Gyanberry > Accounting and Finance > top accounting and finance universities in 2022 2023

Top Accounting and Finance Universities in 2022-2023

Apr 28, 2022

Best Accounting and Finance Colleges and Universities in the World

About Accounting and Finance

Accounting and finance come under the category of FAME subjects (finance, accounting, management, and economics), which all play important roles in the business world. Although both, accounting, and finance are involved in the management of business assets, they function on distinct levels of the asset management spectrum. 

Accounting is a highly specialized field that includes reporting and analyzing how money flows in and out of a company, as well as ensuring that regulations are followed to avoid financial trouble. Finance, on the other hand, is a broad study of how an organization manages its assets. In general, both fields require knowledge of finance, mathematics, statistics, and economics, where accounting decides the financial position of a company and finance decides the performance of the company.

Accounting and finance are two of the oldest and most popular professions known to mankind, therefore, one cannot go wrong with picking either one as their career path. These two careers are extremely rewarding for students who are interested in fund management. 

Duties of Accounting and Finance professionals

Although accounting and finance have numerous components in common and are frequently lumped together, the professionals who work in both sectors perform different tasks. The following table summarizes the duties that fall under accounting and finance.

Duties in Accounting  Duties in Finance 
Accountants are typically employed by accounting companies, banks, and enterprises, where they prepare financial statements Financial managers work in banks and other financial institutions and are responsible for analyzing rather than preparing financial statements
Accountants are responsible for performing internal and financial reporting to determine the company’s financial status They make decisions on the firm’s financial position and are frequently involved with mergers and acquisitions that benefit the company
They collect, organize and maintain financial records of an organization and prepare risk management strategies They analyze and interpret the financial records of the company to come up with ways to improve the overall performance of a company 
Accountants are involved in tracking revenues and expenses by performing audits  Financial managers are involved with preparing budgets and financial forecasting 

Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Accounting and Finance

It is feasible to pursue a joint accounting and finance degree at the undergraduate level in order to get a more broad understanding of both the accounting and finance professions. However, students should pursue a specialization in their subjects to develop more skills, advance professionally, and get a higher salary. 

Bachelor’s programs

  • Bachelor of Accountancy 
  • Bachelor of Arts in Finance
  • Bachelor of Science in Finance 
  • Bachelor of Arts in Accounting
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting 
  • BBA in Finance
  • BBA in Accounting

Master’s programs 

  • Master of Accounting 
  • Master of Science in Accounting
  • Master of Finance
  • Master of Science in Finance
  • Master of Applied Finance 
  • Master of Financial Economics
  • MBA in Finance
  • MBA in Accounting

Specializations in Accounting and Finance

Accounting and financial professions place a high focus on the practical application of theory, which can be accomplished through specialization courses. Specializations are in high demand, as they can lead to higher-paying positions and professional advancement. A variety of specializations are offered in both accounting and finance. 

Some of the most popular specializations in accounting are listed below:

  • Financial accounting
  • Management accounting
  • Commercial finance
  • Corporate finance
  • Risk assessment
  • Corporate treasury
  • Corporate recovery
  • Forensic accounting
  • Internal audit
  • Corporate and private tax

Finance is a huge industry with a lot of specialties for students who want to get a master’s degree in it. Students can choose from the following primary specializations:

  • Personal finance
  • International finance
  • Corporate finance
  • Investment financing
  • Cashflow performance
  • Financial statement analysis

Duration of programs in Accounting and Finance

Accounting and finance are two of the most prominent subjects of study that have never gone out of style and remain in demand to this day. A number of colleges around the globe provide bachelor’s, master’s, and some online courses in these subjects. The length of courses varies depending on the country and university. The following is a list of the durations of accounting and finance courses offered by some of the world’s most prestigious universities:

Country Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Degree Doctoral Degree
USA and Canada 4 years 1-2 years 4-7 years
UK 3-4 years 1-2 years 4-7 years
Australia 3-4 years 1-2 years 4-7 years
Others 3-4 years 1-2 years 4-7 years

Career opportunities in Accounting and Finance

Known as two of the renowned FAME subjects, accounting and finance offer flexible and lucrative career opportunities to those who have a keen interest in managing funds. The majority of students find decent-paying jobs in accounting and finance shortly after completing their education. Students interested in accounting and finance can work for individuals, businesses, or the government. We will cover the employment options for each field separately to acquire a better grasp of the career paths.

Career opportunities in Accounting

  • Trainee, public, professional or certified accountant 
  • Auditor
  • Bookkeeper
  • Treasurer
  • Tax advisor
  • Credit controller
  • Financial consultant
  • Stockbroker
  • Insurance broker

Career opportunities in Finance

  • Investment banker
  • Commercial banker
  • Financial consultant
  • Hedge fund manager
  • Insurance officer
  • Actuary or economist
  • Stockbroker
  • Payroll manager

Average salaries in Accounting and Finance

A degree in accounting and finance opens doors to many business careers. Although both jobs are regarded as high-paying in general, the opportunity to earn a higher salary is totally dependent on one’s skills and experience. The following tables summarize average salaries in the field of accounting and finance.

