Study Accounting & Finance
Master the language of global finance—pursue an international education in accounts and finance, gaining a competitive edge in the ever-evolving financial landscape.
Accounting and Finance Course Overview and Importance
Accounting and Finance deals with the optimum utilization of financial resources available to an organization for smooth operations. Accounting experts are strict record keepers who keep track of every transaction made in an organization. At the same time, finance professionals tell the organization about the resources available and how to make the most of them.
An accredited accounting and finance course will provide an in-depth understanding of money management besides economics and quantitative techniques, essential for financial reporting, management accounting, and financial management. Learning efficient use of accounting software also forms a part of the curriculum.
Traditionally delivered through classroom lectures and discussions, an accounting & finance course also has components like individual and group exercises, case studies, seminars and workshops. The participants have to undertake credit-bearing real-life projects apart from other modes of assessment like reports, group presentations, portfolios and term-end exams. Some programs may also have an industrial placement component, undertaken locally or abroad, that gives the students invaluable practical exposure to accounting skills and best practices, thus enhancing their employability further.
A versatile and in-demand qualification, an accounting and finance course can open career options for you across industry sectors internationally. As accounting is considered the language of business, and effective financial management is crucial to the successful running of any organization, the career path is lucrative and secure.
Exploring the Reasons to Study Accounting and Finance Courses Abroad
Accounting and finance form the backbone of any organization that intends to operate smoothly in the long run. Hence, the demand for qualified professionals in the field remains unaffected by the ups and downs of the world economy. Pursuing an accounting and finance course in one of the advanced economies can earn you brownie points in the job market, besides equipping you with crucial employability skills.
An opportunity to study accounting and finance abroad will land you into a culturally diverse cohort of students from all over the world, helping you gain valuable insights from different perspectives besides making international connections that can yield professional dividends in future.
A lot of accounting and finance course abroad provides an exciting work placement opportunity wherein you can gain professional experience of a few weeks to a year in an organization as part of your studies. This way, you not only get a practical orientation of the theory you learn in class but also get exposure to the work environment, adding value to your candidacy post-qualification
Earning a global perspective with an accounting & finance course abroad can help you seek employment with larger firms with bigger earning potential, anywhere in the world, thus kickstarting your international career to achieve great heights.
Turn your Study Abroad Dream to Reality
General Entry Requirements of Accounting & Finance Course
UK
A-levels or equivalent with Mathematics; Some universities may require specific A-levels
USA
High school diploma with Mathematics as a subject.
Canada
High school diploma with Mathematics as a subject. Some programs may have additional criteria.
Australia
High school diploma with Mathematics. ATAR or equivalent.
Germany
Abitur or equivalent.
France
French Baccalaureate or equivalent.
Ireland
School Leaving Certificate with specified subjects.
New Zealand
High school diploma with Mathematics as a subject.
UAE
Entry requirements vary by university.
Europe
Eligibility conditions and entrance tests vary by country and institution.
UK
A relevant Bachelor’s Degree. Some programs may require GMAT/GRE scores.
USA
A relevant Bachelor’s Degree. Some programs may require GMAT/GRE scores.
Canada
A relevant Bachelor’s Degree. GMAT/GRE score may be required.
Australia
A relevant Bachelor’s Degree. GMAT score may be required.
Germany
A relevant Bachelor’s Degree.
France
A relevant Bachelor’s Degree.
Ireland
A relevant Bachelor’s Degree.
New Zealand
A relevant Bachelor’s Degree.
UAE
A relevant Bachelor’s Degree.
Europe
Eligibility conditions and entrance tests vary by country and institution.
UK
A related Master’s Degree.
USA
A related Master’s Degree. GMAT/GRE score
Canada
A related Master’s Degree. GMAT/GRE score
Australia
A related Master’s Degree.
Germany
A related Master’s Degree.
France
A related Master’s Degree.
Ireland
A related Master’s Degree.
New Zealand
A related Master’s Degree.
Europe
Eligibility conditions and entrance tests vary by country and institution.
Types of Accounting and Finance Courses
Full - Time
Immersive, full-time option in an accounting and finance course wherein you attend traditional sessions with diverse group on campus throughout the program. Besides classroom lectures, the coursework includes group and individual activities, case studies, projects and seminars, and term-end exams.
