Have you wandered here after reading our tiny primer on accounting? We promised a list on accounting degrees in it, so here it is! We hope it’ll be of use.
It’s not an exhaustive list, however! You’re able to double major/minor in NUS and the other public universities if you desire. Again, this list is not an endorsement of the courses within so do conduct your own research, too, to make sure you pick a course and school that’s a right fit for you!
*Fees are based on 2018/19 intakes and are accurate as of Nov 2018.
1. National University of Singapore – Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons, Accountancy)
The National University of Singapore currently ranks 17th on the QS 2018 ranking and 23rd on Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019, for Accountancy and Finance. As the BBA indicates, the degree comprises of both general business and accounting modules, with students given a chance to specialise in any one (or more) of the 7 specialisations offered. Specialisations include: Operations and Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Finance, Leadership and Human Capital Management, Business Economics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as well as Business Analytics.
The degree is accredited under the Accountants Act and grads are eligible to enroll for the Singapore Chartered Accountant (SCA)/CIMA/ICAEW/CPA Australia/ACCA qualifications.
Duration: 4 years
Curriculum: General Education Modules, Core Modules, Compulsory Accounting Modules like Managerial Accounting and Accounting Information Systems, Honours Modules (Honours by Research or Honours by Coursework). Internship is compulsory.
Course Fees: $9,600 for Singaporeans, $13,450 for PRs, $20,550 for international students (Per annum, subsidized)
2. National Technological University – Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons)
26th on the QS World University 2018 Ranking by subject, NTU is one of 11 schools outside of the US to have gained accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The degree is attractive to students who desire to complete their studies and enter the workforce quicker; students have the option to do a semester-long internship (Experiential Semester Programme) and graduate within the 3-year timeframe. NTU is also known for having a strong Business school.
Like NUS, grads are eligible to enroll for the SCA qualification post graduation and will be provided exemptions (other eligible qualifications/exemptions include ICAEW, CIMA, ACCA, etc).
Duration: 3 years
Curriculum: Prescribed electives (from Business and Management/Liberal Studies/Science, Technology and Society), Core Electives (Economics/Comms), Accounting Core Courses (such as Risk Reporting and Analysis, Assurance and Auditing), Common Core Courses (Foundational Excel/Business Marketing/etc.)
Course Fees: $9,400 for Singaporeans, $13,200 for PRs, $20,100 for international students (Per annum, subsidized)
3. Singapore University of Social Sciences – Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours)
One of SUSS’s full-time programmes, the Bachelor of Accountancy is accredited by the Singapore Accountancy Commission (SAC) for direct enrollment of the SCA qualification. While the degree is newer than the other local universities’ offerings, SUSS has arranged for its students to be able to do their (compulsory) work attachments with 15 audit firms. If you have any information to share with us about SUSS’s accountancy course, please drop us an email/comment.
Duration: 4 years full-time, part-time also available
Curriculum: Unrestricted general electives, core compulsory electives, core restricted electives, accountancy major electives (examples include Intermediate Financial Reporting, Advanced Assurance and Attestation), 24-week work attachment, compulsory community engagement/overseas exposure.
Course Fees: Approximately $33,440 for Singaporeans, $66,880 for PRs, and $80,000 for foreigners (entire degree)
4. Singapore Management University – Bachelor of Accountancy
SMU’s School of Accountancy has several achievements under its belt. Ranked 1st in Asia and 3rd worldwide in Archival Accounting Research (Brigham Young University (BYU) Accounting Research Rankings, Feb 2017), and also the first school in Asia to be recognized by ICAEW for the ACA Strategic Credits Pathway, the school is also accredited by 11 professional and educational bodies. SMU is known for its seminar-style classes, so if you’re outspoken this could be a place for you.
Like NUS, grads are eligible to enroll for the SCA qualification post graduation and will be provided exemptions (other eligible qualifications/exemptions include ICAEW, CIMA, ACCA, etc).
Duration: 4 years
Curriculum: Foundation courses (Calculus, Introductory Economics, Writing & Reasoning module) University Core courses, Accounting Core courses (e.g management accounting, taxation), Accounting Options courses (e.g Internal Audit, Statistical Programming), mandatory internship and community service, Others
Course Fees: $ 11,450 for Singaporeans, $ 16,000 for PRs and $ 24,500 for international students (per annum, subsidized)
5. Singapore Institute of Technology – Bachelor in Accountancy (Hons)
SIT’s Bachelor of Accountancy is unique in that it offers an 8-month Intergrated Work-Study Programme, with firms such as the Big 4 and Baker Tilly being some places students can be posted to. It also promises to provide students an edge through its Regional Exposure to Accounting Practice (REAP) Programme, which will equip students with an understanding of socio-cultural and economic nuances in the Asia-Pacific Region that could affect their work.
Like NUS, grads are eligible to enroll for the SCA qualification post graduation and will be provided exemptions (other eligible qualifications/exemptions include ICAEW, CIMA, CAANZ, etc)
Duration: 3 years
Curriculum: Modules such as Accounting for Decision Making and Control, Investment Analysis, Company Accounting, Business Law.
