Professional Accountancy

The MA (Hons) Professional Accountancy is a unique four-year undergraduate honours degree that combines rigorous academic study with professional accreditation, offering 11 exemptions from Chartered Accountant (CA) examinations. Offered in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), one of the world’s most prestigious professional bodies, this programme combines rigorous academic study with full exemption from all 11 Knowledge and Skills level ICAS exams.

Students will gain advanced knowledge in financial reporting, auditing, taxation, corporate finance, and sustainability, while also developing key professional competencies in ethics, leadership, and financial technologies. The curriculum is fully aligned with ICAS content and standards, ensuring that graduates are exceptionally well-prepared for the final professional stages of the CA qualification.

Offered across Heriot-Watt University’s global campuses in the UK, Dubai, and Malaysia, the programme supports international employability and responds to the growing demand for high-quality, professionally aligned accountancy education. It is ideal for students aspiring to pursue careers in accounting, audit, advisory, or financial leadership in global contexts.

Please visit our website for further information on our 3 year honours degrees’

Heriot-Watt is 2nd in the UK for positive graduate outcomes (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2025). As Scotland’s top producer of CEOs (Novuna, 2025), their programmes focus on giving you real-world experience and strong industry links to help you kick-start your career success story. You'll have lifelong access to their award-winning Careers Service with guidance on CV tailoring, careers fairs and job applications.

They guarantee accommodation for students on their safe, green parkland campus, with all energy and Wi-Fi bills included. For students coming from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Heriot-Watt provides a free semester of accommodation to help you with the costs of starting university.

You’ll also be living and studying in a top 2 UK student-friendly city (QS Best Cities, 2026) – Edinburgh. With a vibrant nightlife, eclectic food scene and plenty of shops and green spaces, it's a great city to be a student.

At Heriot-Watt University, you can choose to study flexibly with a 3-year honours degree, allowing you to complete the typical four-year Scottish Bachelor Honours degree in just three years while still enjoying the full student experience, including Welcome Week, Freshers’ events, and support from your Personal Tutor. This can save you both time and tuition fees while allowing you to graduate at the same time as students across the rest of the UK.

Register for your Heriot-Watt Priority Pass to make sure you are first in line when Clearing opens, or to chat with their friendly team