Accounting

Offering a fast-track qualification for graduates with nonaccounting degrees who want to pursue a career in accounting, you will acquire a basic knowledge of the core areas of accounting and, on successful completion, will have taken the first steps to becoming a professionally qualified accountant.

This programme will be of interest to graduates who wish to gain exemptions from professional accounting examinations.

Successful students can progress to the MSc Advanced Accounting or MSc Strategic Accounting or directly to an accounting training contract to become a professionally qualified accountant. The programme has excellent postgraduation employment rates. Through the University's Employability and Careers Service, we facilitate meetings with prospective employers during the programme.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one
Financial Accounting
Financial accounting provides the student with an understanding of the concepts underpinning financial reporting for sole traders and partnerships.

Management Accounting
To provide students with an opportunity to study for a first time the concepts and processes used to determine product and service costs and to apply these to a range of costing and accounting systems and how this contributes to the achievement of organisational objectives.

Audit and Assurance
This module introduces the student to the conceptual and theoretical fundamentals of auditing combined with the practical application of auditing principles and the issues encountered in a financial reporting and audit environment. It identifies the skills that a professional auditor must have and how best to utilise those skills in today's challenging business environment.

Financial Reporting
Financial Reporting builds on the concepts and principles relating to sole traders and partnerships set out in Financial Accounting by broadening the area of financial reporting to include limited companies and the preparation of group financial statements.

Management Accounting in Practice
Having completed this module the student will be able to: understand the role of the management accountant and how this contributes to the achievement of organisational objectives; understand the role of modern management accounting practices which enable organisations to develop and assess performance; and apply appropriate management decision tools to a specified range of scenarios.

Corporate Financial Reporting
Corporate Financial Reporting provides the student with an understanding of both accounting theory and the practical application of international financial reporting standards.

Financial Management
This module looks at the role and importance of finance and financial management within the process of managerial decision making. It will enable students to understand the principles, techniques and theories of financial management, investment appraisal and working capital control and to provide relevant information and advice to both organisations and individuals. It will cover subjects such as:

The Financial Environment.
Investment decisions.
Financing decisions.
Working Capital Management
Finance and the individual.

Applied Taxation
Knowledge of taxation is essential to students intending to pursue a career in Accounting and is an essential part of most financial and economic decision making. This module provides a fundamental detailed study of the main aspects of the UK tax system, including Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Tax and Ethics, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax, Value Added Tax.

The module also requires a critical evaluation of modern issues/ethical dilemmas.

Governance, Risk and Ethics
The module informs and equips students to effectively respond to the corporate governance, risk management and ethical challenges organisations face today. The module aims to investigate the key components for securing the highest standards of effective corporate governance.

Law for Accountants
This module develops an understanding of the legal system and how it works. It gives a knowledge of and experience in applying the rules of contract, agency, employment and company law considered to be of importance to the accountant in private practice.

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

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.

If English is not your first language this course requires a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5, or equivalent.

Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details.

This course is open to international (non-EU) students (full-time only).

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Career options
Successful students can progress onto the MSc Advanced Accounting or MSc Strategic 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.