University of Manchester switching from Bsc Accounting to Bsc Econ after first year
I've applied for 2024 entry to Accounting with industrial experience with PWC (N403) at the University of Manchester, I am about to firm my place because I just love the course structure, what it offers me and also the uni.
However, I have never done accounting and trying to sort out some more hands on and realistic work experience in the mean time. I am applying with the A-Levels Maths, Comp sci, and Economics.
Me, and my (mostly) my parents are concerned that if I don't enjoy the course or just working in audit I'm pretty screwed, and also that an economics degree is way more versatile and desirable in the long run when applying for jobs (that aren't straight audit).
So I was wondering if anyone knows if it would be possible, lets say after first year at uni, if a switch to Bsc Economics would be possible and if the uni would allow it? There are some economics modules within the first year of the accountancy course, plus I have done A-Level economics. The grade requirements for both courses are also the same.
(any advice would be apricated, and also I am sending an email to the undergraduates team, but replies always take a while)
However, I have never done accounting and trying to sort out some more hands on and realistic work experience in the mean time. I am applying with the A-Levels Maths, Comp sci, and Economics.
Me, and my (mostly) my parents are concerned that if I don't enjoy the course or just working in audit I'm pretty screwed, and also that an economics degree is way more versatile and desirable in the long run when applying for jobs (that aren't straight audit).
So I was wondering if anyone knows if it would be possible, lets say after first year at uni, if a switch to Bsc Economics would be possible and if the uni would allow it? There are some economics modules within the first year of the accountancy course, plus I have done A-Level economics. The grade requirements for both courses are also the same.
(any advice would be apricated, and also I am sending an email to the undergraduates team, but replies always take a while)
Reply 1
The BSc is the elite course within the faculty and is heavily oversusbcribed. From what I undertsand they wont entertain transfers from the BA Economics to Bsc course, let alone transfers from another faculty.
As someone who qualified as an accountrant with PwC, it is a safe but not exciting career. Your parents instincts are good and that is why I steered my daughter towards Economics rather than finance. If your grades are good then consider skipping a year?
As someone who qualified as an accountrant with PwC, it is a safe but not exciting career. Your parents instincts are good and that is why I steered my daughter towards Economics rather than finance. If your grades are good then consider skipping a year?
Reply 2
The above poster is bang on the money. BSc do not accept any transfers at all, ever.
Reply 3
Original post
by Maddie_bellI've applied for 2024 entry to Accounting with industrial experience with PWC (N403) at the University of Manchester, I am about to firm my place because I just love the course structure, what it offers me and also the uni.
However, I have never done accounting and trying to sort out some more hands on and realistic work experience in the mean time. I am applying with the A-Levels Maths, Comp sci, and Economics.
Me, and my (mostly) my parents are concerned that if I don't enjoy the course or just working in audit I'm pretty screwed, and also that an economics degree is way more versatile and desirable in the long run when applying for jobs (that aren't straight audit).
So I was wondering if anyone knows if it would be possible, lets say after first year at uni, if a switch to Bsc Economics would be possible and if the uni would allow it? There are some economics modules within the first year of the accountancy course, plus I have done A-Level economics. The grade requirements for both courses are also the same.
(any advice would be apricated, and also I am sending an email to the undergraduates team, but replies always take a while)
However, I have never done accounting and trying to sort out some more hands on and realistic work experience in the mean time. I am applying with the A-Levels Maths, Comp sci, and Economics.
Me, and my (mostly) my parents are concerned that if I don't enjoy the course or just working in audit I'm pretty screwed, and also that an economics degree is way more versatile and desirable in the long run when applying for jobs (that aren't straight audit).
So I was wondering if anyone knows if it would be possible, lets say after first year at uni, if a switch to Bsc Economics would be possible and if the uni would allow it? There are some economics modules within the first year of the accountancy course, plus I have done A-Level economics. The grade requirements for both courses are also the same.
(any advice would be apricated, and also I am sending an email to the undergraduates team, but replies always take a while)
Hi, I’m in the same boat as you, and I was just wondering what conclusion you came to?
