BAcc (Hons) Accountancy

Study Accountancy at the University of Stirling and discover why our quadruple-accredited course ranks among the best in the UK.

Key facts

Award BAcc (Hons)
Start date September 2021
Duration 48 months or 36 months
Mode of study Part-time, Full-time, Campus based
UCAS Code N400
Study abroad opportunities

Accreditations

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA); Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA); Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA); Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland (ICAS)

Overview

Find out more about Changes at Stirling, including how you'll be taught, start dates and how we're making campus safer.

If you’re planning a career in accountancy or the financial sector, studying at the University of Stirling is the perfect starting point. Stirling ranks among the top 3 places to study Accountancy and Finance in Scotland (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021), boasting 5-star teaching and multiple industry accreditation.

An accounting degree empowers you to prepare, present and interpret financial information for a wide range of organisations, and the skills you learn will enable investors, lenders, management and others to make key decisions based on financial facts.

The ideal path to a career in accountancy combines a university degree with recognised professional qualifications. Our Accountancy programme has been created with this in mind, and successful completion of the course will ensure many professional bodies give you significant exemptions from their exams.

From a basic understanding of how to prepare financial statements, through to an in-depth knowledge of auditing, taxation and reporting, our Accountancy degree covers everything you’ll need to know to join the thousands of Stirling graduates who have successfully transitioned from this course into the professional world.

Amplify Trading Boot Camp

The course also includes an innovative week-long global financial trading and training boot camp run by our partner Amplify. This won the CFA Institute Innovative Delivery of Education (IDEA) Global Award and gives you the chance to trade futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. By letting you trade in real time, but with virtual money, the boot camp bridges the gap between an academic understanding of financial markets and how they function in practice.

Student Managed Investment Fund

Our students have established a Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF), with support of our academics within the Accounting and Finance Division. The SMIF allows you to gain practical experience of managing investments. A student-led project, it will help you to enhance your employability before you graduate – giving you exceptional practical understanding of theoretical aspects of investment valuation. Particular emphasis is placed on the principles of responsible investment, including the use of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria when selecting stocks. Find out more about the Student Managed Investment Fund, the regular guest speakers and how you can get involved at the SMIF website.

Top reasons to study with us

Accounting and Finance is ranked 3rd in Scotland (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021)

100% of our Accountancy students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating (Unistats 2017)

5 QS Stars for Teaching, Employability and Internationalisation (QS Stars University Ratings)

Professional accreditation

Accountancy at Stirling is accredited by four major regulatory bodies, meaning you’ll enjoy significant exemptions from their exams when the time comes to begin your professional life.

We’re accredited by:

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland (ICAS)

Prizes or awards

ICAS Charles Scott Prize
A prize of £100 is awarded annually to the Bachelor of Accountancy student with the highest overall performance in modules ACCU9A1 and ACCU9A2 in the same academic session.

Ede and Ravenscroft Prize
The Ede and Ravenscroft prize of £1000 is awarded on academic merit to the top graded 2nd Year student within each School.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for your country/region

Please select your country/region of residence:

Year 1 entry – Four-year honours

SQA Highers
AABB – by the end of S5
AAAB – by the end of S6

GCE A-levels
BBB

IB Diploma
30

BTEC (Level 3)
DDM

Essential subjects
Mathematics National 5 (B), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent

Preferred subjects
Mathematics at Higher, A-level or equivalent

Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.

Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.

Year 2 entry – Three-year honours

SQA Advanced Highers
ABB

GCE A-levels
ABB

IB Diploma
35

Essential subjects
To include Accountancy and Economics at Higher, A-level or equivalent

Mathematics National 5 (B), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent

Preferred subjects
Mathematics at Higher, A-level or equivalent

Other Scottish qualifications

Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.

Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.

SWAP Access course - for mature students only. Please check the SWAP progression routes document for details.

Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.

Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B

Essential subjects
Mathematics National 5 (B), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent

Preferred subjects
Mathematics at Higher, A-level or equivalent

Other qualifications

English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions

English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.

Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.

Essential subjects
Mathematics National 5 (B), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent

Preferred subjects
Mathematics at Higher, A-level or equivalent

Advanced entry

Year 2 entry
Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.

Other qualifications
Advanced entry may by possible depending on your qualifications. To find out more go to our Advanced Entry pages.

Additional information

General entrance requirements apply

If you’ve taken exams over two sittings, repeated an exam, or been upgraded, the entrance requirements may be higher.

English language requirements

Due to disruption in English Language testing caused by COVID-19, we are accepting alternative English Language tests (including online English Language Tests).

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

IELTS Indicator 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
Trinity ISE II Pass overall and Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
Duolingo 95 overall with a minimum of 90 in all sub-skills
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill

Last updated: 1 February 2021

For more information on ways that you can meet our English language requirements, including options to waive the requirement, please read our information on English language requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses

Course details

You can study Accountancy as a four year single honours degree, or combine it with one of eight other courses to broaden your focus. In your first three semesters, your core studies in accounting and finance will be complemented by teaching in economics, business management and business law.

Semesters 4-8 will help you to develop an analytical approach to relevant subjects through eleven advanced core modules. Among those modules will be your dissertation, which will introduce you to research methods in accounting and enhance your communication, evaluation and analytical skills.

Modules

The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery in the current academic intake of this course. These may be subject to change in future years as the University regularly revises and refreshes the curriculum of our taught programmes.

Course details

Teaching

When you study Accountancy at the University of Stirling you can be confident that everything you learn is in tune with the latest industry trends. You’ll learn through a combination of formal lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Small group tutorials will also provide feedback and reinforcement of lecture topics throughout each semester. All our teaching is rooted in world-class research, and Stirling Management School ranked in the top 25 institutions in the UK for Business and Management from a pool of over 100 in the most recent Research Excellence Framework study.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed by a combination of coursework and exams. For Honours students, all advanced modules undertaken during the final two years count equally towards your overall degree classification. In Semester 8 you’ll complete a dissertation on an approved subject.

Study abroad

You’ll have the opportunity to broaden your horizons and study abroad through our well-established connections with several international universities.

Find out more about studying abroad.

Contact

Mr Chris Coles, Course Director

+44 (0) 1786 466415

c.w.coles@stir.ac.uk

Fees and funding

Fees and costs

Select fee status:

Academic year:	2020/21	2021/22
Scottish students	£1,820*	£1,820 ^*
Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland	£9,250	£9,250
European Union students	£1,820	£15,100
Overseas students (non-EU)	£13,100	£15,100

* This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.

You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.

Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, students domiciled in Scotland can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government. If you’re unsure of your fee status, you can check your eligibility.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you’ll be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Note for EU students

The Scottish Government has confirmed that EU students enrolling in the 2020/21 academic year will be entitled to free tuition fees in Scotland. EU students will retain that status for the duration of their four-year degree.

This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. See our funding opportunities below for more information.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

For EU students starting studies in academic year 2021/22, we will award an automatic scholarship of up to £30k over the duration of your course. This is subject to eligibility criteria.

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Additional costs

There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.

Funding opportunities

See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.

Students domiciled in Scotland and the EU

The University of Stirling offers undergraduate funding opportunities for students domiciled in Scotland or the EU. To find out if you’re eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.

EU students

For EU students starting studies in academic year 2021/22, we will award an automatic scholarship of up to £30k over the duration of your course. This is subject to eligibility criteria.

Students domiciled in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (RUK)

The Undergraduate Choice Scholarship provides a £1,000 cash award to all students from England, Wales or Northern Ireland who meet the conditions of their offer and select the University of Stirling as their Firm or Insurance choice on UCAS.

The University also offers the Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, which is awarded to selected students and provides a £1,000 cash award per year for years 1-3 of study. To be considered for the Merit Scholarship, students require a minimum of AAB at A-level or equivalent.

