What Grades Do I Need to Apply for Accounting?
If you enjoy working with numbers and have strong analytic skills then an Accounting degree could be a good career option for you.
Finance is a key part of all business and commerce, regardless of the industry so having a strong interest in business and an eye for detail will also stand you in good stead for your future career.
During your degree you’ll develop many transferrable skills such as analysis, communication, and organisation. You’ll also learn how to measure, process, and report financial information to your company, client, investors, regulators, and other concerned parties including the general public.
All in all, a degree in Accounting doesn’t just mean you’ll be looking a numbers in a dingy office five days a week.
Here’s more about a degree in Accounting and the entry requirements for most Accounting degrees.
What kind of Accounting degrees are available?
There are a number of degree options available with the most common undergraduate route being a Bachelor of Accountancy or a Bachelor of Accounting.
Many universities offer a degree course solely in Accounting but you may also have the option of combining your degree for joint honours in a related subject, for example Business and Accounting.
You may also find that more general business degrees are available and they could have a focus on Accounting. For example:
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting
- Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Accounting
Other alternatives include:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Accounting
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Accounting
What grades do I need to apply for Accounting?
With degrees such as Accounting the actual A Level subjects you take at college generally don’t matter. However, it’s still important to check the entry requirements of each university before you apply.
You may also find that you’ll be given preference over other students if you’ve studied a subject such as Maths, Business Studies, or Economics at college.
You’ll also find that expected grades for entry on to Accounting courses are generally as high as for other subjects such as science based courses.
Entry requirements for the more selective universities range from AAA to BBC.
Are there any other entry requirements for an Accounting degree?
As well as a good academic record there are a number of other things that admissions tutors look for in potential Accounting students:
- Interest and awareness of general business
- Self-motivation and commitment
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- Effective team work skills
- Strong IT skills
- A methodical, analytical approach to work
- Integrity and trustworthiness
When you’re study to become a chartered accountant you’ll also be required to undertake a work placement so any kind of relevant work experience will also look good in your personal statement.
Where can I study Accounting?
Accounting and Accountancy is a fairly common degree option and because of this you can find courses all over the UK.
The top universities in the UK to study for an Accounting degree are:
- Bath
- Warwick
- London School of Economics
- Lancaster
- Strathclyde
What can I do with my Accounting degree?
The most obvious option after graduation is to become a chartered accountant. From there many students go on to work for one of the “Big Four” accounting firms: Deloitte, PwC, Ernst & Young, and KPMG.
Other career options include using the knowledge and skills gained during your degree to move into areas such as business management, consultancy, risk management, auditing, banking, or general business on a local or national scale.
Do I need to do any postgraduate study to become an accountant?
Most accounting degrees in the UK are accredited by the relevant professional body for Accounting, meaning that you can apply for exemption from certain exams when you work towards your chartered accountant status after graduation.
There are three professional institutes of chartered accountants in the UK, and a number of other bodies that award different accountancy qualifications.
They are:
- Chartered Accountants Ireland
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
Generally you would find an entry level position with an organisation that was prepared to support you as a trainee accountant whilst you take the professional qualifications needed to make you a fully qualified chartered accountant.
This enables you to earn whilst you learn and develop the practical skills and experience needed for your future career.
