Accounting HNC

Course code 104N

What is special about this course?

The HNC Accounting* covers a wide range of accounting concepts and provides you with an excellent grounding in the principles of financial and management accounting using manual and computerised approaches.

It is designed to prepare you for a career in accounting or financial administration.

*subject to revalidation

Special features

  • You will study a range of subjects such as economics, law, statistics and communications
  • You can study full time or part time to suit your personal and professional circumstances

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

  • 1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above, OR
  • 1 A Level at grade D or above
  • For both of the above, preference is for a numeracy-based subject 
  • Alternatively, NC Accounting or NC Business (with a minimum pass mark of 70% accounting units)
  • Foundation Apprenticeship in Accountancy, Business Skills, or Financial Services
  • Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis

Access routes

  • NC Accounting
  • NC Business (with minimum pass mark of 70% accounting units)

Year 1 - HNC

Mandatory units are:

  • Cost accounting
  • Graded unit 1: accounting 
  • Management accounting using IT
  • Preparing financial statements
  • Recording financial information
  • Using financial accounting software

Optional units may include:

  • Business accounting
  • Business communication
  • Business contractual relationships
  • Business law: an introduction
  • Company law: an introduction
  • Creating a culture of customer care
  • Economic issues: an introduction
  • IT in Business: spreadsheets
  • Managing people and organisations
  • Marketing: an introduction
  • Payroll
  • Personal development planning
  • Personal enterprise skills
  • Project management
  • Research skills
  • Statistics for business

Please note that option units available vary depending on study location, for more information contact your chosen campus

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time attendance (structured)
  • Part-time attendance (unstructured)
  • Part-time distance learning (available at UHI Perth)
  • You can study via face-to-face lectures and tutorials in the classroom, or you may choose to study via distance learning with UHI Perth

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 1 year
  • Part-time: 2 years

Where can I study my course?

  • Inverness
  • Moray
  • Perth

Start date

  • September

 

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £1,285 £1,285
Part-time (per HN credit) £86 £86

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,110 £7,110
Part-time (per HN credit) £474 £474

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,980 £8,775
Part-time (per HN credit) £532 £585

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Upon successful completion of this HNC Accounting, you may wish to proceed to employment with local organisations as an accounting assistant.

Can I progress into further study?

You can progress to the HND Accounting and from there to the BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance.

Is there more information available online?

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I particularly like the mixture of core and optional units. As the weeks progressed during my first semester, I was able to see connections between subjects and have a greater understanding of the course as a whole. Completing my course will help me to be successful in my chosen field. UHI arranged a really useful employment fair, held in-house, which a lot of local accountancy and finance firms attended. It allowed us to chat face to- face with potential employers who had valuable advice on how to secure employment in the future. I get such a positive feeling as soon as I enter the door. For me learning has been an extremely fulfilling experience. I have made many friends and it has allowed me to achieve my full potential.

Rachel Hinde studied Accounting at UHI Inverness.

Apply for Accounting HNC

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2025

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.