Quick answer: The most affordable UK universities for an MSc in Finance or Accounting are the University of Chester (£15,500 a year), Ulster University (£18,310), Leeds Beckett University (about £18,995) and Coventry University (£19,980). If you want stronger accreditation for a little more, look at Northumbria (£21,500, AACSB double-accredited) or Heriot-Watt (£22,528). Most courses take one year, and master’s graduates now get an 18-month Graduate Route.

This guide is for commerce, CA, ACCA and engineering graduates in India who want a UK finance master’s without a top-20 price tag. Every fee below comes from the university’s own page, checked in November 2026. For the wider picture of living and studying in Britain, start with our Study in the UK guide. If you want a general list across all subjects, see our top 5 cheapest universities in the UK.

The 10 Best-Value UK Universities for MSc Finance and Accounting

These ten universities offer a one-year finance or accounting master’s at a lower fee than most Russell Group options. The table is sorted from the lowest to the highest international tuition fee.

Sources: each university’s official course or fee page, checked November 2026: Chester, Ulster, Leeds Beckett (fee: IDP listing), Coventry, Edinburgh Napier, NTU, Northumbria, Heriot-Watt, Aston, Brunel. Rupee figures use £1 = ₹125 (indicative mid-market rate, 12 November 2026). Rates change daily — consult IMFS for a current estimate.

Under £19,000 a Year: The Lowest Fees

These three universities have the lowest fees we could verify. They suit students who want the UK degree and work rights at the lowest tuition.

University of Chester: MSc Accounting or MSc International Finance

Chester publishes one international postgraduate fee of £15,500 for 2026/27, with the MBA at £15,700. Its Accounting MSc page says the course is aligned to ACCA exams and asks for a 2:2 in accounting or a business finance subject. Chester is outside London, so the lower UKVI living-cost figure applies. Chester also says fees will rise by £925 a year from 2028/29.

Ulster University: MSc International Accounting with Analytics

Ulster’s course is accredited by ACCA, and graduates should receive full exemption from the CAP2 exams of Chartered Accountants Ireland. It needs a 2:2 in an accounting subject and IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5. Teaching uses a flipped classroom, with workshops on campus on Mondays and Tuesdays. This is a good fit for B.Com graduates who want a professional route.

Leeds Beckett University: MSc Accounting & Finance

Leeds Beckett gives the clearest exemption detail of any course here. Its official course sheet says graduates are exempt from four ACCA papers: Business and Technology, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, and Corporate and Business Law. Three more exemptions are possible if you pass named modules. Graduates can also take the CIMA Gateway exam. The university confirms the fee in your offer letter; the £18,995 figure comes from an IDP listing.

£19,000 to £22,000 a Year: Strong Value

This middle band adds conversion courses for non-commerce graduates and one business school with AACSB accreditation.

Coventry University: MSc Accounting and Financial Management

This is a conversion course, so it accepts a 2:2 honours degree in any subject. Coventry says it is recognised through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. Intakes run in September, November, January, March, May and July, which helps if you miss the September start. IELTS is 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each part.

Edinburgh Napier University: MSc International Finance

Napier’s course is also a conversion programme for any 2:2 graduate. A September start takes 12 months, and a January start takes 16 months with a summer break. Edinburgh has a large financial services sector, which helps with networking and part-time work.

Nottingham Trent University: MSc Finance and Accounting

NTU charges £21,150 for its Business Masters courses, including MSc Finance and Accounting. A two-year route with a work placement is available, with a second-year fee of £1,905. The placement year can help if you want UK work experience before the Graduate Route starts.

Northumbria University: MSc Accounting and Finance

Newcastle Business School holds AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting. The course accepts a 2:2 in any subject and asks for IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each part. A 16-month option starting in January is also offered. Northumbria lists the fee for 2027/28, so it is already set for the September 2027 intake.

£22,000 to £26,000 a Year: Bigger Names, Higher Fees

These three are better-known business schools. They cost more, so check scholarships before you decide.

