Accounting

Overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting at Ulster University is designed to offer you a route to become a Chartered/Chartered Certified Accountant.



The course is suitable for students with little or no previous knowledge of accounting and finance who wish to study these subjects further, or who wish to undertake postgraduate studies in accounting and finance but lack the depth of knowledge necessary to study at Master’s level.



Throughout this fast-track programme, you will develop your knowledge and understanding of the key aspects of accounting, finance and business.



The Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting will also help you to enhance your personal skills, as well as the subject-specific and professional skills you will need to be successful as an accountant.

Modules:

Semester 1

Financial Accounting

Management Accounting

Law for Accountants

Financial Management



Semester 2

Management Accounting in Practice

Corporate Financial Reporting

Applied Taxation

Governance, Risk and Ethics

A second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a non-relevant discipline, or an equivalent standard in a professional qualification. Plus a good standard of GCSE English Language and Mathematics.



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.



• For English language requirements go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/english-language-requirements



• For Your country go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/country



Exemptions and transferability

Success in modules undertaken may lead to exemption from knowledge papers of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA); some of the operational and management level examinations of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), or the CA Proficiency 1 (CAP1) examinations of the Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI).



On successful completion of the programme, students can undertake an MSc Advanced Accounting to gain further professional exemptions from CAI.

Your Application

You can apply directly to Ulster at any time of year. We advise that you submit your application no later than two weeks prior to your course start date. This is to ensure there is sufficient time for your application to be reviewed and, should you be made an offer, time for you to complete all the necessary pre-enrolment tasks.



Some programmes will have specific deadlines as additional selection (e.g. interview, portfolio submission etc) is required, so please check the course page to ensure you have sufficient time to complete your application.

The programme is delivered over one academic year (late September - late June). It is a full-time course which is delivered through lectures, workshops and seminars and it is expected that students will undertake independent study.

Start Date: September 2026.

Careers and Opportunities

Successful students can progress onto the MSc Advanced Accounting to gain further professional exemptions, or directly into an accounting training contract to become a professionally qualified accountant. The programme has excellent post-graduation employment rates and through the University's Employability & Careers Service, we facilitate linkages with prospective employers during the programme.