UK is considered as one of the hottest global financial centres. The financial institutions of the UK set standards for all other international institutions. Along with employing dynamic financial management tools and techniques, the UK is well reputed for imparting top-notch quality of education to all students, national and international aspirants alike.
Why Should You Pursue Accounting Course from UK?
To keep its position intact, the UK continues to provide world-class education through many exemplary and globally acknowledged accounting courses in top universities. So, these are some reasons why all prospective students should consider studying accounting courses in UK
- Employment avenues: The employment opportunities for accounting professionals skilled in any of the areas of accountancy and financial accounting are growing rapidly. With the quickly changing social and cultural dynamics of the world, the fields of finance and accountancy are also changing. This has, by a ripple effect, created more job avenues for graduate, postgraduate and doctoral students studying accountant courses in UK.
- Unparalleled placement opportunities: The universities in the UK that teach accounting and its various related disciplines ensure that their students get only the best placement opportunities. This allows students to work with some of the best companies that visit the campus to recruit them.
- Practical training: Students pursuing accounting courses in UK get the chance to study not just what’s written in their textbooks. They also get to spend time immersing themselves in real-world situations in the fields of finance and accountancy. This usually involves real-life sessions involving the stock market, company board room challenges, etc.
Check Your Eligibility for 80+ Universities across the UK
Book a free counselling session and find universities where you can get an Admission!
Check Your Eligibility for 80+ Universities across the UK
Book a free counselling session and find universities where you can get an Admission!
- Courses with professional accreditation: Many universities offer programs with professional accreditations that can get students exemptions from various exams with institutes like the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), etc.
So, if you are interested in exploring the best accounting courses UK universities have to offer to international students, read on.
List of Top Universities for Accountancy in the United Kingdom
Here is the list of some of the top UK universities that offer accountancy courses. They are assessed based on a variety of parameters like the ratio of students satisfied with the course, satisfaction with teaching, feedback from students, career growth after study, and more.
University of Leeds
In a study conducted by The Guardian, the University of Leeds emerged as the number one university for studying accountancy. The university’s Accounting and Finance department offers a large number of courses at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Some of these include options like the Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons.) in Accounting and Finance, Master of Science in Accounting and Finance, Master of Science (MSc) in Actuarial Finance, ICAEW, etc.
All courses have strong affiliations with many world-renowned financial institutions like the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, etc. There are various areas of study in accountancy and finance involving an understanding of corporate finance, corporate reporting, international investment, financial accounting, management accounting, etc. Some famous companies where students gain work experience and practical skills include KPMG, Deloitte, Bank of China, etc.
The application procedure for applying to the department’s programs is through the UCAS website link available on the Accounting and Finance department’s website. Along with the specific program’s academic requirements, all programs require the applicant to have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no component scoring less than band 6. The average tuition fee annually is around £25,000 to £29,000 for international students.
University of Bath
The University of Bath enjoys the third rank in The Guardian’s list for top UK universities for accounting courses. With a focus on helping students gain the best analytical skills through a holistic approach, the institution has received appreciation from experts in the field from all over the world. Currently, the courses offered include Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance (four years long if opted for a placement year; three years without), Master of Science in Accounting and Finance, and others in related disciplines.
Key study areas at the university cover topics like financial decision making, management accounting, corporate governance, investment management, etc. The Master’s program students also have to produce an original dissertation as a part of the programme requirements.
Most students graduating from the university’s Accounting and Finance-related courses work in auditing, banking, consulting, management, and finance. Some key recruiters include Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, EY, P&G, PwC, and Zheng Jin Bond Company.
To apply to the university’s programs, international students will have to produce proof of English language proficiency like IELTS with a minimum band score of 7.0. Furthermore, every program has a specific set of requirements that should be met before the application is sent to the university. The only way to apply online is through the university’s website. Lastly, the annual tuition fee for international students starts from around £22,000.
University of Glasgow
With a rank of three on The Guardian’s university guide for accountant course UK 2022, the university should be on the radar of all prospective international students of accounting courses in UK. The University of Glasgow offers a large number of accounting and finance courses like MAcc International Financial Accounting, BSc in Accounting and Mathematics, BSc in Accounting and Statistics, BAcc in Accountancy and Finance, and more.
Some of the focus areas involve taxation, audit, business law, statistics, financial accounting, management accounting, capital markets portfolio management, financial markets, and mergers and acquisitions. After studying at the university, students work in top companies like KPMG, Azets, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Wylie and Bisset, etc.
To apply to the programs, students have to proceed with their applications through UCAS. Also, the tuition fee for international students is around £20,000 annually. To help students cope with their finances, many scholarships and grants are available.
London School of Economics
London School of Economics enjoys an unparalleled reputation and ranking globally for almost all its courses, and the discipline of accounting is no exception. As per The Guardian, the school ranks sixth in the UK for providing students with the opportunities to learn accounting practices. Currently, the London School of Economics offers MSc in Accounting, Organisations, and Institutions, MSc Accounting and Finance, Diploma in Accounting and Finance, BSc Accounting and Finance, and MRes/ PhD in Accounting.
A special focus is given to courses based on accounting theory, econometrics, issues in financial accounting in the contemporary world, investments, financial markets, corporate finance, financial reporting and disclosure, and more. After completing their studies, students take up jobs related to legal and accounting services, financial services activities, management consultancy, information services, and more.
The only way to apply to the school’s courses is by creating an account through the online application system on the official website. After the account is created, students will have to submit all supporting documents within the specified deadline. The tuition fees for pursuing higher studies at the school can vary from £23,000 to £30,000 annually for international students.
Conclusion
The United Kingdom has many study options for international students who wish to accelerate their careers in accounting and finance. After reading this post, you will know about the nitty-gritty of the various accounting courses in the UK’s top universities.
To learn more about how to start your study abroad journey, visit LeapScholar today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are accountants in demand in the UK?
Yes, accountants and other working professionals in the accounting field are very much in demand by many recruiters in the entire United Kingdom. After getting an accounting degree in the UK, students can take the assistance of their institute’s placement cell to get in touch with these recruiters.
 What qualifications do you need to be an accountant in the UK?
To be an accountant in the UK, students must first complete different sets of academic and professional courses from specific institutions. However, by taking accounting courses in UK with professional accreditation, students can get exemptions from appearing in many of these exams necessary to become an accountant.
