University of Cape Town - UCT
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 ...07 Apr, 2023
StudentZACommitment to student learningUCT invest in their student learning and support. They provide in person lectures as well as record the lecture for offline learning and student consolidation.
They provide us with slot for consultations with course convenor, tutors and lectures.
They further provide tutorials weekly for further student learning.
They make sure they try to get as many students to understand the content taught by providing different mediums to learn
View moreProgramme: Accounting and FinanceDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2023Delivery Type: On CampusCampus: Cape Town -
Business and ...03 Dec, 2022 StudentZAAwful
I was using NSFAS last year. When I wanted to register for a post-graduate program this year I was told I have outstanding fees. That blocked me from registering. I had to pay the outstanding amount and then pay my registration fee. I rely on my mother who is a domestic worker for the funding and I don’t know where they expected me to get that money.
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On Tuesday I paid a registration of R5430 via the institution’s its enabler. That amount did not reflect on my student account, so I reported it to the Student Finance team. I having been calling since Tuesday and no one has helped me with my case. I even emailed them several times and still no response.Programme: Business and FinanceDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2022Delivery Type: BlendedCampus: Cape Town -
Accounting and ...30 Nov, 2022
KagisoZATop NotchThis is the best university ever. The students’ wellbeing are their top priority. During the fire that occurred at the campus, resulting in facilities such as res and libraries badly burned. The university took it upon themselves to sent us to private accommodation where they paid for our stay. I will never forget that experience and will always be grateful for what UCT has done!
View moreProgramme: Accounting and EconomicsDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2022Delivery Type: BlendedCampus: Cape Town -
Actuarial Science30 Nov, 2022 StudentZAExcellent Institution
The university respects diversity, there are students from all parts of the world. The professors are helpful and friendly. The only disadvantage here is the extreme coldness🥶 during winter. Other than that, it is a good university with good support structure from the academic staff
View moreProgramme: Actuarial ScienceDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2022Delivery Type: On CampusCampus: Cape Town -
Accounting and ...16 Nov, 2022 AustinZAExcellence
I am currently studying at UCT from 2021 and I have been enjoying the diversity that is within the University. It is such a pleasurable experience with the infrastructure adding more value to the marvel that is UCT. The diversity in language, nationalities and makes a vibrant appreciated learning environment.
View moreProgramme: Accounting and FinanceDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2023Delivery Type: On CampusCampus: Cape Town
