Level: Undergraduate
Delivery type: Full Time
Degree qualification: MA
Mode of delivery: On-Campus
Duration: 3-4 years
Location: Edinburgh
Start date: September
Our Accountancy and Finance programme is designed and taught by practising professionals and respected academics, and it is accredited by all major professional accountancy bodies in the UK. As Edinburgh is the UK’s second biggest financial centre outside of London, our university enjoys a well-established reputation in the world of accountancy and financial services.
While studying this hands-on degree, you’ll develop a broad understanding of the contexts in which modern accounting operates. The programme examines the legal and ethical contexts, introduces insight into accountancy as a profession, and analyses business entities and the capital markets in which they operate.
Throughout this four-year degree, you’ll develop key accountancy expertise in several areas, including:
- Recording and summarising transactions
- Preparing and analysing financial statements
- Analysing business operations
- Conducting financial analysis
- Introducing and reporting projections
On the financial side, you’ll gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the areas of:
- Asset pricing
- Portfolio construction
- Corporate finance
- Financial risk management
- Capital markets
Each course included in the programme will equip you with highly employable expertise and skills in accounting and finance, from fundamentals of finance, and the economy, to discovering business, and principles of accounting. You’ll benefit from the industry relevance of the programme, which will set you up for life after graduation. Upon completion, you’ll have the relevant knowledge and skills to start a career in accountancy, finance, business and beyond.
Your student experience
Our Expertise: Our MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance programme is taught with a clear industry focus by experienced professionals and respected academics. They are accredited by professional bodies and will introduce you to professional-standard software in our state-of-the-art Bloomberg Trading Room.
Your learning environment: Our Accountancy and Finance degree allows you to enhance your employability in the area of finance through the use of our state-of-the-art Bloomberg Trading Room. This professional-standard facility provides access to live financial data from global markets and organisations. Integrating the use of Bloomberg Terminals into our teaching will allow you to develop professionally relevant skills in data analysis, financial reporting, financial risk management, and financial modelling.
This programme is taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, lab work and group work, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your peers, the teaching staff and academics. You’ll also have the opportunity to gain first-hand insights into accountancy practice through guest lectures. You’ll be assessed by independent essays, multiple-choice tests, written exams, presentations, individual projects, group work and your dissertation.
Outside of the classroom, you can join Heriot-Watt’s Accounting and Finance Society which holds regular social events and provides networking opportunities and insights into accounting career opportunities by working closely with the support of the academic tutors.
Customise your learning: Throughout your studies, you’ll learn from core courses on the syllabus and can take optional courses to focus on the area of accountancy and finance that interests you the most. This gives you the opportunity to customise your degree to match your specific interests or career pathway by selecting specialist course options.
In year four, you’ll explore in-depth your chosen area of accountancy and finance through your dissertation. You’ll be required to demonstrate your mastery of the subject area by identifying and undertaking an appropriate area of research and presenting your results effectively by written and verbal means.
Our Accountancy and Finance programme offers you the opportunity to travel to Malaysia or Dubai to experience studying accountancy and finance in a different environment and culture. You can travel for one semester or one academic year, and we recommend that you do this in year three.
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 currently working with the following accreditation bodies to gain the maximum exemptions possible for this degree:
- 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.
The Accountancy and Finance degree programmes are accredited by the professional bodies AIA, ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW and ICAS. There are potentially nine exemptions depending on the options taken and the professional qualification sought.
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