Top Accounting and Finance Universities in the UK

Choosing your university major is one of the most important first decisions you’ll have to make for yourself as you step into adulthood. After choosing one, there is also the major decision about which university to study at. While thinking of a major, it’s always smart to consider a few factors like your skillset and your preferred type of learning. For example, practical fields like Accounting and Finance would be the perfect major for someone who likes working with numbers and has excellent analytical thinking skills. It has a lot of fields, is always in demand, and has high salary prospects. Moreover, when thinking about a university, you want to choose one with a program that gives you all the knowledge needed to succeed in the real world.

What Are the Best UK Universities to Study Accounting and Finance?

1. University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow takes the lead as one of the best universities for accounting and finance in the UK. The university’s Adam Smith Business School boasts a triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, making it a top destination for accounting and finance students from around the world. You can choose multiple degrees according to your career aspirations, including accountancy, accountancy with finance, accountancy with international accounting, accountancy with languages, and accountancy/economics.

- Degree Structure

The degree takes 4 years to complete; each year has its own structure. The first year gives you a glimpse of your future career with introductions to financial accounting and management. You’ll also learn all about the financial market as well as economics. Second-year is all about practical learning in a standard-setting with subjects like Taxation, Business Law, and Statistics. The last two years are the ones that truly prepare you for your future career as an accountant. Finally, you are required to complete a dissertation with assistance from one of the highly-qualified staff members for your graduation project.

2. University of Strathclyde

Located in the heart of Glasgow, the University of Strathclyde offers a range of business degrees and is renowned for its accounting and finance department. It holds accreditation from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). You can do either a joint degree in both accounting and finance or specialise in one of them. The best thing about both degrees is that you can create your course curriculum, choosing the subjects that best suit your career aspirations.

- Accounting

If you’re wondering what makes Strathclyde one of the top universities for accounting and finance in the UK, their comprehensive course structure breakdown is the proof you need. A bachelor in accounting combines a wide range of business subjects to give you an in-depth understanding of the laws and economics that go hand in hand with accounting.

After applying to study accounting in Strathclyde, your first year will focus on Business Ethics, Disruptive Technologies, Social-Ethical-Environmental Governance (SEEG), and Marketing & Sustainability across Domains. The second-year will sharpen your skills in financial and management accounting with an opportunity to study taxation. Your third year will cover the advanced topics in financial and management accounting and auditing, by which, you will have completed the accreditation requirements for professional accountancy bodies. Finally, the last year will prepare you for the practical world with subjects like Public Sector Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, Integrative Studies in Management & Accounting, and more.

- Finance

As for the BA in Finance, it will introduce you to the principles of investment & value, the art of decision-making, and the ins and outs of business finance. It paves the way for a career of your choosing in any financial service like investment management, insurance, and banking. Year one will give you all the basics in investment and value, valuation of bonds and shares, and show you how businesses make investment decisions and their various accounting methods. In the second year, you’ll dive into statistical and spreadsheet methods of analysing financial problems along with the international financial decision-making and policies in business. Third-year classes are all about financial statements, financial markets and the banking systems. Your last year will give you the option to specialise in finance or earn a joint degree in finance and another principal subject.

3. University of Leeds

One of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, the University of Leeds boasts its position as one of the top universities for accounting and finance in the UK. The university is a member of the Russell Group of and is globally recognised for its unique teaching and advanced research. This degree is only 3 years and is available various combinations for you to specialise such as BSc Actuarial Mathematics, BSc Banking and Finance, and BSc Economics and Finance, and more.

- Accounting and Finance Degree at the University of Leeds

So what is it that earned the University of Leeds a spot on our top universities for accounting and finance in the UK list? Well, this course will help you gain a thorough understanding of the way financial information is used and managed in businesses and how it gets reported on an internal and external level. It’ll help you develop valuable skills in analytics with an overview of essential topics like Financial and Management Accounting, Corporate Finance, Economics, and Financial Analytics. You’ll also have the option of adding subjects of your choice such as Forensic Accounting and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Your first year will introduce you to the basics of finance, financial accounting, and management accounting. In your second year, you will delve into corporate finance and financial analytics. Your final year will revolve around preparing you for the job market with advanced classes about critical cases in accounting and finance, advanced finance, and contemporary issues in accounting.

4. University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen is not only the fifth oldest university in the UK celebrating its 525th year in 2020, but it’s one of the top 30 Universities in the UK and also takes the lead as one of the top universities for accounting and finance in the UK. You have the option to either specialise in accounting or do a joint degree, to broaden your future career choices. You can also choose from many other degree options such as accountancy and business management, accountancy and economics, business management and finance, and more. You also have the option of adding a foreign language to your degree like French, Spanish, or German. The joint degree will help you gain analytical and evaluation skills that are needed to succeed in today’s business world. You will learn all about financial problems and how to professionally and efficiently navigate them. The university also offers real-life experience in professional training facilities such as the Bloomberg finance lab.

5. London South Bank University

Studying at the London South Bank University means you’ll be studying at a university that landed 7th place in the top universities for accounting and finance in the UK. It’s also recognised by Guardian University League Tables 2020 as 2nd in accounting and finance for career prospects in London universities. You will be taken through the concepts of management, financial accounting fundamentals, business economics and more during your first year. Then you’ll dive into advanced management accounting, business laws, and the fundamentals of taxation and finance in general. Third-year is an optional placement year where you can gain practical experience in the professional world. The fourth and final year will sharpen your skills by teaching you Accounting and Finance Theories, Financial Reporting, Audit and Assurance, as well as l Taxation, Corporate Reporting, Enterprise Strategy, and Corporate Finance and Risk Management.

6. London School of Economics and Political Science

If you want to go somewhere that is a leader in all that concerns the business world, the London School of Economics and Political Science would be the perfect option. It is highly regarded as one of the top universities for accounting and finance in the UK, especially as it is a specialist university. Over the 3 years, you will be heavily exposed to various elements of finance and accounting. Your first year, introductory courses will give you the basics in economics, mathematics and statistics. The second year, you’ll dive further into accounting theory and practice, and principles of finance. Your last year will pave the way for your upcoming professional life, giving you the guidelines of dealing with the complications of financial and management accounting as well as strategy implementation for any issues in them.

There you have it; if you’re about to embark on a journey of studying accounting and finance in the UK, now you know where you should go for the highest quality degrees. While choosing from these top universities for accounting and finances in the UK, don’t forget to put into consideration accompanying elements like student accommodation that is within a short distance of your campus and in a student-friendly area. The most important thing is to choose a university that serves your career ambitions and helps you reach your dream job.