Accounting Degree Entry Requirements

Not all universities will have the same entry requirements for their courses. Some may see an accounting degree differently from others.

Accounting stands as one of the most competitive courses in the UK. Each university will approach the course differently. Though the fundamentals may remain the same, some universities will focus on providing you with a rich experience in the industry. In contrast, others may favour a more theory-based approach.

What is an Accounting course?

Accounting is a course that provides students with the skills needed to work in finance. Usually, this course is paired with another course, such as business studies, information technology, or finance.

There are plenty of different types of accounting courses available. You could choose to study a course on international finance, auditing, analytics, forensic accounting or management accounting, among many more.

Accounting degree entry requirements

The entry requirements for an accounting course will vary depending on where you are applying. Some universities will accept specific qualifications, while others may not; for example, some universities may accept T Levels for this course; however, some may not.

The most common entry requirements for an accounting degree are:

Depending on your overall UCAS tariff points, you may be required to study a foundation year. Again, not all universities will offer this as an option for you to consider, while some may. GCSEs may not be essential, but some universities have been known to ask for them.

A-Levels

Almost all universities will require you to have A Levels. You will need to have specifically studied mathematics. It is unlikely that you would be accepted onto a university course with a maths or finance A Level. Other subjects are not as important at this level, but a science or English-based subject will likely stand you in good stead.

BTECs

Most universities will accept a BTEC as an alternative to A-Levels. Generally, you must have a BTEC in business, engineering or science. Other subjects have been known to be accepted, but this is somewhat rare.

International Baccalaureate

This is specifically for international students. The International Baccalaureate will require you to have studied maths at a Higher Level. It will require you to have reached no lower than a level 6. Again, some universities may accept lower than a 6, but this is rare. Standard Level maths has also been known to be accepted if students did not study a Higher Level.

What are the best universities for Accounting in the UK?

The best universities will depend on you and what you need from a university. No one university is necessarily better than the other, even if one is a Russell Group university.

The best thing to do is attend some open days and see what a university has to offer you. Some will have better equipment, some better resources and some may have better connections to the industry, thus making it easier to find a job.

What are similar subjects to Accounting?

Accounting encompasses many different disciplines. As a result, there are many subjects that are very similar to accounting for you to pursue.

The most common subjects are:

• Business courses
• Data analysis courses
• Economics courses
• Management courses
• Marketing courses
• Mathematics courses
• Statistics courses

It is also possible to combine this with another subject, either at postgraduate or undergraduate level. This means you can specialise in accounting in a specific sector or area rather than just learning accounting as a discipline.

What jobs can I get with an Accounting degree?

You can find many jobs with an accounting degree. Unsurprisingly, most are related to either business and industry or finance. It is also possible to find other potential careers, especially if you are studying a separate degree at postgraduate level (or undergraduate, if you plan on studying accounting at postgraduate level).

The most related jobs are:

• Accountant
• Chartered accountant
• Commercial analyst
• Compliance manager
• Credit controller
• Data analyst
• Finance manager
• Forensic accountant
• Investment banker
• Production accountant
• Retail banker
• Stockbroker
• Tax adviser

It is also possible to consider jobs in education too. To work in education, you will need to have a PGCE degree or a Masters in Education beforehand.

Can I apply for Accounting through Clearing?

This depends on what courses become available. Not all courses will fall into Clearing this way, however, you may find some Clearing accounting courses become available on that day.

Clearing day may also see you find the entry requirements lower. Not all universities will necessarily lower their entry requirements for a course, however, if intake is low or if the university feels they have perhaps set their expectations too high of potential candidates, then they may lower them.