Reply 4
Original post
by Moonraker66The BSc is the elite course within the faculty and is heavily oversusbcribed. From what I undertsand they wont entertain transfers from the BA Economics to Bsc course, let alone transfers from another faculty.
As someone who qualified as an accountrant with PwC, it is a safe but not exciting career. Your parents instincts are good and that is why I steered my daughter towards Economics rather than finance. If your grades are good then consider skipping a year?
As someone who qualified as an accountrant with PwC, it is a safe but not exciting career. Your parents instincts are good and that is why I steered my daughter towards Economics rather than finance. If your grades are good then consider skipping a year?
How long did it take to qualify as an accountant with PWc and what are the career prospects
Reply 5
Sophtsr,
Sorry for the delay in responding. It took 3 years after graduating which is pretty standard. The hardest bit was summoning up the energy to do another 3 years of exams after having done 5 years solid (A-levels and degree without gap year). It is not that difficult juggling classroom with on the job experience as there is clear demarcated time for both. The biggest benefit is that having a CCAB qualificatioin with a big 4 firm opens up doors throughout your career. I am 58 and still benefitting from this.However, if I had my time again, I would definitely have gone down the economics rather than accounting pathway. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to contact me if you wnat further advice.
Moonaraker66
Sorry for the delay in responding. It took 3 years after graduating which is pretty standard. The hardest bit was summoning up the energy to do another 3 years of exams after having done 5 years solid (A-levels and degree without gap year). It is not that difficult juggling classroom with on the job experience as there is clear demarcated time for both. The biggest benefit is that having a CCAB qualificatioin with a big 4 firm opens up doors throughout your career. I am 58 and still benefitting from this.However, if I had my time again, I would definitely have gone down the economics rather than accounting pathway. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to contact me if you wnat further advice.
Moonaraker66
(edited 8 months ago)
Reply 6
11
Original post
by Moonraker66Sophtsr,
Sorry for the delay in responding. It took 3 years after graduating which is pretty standard. The hardest bit was summoning up the energy to do another 3 years of exams after having done 5 years solid (A-levels and degree without gap year). It is not that difficult juggling classroom with on the job experience as there is clear demarcated time for both. The biggets benefit is that having a CCAB qualificatioin with a big 4 foirm opens up doord throughout your career. I am 58 and still benfitting from this.However, if I had mt time again, I would definitely have gone down the economics rather than accounting pathway. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to contact me if you wnat further advice.
Moonaraker66
Sorry for the delay in responding. It took 3 years after graduating which is pretty standard. The hardest bit was summoning up the energy to do another 3 years of exams after having done 5 years solid (A-levels and degree without gap year). It is not that difficult juggling classroom with on the job experience as there is clear demarcated time for both. The biggets benefit is that having a CCAB qualificatioin with a big 4 foirm opens up doord throughout your career. I am 58 and still benfitting from this.However, if I had mt time again, I would definitely have gone down the economics rather than accounting pathway. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to contact me if you wnat further advice.
Moonaraker66
Hi there, I am thinking of undergoing the course to gain the ACA and professional experience at a Big 4 for a few years. But in the long term I want to move into finance rather than accounting. For example like a financial advisor at a hedgefund or something along those line. How viable do you think this sort of career path would be for me with the pwc fs at manchester
Reply 7
Econpls,
I think the answer to your question is to look at LinkedIn and assess the backgrounds of people working in corporate finance. For me, finance and accounting are the same thing. Whilst non-qualified accountants could work in corporate finance (especially if they are simply populating pre-existing financial models) the level of accounting complexity required to build and operate financial models (especially balance sheet accounting) typically means that it is a field dominated by qualified accountants, although in future AI will change the landscape. I can say this as a highly experienced financial modeller who supports start-ups, M&A and special-purpose vehicles.
Put simply, if you get a CCAB qualification with a big 4 firm (and other large firms such as BDO, Mazars, RSM etc), the amount of roles open to you is vast in the UK and internationally (e.g. industry, audit, tax, consulting, corporate finance), but if you don't qualify and want to work in corporate finance, there will be fewer roles and greater competition, potentially from better-qualified candidates.
