Accountancy and Legal Studies, MA

Accountancy and Legal Studies, MA

Introduction

Accountancy and Legal Studies at Aberdeen is a great combination of subjects, giving you a thorough foundation in the theory, practice and application of financial and business skills. You will gain highly developed analytical and academic skills as well as a strong grounding in legal studies. You will be given a head start for a stellar career in business and finance, among many other options.

Study Information

At a Glance

Learning Mode
On Campus Learning
Degree Qualification
MA
Duration
48 months
Study Mode
Full Time
Start Month
September
UCAS Code
NM49
Pathway Programme Available
Undergraduate Foundation Programme

You will gain a wide perspective and thorough business grounding through studying Accountancy, with courses in Management, Statistics and Economics.

You will thrive in the international, dynamic environment of our Business School with classmates from 45 nationalities, inspired by staff who are leaders in accounting practice and theory. You will benefit from studying in small classes and you will be supported by dedicated careers advisers.

Legal Studies fosters important academic qualities including clear, careful and independent thought and will add value to your career options. For example, you will learn about the legal framework within which the world of corporate finance operates. Our Law school is ranked 12th in the UK out of more than 90 law schools and is in the top five for graduate prospects - with an impressive 95% score for student satisfaction.

A major factor in the quality of our legal teaching is the calibre and enthusiasm of our staff, testing your mental agility with complex, realistic legal scenarios. You will also have the opportunity to be part of our student-led practical initiatives, including the Student Law Society, Law Review and our legal clinic – the Aberdeen Law Project.

This degree combination is an excellent passport for entry into a wide range of careers including chartered accountancy, media, finance and banking, government service and teaching.

What You'll Study

Compulsory Courses

Optional Courses

Plus, select 15 credit points from the following courses

We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

  • Lectures
  • Research
  • Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

  • Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course.
  • Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course.
  • Written examinations at the end of each course.

The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.

Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Why Study Accountancy and Legal Studies?

  • You will develop two professional areas of study, which can lead on to a multitude of careers in all sectors.
  • By following specific accountancy courses at Aberdeen, you can become professionally accredited without having to study exams upon graduation.
  • You will have an advanced level of legal knowledge, which will enable you to build accreditations if you decide to pursue this profession.
  • You will have the opportunity to become a legal consultant in accountancy and other financial areas.
  • Additionally, after graduating, you will have the option to base your practice on the law of other countries.
  • The courses allow you to study start-up situations through to large scale enterprise, rather than simply focusing on large organisations.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.

View the Aberdeen Global Scholarship

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.


General Entry Requirements

SQA Highers

Standard: BBBB

Applicants who have achieved BBBB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.

Minimum: BBC

Applicants who have achieved BBC at Higher and meet one of the widening participation criteria above are encouraged to apply and are guaranteed an unconditional offer for MA, BSc and BEng degrees. 

Adjusted: BB

Applicants who have achieved BB at Higher, and who meet one of the widening participation criteria above are encouraged to apply and are guaranteed an adjusted conditional offer for MA, BSc and BEng degrees.

We would expect to issue a conditional offer asking for one additional C grade at Higher. 

Foundation Apprenticeship: One FA is equivalent to a Higher at A. It cannot replace any required subjects.

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

A LEVELS

Standard: BBC

Minimum: BCC

Adjusted: CCC

More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

International Baccalaureate

32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.

Irish Leaving Certificate

5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

PLEASE NOTE: National 5/ Standard Grade/ GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics / Applications of Mathematics is required in addition to the requirements noted above.

Entry from College
Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/articulation for more details.

The information displayed in this section shows a shortened summary of our entry requirements. For more information, or for full entry requirements for Arts and Social Sciences degrees, see our detailed entry requirements section.


English Language Requirements

To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

IELTS Academic:

OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

TOEFL iBT:

OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

PTE Academic:

OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:

OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Read more about specific English Language requirements here.

International Applicants who do not meet the Entry Requirements

The University of Aberdeen International Study Centre offers preparation programmes for international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for undergraduate study. Discover your foundation pathway here.

Fees and Funding

You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.

Fee information
Fee category Cost
RUK £9,535
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year
EU / International students £20,800
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year
Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme - See full terms and conditions
Home Students £1,820
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year

Additional Fees

  • In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
  • For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.

Scholarships and Funding

UK Scholarship

Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who pay tuition fees may be eligible for specific scholarships allowing them to receive additional funding. These are designed to provide assistance to help students support themselves during their time at Aberdeen.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme. More about this funding opportunity.

Funding Database

View all funding options in our Funding Database.

Careers

  • Chartered and Certified Accountancy.
  • Corporate positions requiring Legal and Accountancy knowledge.
  • Chartered Company Secretary.
  • Graduate in the civil service fast track.
  • HMRC.
  • Tax Consultancy.

Accreditation

The University of Aberdeen courses are accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) which can form part of a direct path to being granted exemptions from the examinations necessary to get professional qualification status.

This degree holds accreditation from

Our Experts

Information About Staff Changes

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni draws together comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study. You can compare these and other data for different degree programmes in which you are interested.

Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX

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