Acca vs Degree in Accountancy

bulmersgal

Background about myself. I'm a mom to one child, just got a job aa accounts clerk in a large company. Have just finished my ati exams this week and starting job next week.

So if i do a degree in tallaght its 3 nights per week and i go into it at 3rd year so will have a degree in a year.

Or I will hopefully get my excemptions from Acca and will only have 11 exams. I was thinking of starting next month from home and maybe signing up for classes in Sept if i feel like i'm struggling. Also was thinking of doing three subjects.

I can also do Cima but havent researched that properly so still unsure.

Which would be the best option to get degree and then fo Acca? Or just go straight into Acca.
Is it manageable for people with children to do a degree or professional exams part time. I done my accounts technician course full time so was able to give it my all. But my weekends havent been free for the last month. So i imagine it worst with full time job

Any opinions will be a great help

SBWife

Well the Bachelors in Accounting potentially gives you exemptions from 9 of the ACCA exams depending on your course options. If you can get 4 or more additional exemptions by getting the BA then this would be the way to go, then start the remaining ACCA exams the following year.

bulmersgal

SBWife wrote: »

Well the Bachelors in Accounting potentially gives you exemptions from 9 of the ACCA exams depending on your course options. If you can get 4 or more additional exemptions by getting the BA then this would be the way to go, then start the remaining ACCA exams the following year.

Thanks just nervous about 3 nights a week its a awful lot as the other nights you will need to study etc.

Is it better on a cv to have a degree though? Then being say part qualified from the Acca exams

thetrainee1

Do ACCA. Even if you get the degree employers will still require ACA or ACCA.

bulmersgal

thetrainee1 wrote: »

Do ACCA. Even if you get the degree employers will still require ACA or ACCA.

Aca is to dear for me at the moment. So will have to be Acca or a degree. I'm only on a intital 6 month contract but they said if i'm good at job it will be extended

20 Times 20 Times

It is only 3 nights a week over less then 9 months really.

That way you will have a degree and ACCA exemptions from F1-F9.

I would strongly recommend having a degree in todays job market.

Your life/commercial experience will stand to you for studying for the degree.

What other options of colleges/Uni do you have ??

bulmersgal

Little Pea wrote: »

It is only 3 nights a week over less then 9 months really.

That way you will have a degree and ACCA exemptions from F1-F9.

I would strongly recommend having a degree in todays job market.

Your life/commercial experience will stand to you for studying for the degree.

What other options of colleges/Uni do you have ??

I dont really wanna do any other degrees but accountancy. Tallaght IT suits me as i'll be working in Tallaght and i only have to do one year to get degree. Well two if I want honours degree

20 Times 20 Times

Hmmm

If it is just an ordinary degree , how may exemptions will you get from this ??

Also what is the cost ?

Johnmb

bulmersgal wrote: »

Thanks just nervous about 3 nights a week its a awful lot as the other nights you will need to study etc.

Is it better on a cv to have a degree though? Then being say part qualified from the Acca exams

To have an actual degree is much better than to say you are part qualified in any of the qualifications (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, etc.). The degree is an actual qualification, part qualified is meaningless. I don't think there is officially such a term in any of the professional bodies.

If you have the degree, you should get extra exemptions that will help you get the ACCA qualification. Tallaght IT used to have maximum possible exemptions available for its honours BBS in Accounting (depending on some choices being made regarding subjects), so getting that may actually speed up your ACCA qualification if that is still the case. And even if you don't complete the ACCA, you'll always have that degree. Added to experience, that will be a great thing to have on your CV in any future job hunting.

bulmersgal

Little Pea wrote: »

Hmmm

If it is just an ordinary degree , how may exemptions will you get from this ??

Also what is the cost ?

I think from F1-8 but will have to email them to confirm as i'll only be starting at 3rd year.

I'm already exempt from F1-3 depending on my results in July.

