Introduction

The ACCA Qualification has a global appeal as a highly regarded accounting qualification. It has opened doors to successful careers all over the world for finance professionals. Currently, there are ACCA students and members in some 179 countries across the globe (1).

Living and studying in the United Kingdom is also appealing, opening up job opportunities and potential roles for chartered certified accountants.

It is no wonder that each year many international students consider studying with universities offering ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) courses in the UK.

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Can I study an ACCA course in the UK as an international student?

In a word, yes. In fact, given that there are very few requirements and that studying ACCA would also allow you to apply for a UK student visa, many international students choose to do so.

Requirements

For students coming from within the United Kingdom, generally speaking, the minimum entry requirements are 2 A Levels and 3 O Levels in five subjects, including English and Mathematics.

By way of comparison, for students coming from the United States, a High School Graduation Diploma is insufficient. Still, a pass in the Advanced Placement Examination or a Matriculation to University is sufficient to start studying ACCA.

For students coming from Canada, generally, you will need a High School Graduation Diploma with an average of 65 percent in 5 subjects, including English and Mathematics. There are similar requirements for other countries.

Here is a partial list regarding some other international educational requirements:

In addition, for some countries offering a General Certificate of Education, such as some Commonwealth countries, the requirements are 2 GCE A Level passes and 3 GCE O Level passes.

You can check here for the specific ACCA entry requirements for your country or city.

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Documents

When applying to study the ACCA course, you will need to provide evidence that you meet the entry requirements. This also means translating any certificates or documents not in English through a duly qualified translator.

Exemptions

If you already have a B.Com or a BSc, in most cases, you will be given admission to the ACCA course. In fact, when you register, it might be possible for you to qualify for certain exemptions based on your previous studies.

Language

For international students there is an important question worth asking: Are there any language requirements? Basically, yes.

If you finished your schooling in English or if you can otherwise provide an English proficiency certificate, you could certainly apply for ACCA. If that is not the case, IELTS is required to be given admission to ACCA.

For a typical UK university, the basic entry requirement regarding language is an English level of IELTS 6.0.

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Can I get a student visa for ACCA in the UK?

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Once again, the answer is yes. Perhaps this is one major reason international students choose ACCA. Once you have registered to study ACCA, getting your UK student visa should not be difficult.

You will need to provide a confirmation of acceptance for studies, which the university will provide for you. You will also need to provide proof of financial means to cover your tuition fees and living expenses.

There is also a visa interview that you have to get through. However, there is no reason to worry if you have everything ready and accounted for.

Another major benefit for chartered accountant students studying in the UK is the work permit which can be obtained after completing your ACCA course studies.

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How much does it cost to study ACCA in the UK?

When considering costs, note that there will be exam fees as well as tuition fees. The exam fee is paid directly to ACCA and is the same for all ACCA students worldwide. The tuition fee will depend on the educational institute of your choice.

ACCA Course Fees

Regarding the ACCA fees, there is an initial one-time fee you must pay when registering. Currently, the initial registration course fee is £89.

On the other hand, the annual subscription for the 2023 ACCA membership is £122. You must be an active, registered ACCA student in order to write any of the ACCA professional exams.

You can check the official page here for exam fees and other ACCA related fees.

As mentioned, the tuition fee is established not by ACCA, but by the approved education provider.

VIVA Tuition

If you are interested in studying towards your ACCA Qualification with video lectures by subject experts, downloadable course notes, practiec questions and more, have a look at the VIVA Tuition course offerings and Early Bird Discounts.

Let us now have a look at a few in-person ACCA course options you have in the United Kingdom.

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UK universities offering ACCA courses

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The following is a list of some universities in the UK offering ACCA for prospective chartered certified accountants.

By no means do we want to imply that any one of these universities is the leading business and finance university in the United Kingdom. However, this should serve to give you an idea of the broader options.

1. London School of Business and Finance

The London School of Business and Finance offers programmes leading to an ACCA Professional Qualification. There is also the option to combine your ACCA course with a Global MBA or Master in Finance and Investment.

2. Birmingham City University

The city of Birmingham is the second largest city in the United Kingdom, after

London. The Birmingham City Business School offers an MSc International Professional Accounting degree that is directly aligned with the ACCA Strategic Level professional exams.

This means that once you have completed the course, you will have a Masters level degree and the necessary preparation to sit your external professional ACCA exams.

3. University of Brighton

Similarly, the University of Brighton is an ACCA Approved Learning Partner. Their program also leads to a Postgraduate Diploma or Master's Degree while covering the modules required to become a Chartered Certified Accountant, much like with Birmingham.

4. University of South Wales

The University of South Wales is another ACCA Approved Learning Partner.

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The tuition provided includes all the syllabus content for all levels as well as question practice to prepare ACCA students for the final exams. This makes the University of South Wales one of the best ACCA entry routes.

Of course, students who would like to apply at this UK university must already be registered with ACCA. International and EU students living outside the UK may apply directly to the university.

There is also the option to apply for the MSc Professional Accounting, with ACCA Tuition, for students at the Strategic Level.

The tuition fee for each UK university will, of course, be independent of ACCA but in many cases, comparable with ACCA courses.

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Conclusion

The ACCA Professional Qualification is well sought after by students the world over. Obtaining credit for your previous studies from whichever country or city you graduated in is relatively easy, as is obtaining your UK student visa.