Ryan Lumsden, BA Accounting & Finance, 2025
Why did you choose to study Accounting and Finance?
I chose to study Accounting because I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers, but I also wanted something that connected to the wider business world. For me, Accounting felt like the perfect mix — it isn’t just about calculations; it’s about understanding how organisations operate, make decisions, and stay financially healthy.
What career outcomes were you considering when you chose Accounting & Finance?
I always considered that accounting and finance had good career pathways, so it was important to find a course that did maximise the exemptions possible for professional exams – which I have utilised for my ICAS studies.
Did you consider alternatives such as Economics, Business Management, or Data-related courses? Why did you decide against them?
I did briefly consider broader business courses, but ultimately I wanted a degree that was more structured and professionally recognised. Napier’s strong focus on accounting combined with corporate finance, along with its accreditations, made it stand out.
What made you choose Edinburgh Napier University to study this Accounting and Finance course?
I chose ENU specifically because of the course’s reputation. It’s one of the top universities for Accounting and Finance, and its industry connections and multiple accreditations really set it apart from other universities.
How would you describe the teaching and support from lecturers on your course?
The teaching at Napier was one of the highlights of my experience. Lecturers were supportive, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in helping us succeed. Many had strong industry backgrounds, and they regularly brought their own experiences from both the public and private sectors to show how the theory applies in real life.
How accessible are academic staff when you need support?
Whenever I needed help, staff were easy to reach — whether through office hours, tutorials, or quick questions after class. That accessibility made a huge difference, definitely making you’re point clear when asking for support makes it easier for staff to support you it’s a “help them help you” situation.
How well does the course link accounting and finance theory to real-world business or finance practice?
The course does a great job of linking theory to real-world practice. A lot of our assessments were structured around realistic tasks like preparing reports, analysing financial statements, or working through business simulations. These experiences gave me a solid sense of what finance and auditing work actually involves.
Which modules have had the biggest impact on your understanding—and why?
Some standout modules for me were Financial Management, Corporate Reporting, and Auditing, because they gave me a clearer picture of how organisations make financial decisions and communicate performance. These modules are also strongly aligned with what’s expected in professional finance roles such as my traineeship in Public Sector Auditing.
How do assessments reflect what you might do in a professional role?
A lot of our assessments were structured around realistic tasks like preparing reports, analysing financial statements, or working through business simulations. These experiences gave me a solid sense of what finance and auditing work actually involves.
How has the course improved your professional mindset?
I became more organised, more analytical, and better at managing deadlines and complex information — habits that have already helped me transition toward my traineeship in Public Sector Audit.
Which skills do you think employers value most from this degree?
I think employers really value the mix of technical and transferable skills you build throughout the degree. From my own journey, especially now moving into Public Sector Auditing, I’ve noticed how much employers value clear report writing, critical thinking, and being able to analyse information and explain it in a way that non‑finance colleagues can understand. Those skills were strengthened massively through assessments, presentations, and real‑world case studies built into the degree.
How has the course helped prepare you for your future career in accounting, finance, or business?
Napier also encourages students to take on internships, and I found the university’s industry connections really useful in understanding what different finance careers look like. Through the course, I ended up discovering that I was more suited to auditing in the public sector than in commercial firms — something I might not have realised without the exposure the programme provided.
How valuable are professional exemptions or accreditations for your career plans?
One thing that makes this course stand out is how strongly it’s linked to career development. It’s accredited by major accounting bodies like ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, ICAS, and ICAEW, which gives you exemptions and a real head start if you want to pursue professional qualifications.
Looking back, was choosing Accounting and Finance here the right decision for you, and why?
Looking back, choosing Accounting and Finance at Edinburgh Napier was definitely the right decision for me. The course had the right balance of theory, practical application, and professional relevance, and it genuinely helped shape my career direction.
What would you say to someone unsure about choosing this subject?
If someone is unsure about choosing this subject, I’d tell them that Accounting opens far more doors than people assume. Whether you’re interested in business, finance, auditing, or even the public sector like I am, it provides a strong foundation.
How would you describe your overall experience in one sentence?
My experience was a challenging but highly rewarding journey that helped me grow both academically and professionally, and ultimately shaped the career path I’m on today.
What would you say to someone considering studying Accounting and Finance at this Business School?
I’d say go for it — the course is well‑respected, the teaching is excellent, and the opportunities in Edinburgh’s financial sector are hard to match.
Chloe Hastie, BA Accounting with Law, 2023
Why did you choose to study Accounting?
My main influence to decide to study towards an accounting-based degree was my high school experience. No one in my family has any sort of accounting or finance experience so it was a bit ‘out there’ for me – but I just so happened to choose the subject through National 5 and Higher in high school and it was the thing I enjoyed the most, so thought why not give it a go!
Did you consider alternatives such as Economics, Business Management, or Data-related courses? Why did you decide against them?
