Accounting BA



Based at West Lothian College, this course helps you progress from further to higher education and equip you for a career in accounting.

Course overview

Our BA Accounting course will develop your interest in and knowledge and understanding of accounting and helps you develop skills across a number of disciplines to prepare you for the dynamic global business environment.

Based at West Lothian College, this course offers you the opportunity to qualify for a BA degree.

It has been specially designed for you to progress easily from further to higher education and top up your qualification to Bachelor level at West Lothian College, with the option to continue to Honours at the Business School at Edinburgh Napier.

This course aims to:

  • Build your interest in and understanding of accounting
  • Help you develop a basic analytical approach to accounting
  • Equip you with foundational knowledge and skills for employability in accounting roles
  • Improve your intellectual experience by focusing on understanding, analysis, and evaluation of core topics
  • Provide opportunities for focused study of key areas within the programme through a set of structured modules.
Edinburgh Napier University Student outside West Lothian College smiling for the camera

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

1 years

Start date:

Sep

UCAS code:

N325

Course details

Aimed at students who have an HND in a related subject, this course offers you excellent employability skills including professional presentation, team working, leadership, communication and problem solving.

Although you'll be studying at West Lothian College, you will officially be enrolled as a student of Edinburgh Napier University.

Contemporary accounting is about so much more than crunching numbers. Accountancy is complex, and brings into play a number of expert skills. You will learn and develop a combination of accounting, finance and other business skills including accounting techniques and policies relating to corporate finance, tax, auditing, corporate governance, management accounting and corporate reporting.

You will also learn to use and apply relevant IT systems and acquire knowledge of economics and the business environment.

Student support will be available from both Edinburgh Napier University and West Lothian College, including both online and in-person resources.

The modules on this programme include a mix of assessments, including on campus exams, essays and reports.

Upon completing this programme, you will be able to:

  1. Understand basic theories and concepts in accounting and become aware of emerging issues.
  2. Learn and apply basic accounting language and practices, including recording and summarising business transactions, and understanding performance measurement.
  3. Identify the accountant’s role in helping with decision-making, planning, and cost management.
  4. Practice gathering and analysing data, and interpreting key information from different sources.
  5. Develop problem-solving and analytical skills for academic purposes.
  6. Reflect on your own performance, and consider areas where you can improve.
  7. Gain experience of selecting relevant information and be able to synthesise information from a number of sources
  8. Evaluate research information critically and present findings in a logical and clear structure
  9. Analyse data and draw reasonable conclusions
  10. Develop your ability to communicate effectively using appropriate media
  11. Develop digital skills and use appropriate software
  12. Develop the ability to work in groups.
  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    This is course based at West Lothian College. With the support and guidance of our tutors you'll develop an individualised programme of study that best suits you.

    Two modules are offered per trimester in each year of study. You may choose to study one or two modules depending on your circumstances.

    You'll enter directly into Level 3 of the degree. Upon successful completion of Level 3, you'll be eligible for a Bachelors degree. You may choose to transfer to the Business School to complete Year 4 where, upon successful completion, you will be eligible for an Honours degree.

    You'll have the opportunity to choose the direction of your studies, through a range of options

    Although you'll be studying at West Lothian College, you will officially be enrolled as a student of Edinburgh Napier University.
  • note and pen

    Assessments

     The modules on this programme include a mix of assessments, including on campus exams, essays and reports.
  • library

    Facilities

     This course is taught at West Lothian College but you are enrolled as a student at Edinburgh Napier University and can access the student facilities, including the Business School library and the Engage sport centre at Sighthill.

Popular modules

The following modules are all compulsory:

  • Corporate Financial Management
  • Advanced Management Accounting
  • Taxation
  • Advanced Corporate Reporting
  • Auditing
  • Corporate Risk Management

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Accounting?

Our entry requirements indicate both Standard and Minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

Minimum Year 3

HND

  • Pass HND Accounting and Finance with grades BB in all SCQF Level 8 graded units.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

If you do not currently meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer a number of pre-sessional English language courses which could help you achieve the required level.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • MSc Nursing courses
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2025/26 2026/27
Scotland £1,820 £1,820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £9,535 £9,790
Overseas and EU £17,520 £18,220
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study.
Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.
If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Careers & employability

Edinburgh Napier Student smiling at the camera outside West Lothian College

Upon successful completion of Level 3, you'll be eligible for a Bachelors degree.

You may choose to transfer to the Business School to complete Year 4, where upon successful completion, you will be eligible for an Honours degree.

The broad scope of this course means you are not restricted by an industry or sector. Possible pathways include:

  • Graduate training schemes
  • Financial services
  • Finance and accounts departments in larger companies