Heriot-Watt University: MSc International Accounting and Finance

Heriot-Watt charges £21,872 for January 2027 and £22,528 for September 2027 or January 2028. The course page says it is accredited and approved by several accountancy bodies, so ask which papers you can skip. It takes a 2:2 in economics, accounting, finance or business, or another degree that shows strong maths.

Aston University: MSc International Accounting and Finance

Aston’s business school describes itself as triple-accredited. The course accepts a 2:2 in any subject, and intakes run in January, April and September 2027. Birmingham has a large professional services sector. The fee is higher, so compare it with Northumbria before you commit.

Brunel University of London: MSc Finance and Accounting

Brunel’s course is accredited by ACCA and CIMA, with exemptions that depend on your modules. It needs a 2:2 in a finance, accounting, economics or maths subject, and IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in every part. Brunel offers a £6,000 Vice-Chancellor’s International Excellence Award. London living costs are higher for visa purposes, as the next section shows.

ACCA, CIMA and CFA: What These Courses Actually Give You

A UK master’s does not make you a chartered accountant on its own. What it can do is cut the number of professional papers you still have to pass. The table shows only what each university states on its own page.

Sources: official course pages listed under the main table, checked November 2026. Exemptions change; get the current list from the university and the professional body before you enrol.

If you already hold or are studying for a professional qualification, read our guides on a master’s abroad after ACCA, a master’s abroad after CA, CFA and a finance master’s and CMA and a master’s abroad. Our wider guide on whether you can do a master’s after a professional qualification and the commerce professional courses hub explain how each route connects.

Total First-Year Cost in Rupees

Tuition is only part of the bill. For the Student visa you must also show living-cost money: £1,203 a month outside London or £1,570 a month in London, for up to 9 months, for applications made on or after 30 November 2026 (Statement of Changes, 3 September 2026). You also pay the £558 visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of your visa (GOV.UK). A 12-month MSc visa usually lasts longer than 12 months, which means 1.5 years of surcharge, or £1,164.

This is an illustrative model, not a financial guarantee. Individual outcomes vary. It uses the UKVI minimum living-cost figures, not your actual spending, and excludes flights, deposits and any scholarship. Brunel’s £6,000 award would reduce its total if you receive it. Rupee figures use £1 = ₹125 (indicative mid-market rate, 12 November 2026). Rates change daily — consult IMFS for a current estimate.

To plan the money side, use our education loan EMI calculator, compare education loans for study abroad and look at scholarships for studying abroad. Our part-time earnings calculator shows what term-time work can add. Student visa holders on a master’s can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full-time in vacations (UKCISA).

Entry Requirements and IELTS

Most of these courses ask for a 2:2 honours degree, which universities map to an Indian degree using their own country tables. The real split is between accounting-only courses and conversion courses.

Sources: official course pages, checked November 2026.

If your IELTS score is not ready yet, our IELTS score predictor turns mock-test scores into a band estimate, and our guide to UK universities accepting low IELTS scores lists more options. For structured preparation, see IELTS coaching at IMFS.

Work After Your MSc: The 18-Month Graduate Route

Master’s graduates who apply for the Graduate visa on or after 1 January 2027 get 18 months to stay and work in the UK. Applications made on or before 31 December 2026 still get 2 years, and PhD graduates keep 3 years (GOV.UK). A one-year MSc starting in September 2026 or later will usually end after January 2027, so plan your job search for an 18-month window.

Start networking and applying in your first term, not after your results. Our guides on high-paying career choices in the UK and the true ROI of a master’s abroad help you set realistic salary goals. You can also test your own numbers in the study abroad ROI calculator. For a side-by-side view of the two stay-back systems, read UK Graduate Route (18 months) vs Ireland Stamp 1G.

UK or Ireland for Finance and Accounting?

Many finance students compare the UK with Ireland, because both offer one-year master’s courses in English. The UK gives you far more universities in every price band, as the tables above show. Ireland has a different stay-back rule and a smaller but busy finance sector in Dublin. Start with post-study work opportunities in Ireland, the top courses to study in Ireland and our Study in Ireland guide.

How to Choose: Quick Decision Table

Rupee figures use £1 = ₹125 (indicative mid-market rate, 12 November 2026). Rates change daily — consult IMFS for a current estimate.

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