Accounting and Finance BA (Hons)

Course code N430

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:

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 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

SISA - Scottish Institute for Enterprise

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)
  • Part-time (unstructured)

You will learn through a combination of face-to-face and video conference tutorials and lectures, as well as online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE) which is supported by your tutors and classmates in online discussions

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 4 years
  • Part-time (structured): 8 years
  • Part-time (unstructured): 8+ years

Where can I study my course?

  • Inverness
  • Moray
  • North, West and Hebrides - entry at BA (third year) only
  • Perth

Start date

  • September 

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.
Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2023-24 Part-time 2024-25 Full-time 2024-25 Part-time
Year 1 HNC £1,285 £86 (per HN credit) £1,285 £86 (per HN credit)
Year 2 HND £1,285 £86 (per HN credit) £1,285 £86 (per HN credit)
Year 3 Degree £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module) £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module)
Year 4 Honours £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module) £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module)

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:

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2023-24 Part-time 2024-25 Full-time 2024-25 Part-time
Year 1 HNC £7,110 £474 (per HN credit) £7,110 £474 (per HN credit)
Year 2 HND £7,110 £474 (per HN credit) £7,110 £474 (per HN credit)
Year 3 Degree £9,250 £1,542 (per 20 credit module) £9,250 £1,542 (per 20 credit module)
Year 4 Honours free £1,542 (per 20 credit module) free £1,542 (per 20 credit module)

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 (3rd) year and the 4th 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.

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time With scholarship 2024-25 Full-time With scholarship
Year 1 HNC £7,980 £7,980 £8,775 £8.775
Year 2 HND £7,980 £7,980  £8,775 £8,775
Year 3 Degree £13,980 £10,980 £14,988 £11,988
Year 4 Honours £13,980 Free £14,988 Free

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:

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2023-24 Part-time 2024-25 Full-time 2024-25 Part-time
Year 1 HNC £7,980 £532 (per HN credit) £8,775 £585 (per HN credit)
Year 2 HND £7,980 £532 (per HN credit) £8,775 £585 (per HN credit)
Year 3 Degree £13,980 £2,330 (per 20 credit module) £14,988 £2,498 (per 20 credit module)
Year 4 Honours £13,980 £2,330 (per 20 credit module) £14,988 £2,498 (per 20 credit module)

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).

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed this course, you might like to consider careers in:

  • Financial accounting
  • Management accounting
  • Auditing
  • Tax or treasury management
  • There are also opportunities to work in professional practice or within a relevant organisation

Can I progress into further study?

You can progress into further study with the professional accounting bodies. 

Is there more information available online?

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I particularly like the mixture of core and optional units. As the weeks progressed during my first semester, I was able to see connections between subjects and have a greater understanding of the course as a whole. Completing my course will help me to be successful in my chosen field. UHI arranged a really useful employment fair, held in-house, which a lot of local accountancy and finance firms attended. It allowed us to chat face to- face with potential employers who had valuable advice on how to secure employment in the future. I get such a positive feeling as soon as I enter the door. For me learning has been an extremely fulfilling experience. I have made many friends and it has allowed me to achieve my full potential.

Rachel Hinde studied Accounting at UHI Inverness.

Apply for Accounting and Finance BA (Hons)

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.