Accounting - International Accounting with Analytics - Degree Apprenticeship

Overview

Qualified accountants are always in high demand the profession provides excellent employability and earning prospects. The MSc International Accounting with Analytics offers you the ability to advance your accounting career as well as acquiring practical analytics skills essential to the accounting profession.



This programme is designed for business and accounting graduates to combine study for a Master’s degree, while also gaining exemptions from professional examinations and gaining an understanding of and expertise in accounting and business analytics.



The programme is informed and shaped by the needs of the accounting, finance and taxation professionals of tomorrow. The programme encourages critical and creative thinking, teamwork and communication, and develops a diverse range of professional attributes which equip graduates to excel in the accounting profession and to become the business leaders of the future.



Significant exemptions from the Chartered Accountants Ireland examinations will be available on completion. Graduates of the MSc should be granted full exemption from their CAP2 examinations and therefore have only two final admitting examinations to complete after graduation.



Degree Apprenticeships at Ulster University

A Degree Apprenticeship is a work-based training programme that provides an alternative route to getting a University Degree, where Apprentices complete their course alongside paid permanent employment.



Degree Apprenticeships involve integrated learning - you’ll gain practical experience that will inform your learning, and with mentorship support, you’ll apply what you study to your work within your organisation.



Degree Apprenticeships are funded by the Department for the Economy, so you can complete your undergraduate degree without having to pay tuition fees.

Year one

Advanced UK Taxation

International Financial Reporting

Strategic Finance

Strategic Management Accounting

Research Methods for Finance Professionals



Year two

Strategic Leadership for International Accounting

International Audit and Assurance

Data Analytics for Finance Professionals

International Corporate Reporting and Tax Planning



Optional:

Dissertation

Applied Research Project

Sustainability Reporting and Governance

Applicants must be able to satisfy the University's general admissions requirements in one of the following ways:



Applicants must:

(a) have gained

(i) a second class honours degree in an accounting discipline or better from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or



(ii) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in an accounting discipline in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification;



and



(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).



Alternatively, applicants must demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning.



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



Eligibility

To participate in a Degree Apprenticeship programme, you must:

• be a school leaver aged 16 or over;

• be newly employed (less than 6 months before the start of the course) or be about to take up employment on a permanent contract with a minimum of 21 hours per week;

• have achieved the minimum academic entry qualifications for the course;

• pass any entry tests specified by the relevant sector;

• have a right to live and work in the UK.



Additionally:

• You can participate if you already have a degree, provided that it the course you are applying for is at a higher level than or unrelated to your previous qualification.

• You can still apply for a Degree Apprenticeship if you have been at your organisation for more than 6 months, provided you are entering a new job role that requires new competences/knowledge.

• You cannot participate if you are self-employed.



To participate in a Degree Apprenticeship programme, your employer:

• must have a permanent base in Northern Ireland;

• must ensure that apprentices are enrolled on UK/HMRC payroll for the duration of the programme, and that all apprentices are paid a wage commensurate with the role and not less than • the UK minimum wage;

• must not be a public sector employer.

When to Apply

You should apply for a Degree Apprenticeship programme once your Apprenticeship employer has made you an offer of employment.



For details of all available job opportunities, please complete the enquiry form below and our course team will get in touch.



To be eligible to apply for a Degree Apprenticeship, you and your employer must meet all of the scheme’s eligibility criteria.



You must also meet the minimum academic entry requirements for the course you intend to study.

Over the course of two academic years, lectures are delivered in flip classroom format with students required to attend on campus practical workshops one day per week (Monday or Tuesday only).

Start Date: September 2026.

Careers and Opportunities

Accounting specialists with knowledge of accounting, finance and the business environment are always in great demand. The combination of subjects you will study on this course will provide you with a sound basis to become a future business leader. The knowledge you will acquire will enable you to work in any industry sector and across all areas of business including financial reporting, accounting, finance, taxation or management in public, private or not-for-profit organisations.



The analytics element of the programme is essential to prepare graduates for their professional career by enabling them to ‘add value’ to the business decision making processes within an organisation or for a client business. Graduates will gain practical understanding of and expertise in the use of analytics tools to enable them to help businesses uncover valuable insights within financial information, identify process improvements to help businesses increase efficiency, and to ensure the better management of exposure to risk.



Due to the exemptions available, you will also be a step ahead in your professional accountancy training. On successful completion of this course, you will only be required to undertake a three year training contract and will only have two more examinations to undertake to become a Chartered Accountant.