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Accounting HNC

(SCQF level 7)

Accounting and Finance, Education and Humanities

Mode of Study

Full-time

Start Date

25th Aug 2025, 1 year

Location

City Campus

  • Applications from International Students Welcome
    •

    Overview

    The HNC Accounting Award has been designed to meet the demands and requirements of the Accounting Industry. 

    Opportunities are provided to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding in preparation for employment, or for progression to courses such as AAT level 8, or HND Accounting.  

    The course focuses on the technical skills to process accounting information for a variety of organisations including Sole Traders, Partnerships and Limited Companies.  You will also learn how to handle both Financial and Management Accounting scenarios and prepare written reports to communicate the outcomes.  In addition, training is included in popular accounting software such as SAGE Accounts.  The course also enhances your skills in using Microsoft Excel and Word.

    Personal Development Planning is also a key element of this course to encourage you to consider future paths and set targets to ensure that the most is being made of opportunities available.   

    A full list of the units covered is provided in the section “what you study” below. 

    Throughout the course, you will undertake a programme of guidance activities designed to encourage the successful completion of the course. 

    You'll be required to attend college for 3 days every week from 9 am to 5pm for one academic year.

    The course is placed on the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework at Level 7. 

    Why Choose City of Glasgow College?

    City of Glasgow College is a next-generation college.  Our Campuses at City and Riverside have been meticulously designed to offer superb opportunities to our students and to meet and adapt to the changing needs of future generations. This future-proofing complements the vast open and inspiring learning and teaching environment.  Here are just a few reasons why you should make City your first choice:

    • We have designed our curriculum to develop the technical skills of students and it is closely aligned with industry requirements, meaning our graduates can successfully transition from their course into employment. 
    • We support our students in a classroom environment encouraging student engagement and improving attainment.
    • Over 90% of our successful students progress directly to further learning, apprenticeships, or employment. 
    • All of our students have a named Academic Advisor who can provide advice, support and signposting in key areas, such as:
      • Opportunities to discuss your academic progress.
      • Encouragement and an informed view with ways to enhance your academic studies.
      • Planned workshops from the student services team on a range of areas including finance and funding, careers information, help to be a class rep etc. You can suggest to your Academic Advisor workshops and talks that would benefit you.
      • A reliable point of contact throughout your studies, enabling you to make the most of your time at the college.

    Make City of Glasgow College your first choice for a world-class education.

    "Studying  Accounting, in particular, gave me an advantage in my current role as I had a really good understanding of Debits and Credits.  That helped me when I was undertaking ICAS qualifications as part of my apprenticeship with EY"  Danielle Stewart, Associate, Ernst and Young LLP.

    Entry requirements

    Minimum entry requirements

    • Two Highers at Grade C or above in relevant* subjects AND a National 5 English and a numeracy based subject at Grade C or above if not passed at Higher; OR
    • National Qualification at SCQF level 6 in a relevant* subject; OR
    • NPA/Foundation Apprenticeship in Accounting; OR
    • Other equivalent qualifications or experience.

    *relevant subjects include any from a STEM discipline, Business or English.

    Additional selection requirements

    You may be invited for a group and/or individual interview where you can find out more about the course and tell us why you're interested in this subject area or we'll make an offer based on your application form.

    ESOL entry requirements

    Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.

    What you study

    The mandatory units are:

    • Recording Financial Information.
    • Preparing Financial Statements.
    • Using Financial Accounting Software.
    • Cost Accounting.
    • Management Accounting using IT.
    • Group Award Graded Unit.

    Other units you'll study to bring your total credits up to 15 are:

    • Payroll.
    • Personal Development Planning.
    • IT in Business: Spreadsheets.
    • Business Law.
    • Economic Issues.
    • Mathematics for Business.

    After the course

    Careers

    This course prepares you for a career in:

    • Bookkeeping.
    • Financial and/or Management Accounting.
    • Accounts Technician.
    • Assistant Accountant.
    • Accounts Supervisor.
    • Financial Reporting.
    • Taxation.

    Continuing Study

    You can progress to HND Accounting or AAT Level 8 (Advanced Diploma) on successful completion of this course.

    Teaching

    How the course is taught

    This is a blended learning course. The teaching will consist of both classroom-based and online lessons (MS teams). Attendance is vital for both online and on campus classes or important content will be missed.  Students are timetabled for approximately 16 hours a week, over 3 days.  An additional 16 hours should be allowed for studying out with class time in order to be successful.  

    You will complete practical assignments based on a variety of case studies.  There will also be an element of report writing to demonstrate the ability to explain and analyse financial information.  

    Resources are provided to enable you to revise classroom learning in your own time.  

    You will be required to use IT to complete some of the units.  Excel spreadsheet teaching is timetabled in the first 12 weeks however you should ensure that you possess a basic level of IT ability in Microsoft Office including Word and Excel. 

    Assessment methods

    This course is based on continuous assessment.  

    This means that the course comprises regular, small, controlled assessments i.e. where the learner must complete the assessment in the classroom under supervised and timed conditions.  It is for this reason that attendance is of vital importance as missing class means you are likely to miss an element of the course content which will assessed soon after.  You may also miss scheduled assessments.  

    The assessments contain a mixture of numerical content and some written responses (either short answer or reports).  

    You are entitled to two opportunities at each assessment.  

    Towards the end of the first year of the course, you will undertake a Graded Unit assessment, which is designed to grade your ability to integrate the knowledge and skills gained through the mandatory units.

    Additional Information

    Materials

    You will be provided with all course materials by your lecturers.  These materials will also be available electronically on the college Virtual Learning Environment, Canvas.  

    All students should bring paper, calculator (a scientific calculator is not required), ruler, pens and pencils.  

    • Mode of Study:
      Full-time
    • Start Date:
      25th Aug 2025, 1 year
    • Location:
      City Campus
    • Applications from International Students Welcome