The main downside of qualifying with most accounting firms is that you have to do three years in audit as the trade-off for having your training paid for and getting to use the firm's name on your CV. Audit is a great way of understanding how companies work, but it is dull, so think of this period as undertaking a postgraduate degree. An alternative is to go straight into industry (CIMA, ACCA) but this means that your training experience will be linked to a single firm rather than the breadth of experience working say in the Big 4.
If you want to work in corporate finance (e.g. hedge funds, private equity) you probably want to ensure that you train in London, but even then there is no guarantee that the firm you join will allocate you to a specialist division (e.g. banking) as most new graduates are simply canon fodder to be deployed flexibly wherever there is a need until you have gained enough experience to be useful (typically in your 3rd year). The alternative is to skip the accountancy qualification and try to go straight into corporate finance, but this is incredibly competitive and to be honest with you, it is often a case of not what you study at University that differentiates you in this market but what University you studied at (for example, studying Physics at Oxbridge/Imperial is more attractive to these hirers than say someone who studied Finance at Manchester). The big exception to this is computer science graduates as more and more of these jobs now want coding skills and CS at Manchester is highly regarded especially in Fintech.
I hope this helps. These are my personal views only. Please undertake your own career research - the best way is to talk to people who already work in your preferred career path.
I think the answer to your question is to look at LinkedIn and assess the backgrounds of people working in corporate finance. For me, finance and accounting are the same thing. Whilst non-qualified accountants could work in corporate finance (especially if they are simply populating pre-existing financial models) the level of accounting complexity required to build and operate financial models (especially balance sheet accounting) typically means that it is a field dominated by qualified accountants, although in future AI will change the landscape. I can say this as a highly experienced financial modeller who supports start-ups, M&A and special-purpose vehicles.
Put simply, if you get a CCAB qualification with a big 4 firm (and other large firms such as BDO, Mazars, RSM etc), the amount of roles open to you is vast in the UK and internationally (e.g. industry, audit, tax, consulting, corporate finance), but if you don't qualify and want to work in corporate finance, there will be fewer roles and greater competition, potentially from better-qualified candidates.
The main downside of qualifying with most accounting firms is that you have to do three years in audit as the trade-off for having your training paid for and getting to use the firm's name on your CV. Audit is a great way of understanding how companies work, but it is dull, so think of this period as undertaking a postgraduate degree. An alternative is to go straight into industry (CIMA, ACCA) but this means that your training experience will be linked to a single firm rather than the breadth of experience working say in the Big 4.
If you want to work in corporate finance (e.g. hedge funds, private equity) you probably want to ensure that you train in London, but even then there is no guarantee that the firm you join will allocate you to a specialist division (e.g. banking) as most new graduates are simply canon fodder to be deployed flexibly wherever there is a need until you have gained enough experience to be useful (typically in your 3rd year). The alternative is to skip the accountancy qualification and try to go straight into corporate finance, but this is incredibly competitive and to be honest with you, it is often a case of not what you study at University that differentiates you in this market but what University you studied at (for example, studying Physics at Oxbridge/Imperial is more attractive to these hirers than say someone who studied Finance at Manchester). The big exception to this is computer science graduates as more and more of these jobs now want coding skills and CS at Manchester is highly regarded especially in Fintech.
I hope this helps. These are my personal views only. Please undertake your own career research - the best way is to talk to people who already work in your preferred career path.
Reply 8
6
Original post
by Vikvik0730Hi, I’m in the same boat as you, and I was just wondering what conclusion you came to?
sorry for the late reply!!
Haven't been on TSR in ages to be honest since last summer I decided to take a year out and go travelling! best decision for me and i've loved every second of it.
