Accounting BA (Hons)



This fully accredited course gives our students maximum possible exemptions from sitting professional accounting exams.

Overview

We are a top UK Modern University for Accounting and Finance (The WUR, 2023) and our Accounting course has a 96% student satisfaction score (National Student Survey, 2023).

Accounting is so much more than crunching numbers, it is the backbone of any business, and with the advances of technology and AI, it guarantees an exciting career. On this course, you will develop your accounting, finance and general business skills, including the various techniques and policies relating to corporate finance, reporting, statistics, and governance; tax; auditing; and management accounting. In addition, you’ll gain transferable skills, such as time and project management, communication, data collection and management, as well as IT skills that will future-proof your career.

This highly regarded course is accredited by major UK accounting institutes and is designed to prepare you for a range of careers. The course is run by our experienced academic staff who have strong industry connections and invite guest speakers from the public and private sectors regularly.

Edinburgh is one of the UK’s most prominent financial hubs, and thanks to Edinburgh Napier University’s industry links, you’ll be able to benefit from many internship, networking and employment opportunities.

Should you choose to go down the entrepreneurial route instead, the Bright Red Triangle – our start-up incubator with certified business advisors and a co-working space – is here to support you in achieving your dream every step of the way. 

Photo of a student at Edinburgh Napier University looking up and smiling as he works with a pen in his hand

Mode of Study:

Part-time (available as full-time)

Duration:

variable

Start date:

Sep

Course details

You'll learn by a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, workshops, directed learning and independent study. We also partner with industry organisations to provide a select number of summer internships for students in year three of our programme. We also support students in finding their own summer internship opportunities.

On successful completion of Year 3, you'll be eligible for an unclassified degree, and on successful completion of Year 4, an Honours degree.

We offer tuition that is supported by experienced teaching staff with strong industry connections. Guest speakers from the public and private sectors add value to the course.

Most importantly, this course is accredited by major UK accounting institutes including:

Accreditations from these accounting bodies highlight the relevance of this course for the modern business environment.

There is no time limit on the completion of this course as students accumulate credits as they go. 360 credits are required for an ordinary degree and 480 credits required for honours level degree. The duration, on average, lasts between five and six years.

  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    Class contact per module is generally 2 hour lecture and 2 hour tutorial weekly.

    Being part-time, you can choose to study one to five modules per year.
  • note and pen

    Assessments

     A variety of essays, reports, presentations, class tests, exams, and a dissertation written in your final year. 
  • library

    Facilities

    This course is taught at our Craiglockhart Campus.

Popular modules

Year 1

  • Financial Accounting
  • Management Accounting
  • Introduction to the Financial Services Sector
  • Principles of Economics
  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Academic Skills for Business Management

Year 2

  • Corporate Accounting
  • Business and Corporate Law
  • Reporting Corporate Performance
  • Financial Management
  • Data Analysis
  • 1 Option

Year 3

  • Advanced Corporate Reporting
  • Advanced Management Accounting
  • Corporate Financial Management
  • Taxation
  • Auditing
  • 1 Option

Year 4

  • Dissertation
  • Corporate Social Responsibility 
  • 3 Options

ACCREDITED BY

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements indicate both Standard and Minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

The University does not sponsor students to study on part-time programmes in the UK under the Student Visa route. International applicants must therefore have other valid immigration leave to study on this programme.

Minimum year 1

SQA Higher

Standard Entry Requirement

BBBB

National 5 grade C in Maths and English.

Minimum Offer Entry Requirement

BCCC

National 5 grade C in English.

National 5 Maths recommended.

You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet our specified minimum entry requirements within our widening participation criteria, and outlined in our Contextual Admissions Policy.  Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies.

A Level

BCC

GCSE grade C/4 in English.

GCSE Maths recommended.

Irish Leaving Certificate

H2, H2, H3, H3 at Higher Level and grade O4 in Ordinary Level Maths and English.

BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3

Minimum grades MMM (Merit, Merit, Merit).

GCSE grade C/4 in English.

GCSE Maths recommended.

BTEC (QCF) National Diploma Level 3 plus A Level

Minimum grades DM (Distinction, Merit).

A Level grade C

GCSE grade C/4 in English.

GCSE Maths recommended.

T level

Merit.

GCSE grade C/4 in English.

GCSE Maths recommended.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Award of Diploma with 28 points overall with three HL subjects at grades 6, 5, 4.

Grade 4 in SL Maths and English.

European Baccalaureate

Pass at 70% or above with grade 7 in three subjects.

Grade 6 in Maths and English.

HNC

Unrelated HNC subjects may be considered for year 1 entry where a grade C in the graded unit is achieved.

Minimum year 2

HNC

Pass HNC Accounting with grade B at SCQF Level 7 in the graded unit.

Minimum year 3

HND

Pass HND Accounting with grades BB in all SCQF Level 8 graded units.

English language requirements

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.


We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BN Nursing/MSc Nursing (Pre-registration) (Adult, Mental Health, Child, Learning Disabilities)
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2023/24 2024/25
Scotland *£305 *£tba
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland *£1,157 *£tba
Overseas and EU *£2,530 *£tba
Fees for modules are calculated according to the number of credits (multiples of 20). The rate shown in the table is for 20 credits*.
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Careers

Photo of glass and metal staircase inside the Craiglockhart campus building

97% of our BA (Hons) Accounting graduates are in professional or managerial jobs within 6 months of graduation (HESA)” from the start of course details to the start of the careers section

Career opportunities include:

  • Trainee accounting roles in the public and private sector leading to a professional qualification e.g ICAS, ICAEW, CIMA, ACCA or CIPFA
  • Careers in wealth management, trading, financial and credit analysis, fintech, risk modelling, investment/fund management, financial planning
  • General management opportunities
Photo of students smiling while working together