Overview
If you’re planning a career in accountancy or the financial sector, studying at the University of Stirling is the perfect starting point. Our course boasts 5-star teaching and multiple industry accreditation.
An accounting degree empowers you to prepare, present and interpret financial information for a wide range of organisations, and the skills you learn will enable investors, lenders, management and others to make key decisions based on financial facts.
The ideal path to a career in accountancy combines a university degree with recognised professional qualifications. Our Accountancy course has been created with this in mind, and successful completion of this degree course will ensure that many professional bodies will give you significant exemptions from their exams.
From a basic understanding of how to prepare financial statements to an in-depth knowledge of auditing, taxation and reporting, our Accountancy degree covers everything you’ll need to know to join the thousands of Stirling graduates who have successfully transitioned from this course into the professional world.
We are AACSB accredited
The University of Stirling is accredited by AACSB International in recognition of our excellence in business education. This puts the University of Stirling Management School among the top 6% of business schools globally.
AmplifyME Trading Boot Camp
Students on the course or studying a combined degree can participate in this innovative week-long global financial trading and training boot camp run by our partner AmplifyME. The Stirling AmplifyME Boot Camp won the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Innovative Delivery of Education (IDEA) global award. It gives you the chance to participate in highly realistic computer-based simulations that replicate the experience of trading in financial markets. By letting you trade in a simulated environment with virtual money, the boot camp bridges the gap between an academic understanding of financial markets and how they function in practice.
Student Managed Investment Fund
Our students have established a Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF), with support of our academics within the Accounting and Finance Division. The SMIF allows you to gain practical
Top reasons to study with us
Professional accreditation
Accountancy at Stirling is accredited by four major regulatory bodies, meaning you’ll enjoy significant exemptions from their exams when the time comes to begin your professional life.
We’re accredited by:
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland (ICAS)
The university is also accredited by AACSB International.
Prizes or awards
ICAS Charles Scott Prize
A prize of £100 is awarded annually to the Bachelor of Accountancy student with the highest overall performance in modules ACCU9A1 and ACCU9A2 in the same academic session.
Ede and Ravenscroft Prize
The Ede and Ravenscroft prize of £1000 is awarded on academic merit to the top graded 2nd Year student within each School.
Entry requirements
Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
SQA Highers
AABB
GCE A-levels
BBB
IB Diploma
28
BTEC (Level 3)
DDM
Preferred subjects
Mathematics National 5 (B), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent.
Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
Year 2 entry – Three-year honours
SQA Advanced Highers
ABB
GCE A-levels
ABB
IB Diploma
32
Essential subjects
To include Accountancy and Economics at Higher, A-level or equivalent.
Preferred subjects
Mathematics National 5 (B), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent.
Other Scottish qualifications
Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
SWAP Access course - for mature students only.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B.
Preferred subjects
Mathematics National 5 (B), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent.
Other qualifications
English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions
English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Preferred subjects
Mathematics National 5 (B), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent.
International entry requirements
Advanced entry
Year 2 entry
Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.
Other qualifications
Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications. For more information, contact our Admissions Team at admissions@stir.ac.uk.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
Course details
You can study Accountancy as a four-year single honours degree, or combine it with one of our complementary courses to broaden your focus. In your first three semesters, your core studies in accounting and finance will be accompanied by teaching in economics, business management and business law.
Semesters 4-8 will help you develop an analytical approach to relevant subjects through eleven advanced core modules. Among those modules will be a dissertation module, which will introduce you to research methods in accounting and enhance your communication, evaluation and analytical skills.
Modules
Course details
Teaching
When you study Accountancy at the University of Stirling, you can be confident that everything you learn is in tune with the latest industry trends. You’ll learn through a combination of formal lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Small group tutorials will also provide feedback and reinforcement of lecture topics throughout each semester. All our teaching is rooted in world-class research, with 80% of our research impact classed as world-leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework, 2021).
Assessment
You’ll be assessed by a combination of coursework and exams. For honours students, all advanced modules undertaken during the final two years count equally towards your overall degree classification. In Semester 8 you’ll complete a dissertation on an approved subject.
Classroom hours
Classroom hours vary, but in general, you can expect at least nine weekly contact hours per semester, which should be supplemented by approximately 30 hours of self-study weekly.
Study abroad
You’ll have the opportunity to broaden your horizons and study abroad through our well-established connections with several international universities.
Contact
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
| Academic year: | 2024/25 | 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish students | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland | £9,250 | £9,535 |
| International students (including EU) | £17,200 | £18,400 |
Scottish students
This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, if you are domiciled in Scotland you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on your behalf.
You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,535 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities section below for more information.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy and terms and conditions.
International students (including EU)
Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. See our range of generous scholarships for international undergraduate students.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students from Scotland
Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Welcome Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
International students
Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. Find funding opportunities for international students.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
Preparing you for the world of work
Accountancy graduates from Stirling are working in many different countries for companies including JP Morgan, IBM, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and many more.
Your degree grants you exemption from many industry exams – getting you off to a flying start in your journey to becoming a fully qualified Accountant.
Our modules in Accounting Information and Employment (Year 3) place a special focus on preparing you for the workplace. And visits from professional bodies like the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) ensure your skills are always in tune with the needs of the accounting industry.
Find out more about how we prepare you for the world of work.
Recent Accountancy graduates from the University of Stirling have started their careers at PwC, SSE, Deloitte UK and Aston Martin. Other graduates have gone on to forge careers at Dickson Middleton, Audit Scotland, Ernst and Young, and Standard Life plc.
Companies we work with
We’re not only accredited by leading professional accountancy bodies, but we also host annual visits from them to exchange knowledge, strengthen our links to the industry and refine everything you’re learning in line with the latest developments. These relationships, combined with our own highly-rated research-led teaching, help to create a foundation from which you can begin to build a career in accountancy.
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