University of Alberta
speciality: Accounting & Finance
What is an Accounting & Finance degree?
An Accounting & Finance degree focuses on the management of monetary resources available to an organization. Such a degree is aimed at students who want to pursue careers in investment analysis, management, banking, auditing, consulting and financial management. It teaches students how to assess the assets and liabilities of an organization financially and manage the financial risk of their activity.
Accounting & Finance covers the core areas of financial accounting, management accounting and finance but also includes other aspects of the business activity, such as financial management and control, corporate finance, company accounts, investment and business law. Optional module options provided by different universities around the world often allow students to specialize in a particular area such as auditing, taxation, etc.
Benefits of an Accounting & Finance degree
The completion of an Accounting & Finance degree comes along with numerous benefits. Students develop strong analytical, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, which are highly demanded by employers in both the private and the public sector and result in graduates often finding employment in large multinational organizations that offer professional services such as PwC, KPMG and Deloitte. On top of that, established companies around the world offer excellent and well-structured graduate schemes, which help Accounting & Finance graduates to kick-start their careers.
Accounting & Finance degrees are mostly practically oriented. They allow students to put the knowledge and skills they acquire on a daily basis to practice through simulated and real-life business accounts management and work placement opportunities.
Most Accounting & Finance degrees are professionally accredited by professional bodies, such as ACCA, AIA, CIMA, ICAEW and CIPFA, which provides students with the opportunity to become chartered accountants. Students gain professional qualifications in accountancy, which eliminates the need for additional certifications after graduation.
Due to the nature of the Accounting & Finance Degree, which complements business-related subjects, students often have the opportunity to complete a joint honours degree.
Accounting & Finance Degree Structure
An Accounting & Finance degree’s duration varies depending on the country and degree level. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting & Finance can be completed in three years. However, universities also offer students the option to take a sandwich course, which allows them to undertake a year-long placement between their second and third year, which extends the course to four years. Four years is the regular time of completion of this degree in other countries, such as the United States.
The first year of a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance introduces the core principles of accounting and finance, including financial accounting, management accounting and finance as well as economics and business law. The second year’s focus is usually on managerial and business economics, financial control, corporate finance and company accounts, but optional modules might enable students to pursue their interests in other aspects of Accounting & Finance such as auditing or strategic business analysis. At this point, students studying at Higher Education Institutions in the UK could choose to take an industry placement in order to apply the theoretical concepts and the acquired knowledge to practice in the professional environment. The next stage of this degree is dedicated to further-developing students’ knowledge of financial and management accounting. Optional modules might enable students to specialize in a particular area of their choice such as auditing or taxation in some countries like the UK.
Masters’ degrees in Accounting & Finance usually take between 12 and 18 months to complete depending on the country that students choose for their studies.
Research-based degrees, such as MPhil and PhD, can take anywhere between 1 and 7 years depending on the country and type of degree. MPhil degrees in Accounting & Finance in the UK usually take 12 months if it is studied full-time and 24 months for part-time studies. PhD degrees in the UK, on the other hand, take about 36 months to complete if studying full-time and 72 months for a part-time program. In the US, students may be required to dedicate between 4 and 7 years on their degree.
5 Student Reviews
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Accounting and ...6 months ago
StudentCHChoosing a career path“The University of Alberta provides students with a wealth of opportunities to advance their careers, through a variety of pathways and networks. The school also offers flexibility in choosing a career path, allowing students to tailor their education to their own interests and goals. The campus life is vibrant and social, with a diverse student body and many events and activities. Overall, the University of Alberta is a great place to study and grow as a person.”
View moreProgramme: Accounting and Business FinanceDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2026Delivery Type: On CampusCampus: Edmonton -
Accounting and ...17 Dec, 2022 StudentCAFinance
Overall, uofa has been a wonderful experience and has been so beneficial in my development not only as a student but as a person. I would say that my program has been very good so far and overall it has had its ups and downs but nevertheless, wonderful.
View moreProgramme: Accounting and Business FinanceDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2025Delivery Type: On CampusCampus: Edmonton -
Accounting and ...10 Jun, 2022
DianeGain experiences with a little struggleOverall a great place to study and have amazing experiences with student groups and responsive professors.
It can get a lil troublesome with the cold and snow. The resources are being cut down by the state so that’s a bit sad. It offers diverse courses and amazing residence though.
View moreProgramme: Accounting and Business FinanceDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2023Delivery Type: On CampusCampus: Edmonton -
Accounting and ...10 Jun, 2022 StudentUniversity of Alberta
UofA is one of the best universities located in the Northern part of Canada. It has a very big and beautiful campus, especially the arts building, but it can get COLD in winter. And by cold, I mean -35 freezing cold. But even if I had a chance, I wouldn’t change any of it. The university offers extremely diverse courses and electives like criminology, and Korean and indigenous culture, which means it caters needs of each one of you. The residence is another great aspect of going to UofA. We have lovely food and a cafeteria!!! The student leadership certificate is another facet, in addition to work and internship experiences that can help you grow and put yourself out there, ready for all the obstacles.
View moreProgramme: Accounting and Business FinanceDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2023Delivery Type: On CampusCampus: Edmonton -
Accounting and ...17 May, 2022 StudentAmazing school
The program is wonderful and engaging. Through the University of Alberta Business school, you are able to make so many connections and be involved in the school community. The friends you meet will be lifelong friends and overall it is an amazing school!
View moreProgramme: Accounting and Business FinanceDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2023Delivery Type: On CampusCampus: Edmonton