In a shocking turn of events I actually strangely enough was looking at psychology and criminology focused degrees as well as accounting when perusing university websites. I decided against the former 2 purely based on job prospects (from what I can remember anyway!), and when I looked more extensively into what sort of modules and topics the accounting-focused degrees entailed, they sounded much more appealing. In terms of similar course, I didn’t really consider these purely because I hadn’t really any experience in things like economics or data analytics coming out of school, and I thought the ‘Accounting with’ route would give me exposure to a lot more subjects and topics so I would get a broader knowledge.
What made you choose Edinburgh Napier University?
I had actually applied to a few universities in Scotland for the same or very similar degrees, and I knew of Edinburgh Napiers’ strong reputation - but when I visited the business school in person I knew immediately that it was going to be for me.
How would you describe the teaching and support from lecturers on your course?
My experience with the support from Business School staff was always really positive. I think there’s a misconception coming from school that your lecturers are going to be the same as your high school teachers in that they are there to keep you in line to a certain extent – at University, you’re a young adult – and you’re treated like one.
My main learning curve in my first year of University was that no one was chasing me up for anything and I had to be self sufficient and take accountability for my own learning – which was really positive looking back. Lecturers will go above and beyond for you if you need it, but they also give you enough space to be self-sufficient and be proactive in your learning. I remember being amazed at how much knowledge each of my lecturers had about their subjects!
How accessible are academic staff when you need support?
From my experience, the academic staff were readily available most days should you need support, and more often than not it was an ‘open-door’ policy.
What transferable skills have you gained (e.g. problem-solving, attention to detail, communication)?
The main transferable skills I think I gained throughout my time at Edinburgh Napier would be problem-solving, attention to detail, working effectively towards deadlines, and also teamwork skills which helped with communication and listening. There are lots of skills which help you build on others and go hand in hand.
How has the course improved your professional mindset?
I think in general pursuing a university degree, particularly one in the accounting and finance space, gets you well equipped for professional life as you gain valuable skills that you can take into your career. It also helps you take accountability for your own learning and become more independent which helps you invest your best.
Which skills do you think employers value most from this degree?
From my person experience, employers really value strong and professional communication skills from a generic point of view, but to get more specific if you are seeking a career in Accounting or Finance it’s really important to be able to have those analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as problem solving. In your career, problem solving can be anything from an actual task at your day job to being able to juggle your responsibilities effectively to meet deadlines etc. I think it’s important for employers to know that you’re competent and capable enough to do that.
How has the course helped prepare you for your future career in accounting, finance, or business?
As I’ve mentioned, there are things that I learned in my first few modules on my course that I still use daily to this day! There are lots of technical and transferable skills that I learned that were both specific to my course and not, that have helped shaped me into the professional that I am today.
Which facilities, tools, or resources have been most useful for your learning at School/University?
The library facilities across all 3x Edinburgh Napier campuses were definitely the most useful for me, throughout my degree but especially in the latter years. In particular, the 24hr library at Merchiston Campus was an absolute life-saver for me. As someone who used to struggle to study until late at night, I found it super helpful to be able to go down there to study for exams and have a quiet space to be productive and do coursework. There is also a really good library and computer space at The Business School at Craiglockhart Campus.
I also found that just being able to informally chat to lecturers and bounce ideas off my peer group when I was unsure about things along the way was really important, it’s clear that the other people in and around Edinburgh Napier University are all there to help and watch you succeed – the positive and encouraging environment was one of the main motivations for me too.
Looking back, was choosing Accounting here the right decision for you, and why?
Looking back, I think choosing my degree at Edinburgh Napier was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and changed the whole trajectory of my life. I’m originally from Dundee and moved to Edinburgh at the start of my degree to attend university, and almost 8 years on from that very first day I’m still here in the capital city!
Not only did I gain an amazing education from Edinburgh Napier University, I gained a lot of friends along the way and have been able to pave the foundations for my own independent life and career here, and I’ve definitely come a long way in the last 8 years as a result of gaining that confidence in university which helped me be more independent.
What would you say to someone unsure about choosing this subject?
The only thing I have to say is: Why Not?!
If Accounting or Finance is something that you’re interested in and you think you could see yourself having a career in the field, give it a go! You’ll never know unless you try, and I can guarantee that you’ll learn more than you ever expected. The accounting and finance courses at Edinburgh Napier are so broad so you’ll get exposure to a lot of different areas of accounting, finance and business.
What would you say to someone considering studying Accounting at The Business School?
I couldn’t recommend studying an Accounting or Finance-based degree at Edinburgh Napier enough – from the other students, the staff, the content, and the overall environment (not to mention being in beautiful Edinburgh!) – you definitely won’t regret it. At Edinburgh Napier you’ll gain an abundance of skills and lots of knowledge that you can take with you into your professional life and beyond.