Intro

This course has been developed in conjunction with the ACCA to meet the requirements of both a Diploma in Professional Studies in Accounting and the ACCA Fundamental Skills syllabus.

On completion, you will be able to apply to the ACCA for exemptions from their Applied level papers.

This course is offered on a part-time and full-time basis.

You will study a broad range of subjects, including financial accounting, management accounting, financial management, taxation, auditing, law, quantitative techniques and economics, preparing you for a senior role in accountancy.

Membership of ACCA also provides you with access to the institute’s resources and the opportunity to network with senior professionals and executives.

As an ACCA Gold Learning Partner, the university is recognised as providing high quality standards of tuition and excellent student support.

On completion of the Diploma in Professional Studies in Accounting you will be able to progress onto the Accounting PGDip/MSc course. You will also be able to apply to the ACCA for exemptions from their Applied skills level papers.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years

Accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

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Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Course content

How this course is delivered

We are designing your teaching timetable with the aim of maximising the time you spend on campus, with measures in place to make it as safe, enjoyable and social for everyone as possible.

Every student will have timetabled in-person learning. This will vary by course and could include activities such as seminars and tutorials, workshops, studio time, clinical skills sessions and laboratory classes.

Some of your timetabled learning will delivered online: for example, large lectures may be delivered online live and also be made available as recordings.

Our plans will be guided by the current government advice and may therefore involve some social distancing. Check our FAQs for more info.

Course structure

You will be allocated a subject-specialist supervisor who will be available to support you, advise you and discuss your personal research needs during the year for your research project or dissertation.

In addition, students have the opportunity to attend workshops covering research methods and ethical issues and to share ideas and strategies.

ACCA syllabus mapping

We have designed the university awards to run alongside the ACCA qualifications. The Diploma in Professional Studies in Accounting follows the ACCA’s Applied Skills stage papers. Upon completion of this you will gain a diploma and become part-qualified.

You can then progress onto the masters and the ACCA Strategic Professional stage syllabus.

To become ACCA qualified you will also need to complete two papers a further ACCA paper Advanced Performance Management, Advanced Taxation or Advanced Audit and Assurance, this can be done alongside the MSc Accounting.

You will follow the ACCA’s Applied Skills syllabus for the Diploma in Professional Studies in Accounting qualification and, on completion of the course, will be able to apply to ACCA for exemptions from Applied Skills papers (formerly papers F4 to F9) inclusive).

Assessment involves both coursework and exams. We offer a high level of student support from a small and committed course team, and aim to keep class sizes below 30 students.

If you would like to just receive tuition from the university for any of the ACCA Fundamental Skills or Professional papers and sit exams directly with the ACCA, please email business@brighton.ac.uk for more information. More details about individual papers are available from www.accaglobal.com.

Modules

Corporate and Business Law
Performance Management
Taxation
Financial Reporting
Audit and Assurance
Financial Management

Flexible study

Our programme has multiple entry and exit points depending on how many ACCA papers you have passed, or hold exemptions from.

You can choose to take this course either full-time (two days per week over one year) or part-time (one day per week over two years). If you are looking for a more flexible approach, contact the business school to discuss options.

Students who take the full masters also have the option to exit the course early, graduating after one year with a Diploma in Professional Studies in Accounting or with a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting by completing a shorter professional project in place of a dissertation.

If you want a more flexible approach, you can also sign up for one paper at a time and build your qualification as you go.

If you would like to just receive tuition from the university for any of the professional papers (core and option) and sit exams directly with the ACCA, please email business@brighton.ac.uk for further information. More details about individual papers are available from the ACCA website.

Learning support

Our supportive learning environment includes an induction programme and specialist diagnostic tools to assess your learning strengths and needs. You will also be assigned an academic supervisor to support you in your masters project work.

Staff profile

Dr Ali Elharidy, Course Leader

Dr Ali Elharidy is the course leader for the ACCA MSc and PG Diploma. He has been a Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton since 2019. He teaches financial reporting, research methods, management accounting and advanced performance management.

Ali has a PhD in Accounting and Finance from the University of Manchester, an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the University of Birmingham and BSc(Hons) from Alexandria University, Egypt. Ali’s research interests include financial and risk disclosures, earnings management, financial distress and corporate governance. He served as a course leader at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and has taught in the UK, New Zealand, Egypt and Lebanon.

Our latest news

Starting your course in 2020?

You’re going to have a brilliant time here and we can’t wait to meet you!

Making the most of enrichment week

Enrichment week.

Watch graduation 2019 live

It’s nearly time for the final University of Brighton graduation ceremony for our amazing Brighton Business School graduates, the hall is bustling with activity and there are some incredibly proud family and friends in the audience.

Black and in Business is BACK!!!

Brighton Business School alumni, Marvin Okai and Denzil Lawrence, are back at university to talk about their journey to becoming Chartered Accountants and why they developed their blog Black and in Business to share their experience.

Careers

An Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification will help your career progress in any organisation. Employers worldwide will understand and respect your qualification. You will be in demand for your finance and accounting knowledge regardless of employment sector.

On completion of the Diploma in Professional Studies in Accounting you will be able to progress onto the Accounting PGDip/MSc course to gain a university qualification while receiving tuition for the ACCA professional-level papers.

