Accounting With Corporate Finance BA (Hons)



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

Overview

Edinburgh Napier is #1 Modern University in Scotland (Times' World University Rankings 2025).

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.

This highly regarded course is accredited by major UK accounting institutes and is designed to prepare you for a range of careers. The programme 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 in the heart of Edinburgh – 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:

Full-time

Duration:

4 years

Start date:

Sep

UCAS code:

N4N3

Course details

This joint honours degree involves the same core accounting modules as BA (Hons) Accounting but more compulsory finance modules to build up your specialism.

You'll study six modules, over two trimesters, per year. 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.

In addition, transferable skills of time management, project management, communication, collection and management of data and IT skills will serve you well in the future, whatever your career choice.

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.

How will my degree reflect sustainability and sustainable development?

The Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) – established under the UN Global Compact – places a clear onus on Higher Education to ‘transform management education and develop the responsible decision-makers of tomorrow to advance sustainable development’. The Business School is a PRME signatory, and we seek to influence professional practice and policy nationally and internationally, helping to drive key societal, economic and environmental impacts.

Our mission is ‘to empower communities to apply business knowledge for positive societal impact’ and we work constantly to embed practical actions into our curriculum, to promote sustainability and relate these to the key ideas of sustainability, as reflected in the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes now reflect one or more of the SDG, and our research is targeted to solve real world problems, mapped against the criteria used in the Times Higher Education’s Impact Ranking.

The most recent annual league table for Sustainability - compiled by People & Planet, the UK’s largest student campaigning network - again places Edinburgh Napier in a top 3 position among Scotland’s 19 universities. This reflects their assessment of our performance across a range of environmental and ethical considerations, which include carbon reduction and management, and education.

What is distinct about equality, diversity and inclusion?

Edinburgh Napier University is enriched by the diversity of perspectives, cultures and backgrounds brought by all within our global community. We are committed to a positive environment where diversity and inclusiveness is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, age, ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status or whether pregnant or on maternity leave. We commit ourselves to providing a learning, working and social environment that is free from discrimination, prejudice, intimidation, stigmatisation and all forms of harassment and bullying.

The Business School's vision: 'To be the Business School for empowerment, enterprise and employability for all'.

Our mission statement: 'Empowering our communities to apply business knowledge for positive societal impact'.

  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

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

  • 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

  • Corporate Financial Management
  • Advanced Management Accounting
  • Advanced Corporate Reporting
  • Contemporary Corporate Finance
  • Taxation
  • Behavioural Finance

Year 4

  • Dissertation
  • Investment Management 
  • Regulatory Risk Management 
  • Current Issues in Finance 
  • 1 Option

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

What are the entry requirements for Accounting with Corporate Finance?

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.

Can you go straight into second year of university?

Advanced entry into Year 2 or Year 3 of this course is possible for students with suitable qualifications. See the individual year tabs for more information.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

Minimum Year 1

SQA Higher

  • Standard Entry Requirement: BBBB
  • Minimum Offer Entry Requirement:: BCCC

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

Irish Leaving Certificate

  • H2, H2, H3, H3 at Higher Level

BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3

  • Minimum grades DMM (Distinction, Merit, Merit).

BTEC (QCF) National Diploma Level 3

  • Minimum grades D*D*

BTEC (QCF) National Diploma Level 3 plus A Level

  • Minimum grades DM (Distinction, Merit).
  • A Level grade C

T level

  • Merit

International Baccalaureate Diploma

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

Scottish HNC

  • Other HNC subjects may be considered for year 1 entry where a 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.
  • Pass HNC Next Gen Accounting with Achieved with Merit

Minimum Year 3

HND

  • Pass HND Accounting with grades BB in all SCQF Level 8 graded units.
  • Pass HND Next Gen Accounting with Achieved with Merit

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:
  • 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 2024/25 2025/26
Scotland £1,820 £1,820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £9,250 £9,250
Overseas and EU £16,680 £17,520
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.
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

What can you do with a degree in Accounting with Corporate Finance?

By studying a BA in Accounting with Corporate Finance at Edinburgh Napier University, you will gain the skills needed to secure trainee accounting roles in the public and private sector leading to a professional qualification, for example, ICAS, ICAEW, CIMA, ACCA, or CIPFA, as our course is accredited by major UK and international accounting institutes. Subject to work experience, you will also be well-placed for general management opportunities and careers in wealth management, trading, financial and credit analysis, financial technology, risk modelling, investment/fund management, and financial planning, amongst others.

What does an early career Financial Analyst do?

A Financial Analyst who is early in their career may assist in financial modelling, data analysis, and preparing reports for decision-making purposes. They collect, organise, and analyse financial data from various sources, such as financial statements, market trends, economic indicators, and industry benchmarks. They use analytical tools and techniques to interpret the data and identify patterns, trends, and outliers.

Daily tasks and responsibilities in this role may include: 

  • Financial reporting
  • Investment research
  • Strategic planning and decision support
  • Forecasting
  • Analysis

A BA in Accounting with Corporate Finance can lead to various career paths, depending on your interests, skills, and career goals. Additionally, obtaining professional qualifications from the bodies mentioned above which are internationally recognised and can enhance your career prospects and open further opportunities.

Photo of students smiling while working together