year 2: A total of 34 points including at least one of the following: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths at Higher Level 5.
in a relevant subject (Business/Accountancy/Finance preferred) for entry to Year 1. For entry to Year 2: DDM in relevant subject (Business/Accountancy/Finance preferred).
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.
Level 1 entry is required in order to gain maximum exemptions from accountancy bodies e.g. ACCA and ICAS.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Minimum Qualification Requirements
with B in the graded unit and passes in all 15 units for entry to Year 2 (where there is a recognised route from a relevant HNC qualification).
with BB in the graded units and passes in all 30 units for entry into Year 3 (where
there is a recognised route from a relevant HND qualification).
in relevant subject.
As part of the Fair Access Process, the minimum entry requirements enable students who are within one or more of the categories below to be guaranteed an offer:
Living in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20)
Care Experienced, as identified on the UCAS Application form by ticking the relevant box.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
English language requirements
Test
Grade
AdditionalDetails
Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.
