Why Your Accounting Degree Should Be ACCA Approved

When choosing where you’d like to study accounting, the decision goes beyond just location, facilities or even tuition fees. One of the most important factors for prospective accountants should be whether their degree is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). For students looking to gain a clear advantage in a competitive field, an ACCA-recognised degree from the University of Greater Manchester delivers exactly that.

What is the ACCA?

ACCA is one of the world’s largest and most respected professional accounting bodies, with over 24,000 members and 540,000 students across 178 countries. Employers in the UK and worldwide recognise ACCA as the gold standard in accountancy, and a degree in line with their guidelines immediately signals to potential employers that your education and background meets rigorous standards. It shows that your knowledge has not just been assessed by your university, but also against the professional expectations of the industry. This credibility can make an incredible difference when applying for graduate roles, internships or training.

An accelerated path to professional accreditation

One of the most practical benefits of such a degree is exemption from a number of ACCA exams. Typically an undergraduate degree in accounting will grant exemptions from up to nine ACCA papers, depending on the modules you’ve already completed and the grades you received. This means graduates can move much more quickly towards full ACCA membership, saving you a lot of time and money in the process, as without these exemptions each ACCA paper would require separate study and exam fees. That process alone can take several additional years to complete.

Starting your professional qualifications during your degree course significantly shortens how long it will take you to become a fully qualified accountant. At the University of Greater Manchester, accounting graduates of our programme meeting ACCA standards leave university with far more than just a degree. They leave with progress towards becoming a chartered accountant.

Accounting is a profession which is constantly evolving with changes in technology, regulation and global business practices, and courses which meet ACCA requirements are regularly reviewed to align with these developments. The ACCA works closely with universities like ours to ensure course content remains up to date with current industry needs, ranging from financial reporting standards to digital accounting tools to sustainability reporting. We ensure that our students aren’t just learning theory for the sake of passing exams — they are developing skills that are directly applicable to the modern workplace. Employers increasingly expect graduates to be supremely comfortable with topics such as data, FinTech and ethics, all of which are embedded within the modules of our ACCA-approved degree.

Ready to take the next step?

To find out more about how an ACCA-accredited accounting degree at the University of Greater Manchester can help you thrive in the world of accounting, get in touch with our team today by calling us on +44 (0)1204 900 600 or sending an email to enquiries@bolton.ac.uk.