Its €2365 for the year in Tallaght

bulmersgal

Johnmb wrote: »

To have an actual degree is much better than to say you are part qualified in any of the qualifications (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, etc.). The degree is an actual qualification, part qualified is meaningless. I don't think there is officially such a term in any of the professional bodies.

If you have the degree, you should get extra exemptions that will help you get the ACCA qualification. Tallaght IT used to have maximum possible exemptions available for its honours BBS in Accounting (depending on some choices being made regarding subjects), so getting that may actually speed up your ACCA qualification if that is still the case. And even if you don't complete the ACCA, you'll always have that degree. Added to experience, that will be a great thing to have on your CV in any future job hunting.

Thanks i was thinking that too, if I decide in few years accountancy not for me at least I will have a degree rather then say 9 out of 14 exams completed.

Think a degree is probably my best choice as i'm only 27 so long term it will probably stand to me more

frogstar

You do know once you have all your F's done, you can apply for a degree through Oxford brooks?

Might be an option. For me the acca F's are very easy to do home study. Considering you work and have a child it might be the easier route. It's also cheaper.

Personally I prefer home study than classes as I can organise my time better. Some lectures can be boring and go at a slower pace than if you were to do it at home

Also, acca is viewed as an all round business qualification, not just for accounts. I know lots of people who are not accountants but have acca. I'm on my last f exams and it's the first real accountancy type of paper I'm doing now (f7)

bulmersgal

frogstar wrote: »

You do know once you have all your F's done, you can apply for a degree through Oxford brooks?

Might be an option. For me the acca F's are very easy to do home study. Considering you work and have a child it might be the easier route. It's also cheaper.

Personally I prefer home study than classes as I can organise my time better. Some lectures can be boring and go at a slower pace than if you were to do it at home

Thats what i found last two years, I'm good at accountancy and it comes natural too me. So i do get bored when it goes too slow. I actually took last 6 weeks off college to home study as i was able to do triple the work at home.

I think i might see how my work/life balance is in 4-6 weeks and then decide. Studying and minding a 3 year old by myself is tiring enough so will have to see how i am after i start job too.

Thats good about the degree, going to look into it more now.

Thanks every1 for all the help i really appreciate it.

frogstar

Best of luck with it!

I work and have no kids and find it tough (it's the guilt when I'm not revising!)

bulmersgal

frogstar wrote: »

Best of luck with it!

I work and have no kids and find it tough (it's the guilt when I'm not revising!)

Haha i hate the guilt, i still have it even though my last exam was monday. I keep thinking i need to do something

20 Times 20 Times

If it is just the degree your after have a read of this : http://www.accaglobal.com/en/student/acca-qual-student-journey/qual-resource/bsc-degree.html

Mickiemcfist

I'm planning on getting qualified, then doing a masters afterwards, it will also take one year.

The only exemptions the ordinary degree will get you that you dont already have are f4, f6 & f8, which you could easily do in one semester of ACCA. I see what you mean about wanting a degree, but now that you have a job & hopefully will be qualified IATI, I would rather be a qualified accountant first.

Link to the exemptions https://portal.accaglobal.com/accrweb/faces/page/public/accreditations/enquiry/main/EnqProgrammesTable.jspx;jsessionid=6af47ef94fb2dcac13d5bd8f5e6dabe819d5238b1776cad9e2d81357167cef45.e3eRaxaLaxaTe34Pbx4Kah0Pahv0n6jAmljGr5XBqAXPq0
*sorry, enter tallaght then find the course, cant link the direct result?

Link to the subjects taught in ITT http://www.it-tallaght.ie/index.cfm/page/coursept?id=237

shuyin1

Tallaght will get you f1-f4, f6-8 for ord degree. Honours f1-f9. Courses have changed, mgt ac has moved to 4th year.

Jem123

bulmersgal wrote: »

Background about myself. I'm a mom to one child, just got a job aa accounts clerk in a large company. Have just finished my ati exams this week and starting job next week.

