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Accountancy or accounting courses can provide a fast track to working in an accounting profession. Courses usually include learning skills and knowledge (and taking some of the exams needed) to qualify in areas of accountancy such as chartered, management or public finance. You will also study maths, statistics, economics and finance and may put theory into practice on a placement. As well as going into accountancy, graduates from this course typically enter finance, business, the public sector, banking, marketing and management.
Here's a guide to what to expect from the application process - also check individual university entry requirements, as these may differ.
January application
October application
Personal statement
Portfolio
Interview
Entry test
Work experience
Audition
Personal statement advice
Whatever subject you're studying, here are 10 things to be certain to include in your Ucas personal statement to get the attention of university admissions tutors...
You don't have to be an accountant if you take this degree, but a lot of graduates take a look at the rewards on offer for accountancy trainees and go into the job. Many others go into other parts of the finance industry, and some go into management or marketing. The recent setbacks in the finance industry have meant the employment figures are not as good as usual and if the industry recovers, we'd expect to see that data improve. London is very popular for accountancy graduates going into their first job, but it's also quite common to work in Scotland, with Glasgow a hotbed of Scottish accountancy recruitment in 2012. If you want to find a job in finance as an accountancy graduate, recruitment agencies were particularly important last year, so try to get in touch with one as soon as you can to improve your chances.
Business, finance and related associate professionals
Average graduate salary
£21k
MED
% of graduates in work or further study
95%
MED
Longer term career paths
Jobs where this degree is useful
Chartered accountant
Taxation investigator
Financial accounts manager
Other real-life job examples
Actuary
Broker/financial trader
IT business analyst
What employers like about this subject
An accounting degree will develop subject-specific skills in areas including the theories and practices of accountancy; in the use and preparation of financial information in decision-making and in understanding commerce, industry and finance. A professional accountancy qualification is also necessary to become a qualified accountant. Useful transferable skills you can gain from an accounting degree include numeracy, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking and a business focus. Accountancy graduates are in demand from business across the finance industry, but as many larger firms have their own accounts departments, they are employed all over the economy.
