Accounting and Finance Degree Subjects: What Will You Study?
Understanding Accounting and Finance degree subjects can help you decide whether the programme matches your interests and career ambitions.
An Accounting and Finance degree goes beyond working with numbers. It combines financial reporting, business decision-making, economics, investment, corporate finance and analytical skills to help students understand how financial information supports organisations.
What Do You Study in an Accounting and Finance Degree?
Accounting and Finance programmes typically combine accounting, finance, economics and business-related subjects.
The BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance programme at the University of Stirling introduces students to these areas progressively, developing both foundational knowledge and more specialised understanding.
Financial and Management Accounting
Financial accounting focuses on how financial information is prepared, interpreted and communicated.
Management accounting looks at how organisations can use financial information internally to support planning, performance evaluation and decision-making.
Together, these subjects establish an important foundation for understanding how organisations measure and manage financial performance.
Corporate Finance and Investment
Finance subjects broaden the programme beyond traditional accounting.
Corporate finance considers financial decisions within organisations, while investment-related subjects introduce students to securities and financial markets.
The University of Stirling curriculum includes areas such as Corporate Finance, Securities and Investment and International Finance.
Economics and Quantitative Methods
Accounting and finance do not operate in isolation. Economic conditions, markets and quantitative information can all influence financial decisions.
Students therefore develop analytical and quantitative capabilities alongside their core accounting knowledge.
At Stirling, this includes Quantitative Methods for Business Decisions as part of the programme structure.
Auditing, Taxation and Advanced Accounting
As students progress, the curriculum develops into more specialised areas.
The University of Stirling programme includes subjects such as Auditing, Taxation and Advanced Financial Accounting, helping students explore areas relevant to professional accounting practice.
This broader curriculum is one reason an Accounting and Finance degree can support multiple career and professional pathways.
From Degree Subjects to Professional Qualifications
The subjects covered during university can also affect eligibility for exemptions from professional accounting examinations.
Stirling’s BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance degree offers eligible students up to 9 ACCA exemptions and up to 6 ICAEW exemptions. The programme has professional recognition from CIMA, CIPFA, ICAS, AIA and CISI.
This can make curriculum and professional recognition important considerations when comparing Accounting and Finance degrees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What subjects are included in Accounting and Finance?
Common areas include financial accounting, management accounting, economics, corporate finance, investment, auditing and taxation.
Does Accounting and Finance include maths?
The subject involves quantitative and analytical work. Stirling’s programme includes Quantitative Methods for Business Decisions.
Does an Accounting and Finance degree include auditing?
Yes. Auditing forms part of Stirling’s BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance curriculum.
Is taxation studied in Accounting and Finance?
Yes. Taxation is included within the programme structure at Stirling.
Does Accounting and Finance include investment?
Yes. Stirling’s curriculum includes Securities and Investment alongside other finance-related subjects.