So if i do a degree in tallaght its 3 nights per week and i go into it at 3rd year so will have a degree in a year.

Or I will hopefully get my excemptions from Acca and will only have 11 exams. I was thinking of starting next month from home and maybe signing up for classes in Sept if i feel like i'm struggling. Also was thinking of doing three subjects.

I can also do Cima but havent researched that properly so still unsure.

Which would be the best option to get degree and then fo Acca? Or just go straight into Acca.
Is it manageable for people with children to do a degree or professional exams part time. I done my accounts technician course full time so was able to give it my all. But my weekends havent been free for the last month. So i imagine it worst with full time job

Any opinions will be a great help

Hi Bulmersgal.

I'm in the exact same boat as you. Finished ATI 2 years ago and starting Acca home study this September ( hoping to do F3-F5). The degree in Tallaght sounds great but the 3 nights a week was a deal breaker for me as I too have a young child.

Best of luck with whatever you choose!

nozmor

I was at the same crossroads a few years ago when i finished ATI, went and carried on to CPA but I found that studying for the professional body exams quite tough especially while trying to juggle a full time job and a kid on my own so I ended up dropping out of CPA.

Not to be deterred I completed an ordinary degree in BS Accountancy with CIT, and gained quite a few exemptions from ACCA. (Had to complete F7 and all the P's) If you have a lot of balls to juggle stay away from ACCA for as long as possible and pick off your qualifications as you go. I just found better support from lecturers and fellow students with the ordinary degree. While with ACCA your just another numbered cash cow.

Just finished P3 yesterday and I hope to finish up in December with P6 and P7, maybe then I can be free of study guilt I hope this is of some help to you.

bulmersgal

Thanks again for all the help. I eventually chose the degree in tallaght, it's been tiring but I've only 3 weeks left and on course to get a 2.1 degree.

Overall glad I got my degree as the lecturers have a lot of time and the continuous assessments helped me.

Now to decide what to do next year honours degree or start professionals (Aca vs Acca) :-/

Aurellia

If professionals is where you want to go; see what exemptions you have and then go from there, there might be no difference in CAP2 ACA v staying to do degree,

If you want a training contract the Big 4 want you to have a degree. Im in practice on Elevtion with ACA, and was the best decision i made. i had exemptions too, so helped

bulmersgal

Aurellia wrote: »

If professionals is where you want to go; see what exemptions you have and then go from there, there might be no difference in CAP2 ACA v staying to do degree,

If you want a training contract the Big 4 want you to have a degree. Im in practice on Elevtion with ACA, and was the best decision i made. i had exemptions too, so helped

I'm just waiting to hear back about exemptions. I only got 210 in leaving so I doubt I would get into one of the big 4

kellier180

Hi,

Sorry to bring up an old thread,

Just wondering what you decided to do in the end?

I'm in the same boat at the minute I completed my ATI exams in 2017 but only qualified for 1 exemption in ACCA. So am currently looking at doing a college course to get a level 8 degree and then the 9 exemptions that come with it or just go straight into ACCA but can't decide. Like yourself I have kids aswel and working full time. Problem is I'm living in Mayo so no colleges around me do the same course as Tallaght part time or even online.

MartyMcFly84

I would recommend going straight into ACCA. Which is what I did going back into education in my 30s. I have 2 exams left to go.

There is an option to get an Accountancy degree from Oxford Brookes University when you finished F1-F9 exams by doing an additional project.(You might qualify already for some exemptions from these exams with your current background).

So you can get the Accountancy degree if you wish while focusing on ACCA exams. The knowledge from ACCA skills level is directly applicable to the professional exams. There is also an option to get a Masters from the University of London upon completion of the professional exams with an additional research project.

The degree and masters are completely optional and can be done in addition to the ACCA qualification. So you will not miss out by going directly into ACCA and would like to get a university qualification also.