Country Average Salaries in Accounting (USD*/year)
USA 52,452 (Source: Payscale)
Australia 43,861 (Source: Payscale)
Canada 42,042 (Source: Payscale)
UK 38,744 (Source: Payscale)

 

Country Average Salaries in Finance (USD*/year)
Australia 73,172 (Source: Payscale)
USA 62,774 (Source: Payscale)
Canada 62,663 (Source: Payscale)
UK 50,874 (Source: Payscale)

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Top 50 Universities in the world for Accounting and Finance based on academic subject rankings (Shanghai/QS/THE):

The table below presents subject rankings for top accounting and finance universities around the world. The academic reputation, faculty-student ratio, international student and faculty ratio, employer reputation, and professor citations are some of the criteria used to rank these universities.

Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor’s Programs Master’s Programs
1 10 26 New York University USA Click Here Click Here
2 8 13 University of Pennsylvania USA Click Here Click Here
3 5 10 University of Chicago USA Click Here Click Here
4 1 2 Harvard University USA Click Here Click Here
5 12 11 Columbia University USA Click Here Click Here
6 2 4 Stanford University USA Click Here Click Here
7 101-150 251-300 Boston College USA Click Here Click Here
8 51 63 University of Southern California USA Click Here Click Here
9 3 5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) USA Click Here Click Here
10 11 Reporter London Business School UK Click Here Click Here
11 16 18 University of Toronto Canada Click Here Click Here
12 37 47 The University of Texas at Austin USA Click Here Click Here
13 33 24 Northwestern University USA Click Here Click Here
14 38 23 Duke University USA Click Here Click Here
15 71 85 The Ohio State University – Columbus USA Click Here Click Here
16 57 48 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign USA Click Here Click Here
17 32 NA Cornell University USA Click Here Click Here
18 95 167 Indiana University Bloomington USA Click Here Click Here
19 7 27 London School of Economics and Political Science UK Click Here Click Here
20 66 29 University of Washington USA Click Here Click Here
21 20 1001-1200 The University of New South Wales Australia Click Here Click Here
22 85 52 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill USA Click Here Click Here
23 31 24 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor USA Click Here Click Here
24 9 NA University of California, Berkeley USA Click Here Click Here
25 151-200 51 Washington University in St. Louis USA Click Here Click Here
26 101-150 132 Arizona State University USA Click Here Click Here
27 101-150 86 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities USA Click Here Click Here
28 16 20 University of California, Los Angeles USA Click Here Click Here
29 45 201-250 Tilburg University Netherlands Click Here Click Here
30 49 NA Singapore Management University Singapore Click Here Click Here
31 68 NA Stockholm School of Economics Sweden Click Here Click Here
32 19 NA HEC Paris France Click Here Click Here
33 38 72 Erasmus University Rotterdam Netherlands Click Here Click Here
34 151-200 183 University of Notre Dame USA Click Here Click Here
35 27 30 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Click Here Click Here
36 21 33 The University of Melbourne Australia Click Here Click Here
37 22 46 Nanyang Technological University Singapore Click Here Click Here
38 25 66 The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong Click Here Click Here
39 40 49 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Click Here Click Here
40 15 NA Bocconi University Italy Click Here Click Here
41 14 9 Yale University USA Click Here Click Here
42 62 201-250 Copenhagen Business School Denmark Click Here Click Here
43 4 1 University of Oxford UK Click Here Click Here
44 65 351-400 City, University of London UK Click Here Click Here
45 251-300 401-500 Georgia State University USA Click Here Click Here
46 101-150 93 University of Maryland, College Park USA Click Here Click Here
47 251-300 251-300 University of Utah USA Click Here Click Here
48 151-200 351-400 The University of Georgia USA Click Here Click Here
49 68 151 City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Click Here Click Here
50 76 119 Pennsylvania State University – University Park USA Click Here Click Here

Top universities in the USA for Accounting and Finance

When it comes to studying accounting and finance abroad, the USA is without a doubt the first choice of international students. The average salary for undergraduates in the field of accounting in the USA is 57,511 USD/year, whereas graduates get paid a starting salary of around 69,605 USD/year. Finance undergraduates in the USA get paid 58,464 USD/year and finance graduates get paid 74,201 USD/year, as per the Payscale rankings. The following is a list of top accounting and finance universities to study in the USA. It also contains a list of the bachelor’s programs in accounting and finance and master’s accounting and finance programs offered by universities in the USA. 

