Study accountancy and graduate with a university degree

Keen to become an accountant? Then you'll know you ideally need both a university degree and a recognised professional qualification.

This course provides the first part, to a superb standard, and it also helps you start towards the second, as many professional bodies will grant you significant exemptions from their exams when you have a Stirling degree.

We have a great deal to offer you. Our teaching and research both have superb reputations for quality. We also provide a great range of courses, and an exciting and rewarding system of learning and assessment.

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.
Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Year 2

Scottish HND in Accountancy with B's in graded units in Accountancy. English HND with Merits and Distinctions.
A-Levels or Advanced Highers ABB (including Accounting and Economics).
General entrance requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Required subjects

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent. Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.
Mathematics Standard Grade (3), Intermediate 2, GCSE (C) or equivalent.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).
February entry also available.

The Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc) course is designed specifically for students planning a career in the Accountancy profession.

Semesters 1 – 3
You will take core modules in the following:

• Accounting I
  An understanding of the basic concepts required to
  prepare and analyse financial statements.
• Finance I
  An examination of the two key aspects of corporate finance: the financing decision and the investment decision. The evaluation of investment risk and return. Introduction to financial securities and financial markets. Basic principles of security valuation.
• Accounting II
  An examination of the basic accounting techniques used by management accountants to help in decision making and in the formulation of future plans.

You are also required to study Economics, Business Management and Business Law.

Semesters 4 – 8
You will develop a critical understanding and analytical approach to subjects directly relevant to Accountancy.

Core advanced modules include:

• External Reporting
• Finance II
  
• Taxation
• Advanced Financial Accounting
• Accounting Information and Employment
• Quantitative Methods for Business Decisions
• Personal Financial Planning
  
• Auditing
• Accounting Dissertation
  

You will choose further advanced modules in accountancy and finance from a list of electives.

You may take the BAcc degree as a three-year specialist degree or a four-year Honours degree. Students taking the BAcc Honours degree must write a dissertation on an accounting topic of their choice.

We also offer a BA Accountancy and Finance, which provides considerable scope for you to study a variety of topics.

Teaching is by a combination of formal lectures, seminars, practical workshops and tutorials. The course of small group tutorials provides feedback and reinforcement of lecture topics throughout each semester. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and examinations.

For Honours students, all advanced modules undertaken during the final two years of the course count equally towards their overall degree classification.

* Exiting students receive a BA with this course combination.

You have the opportunity to study abroad through Stirling's well-established connections with several international universities.

Accounting and Finance has been rated joint first in Scotland in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and teaching provision in Accounting was ranked joint third in the UK (National Student Survey, 2010).

Accountancy offers a wide choice of careers, including financial and management accounting, auditing, taxation, consultancy and financial services. Accountants may also choose to work in a variety of organisations including international companies, health care, sports organisations, local and national government, and charities.

Many professional bodies recognise the BAcc degree as a relevant degree and offer significant exemptions from their examinations. These include: the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants; the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants; the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy; the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; Chartered Accountants Ireland; the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.