Accounting and Finance BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

You need the skills to excel in a challenging, business-critical field: we have the training you're looking for. 

Explore a range of key accountancy concepts in-depth and gain an excellent grounding in the principles of financial and management accounting. Use manual and computerised systems, working in class sizes designed to give you an inclusive personal experience of university life. 

Develop your contextual, theoretical, and technical skills on this highly practical programme, and let us prepare you for a successful career in accounting and finance. 

Special features

• A highly practical course encompassing technical skills desired by employers 
• Small classes give you a more personal experience of university
• Apply for exemptions from various professional bodies such as ACCA, CIMA, and AAT
• Provides a solid foundation for a career in financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, tax, or treasury management
• Work placement modules in years 2, 3 and 4 are each accredited with the Scottish Institute for Enterprise as Level 1 Scottish Innovation Student Award (SISA) Future Thinker certificate

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

Entry to year one, HNC Accounting:

• 1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above (preferably in a numeracy-based subject) OR
• 1 A level at grade D or above (preferably in a numeracy-based subject)
• Alternatively, NC Business (with 70% Accounting units) or NC Accounting OR
• Foundation Apprenticeship in: Accountancy, Business Skills, or Financial Services
• Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply

Advanced entry:

• Advanced entry to year two is the HNC Accounting
• Advanced entry to year three is the HND Accounting

Access routes

SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

Year 1 - HNC

Year 1 of the course is HNC Accounting

Year 2 - HND

Year 2 of the course is HND Accounting

Year 3 - BA

Core modules are:

• Advanced financial reporting
• Auditing and professional ethics
• Financial management
• Research skills

You will choose two option modules which may include:

• Business awareness for accountants
• Critical thinking in management
• Entrepreneurship
• Project planning and management
• Small business planning
• Work placement*

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation, or research and plan a new business venture, as well as studying the following modules:

• Corporate financial decision making
• International financial reporting

You will choose further option modules which may include:

• Advanced management accounting
• Advanced taxation
• Corporate responsibility in the global environment
• Social and environmental accounting
• Work placement*

*Work placement modules in years 2, 3 and 4 are each accredited with the Scottish Institute for Enterprise as Level 1 Scottish Innovation Student Award (SISA) Future Thinker certificate

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK and EU students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship for the degree (3^rd) year and the 4^th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award, including where students are following a recognised ‘top-up’ degree structure where the first and second years are made up of an HNC/D award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

Core textbooks will need to be purchased in years 3 and 4 of the course (approximately £65 in year 3 and between £30-60 in year 4 depending on module choices).