Queen's University Belfast

Q: The MAcc Advanced Accounting with Placement (MAcc) programme is replacing the BSc Accounting degree. What are the benefits of studying the MAcc programme compared to the BSc Accounting degree?

The MAcc programme offers a number of benefits in comparison to the BSc Accounting degree. These include:

• A Master’s-level qualification, which is a higher-level (postgraduate) qualification compared to the undergraduate BSc Accounting degree.
• Students paying undergraduate fees in each of the four years of the MAcc programme.
• Exemption from Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)’s CAP1 and CAP2 exams, while the BSc Accounting degree gives exemptions from CAP1 only. This means students completing the MAcc programme will have only one set of final exams to qualify with CAI, and a shorter professional training contract. Enhanced exemptions from other professional bodies may be available.
• A paid, integrated, work-based placement in semester two of year four, plus a work-related research project, that will allow students to develop key employability skills.
• In addition to these points, students on the MAcc programme retain the option to exit with a BSc *Accounting degree after three years.
  

Q: Is the MAcc programme at Queen’s valued by employers – if so, why?

We consulted extensively with employers in developing the MAcc programme. Employers were very supportive of the programme, especially the placement element which is recognised as providing students with an important opportunity to develop key skills.

Employers also value students having additional professional exemptions, as they typically pay fees for exams and give study leave when their employees take professional exams. A shorter training contract is also of benefit to employers.

Q: What are the benefits of studying for an Accounting degree generally at Queen’s?

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high-quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

The MAcc programme at Queen’s achieves these goals by providing a range of learning environments that enable our students to engage with subject experts - both academic staff and industry guest speakers. Students obtain valuable work experience, develop skills and attributes, and explore perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society. Students are encouraged to make use of innovative technologies and a world-class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.

Additionally, a wide range of support systems including an assigned personal tutor, peer mentor and adviser of studies offer individual support which links to wider University wellbeing, learning development and employability supports.

Q: What are the job prospects for students completing the MAcc programme at Queen’s?

Students studying the MAcc programme will have excellent job prospects as they will begin their career with a Masters-level qualification, additional exemptions from professional examinations and greater employability skills. These are key elements valued by employers as it provides them with graduates who are more practice-ready with a higher-level skillset.

Furthermore, Queen’s University Belfast is ranked first in the UK for Graduate Prospects in Accounting and Finance (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023).

Q: Who will be teaching me – do any of the staff have industry experience?

Students will be taught by leading academics who are well connected with industry and the accountancy profession and able to combine cutting edge theory with real-world practice. Many of our staff have backgrounds in industry and/or practice and so bring the lessons learned from their most recent research and/or experience as an accountancy professional into the classroom, giving students access to critical business thinking and contemporary real-world examples and scenarios.

Q: What exemptions are there from the examinations of the professional accountancy bodies for students completing the MAcc programme at Queen’s?

The MAcc programme offers a wide range of exemptions from the examinations of the various professional accountancy bodies. This offers students an important head start in becoming a fully qualified accountant.

Uniquely in the UK and Ireland, the MAcc programme offers students exemption from Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)’s CAP1 and CAP2 examinations. Students who exit after Year Three gain full CAP1 exemptions.

For the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), completion of this course also gives maximum exemptions for the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams.

Students also earn maximum exemptions from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) at Certificate Level and Operational Level allowing candidates direct entry to Management Level objective tests.

Exemptions are also available from the examinations of the Association of International Accountants (AIA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (ICAEW).

For all exemptions, this is subject to each student’s performance in relevant modules.

Q: When does placement take place and what form does it take (days/week etc.)? 

Placement will be completed across three months in Semester Two of final year (Year Four). There is a minimum requirement of 300 working hours, with the specific dates/location being agreed by the student with the placement employer in consultation with Queen’s Business School.

Placements must be with a University-approved employer in an appropriate environment and involve accounting-related duties.

Q: Will Queen’s provide help in sourcing the placement?

While overall responsibility for securing and completing a placement rest with the student, students are supported through this process. The Queen’s Business School Placement Office, Queen’s Careers team and the Accounting Department will provide support to students in identifying and applying for placement opportunities. Further support is provided through bespoke, programme-specific employability and professional skills sessions (which begin in Year Two), plus 1:1 support as needed.

Q: What sort of organisations are students likely to gain placements with?