Entrepreneurship network
Beepurple is the university’s entrepreneurship support network. They offer free support for any student or graduate with their business ideas, freelance plan or social enterprise project. Beepurple run events throughout the academic year, designed to equip you with skills that will improve your employability and help you grow a successful business. By taking part in beepurple activities, you will meet like-minded people, hear how other recent graduates have set up their own businesses and gain key enterprise skills that will help you stand out from the crowd.

For more information visit beepurple.

Mentoring scheme
Momentum is our award-winning mentoring scheme. It pairs students with professionals who wish to share their experience. Students and their mentors meet regularly to exchange ideas. The scheme helps students to develop new skills and enhance their career prospects.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2021. They should be used as a general guide.

ACCA qualifications
You must gain ACCA exemptions or passes for the Applied Knowledge Papers (formerly papers F1-F3) as a minimum to be eligible to apply for the Diploma in Professional Studies in Accounting.

We do not teach the Applied Knowledge Papers. However, the ACCA grant exemptions if you have a relevant degree or professional qualification. To find out whether you are exempt check the ACCA website.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least three subjects including English language and maths or a science.

You will need to provide documentary evidence from the ACCA that you have passed, at a minimum*, the Applied Knowledge papers (formerly F1-F3) or have gained ACCA exemption from the Knowledge Papers stage.

*If you hold more passes/exemptions than the Applied Knowledge papers (formerly F1-F3), email business@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

ACCA student membership
You need to be a current registered student of the ACCA. It is advisable to apply for membership as soon as possible, since the process of obtaining membership takes much longer between September and December. Membership brings a number of advantages, including a subscription to Student Accountant magazine and practical online support.

For more information about ACCA student membership, registration and exemptions see www.accaglobal.com.

ACCA professional-level papers
If you hold passes or exemptions for the whole Applied stage (formerly papers F1–F9) you might be interested in our Accounting PGDip/MSc course that provides you with tuition for your professional-level papers.

International students
Read our advice and guidance on applying for a visa, and ask us any questions you may have. Find out more about student visa applications.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK/EU (full-time)4,560 GBP

International (full-time) 11,640 GBP

Registration to the ACCA is not included in the university tuition fees.

ACCA exam or exemption fees are applicable and will need to be paid directly to the ACCA. Contact them for further details, on 0141 5822000.

If you wish to receive just tuition for these papers with the aim of sitting your exams direct with the ACCA, contact us for fees.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in Brighton Business School are listed here.

Students who choose to take an optional placement will have travel and living expenses. The cost of this depends on where and how long your placement is.
Some courses include optional field trips for which the school pays – you may incur minimal costs such as for food and drink and should budget up to £15.
You will be required to buy textbooks and should budget up to £150.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships, as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees, including fee status, payment and refunds, in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus. Subjects taught here include architecture, business, computing, construction, engineering, geography, product design, law, journalism, media and pharmacy.

On campus you will find professional-standard facilities including a flight simulator, trading room, design and digital media suites and specialist research laboratories, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and Students' Union. There are excellent public transport links.

The Big Build

The Big Build is a major transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus, planned with sustainability, inclusivity and community in mind.

By the start of the autumn term in 2021, we expect our landmark new academic building and over 800 new, affordable, student bedrooms to be ready. The project will also provide new Students' Union and fitness facilities, an accessible pedestrian bridge, new green and social spaces, much improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, and better links to public transport. Find out more about the Big Build.

Next door to our campus, the new Preston Barracks development will provide a variety of new shops, cafes and workshop space.

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Moulsecoomb Place, Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

Student views

James Field, winner of PQ Magazine's Accountant of the Year Award 2014

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying ACCA qualifications at Brighton and put down much of my success to my time there.

"I always enjoyed the interaction in the classroom, meeting like-minded people, making friends, bouncing ideas of each other and working as a team. Since a successful career in accountancy involves a high degree of interaction with colleagues and clients, I feel these softer skills are as important as the academic ones taught in the classroom.

"I liked the discipline and routine of the classroom. Being someone who can get easily distracted I knew that to remain focused I needed to be somewhere where I was away from such distractions and in an environment that would get my full attention.

"During my time on the course I was always impressed with the standard of teaching. Most of the tutors have clearly worked in the industry and I always found their life experiences and stories to be most useful, as they helped me to better understand and visualise the theory.

"I found the pace at which the course is taught to be well balanced in that it catered for students of all abilities. The tutors were also always keen to help, whether in the classroom or on a one to one.

"Furthermore I believe that much of my success is down to the fact that at the university you are not simply taught to pass exams – as is often the case with other learning providers – but to fully understand and comprehend the subject matter. I honestly feel that this deeper understanding helped fine-tune my skills and gave me the confidence to have the strength and conviction to put forward suggestions and ideas to my board, and to see through any such proposals.

"For anyone thinking of studying at the University of Brighton, the above average pass rates for the ACCA exams and its Gold Approved Learning Provider Status are both testament to the pride taken in ensuring that every student not only develops the skills to pass exams, but are suitably equipped for the challenges that lie after. I for one acknowledge the large part the university has had to play in my career and my recent success at the PQ Awards."