Accounting and Finance

Edinburgh has a thriving business sector and is home to the headquarters of many global financial institutions. The University of Edinburgh Business School is situated in the heart of the city and is one of the leading business schools in Europe.  

Accountancy is the fastest-growing area of business activity. The ability to measure financial information and make projections affects economic and organisational decision-making at all levels.  

Our programmes will prepare you to become financial accountants reporting on the performance of an organisation, and management accountants providing financial information to help with planning and strategy.

Professional accounting qualifications  

All our accounting-related degree programmes have been developed to allow you to undertake accreditation courses which can lead to exemptions from qualifications set by a number of professional bodies.  

Accreditation  

The Accounting and Finance group has accreditation arrangements with the six major professional accounting bodies in the UK.  

Benefits of a four-year degree  

Our four-year degree programmes provide students with a broad and flexible education. You can build your programme of study by selecting from a range of specialist courses. Many of these courses feature industry guest speakers who provide practical insight into contemporary business behaviour.  

You also have the opportunity to study abroad in your third year. To be offered a place, you will need a strong academic performance in your first year (minimum average of 60%).  

Teaching and assessment  

Teaching takes place in the heart of Edinburgh where you'll have 24-hour access to state-of-the-art computer equipment.  

In first and second year, you will have 12 to 14 contact hours per week. This will be a combination of lectures, tutorials and peer-assisted learning. In third and fourth year, the emphasis shifts to more specialised, seminar-based courses and independent study, culminating in the capstone dissertation.  

You will be assessed via continuous assessment, essays, reports, group work, and exams.  

In your final year, you will conduct your own research and produce a 12,000-word dissertation, with one-to-one supervision from a member of academic staff.  

Student support  

We have a specialised and professional student support model. Your named student adviser will be your first point of contact within the School. Depending on your requirements, they may refer you to other staff for support.  

Building your employability  

Our Student Development Team work closely with our academic staff, the University's Careers Service, peer support teams, alumni, and the business community to enhance your university experience from the moment you arrive.  

Through the Edinburgh Award, many of our students obtain additional support and official recognition for their involvement in activities such as volunteering and part-time work.  

Alumni  

Our alumni network is a diverse, global community of more than 20,000 effective and responsible leaders making an impact across a wide range of industries. They support our undergraduate students in a number of ways, such as mentoring, assessing and business projects.