Course Fees: $27,540 for Singaporeans, $53,100 for PRs, $72,225 for international students
6. Singapore Institute of Management (General Education) – Bachelor of Business (Accountancy)
Awarded by RMIT, the Australian university ranked within the 51st-100th bracket for Accounting and Finance in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2018) and 201st-250th bracket for the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject (2019). Graduates of this degree will be able to enroll into, and receive exemptions, for the CPA Australia and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification programmes. Students will have the option of studying a semester at RMIT’s partner universities.
Accreditation: SIM GE is EduTrust Certified.
Duration: 3 years
Curriculum: Modules such as Singapore Taxation, Financial Accountability and Analysis, Financial Accounting and Theory.
Course Fees: $ 44,426.40 for full course of study
Other accounting degrees from this school you could consider:
- University of Birmingham:
- University of London:
7. Management Development Institute of Singapore – Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Accounting and Finance
Awarded by the University of Bangor (UK), which ranks 251st-300th in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking by Subject, their Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance is accredited by ACCA and CIMA and graduates will thus receive exemptions for their qualifications. The school has received a Gold Award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in the UK, and students can expect a student-teacher ratio of 40:1 and 100:1 for tutorials and lectures respectively.
Accreditation: MDIS is EduTrust Certified.
Duration: 24 months full-time
Curriculum: Modules such as Probability and Optimisation, Management and Financial Accounting, Corporate Governance and Regulation
Course Fees: $35,537.80 for local students (non-tuition fees included), $35,310.00 for international students (non-tuition fees not yet included)
Other accounting degrees from this school you could consider:
- University of Sunderland (UK)
8. Kaplan – Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Accountancy and Financial Management (Top-up)
Awarded by the University of Portsmouth (UK), this Bachelor provides those looking to take the ACCA qualification with an edge: the degree is not only ACCA affiliated but also provides the chance to get exemptions for ACCA’s fundamental skills’ papers. Students can also receive exemptions for up to 6 subjects if they’ve already taken the fundamental skills’ papers beforehand, with the opportunity to complete the Professional ones during the course of study. The University of Portsmouth has received Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (UK).
Accreditation: Kaplan is EduTrust Certified.
Duration: 18 months (full-time, part-time)
Curriculum: Study modules like ‘Corporate Governance, Financial Crime, Ethics and Control’ as well as Taxation
Course Fees: $21,400.00 (both part-time and full-time)
Other accounting degrees from this school you could consider:
- Murdoch University
- Bachelor of Business in Accounting (Single Major)
- Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Finance (Double Major)
- Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Business Law (Double Major)
- Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Economics (Double Major)
- Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Finance (Double Major)
- Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Human Resource Management (Double Major)
- Bachelor of Business in Accounting and International Business (Double Major)
- Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Management (Double Major)
- Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Marketing (Double Major)
- Northumbria University
- University of Essex
9. PSB Academy – Bachelor Of Arts With Honours In Accounting And Finance
Awarded by the University of Coventry (UK’s Top Modern University in the Complete University Guide 2018), which attained Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (2017, UK) and ranks 301st-400th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject, the degree allows for graduates to be exempted from 9 ACCA specified papers. Assessment formats can consist of assignments, tests, projects and final examinations.
Duration: 16-28 months
Curriculum: Modules such as Mathematics Techniques for Accountants, International Corporate Reporting, Principles of Financial Investment and Decision Management.
Course Fees: $20,800
10. James Cook University (Singapore) – Bachelor of Business (Majoring in Accounting)
James Cook University ranks amongst the top 2% of universities globally, based on the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2017 by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. A branch fully owned by James Cook University (Australia), JCU Singapore offers a Bachelor of Business with an accounting major that has full accreditation by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA) and CPA Australia. Its graduates can also seek Associate membership from the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA).
Accreditation: JCU Singapore is EduTrust Certified.
Duration: 2 years (Full-time)
Curriculum: Core subjects (like Managing Consumer Markets/Business Law), Major Subjects (like Financial Management/ Business Modelling), Minor Subjects (like Tourism Management/Accounting)
Course Fees: $53,928 for locals, $56,496 for international students
11. Curtin University Singapore – Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
Like JCU, Curtin University (Australia) has a campus here in Singapore. Currently, the university is 301st-350th in the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Ranking, and 250th in QS’s World University Rankings 2018-2019. Graduates of this degree will be eligible to apply for admission to the CA program of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand and/or the CPA Program of CPA Australia.
Accreditation: Curtin University Singapore is EduTrust Certified and AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accredited.
Duration: 2 or 3 years full-time, part-time available
Curriculum: Modules such as Company Accounting, Financial Reporting as well as Introduction to Australian Tax Law.
Course Fees: $36,288 for local students, $51,840 for international students
Any comments about the degrees above, or are you a current accounting student/professional with something to share? Please do drop us a comment or an article, even. We know it’d be of great help to all our juniors out there! We look forward to your response!
