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Accountancy

Course details
  • MA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 08/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Edinburgh Campus

Course summary

Our undergraduate MA Accountancy degree is based within Heriot-Watt University’s prestigious Edinburgh Business School and has been expertly designed by respected academics and industry-experienced professionals to offer you the strongest possible foundation from which to launch your career.

An industry-focused approach
The MA Accountancy ensures students develop a broad understanding of the contexts of modern accounting. It examines legal and ethical contexts and provides insight into accountancy as a profession, and builds understanding around business entities and the capital markets in which they operate. Throughout this four-year degree, you will develop key accountancy expertise in across multiple areas, including:
• Recording and summarising business transactions
• Preparing and analysing financial statements
• Analysing and making decisions on business operations
• Conducting financial analysis
• Producing and reporting projections
• Conducting audit
• Analysing governance issues
• Gaining awareness of the importance of business ethics.

When you study on the MA Accountancy, you will benefit from the expert knowledge across the full range of disciplines related to accounting and finance. Students at the Edinburgh Business School enhance their academic understanding and gain invaluable experience through use of our state-of-the-art Bloomberg Trading Room - a professional-standard facility that provides access to live financial data from global markets and organisations.

Rankings and employability
Edinburgh is the UK’s second biggest financial centre, making it an ideal place to study accountancy and finance. In the Guardian University League Tables 2019, Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Business School was ranked as the second-best place in Scotland to study undergraduate accounting and finance degrees. Heriot-Watt enjoys a well-established reputation with leading organisations in the world of accountancy and financial services, and our graduates are often sought-after by recruiters.

An employable skillset
Whether you are considering a career as a chartered accountant in professional practice, industry or the public sector, or you are looking to work in other professional, commercial and industrial areas, our MA Accountancy ensures that you have the knowledge and skills that employers most value.

In addition to academic understanding and key accounting skills, our programme allows students to expand their overall skillset through a combination of individual and group work, written reports, presentations and examinations. Throughout this programme we will develop skills such as:

• Analysis
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Negotiation
• Conflict resolution
• Presentation delivery

Accreditation
Heriot-Watt University is accredited as a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner, recognising us as a leader in experiential learning in the area of finance. Heriot-Watt University degree programmes are accredited with the professional bodies AIA; ACCA; CIMA; ICAEW and ICAS. There are potentially nine exemptions depending on the options taken and the professional qualification sought.

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
NN40
Institution code:
H24
Campus name:
Edinburgh Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBC - ABB

For entry to Year 2: ABB including at least one of the following: Accountancy, Business, Economics or Maths.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

in a relevant subject (Business/Accountancy/Finance preferred) for entry to Year 1. For entry to Year 2: DDM in relevant subject (Business/Accountancy/Finance preferred).

Scottish Higher - AABB

Scottish Advanced Higher - BB

including at least one of the following: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths plus AABB at Higher for entry to Year 2.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 29 points

For entry to Year 2: A total of 34 points including at least one of the following: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths at Higher Level 5.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English and Mathematics at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)

Scottish HNC - Pass

HNC in a relevant subject with B in graded unit for entry to Year 1. For Year 2 entry: HNC Accounting with A in graded unit.

Scottish HND - Pass

For Year 2 entry: HND in Accounting or Business with BBB in graded units. For Year 3 entry: HND Accounting with AAA in graded units.

Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass

We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.

T Level

We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.

We operate contextual admissions defined by our Fair Access Policy which may mean entry requirements are flexible.

We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK, Europe and International countries. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further information on the entry requirements for these.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

-

A level - BCC

-

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM

in relevant subject.

Scottish Higher - BBBC

-

GCSE/National 4/National 5 - It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English and Mathematics at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)

-

Scottish HNC - Pass

with B in the graded unit and passes in all 15 units for entry to Year 2 (where there is a recognised route from a relevant HNC qualification).

Scottish HND - Pass

with BB in the graded units and passes in all 30 units for entry into Year 3 (where there is a recognised route from a relevant HND qualification).

Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass

We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.

T Level

We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.

The University guarantees to make a minimum entry offer to anyone who would be considered a Home or Rest of UK (RUK) applicant and who has achieved, or can achieve, the required grades from the following categories:

Priority postcode areas – Home Scottish applicants from SIMD20 postcodes or RUK applicants from POLAR 4 quintile 1 areas – identified through Scottish and UK government targets.

Care experience – Home Scottish or RUK applicants who have had experience of care, including adoption, kinship care, foster care and home supervision orders.

English language requirements

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.

HWU English Language Requirements https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/entry/english-language-requirements.htm

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We realise that not everyone has an equal opportunity to evidence their full potential from school or college qualifications alone, so we use all the information you provide on your application form to assess both your current achievements and potential to thrive at university. Our minimum entry levels apply to MD20, POLAR 4 Q1 and care experienced students. Students from other widening access backgrounds may get an adjusted offer which is slightly lower than our standard entry requirements.

Learn more on the Heriot-Watt University website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not available

Historical entry grades data is not currently available for Heriot-Watt University - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Scotland£1820Year 1
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1
EU£19456Year 1
International£19456Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

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