If you are planning to take an accounting and finance degree, studying in the United Kingdom can be your best choice.
Below are the top five reasons why should you study in the UK for your accounting and finance degree?
1. Accreditation for professional accounting certificate
To become a certified accountant, you are required to pass at least one professional accounting certification. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) are the most common professional accounting certification.
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is one of the world largest professional accountancy group. Upon the completion of an undergraduate programme in accounting or finance, you will get four subjects exemptions for your ACCA exams. If you plan your university elective modules according to the ACCA syllabus, you can even gain up to nine exemptions for ACCA exams (out of a total of 14 exams). For the postgraduate accounting and finance programmes, you can also get up to five exemptions for your ACCA exam.
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is one of the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants. Students who completed the undergraduate in accounting major can gain up to ten exemptions for CIMA exams (out of a total of 13 exams).
With the benefits of accounting professional exam accreditation, students can fast track their career journey, give them more time to focus on developing their expertise.
Read more on Best 4 Professional Certifications for Finance and Accounting Students.
2. Shorter of the study period
Majority of UK (except of Scotland) universities’ course structure is designed for the student to completed a bachelor degree in three years times. For the postgraduate studies, they usually take one year to complete.
Compared with undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the USA and Canada, students can graduate one year early if they choose to study in the UK. That means students can save a year of tuition, time and other costs.
3. Longer history for account and finance course
The United Kingdom was the earliest established country for professional accountancy groups and accountants. The accounting major has also been one of the most traditional business majors in the UK education system. Because of its long history and a large number of professional accountants, it provides an excellent learning and working environment.
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), world-leading professional accountancy group and the fastest growing professional accountant organization’s headquarter is also located in the United Kingdom.
4. International recognition
Universities in the UK are well known by their high standard of teaching, learning and research. These are the key elements that impact on a university’s international reputation.
5. Centre of global finance
The UK is one of the three world’s major financial centres, London has gathered more than 250 foreign banks and branches in the city.
Overall, the UK has 37% of the global total of foreign-exchange turnover. It has twice of dollars are traded in the UK, and it has twice of euros traded in the Eurozone. In 2017, the financial service of UK trade surplus was $88bn which equivalent to £68bn. This amount is nearly the same as the combined surpluses of the next three leading countries (the US, Switzerland and Luxembourg).
(Source: Key facts about the UK as an international financial centre in 2018)