From what i've heard from people i know in real life on and who've just finished the course have thought it was really worth while getting a guaranteed senior associate job and having 5 years to complete the ACCA, however it is much more work than just a standard degree and you do have to be prepared for it.
personally, i've reapplied to Durham Uni this year and i applied for both Economics and Accounting and finance (both with year abroad). The Uni just suits me much better and i've Firmed my place for Econ
if you're unsure, go with what you know you'll enjoy. Everyone i know has told me if you're stuck studying something boring uni will be miserable for you, don't just priorities the fact you're guaranteed a job at the end of the PWC course, because if you hate the job it wasn't really worth it. PWC route is amazing for people who KNOW they love audit, but if you're unsure go with something more versatile.
apologies if this advice is a bit late, but if you still needed a second opinion here it is
Reply 9
Original post
by Maddie_bellsorry for the late reply!!
Haven't been on TSR in ages to be honest since last summer I decided to take a year out and go travelling! best decision for me and i've loved every second of it.
From what i've heard from people i know in real life on and who've just finished the course have thought it was really worth while getting a guaranteed senior associate job and having 5 years to complete the ACCA, however it is much more work than just a standard degree and you do have to be prepared for it.
personally, i've reapplied to Durham Uni this year and i applied for both Economics and Accounting and finance (both with year abroad). The Uni just suits me much better and i've Firmed my place for Econ
if you're unsure, go with what you know you'll enjoy. Everyone i know has told me if you're stuck studying something boring uni will be miserable for you, don't just priorities the fact you're guaranteed a job at the end of the PWC course, because if you hate the job it wasn't really worth it. PWC route is amazing for people who KNOW they love audit, but if you're unsure go with something more versatile.
apologies if this advice is a bit late, but if you still needed a second opinion here it is
Haven't been on TSR in ages to be honest since last summer I decided to take a year out and go travelling! best decision for me and i've loved every second of it.
From what i've heard from people i know in real life on and who've just finished the course have thought it was really worth while getting a guaranteed senior associate job and having 5 years to complete the ACCA, however it is much more work than just a standard degree and you do have to be prepared for it.
personally, i've reapplied to Durham Uni this year and i applied for both Economics and Accounting and finance (both with year abroad). The Uni just suits me much better and i've Firmed my place for Econ
if you're unsure, go with what you know you'll enjoy. Everyone i know has told me if you're stuck studying something boring uni will be miserable for you, don't just priorities the fact you're guaranteed a job at the end of the PWC course, because if you hate the job it wasn't really worth it. PWC route is amazing for people who KNOW they love audit, but if you're unsure go with something more versatile.
apologies if this advice is a bit late, but if you still needed a second opinion here it is
Thanks very much for your advice it’s very helpful, hope you enjoyed travelling and exploring different cultures!!
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Changing undergrad course
- Sheffield Economics graduate - ask me anything :-D
- I am stuck with what path I want to take...
- What would be some realistic universities for me?
- Economics Uni Choices
- Accounting, business and banking with finance
- Applying for different courses at uni (economics & finance/accounting & finance)
- Economics BSc VS Industrial Economics BSc
- Leeds university clearing
- University Economics Choices
- Management and Marketing
- Switching the course of an offer from LSE
- Industrial Economics versus Economics career opportunities
- LSE Economics and Economic History Personal Statement
- Final UCAS choices review
- Can I get into a good uni with my subject choices..?
- Durham Course Change
- UCL vs Warwick Economics 2025
- accounting & finance 2026 entry
- Andrew
Latest
Trending
Last reply 3 weeks ago
Official University of Manchester Accommodation Swap discussion thread 2025University of Manchester
129
327
Last reply 1 month ago
Official Uni of Manchester Offer Holders Thread 2025 entryLast reply 3 months ago
Whitworth Park Accommodation - Dilworth House opinions?Last reply 3 months ago
Official University of Manchester 2025 Applicant ThreadLast reply 4 months ago
Why is this the case for Manchester vs London unis? Is it true?Last reply 4 months ago
Please help with this for Manchester University Clearing!Last reply 4 months ago
Can I apply directly through a uni website or is it fully through UCAS ?Posted 4 months ago
PLS HELP University of Bristol or Manchester for BusinessLast reply 5 months ago
University of Manchester requiring access to HE results before results day
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