Full-Time with Work Placement
A full-time accounting & finance course packaged with a credit-bearing work placement wherein participants work with a real firm to understand in practice the theories they learned in class. This program delivery model is called a Full-time course with Work Experience and carries the immense advantage of getting practical exposure while studying that adds mileage to your resume post-qualification.
Dual Degree
You can also opt for intensive double major programs like Accounting and Law, Computer Information Systems and Accounting, Economics and Accounting and so on. You can also choose to get a dual degree in a language like German or Spanish, alongside an accounting & finance course to embolden your career prospects in specific countries. You can acquire dual degrees or double majors within the span of one, besides securing multiple career pathways.
Part-Time
Working professionals who cannot juggle a full-time program with their work commitments can take up a part-time accounting and finance course. Such courses are structured flexibly to accommodate the schedule of busy professionals so that they can attend on-campus classes during the evenings or on the weekends.
Online
Finally, people who wish to study accounting and finance with a reputed higher education institution abroad without going through the process of obtaining a student visa or taking a career break can opt for the online program option. Such programs offer the flexibility of remote learning yet a qualification from a globally recognized foreign degree provider.
Tuition Fees to Study Accounting and Finance Course Abroad
Country | Average Annual Tuition Fee |
UK | £10,000 – £30,000 |
USA | $20,000 – $50,000 (Public Universities) |
Canada | CAD 10,000 – CAD 33,000 |
Australia | AUD 20,000 – AUD 50,000 |
Germany | Free/low tuition at Public Universities; €5,000 – €20,000 at Private Universities |
France | €200 – €1,000 (public universities) |
Ireland | €10,000 – €30,000 |
UAE | AED 50,000 – AED 100,000 |
New Zealand | NZD 22,000 – NZD 35,000 |
Europe | €1,000 – €15,000 (Varies according to universities and countries) |
Duration of Accounting & Finance Courses Abroad
- Undergraduate Programs – 3 -4 years
- Postgraduate Programs – 1 – 2 years
- Doctorate Programs – 3 -5 years
Top Universities Overseas to Study Accounting And Finance
UK
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
USA
- Harvard University
- Stanford University
- University of Chicago
Canada
- University of Toronto
- University of British Columbia
- McGill Universitya
Australia
- University of Melbourne
- University of Sydney
- Australian National University
France
- HEC Paris
- ESSEC Business School
- ESCP Europe
Germany
- Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
- Mannheim Business School
- WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management
Ireland
- University College Dublin
- Trinity College Dublin
- Dublin City University
New Zealand
- University of Auckland
- Victoria University of Wellington
- University of Otago
UAE
- American University of Sharjah
- University of Dubai
- United Arab Emirates University
Scholarships to Pursue Accounting and Finance Course Abroad
You do not need to bear the burden of the total cost of attending an accounting & finance course abroad. Here are some renowned institutional scholarship options that can assist you in your education dreams.
United Kingdom
- University of Bristol Scholarships: The merit-based Think Big About Business undergraduate awards are funded by the University of Bristol to incoming overseas students signing up for Bachelor’s programs in the discipline. The awards include two scholarships of £13,000 a year and eight scholarships of £6,500 a year and are directed towards tuition fees.
- The Henley Business School awards scholarships to students pursuing a Doctorate in Business Informatics, Systems & Accounting. The award covers tuition fees and includes an annual stipend. Renewal is subject to the performance of the awardees.
USA
- NYU Stern grants merit-based awards of $10,000 - $20,000 to deserving incoming students of the MS in Accounting, distributed over the first two semesters.
- The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers fellowships worth $18,000-$30,000 to international students participating in a postgraduate program in the USA. The fellowship value depends on the degree.
Canada
- The Canadian federal agency of Social Sciences and Humanities Research awards the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships to candidates planning to study accounting and finance programs in the country. The host Institution in Canada nominates the candidates for the award. The award decision is based on the academic excellence, research and leadership potential of the nominated candidates.
