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International Accountancy (Top-up) BA(Hons)

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    Overview

    Why International Accountancy?

    A qualification in Accountancy could help you find employment not just with businesses in the UK but with global businesses too. This one-year top up course puts traditional accountancy into a global context. It could be ideal if you’ve already studied accounting and want to explore contemporary issues in an international setting.

    If you’re going to be an accountant in the UK or abroad it’s vital you understand how organisations are financed and managed. That’s what’s at the core of our degree. We’ll give you invaluable insights into how international companies are run, and then give you the chance to specialise in particular areas.

    The top five job titles advertised in the UK for graduate roles associated with Accounting and Finance courses are Management Accountants, Assistant Management Accountants, Assistant Accountants, Finance Assistants, and Account Assistants.*

    How will I learn?

    You will learn through practical application and delivered lectures, workshops, seminars and group work sessions. You’ll be able to connect with leading accounting firms thanks to our Partners in Accountancy scheme.

    What subjects will you cover?

    You’ll look at Performance Management and International Business. At the start of the year, you’ll be able to choose the optional modules that interest you to build your own career path. Options may include subjects such as Strategy in Context, Investment Management, Principles of Audit and Monetary and Financial Framework.

    *Lightcast data extracted from Graduate Career Explorer – job postings from Dec 2023 to Nov 2024 showing jobs advertised associated with a selection of relevant graduate.

    Key Information

    Entry requirements

    Entry requirements for this course are normally one of the following:

    • A Foundation degree or 120 ECTS in the accountancy/finance area.

    If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

    Entry qualification from outside the UK should meet the equivalent of 240 credits (120 ECTS) and The National Academic Recognition Information Centre can provide information on the comparability of these.

    Applicants holding professional accountancy examination passes (or exemptions) may apply. Equivalence to 240 credits (120 ECTS) being obtained would need to be demonstrated.

    Start dates

    21 September 2026

    Duration

    Up to 10 months full-time

    Course Detail

    Core modules:

    Performance Management

    You will examine advanced issues in management accounting, focusing on its role in providing information for decision-making, planning and control and performance management. The module builds on existing knowledge of Management Accounting and seeks to enhance your understanding of how to manage the performance of a business.

    International Business

    This module considers the fundamental issue of competitiveness and helps you consider strategic business responses to globalisation. You’ll explore the different types of international business operations (international trade and foreign direct investment activities) and the factors that shape these operations (organisational resources and cultural and institutional environments in different national markets). You’ll also learn to make practical strategic decisions as international managers.

    Option modules:

    Choose four from a list which may include -

    Strategy in Context

    In this module you’ll gain an understanding of how organisations develop their strategies in relation to different aspects of their environment. You’ll study how both the internal context (e.g. organisational structure, routines and resources) and external context (e.g. institutional systems, industry structures and competition) shape organisational activities and the strategic decisions that individual managers make.

    Monetary and Financial Framework

    This module examines contemporary and policy issues in Monetary Theory, Monetary Policy and International Finance. You’ll have the opportunity to analyse the impact of different types of risk and uncertainty in money and finance and use appropriate theory to help decide the financial methods to avoid or reduce risk.

    Principles of Taxation

    This module introduces you to the subject of taxation, covering the underlying principles and technical computations required for the main taxes that affect the activities of individuals and businesses within the UK. The module also introduces the economic aspects of tax with a view to providing you with a broad understanding of fiscal policy in the UK.

    Principles of Audit

    This module examines the audit process enabling you to gain an understanding of the nature and purpose of auditing and assurance which is essential to the function and sustainability of financial markets and fundamental for accountable organisations. You’ll gain analytical skills and have the opportunity to apply these through the use of case studies.

    Management Science Applications

    This module covers the quantitative aspects of managerial decision making that are of particular value to accountants. You’ll be introduced to methods for problem structuring, model building and problem solving. Widely used quantitative techniques are practised, to assess the robustness, validity, applicability and limitation of solutions using up-to-date computer software.

    Investment,Portfolio And Risk Management

    This module looks at investment analysis and portfolio management using an innovative experiential learning environment – “The Portfolio Game.” You’ll have the opportunity to learn about financial markets, recognise the measure and value of the risk and return and be aware of the relationships between them and be aware of the opportunities and dangers offered by international diversification, alongside learning about the available hedging techniques of managing a successful investment portfolio.

    Accounting Regulation and Governance

    This module seeks to introduce and develop your ability to critically evaluate a wide of range of concepts, principles, theories, mechanisms, reforms, regulations and to research. The module will use case studies and in-depth analysis of ‘real’ companies to develop your understanding of governance practices and the various ways in which accounting regulation can be manifest through reporting. The module looks at the the inter-relationship between accounting regulation, its impact on reporting and governance and how these are being influenced by current world events, including sustainability and environmental factors.

    This course has modules making up 120 credits over the 1 year, with each credit being 10 hours of study (1200 hours in total). An average approximately* 18% ( 107 hours) of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors face to face or online in lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals and workshops. The remainder of the time will be spent on independent study. Assessments takes place through a variety of exams and coursework.

    Subject to mode of study. *Based on current core modules.

    Calculated using data from the academic year 2024/25, as of November 2024.

    Teaching

    The teaching year for most courses normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Teaching on other courses including professional courses, postgraduate taught, research, distance learning and apprenticeship may have other start dates including January and May. All start dates can be found on each course page and term dates are also available. Students on a full-time course may have to attend every day of the week. Students who choose to study a full-time course on a part-time basis will generally attend modules at the same time as our full-time students. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

    Our courses are taught at our University campus and you can expect that your lectures and seminars will be held face to face, except in cases of emergency or if specifically stated otherwise in the module description.

    Feedback

    Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

    Progression

    You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

    1. The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.

    2. Our teaching staff rank first in England for the proportion with higher degrees and teaching qualifications, as well as being top five for those holding doctorates (HESA 2025). So you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

    3. We are second in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 24 since 2008 (2025 data).

    4. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

    Visit ‘Our experts’ page where you’ll find in-depth profiles of all our academic staff

    At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

    Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

    *full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

    What our students have to say

    The University of Huddersfield offers a diverse and vibrant student environment, located on one central town centre campus site. Huddersfield Business School provides you with a modern, professional environment to learn and develop, located right next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal it's in a leafy and picturesque location at the heart of the campus.

    Watch our profile video to hear Omar describe why he chose the University of Huddersfield.

    The Street where the café is located.
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    Important information

    When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

    Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:

    Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

    If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and if you are unhappy with the change we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

    Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

    Changes to option modules

    Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

    Major changes

    We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff being unable to teach due to illness, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government.

    Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will consult with affected groups of students and any changes would only be made in accordance with our regulations. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you let us know before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for any additional tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so and you may be eligible for an exit award depending on how far through your course you are.

    In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

    The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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