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor’s Programs Master’s Programs
1 10 26 New York University USA Click Here Click Here
2 8 13 University of Pennsylvania USA Click Here Click Here
3 5 10 University of Chicago USA Click Here Click Here
4 1 2 Harvard University USA Click Here Click Here
5 12 11 Columbia University USA Click Here Click Here

Top universities in the UK for Accounting and Finance

Accounting and finance degrees are highly valuable in the UK because of its strong financial industry and growing demand for qualified employees.  As per Salaryexplorer, UK salaries in accounting and finance range from 38,515 to 1,91,276 USD/year. Several universities in the UK offer undergraduate courses in accounting and finance as well as graduate courses in accounting and finance. Below is a list of top accounting and finance universities to study in the UK. 

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor’s Programs Master’s Programs
10 11 Reporter London Business School UK Click Here Click Here
19 7 27 London School of Economics and Political Science UK Click Here Click Here
43 4 1 University of Oxford UK Click Here Click Here
44 65 351-400 City, University of London UK Click Here Click Here

Top universities in Hong Kong for Accounting and Finance

Accounting and finance are well-established sectors in Hong Kong, which ranks first on the list of international financial centers. As a result, interested students should consider studying in Hong Kong as a great option for accounting and finance. The following is a list of top accounting and finance universities in Hong Kong. 

Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor’s Programs Master’s Programs
35 27 30 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Click Here Click Here
38 25 66 The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong Click Here Click Here
39 40 49 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Click Here Click Here
49 68 151 City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Click Here Click Here

Top universities in Australia for Accounting and Finance

Job security and well-paying salaries are the two factors behind the high demand for accounting and finance courses in Australia. Universities in Australia are known for offering a wide variety of bachelor’s courses in accounting and finance. Even the master’s level programs in Australia offer huge specialization in the accounting and financial sectors. Here is a list of the top accounting and finance universities to study in Australia. 

Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor’s Programs Master’s Programs
21 20 1001-1200 The University of New South Wales Australia Click Here Click Here
36 21 33 The University of Melbourne Australia Click Here Click Here

Top universities in the Netherlands for Accounting and Finance

Tuition fees are heavily subsidized by the Dutch government, making the Netherlands an affordable option than studying in other Europen countries. The accounting and finance courses, especially the master’s courses in accounting and finance offered by the universities in the Netherlands are highly renowned. Below are the top two accounting and finance universities to study in the Netherlands. 

Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor’s Programs Master’s Programs
29 45 201-250 Tilburg University Netherlands Click Here Click Here
33 38 72 Erasmus University Rotterdam Netherlands Click Here Click Here

Top universities in Singapore for Accounting and Finance

Singapore is the banking and financial hub of Southeast Asia and is also one of the world’s major centers of finance. Its economy is highly regulated by the government and rarely suffers from market swings. Accounting and finance are therefore the best courses to study in Singapore. Here is a list of popular universities in Singapore offering bachelor’s and master’s courses in accounting and finance. 

Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking THE Ranking University Country Bachelor’s Programs Master’s Programs
30 49 NA Singapore Management University Singapore Click Here Click Here
37 22 46 Nanyang Technological University Singapore Click Here Click Here

Academic requirements for studying Accounting Finance

Admission to top universities for economics, finance, accounting, and business management is highly competitive as they are in great demand in this decade. Simply meeting the admissions standards isn’t enough to secure a spot at one of the top business schools. Students must have a solid profile and should have achieved high scores in competitive examinations such as the SAT, ACT, GMAT, and others. The following are some general academic requirements laid down by the best accounting and finance schools in the world:

Bachelor’s level

  • A high school education with a 3.0 GPA or above and math as a compulsory subject
  • Academic transcripts
  • SAT and/or ACT scores (varies from university to university)
  • Personal statement 
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Valid passport
  • English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (90 and above) or IELTS (6.0 and above)

Master’s level

  • A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or relevant field (knowledge of maths and statistics is a must) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher 
  • Academic transcripts
  • GMAT, MCAT and/or GRE scores (varies from university to university)
  • Personal statement 
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Valid passport
  • Resume
  • Work experience (preferable)
  • English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (90 and above) or IELTS (6.0 and above)
Explore courses around the world and apply instantly
Search for :
Search By :
Enter Country
Enter Country
Enter Country
Search for :
Search By :
Enter Country
Enter Country
Enter Country
Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, accounting and finance experts earn significantly more than the median average pay, and because these are the world’s oldest professions, graduates can readily find jobs in these industries after completing their education.

Finance is a broader term that involves the management of assets, liabilities, and overall growth of a company or individual, whereas accounting is a defined version of finance that covers recording, maintaining, and reporting a company’s financial records.

Investment bankers, financial analysts, financial advisors, hedge fund managers, chartered accountants, bank branch managers, and certified general accountants are the top-paying positions in accounting and finance.

Countries such as the USA, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands, and Canada are well-known for providing excellent accounting and finance education and job opportunities.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a prominent qualification for accountants. A student must pass the CPA exam and meet other prerequisites, including job experience or a master’s degree education, in order to be registered as a CPA. The registration process and prerequisites for CPA differ from country to country. CPA certification is required to advance in a job position; it also aids in obtaining a higher pay and is generally favored by employers. 

Still have questions?Contact us