Australia
- The RSA Honors Scholarship: The Research School of Accounting within the ANU College of Business and Economics grants the RSA Honors Scholarship to domestic and international students enrolling into either Bachelor of Commerce (H) or Bachelor of Accounting (H) programs. The merit-based award, valued at $15,000 a year, can be renewed based on academic performance.
- The Australia Awards Scholarship is granted by the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to assist international students pursuing full-time undergraduate/ postgraduate programs at participating Australian institutions.
Germany
- The Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarship for International Students is for deserving candidates signing up for any degree program across levels at a recognized German higher education institution. The awardees are selected considering above-average academic merit and prospects of an excellent professional career. They must showcase accepted levels of German language proficiency regardless of the language of delivery of their program.
Ireland
- The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship, applicable for all fields of study at the Master’s or PhD levels, include a full tuition fee waiver and a 10,000 EUR stipend for a year’s study.
New Zealand
- The University of Newcastle awards the merit-based International Excellence Scholarship (Management, Accounting and Finance) to high-performing international students signing up for postgraduate programs in the disciplines. The award is valued at AU$ 15,000 annually for the full-time study period.
Career Progression after Accounting and Finance Course
After Undergraduate Studies:
After completing an undergraduate accounting & finance course, you can find entry-level employment opportunities as a financial advisor, accountant, financial analyst, internal auditor, budget analyst, etc. According to the figures for these roles published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual median compensation ranges between $50,646 – $88,890.
After Postgraduate Studies
A Master’s degree acquired after the completion of an accredited accounting and finance course yields higher-level positions such as senior accountant, accounting manager, tax accountant, senior financial analyst, senior auditor, finance manager, and corporate controller, among others. The salary range of these positions according to the BLS is between $56,327 and $96,444.
After Doctorate Studies
Individuals inclined towards academia and research progress to study accounting and finance doctorate degrees. Professionally, such candidates carry on with research or mentor budding accounting and finance aspirants. Alternately, such qualified candidates can also take up leadership positions in organizations wherein they play a decisive role in finance-related policy-making. It is difficult to pinpoint the salary package for such senior-level executives, but it is safe to say that compensation varies with experience and role.
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FAQs
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UniApplica provides a comprehensive solution for all aspects of student needs, covering everything required for a successful academic journey.
Accounting is all about recording monetary transactions and generating financial reports. For example, an accounts manager in a business firm keeps track of its income and expenditure, while a tax consultant prepares tax returns for individuals and organizations.
Finance professionals, on the other hand, are more concerned about the overall management of financial assets and liabilities of clients to maximize resource utilization and achieve set goals. They are responsible for researching the best means to grow the client’s funds and directing the financial transactions accordingly.
The accounting and finance discipline demands knowledge of basic mathematical concepts and operations and a keen understanding of numbers to analyze data for financial reporting. So, to say, a successful career in accounting and finance is based on a strong quantitative aptitude. The critical math skills that you need to gain a foothold in the field are basic arithmetic, including fractions and percentages, statistics, probability, and financial mathematics.
Accounting and finance professionals must possess strong critical and analytical skills, a keen eye for detail, and excellent communication skills to present precise information to clients. The transferable skills indispensable for such professionals are decision-making, problem-solving, negotiation and time management.
Often, after completing an accounting and finance course, individuals appear for accrediting examinations administered by different professional bodies that certify them as chartered experts in specific fields to add to their competitive advantage. Some of these popular bodies are:
- Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Chartered Banker Institute (CBI)
- Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT)
- Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)
- Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
After you study accounting and finance programs, you can embark on a wide range of career paths. Some of these include:
- Accounting Consultant – Works for individuals and organizations, preparing financial documents for public disclosure, including tax returns and balance sheet statements. Such professionals may add to their credibility with a CFA certification.
- Forensic Accountant – Works closely with law enforcement agencies as a financial sleuth, investigating transactions to unveil tax fraud, embezzlement, etc.
- Management Accountant – Analyses the financial documents of businesses, evaluates budgeting goals, audits financial performance records, and plans for business expenses.
- Fund or Portfolio Managers – Oversees an organization/individual’s portfolio of funds, analyses market performance and strategies investments to maximize growth.
- Risk Analyst or risk manager – Analyses risks associated with investment plans besides measuring financial risks of the clients and finding appropriate means to limit the damage caused by market changes.