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For doing accounting and finance, why does it show arts as the stream in Singapore?

04 Sept 2026 · Answered by Muskan Vashishtha · 2 min read
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Accounting and Finance often appears as a Bachelor of Arts in Singapore because many institutions follow the British university model, classifying business and finance under Arts and Social Sciences. This does not change your curriculum, career options, or how employers and bodies like ACCA view your degree.

Muskan Vashishtha
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You are seeing Accounting and Finance listed as a Bachelor of Arts because many Singapore institutions follow the British university model, where business and finance degrees fall under the Arts and Social Sciences faculty. This classification is about academic tradition, not the difficulty or numerical rigor of your course. It does not affect how employers or professional bodies like ACCA or ISCA view your qualification.

Why BA Covers Accounting and Finance

Degree TypeTypical Subjects
BA (Arts)Accounting, finance, business, economics, and other human-made commercial systems
BSc (Science)Natural sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and computer science with lab-based research

What Actually Matters for Your Career

  • Employers and bodies like ACCA, ISCA, and CPA Australia assess your curriculum and accreditation, not the degree label.
  • Many Singapore institutions model their programs on UK universities such as the University of London or Greenwich, which traditionally award BA Honours for business subjects.
  • You will still study financial reporting, auditing, taxation, and quantitative analysis regardless of the Arts label.

My Advice

Do not let the BA label worry you when you are choosing or explaining your course. Focus your energy on confirming the program is accredited by the right professional body for your target career, and be ready to explain the classification confidently in interviews since recruiters rarely ask twice once you clarify it.

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