Students can seek placement from a wide range of organisations including professional services firms (e.g. Big 4, mid-tier and small accountancy firms), public sector and not-for-profit organisations, financial institutions, local and global companies in industries such as manufacturing and hospitality. For a placement to be approved, it must be relevant to the Accounting pathway.

Q: Does the placement have to be based in the UK?

While we would strongly encourage you to arrange your placement in the UK, you are permitted to seek a placement outside the UK. It will be the student's responsibility to ensure any visa requirements are met. Our placement office can provide guidance and assistance with this. Ultimately, all placements, irrespective of location, will have to be approved by the University.

Q: Is the placement paid – if so, how much is the pay?

Yes, the placement will be a paid placement at rates to be agreed with your employer.

Q: Is the placement assessed – if so, how?

Yes, the placement is assessed jointly by the employer and the academic mentor appointed to the placement student.

Assessment is based upon the student’s overall work placement performance.

Students are required to maintain a reflective diary during their placement to demonstrate hours worked, and achievement of the learning outcomes of the placement.

Q: Is the placement compulsory – if so, what happens if I don’t secure a placement?

Yes, placement is a compulsory element of the MAcc programme.

While it is anticipated that all students should obtain a placement, if a student has made reasonable efforts to secure or complete a placement but has been unable to do so, the student’s case will be reviewed by the Programme Director and Head of Department (Accounting). The student may be permitted to transfer to a research-only module, completing an extensive practice-orientated research project. The final award for a student in this situation will be MAcc Advanced Accounting.

Q: Why is it called a MAcc – what does this stand for?

Master of Accounting (MAcc) is the name for an integrated accounting programme which combines undergraduate and Master’s-level study in one course. The overall award is at Master’s (postgraduate) level.

Q: Why is the BSc Accounting degree no longer offered?

The MAcc programme offers significant benefits over the BSc Accounting degree. However, students registering on the four-year MAcc programme may exit at the end of Year Three with a BSc Accounting degree.

The MAcc programme is the entry point for all students as it: 

• Enables us to embed employability skills and prepare students for placement across the four years.
• Allows UK students to apply for Student Finance for four years at the beginning of the programme.
• Permits non-UK students to apply for a four-year student VISA at the beginning of the programme.

Q: How does the MAcc programme at Queen’s compare to the Accounting degrees offered at other UK and Irish universities? 

The MAcc programme at Queen’s is unique in the UK and Ireland in that it offers:

• A final Master's-level qualification, with students paying undergraduate fees in each of the four years;
• Exemption from Chartered Accountants Ireland CAP1 and CAP2 exams and maximum permitted exemptions from other professional bodies;
• A paid work-based placement during Semester Two of Year Four, together with a work-related research project;
• An alternative exit point after three years, with students awarded BSc Accounting.
• At the time of publishing no other University in the UK and Ireland offer all these elements in one integrated programme.
  

Q: If I am already enrolled on the BSc Accounting degree at Queen’s, will I have the option of transferring to this programme?

Yes, our current BSc Accounting students will have the option of transferring onto the MAcc programme once they complete Year Three. The first cohort of students to be eligible to transfer to the MAcc programme will be the current Year Three students, who would commence Year Four of the MAcc programme in September 2024. (Current Year Two and Year One BSc Accounting students are eligible to transfer from Sept 2025 and 2026 respectively).

In order to progress or (in the interim period) transfer to Year 4, students must be eligible for at least a 2:2 classification under the normal University degree classification rules. Briefly, this indicates a weighted average of 50%.

Q: Can I exit the MAcc programme after three years to gain a BSc Accounting degree?

Yes, there is an exit route for students who wish to leave the MAcc programme after three years. These students will be awarded a BSc Accounting degree.

Q: How will the MAcc programme be classified and will employers recognise this?

Degree classifications from the MAcc programme will be the same as on the existing BSc Accounting degree. For example, the highest classification is a first-class degree (1st) which indicates a weighted average of 70%+. Employers are familiar with these classifications.

Q: Can I transfer into the Year Four of the MAcc programme at Queen’s from another degree or institution?

No – only existing BSc Accounting students at Queen’s can choose to transfer into Year Four. This is a transitional arrangement as from 2024/25 the only entry point to undergraduate Accounting at Queen’s will be the MAcc programme, with the BSc Accounting degree no longer being offered.

This is because the MAcc programme is an integrated undergraduate degree, not a stand-alone Master's-level programme. If you are interested in postgraduate, Master’s-level study only, you should consider our MSc Accounting and Finance programme.