Built on strong academic foundations and informed by leading research and industry developments, our accounting and finance courses span both disciplines. You will explore principles underlying financial reporting systems and how financial information shapes investment decisions, corporate actions, and global capital markets. You will develop the analytical, technical, and professional skills needed to tackle real-world business challenges, interpret complex financial information, and thrive in a rapidly evolving global environment. From sustainability and corporate accountability to fintech and technological innovation, you will engage with the contemporary issues transforming the future of accounting and finance.

Taught by leading academics and experts with industry experience, our programmes combine rigorous academic study with real-world insight and practical application. Alongside core areas of accounting and finance, you will build a strong foundation in economics, quantitative analysis, and business decision-making. A range of optional units allows you to tailor your degree to your interests and career ambitions, whether by specialising within accounting or finance or exploring related areas such as data analytics, project management, strategy, and sustainability.

Depending on your course and unit choices, you may also gain hands-on experience using financial databases, analytical tools, and industry-standard platforms widely used across the global financial services sector, helping you develop practical skills and professional insight alongside your studies.

Many of our courses are accredited by professional accountancy bodies. Students are able to get exceptions from professional exams from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

Our accreditations give students a head start on completing professional qualifications to become a Chartered Accountant and demonstrate that our courses are industry relevant. We have been recognised by CIMA under their academic partner excellence award for achieving the third highest pass rate in overall CIMA exams (Global Silver - pass rate excellence - overall CIMA exams).

While employability and professional skills development are embedded throughout our degrees, you can also benefit from events and initiatives organised by both our dedicated school Employability Advisers as well as our Professional Liaison Network, such as a professional mentoring scheme, visiting speakers from relevant organisations, student visits to companies, student internships and consultancy projects with external partners.

Further support is provided by our dedicated University Careers Service. Our Basecamp Enterprise team support entrepreneurs and their ideas with skills workshops, networking events, funding and support programmes. These opportunities will help you to enhance your employability, develop professional networks and explore different career paths.

Students can also choose to register for the Bristol PLUS Award, an employability award offered by the University. The award recognises extracurricular activities and the skills you develop beyond your academic studies. It's open to all University of Bristol students and can be completed during any year of study.

Popular employment destinations with our students include KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, EY, and many other organisations across the world. As well as the 'Big-four' accounting firms, approximately half of our students go on to work in investment banks or in the finance sector. Career paths include Business Technology Analyst, Financial Services Manager, Accounts Associate, Auditor and Assurance Graduate.