ICAEW is working with universities to offer you the option to undertake a paid industry placement and study elements of the ACA qualification, while studying an accountancy or business undergraduate degree.

The placement with an ICAEW authorised training employer can be used towards completing the 450 days of practical work experience that you must complete to qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

Where can you study?

ICAEW has relationships with a number of UK universities offering work placements as part of their degree programmes. 

In 2009 ICAEW launched the Undergraduate Partnership Programme (UPP) in partnership with Cardiff, Manchester and Warwick university to offer placements with authorised training employers.

The Undergraduate Partnership Programme (UPP) is an exclusive collaborative programme between ICAEW and the business schools at three of the UK's most prestigious universities: Cardiff, Manchester and Warwick.

UPP provides students with the opportunity to apply for a third-year 12-month placement at an ICAEW authorised training employer.

Course: BSc in Accounting

Duration: 3 years (full time)/4 years with a 12 month placement

What’s included:

Alongside the opportunity to extend the degree to a four year programme with a 12 month work placement, this degree offers credit for up to eight ACA modules.A number of classes are taught by accountants working for firms, such as: PwC, KPMG and Grant Thornton.

Each year the university organises skills-based workshops in partnership with large accounting firms.

Entry requirements:

• A levels: AAB (General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies are not accepted).
• International Baccalaureate: 35 points, including Maths and English (Standard level) with scores of 5.
• GCSEs: English C and Maths B.
• Alternative qualifications are considered.

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Course: BSc in Accounting and Finance

Duration: 3 years (full time)/4 years with a 12 month placement

What’s included:

Cardiff University’s Accounting and Finance degree programme follows the same syllabus with the Accounting degree programme in the first year, with the second and third years covering financial accounting, business finance and management accounting.

Alongside the option for a year-long placement at an ATE, the degree offers exemptions for up to six ACA modules and the option to study specialist finance areas, such as: public sector accounting and international accounting.

Entry requirements:

• A levels: AAB (General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies are not accepted).
• International Baccalaureate: 35 points, including Maths and English (Standard level) with scores of 5.
• GCSEs: English C and Maths B.
• Alternative qualifications are considered.

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Course: BSc in Accounting

Duration: 3 years (full time)/4 years with a 12 month placement

What’s included:

This course provides credit for up to eight ACA modules alongside the opportunity to spend your third year on a work placement at an ICAEW ATE. The course is taught by staff who are leading researchers in their fields, some of whom are also qualified accountants.

ICAEW holds networking events at Alliance Manchester Business School enabling you to meet firms that offer placements through UPP, such as EY, Goldman Sachs, Grant Thornton, Mazars and PwC.

Entry requirements:

• A levels: AAA (General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted)
• GCSEs: Maths 7, English language 6
• International Baccalaureate: 36 points and 666 in Higher Level subjects, plus no less than 5 for standard level English and 6 for Maths (Maths studies is not accepted).

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Course: BSc in Accounting and Finance

Duration: 3 years (full time)/4 years with a 12-month placement

What’s included:

This course offers up to seven credits towards ACA modules, as well as a year-long work placement in the third year.

• Find out more

Entry requirements:

• A Levels: AAA, including Maths or Further Maths (Maths-related subjects, such as Statistics, Economics, Accounting and Finance do not meet the requirement).
• A Levels: At least one humanities/social science subject (taught in English) is preferred for overseas applicants.
• GCSEs: humanities/social science subject, A.
• International Baccalaureate: 38 points, including at least 5 in Higher Level Maths. Candidates with a humanities or social science subject (taught in English) at Higher Level will also be preferred.
• Other internationally-recognised qualifications are also considered.

Course: BSc in Accounting and Finance

Duration: 3 years (full time)/4 years with a 12-month placement

What’s included:

This course offers up to seven credits towards ACA modules, as well as a year-long work placement in the third year.

• Find out more

Entry requirements:

• A Levels: AAA, including Maths or Further Maths (Maths-related subjects, such as Statistics, Economics, Accounting and Finance do not meet the requirement).
• A Levels: At least one humanities/social science subject (taught in English) is preferred for overseas applicants.
• GCSEs: humanities/social science subject, A.
• International Baccalaureate: 38 points, including at least 5 in Higher Level Maths. Candidates with a humanities or social science subject (taught in English) at Higher Level will also be preferred.
• Other internationally-recognised qualifications are also considered.

Course: BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance

Duration: 3 years (full time)/4 years with a 12 month placement

What’s included:

This degree offers students the opportunity to gain credit for prior learning for up to eight ACA modules as well as the option to undertake a year’s work experience at an ICAEW authorised training employer.

The course is made up of 17 compulsory modules and a range of optional modules which include: industrial economics, corporate social responsibility and behavioural finance. Leeds University also offers students the option to study abroad for a year of their degree in countries including: the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Taiwan and in other European countries.

Entry requirements:

• A levels: AAA.
• GCSEs: Maths A and English Language B.
• International Baccalaureate: 37 points, including 17 points in higher level subjects.
• BTEC qualifications will be considered alongside academic A levels.
• Access to Higher Education Diplomas will be considered for mature UK/EU applicants (21+).

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Course: BSc in Accounting and Finance (Industry) degree

Duration: 4 years

What’s included:

This degree, from a world-ranked research university, includes a year in industry as part of the ICAEW strategic placement degree programme, to enable you to gain real-world experience.

You will gain sound technical knowledge together with interpersonal and communication skills through innovatively taught case study modules, all of which will help set you on the path to reaching your career goals.

Entry requirements:

• A levels: AAB.
• BTEC: DDD.
• GCSEs: Maths B and English Language B.
• International students will need an IELTS 6.5 overall in English with at least 5.5 in each component.
• International Baccalaureate: 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: in a relevant subject with 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 15 Level 3 credits at Merit.

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Course: BA (Hons) Accounting and Finances

Duration: 3 years (full time)/4 years with a 12-month placement

What’s included:

This course provides credit for up to eight of the 15 modules in the ACA qualification and the option to undertake a 12-month placement with an ICAEW authorised training employer.

On the courses students use real data, software and techniques in the university’s Thomson Reuters Trading room, which holds real-time and historical data on financial markets (equities, bonds, currencies, derivatives, etc). Students also follow their own business engagement programme, which provides first-hand participation in live accounting or business environments.

Entry requirements:

• 280 UCAS points.
• A levels: BBC (typical offer).
• BTEC: DMM (typical offer).
• GCSEs: Maths C and English C (or equivalent).
• International students will need an IELTS 6.0 overall in English with no less than 5.5 in any other band, or equivalent.
• Applications from mature students (21+) do not necessarily require the same academic qualifications as school leaving applicants.

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Bayes Business School

Course: BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance

Duration: 3 years (full time)/4 years with a 12 month placement

What’s included:

The course provides credit for up to eight of the 15 ACA qualification modules, as well as the option to undertake a year-long ACA training agreement as a sandwich year during the course. Accounting and finance students at Cass Business School are also given the option of completing their work experience abroad in Australia, Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Entry requirements:

• A levels: AAA, including maths or a science.
• International Baccalaureate: 35 points, including six points in higher level maths or sciences.

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Completing a placement year at an ICAEW authorised training employer will count towards the mandatory 450 days of practical work experience needed to qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

During your placement year you can either start your training agreement or claim Credit for Prior Work experience to fast track yourself through the ACA qualification after graduation.

Find out about how to secure an ACA training agreement after completing your degree.

How to secure an ACA training agreement