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How to become an accountant in the UK without a degree first

Two viable routes, and how to choose between them.

31 July 2026 3 min read Campus Journey Advisors
Campus Journey guide

Accountancy is unusual: you can qualify through professional exams alone, or through a degree that gives you exemptions from some of them. Both work. They suit different people.

Route one: professional exams

AAT then ACCA or CIMA. Cheaper up front, slower if you are studying alongside full-time work, and it depends on finding an employer willing to support you.

Route two: a funded degree

A BA in Accounting and Finance covers the ground faster, is funded by a tuition loan, and typically carries exemptions from several ACCA papers. You finish with both a degree and a head start on the professional qualification.

Which to pick

If you are already in a finance role with employer support, the exam route is efficient. If you are changing career from outside finance, the degree route usually opens more doors, because it gives you the placement year and the graduate schemes.

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