In addition, students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who enter in year 1 and progress successfully through years 2 and 3 will receive our Honours Year Scholarship, which covers the cost of undergraduate tuition fees in the Honours year of study.

You don’t need to apply for the awards listed above - we'll automatically identify your eligibility as part of the admissions process.

To explore other scholarships and learn more about funding opportunities, use our scholarship finder.

Students domiciled overseas

The University of Stirling offers generous undergraduate funding opportunities for overseas students. To find out if you're eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.

Cost of living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

EU and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling.

Payment options

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.

After you graduate

What jobs can you get with an Accountancy degree?

Our highly-rated Accountancy course can gain you exemption from professional bodies’ exams, as well as opening up opportunities with finance-related organisations, private and public sector bodies, and a host of other employers. During your degree, you can also take advantage of a range of specialist career services.

Find out more about how we prepare you for the world of work.

100% of our Accountancy students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating (Unistats 2016).
Accountancy graduates from Stirling are working in 21 different countries for companies including JP Morgan, IBM, RBS and many more.
Your degree grants you exemption from many industry exams – getting you off to a flying start in your journey to becoming a fully qualified Accountant.

Good accountancy courses prepare you for professional life in a range of roles, such as a financial analyst for fund management institutions, a dealer on the stock exchange, an investment banker or a financial market regulator. Recent Accountancy graduates from the University of Stirling have started their careers in some of the following roles:

Associate, PwC
Commercial and Performance Analyst, SSE
Audit Associate, Deloitte UK
Graduate Finance Analyst, Aston Martin

Graduates who left Stirling up to ten years ago have forged careers in the following areas:

Chartered Accountant, Dickson Middleton
Auditor, Audit Scotland
Assurance Technician, Ernst and Young
Management Accountant, Standard Life plc

Employability skills

Your employability is one of our highest priorities, and we want to make sure you have every possible advantage when you enter the job market. Our modules in Accounting Information and Employment (Year 3) place a special focus on preparing you for the workplace. Meanwhile, visits from professional bodies like the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) ensure your skills are always in tune with the needs of the Accounting industry.

Your course will equip you with skills in the following, plus much more:

Companies we work with

We’re not only accredited by leading professional accountancy bodies, we also host annual visits from them to exchange knowledge, strengthen our links to the industry and refine everything you’re learning in line with the latest developments. These relationships, combined with our own highly-rated and research help create a foundation from which you can begin to build a career in accountancy.

What our students said

View more student stories

Jordan Moore
United Kingdom
BAcc(Hons) Accountancy

What attracted me to the University of Stirling was the reputation of the Management School, which is globally recognised and highly regarded in UK education. Being able to create a support network with other students and receive detailed feedback was significant for my success and development through my degree.

Denise Kaufmann
Austria
BAcc (Hons) Accountancy and Marketing

I was attracted by the fact that the degree combinations were so flexible and thought it would be the perfect place to further my knowledge...

Read Denise's story

Akhil Rawal
BAcc (Hons) Accountancy and Economics

One of the best aspects of the course was how interactive the tutorials were.

Read Akhil's story

View more student stories

Flexible study

Are you interested in more than one of our courses? You might not have to choose between them. Here at Stirling, we believe in choice and offer more than 220 course combinations.

Accountancy and Business Law	UCAS code for this combination: MN24
Accountancy and Business Studies	UCAS code for this combination: NNF4
Accountancy and Economics	UCAS code for this combination: LN14
Accountancy and Finance	UCAS code for this combination: NN43
Accountancy and Marketing	UCAS code for this combination: NN45
Accountancy and Mathematics	UCAS code for this combination: GN14
Accountancy and Spanish	UCAS code for this combination: NR44
Accountancy and Sports Studies	UCAS code for this combination: NC46

BAcc (Hons) Accountancy

Key facts

Accreditations

Amplify Trading Boot Camp

Student Managed Investment Fund

What our students said

Flexible study

Related courses

What next?