Accountancy and Finance (Accelerated) MA (Hons)

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. 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 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

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)

Entry requirements