Diploma in Accounting and Finance

Studying a diploma in Accounting and Finance at LSE lets you extend your knowledge and understanding in areas that interest you. You’ll study within a department that’s widely recognised throughout Europe for its excellence in accounting and financial management research.

The programme is ideal as a conversion programme for students with undergraduate degrees in the arts, economics, law, business, science and engineering. It's also well-suited to those with prior exposure to accounting and finance wishing to develop their knowledge in these and other disciplines within a flexible programme.

Learning is structured through lectures, classes, and seminars. Whereas lectures will introduce you to the core theoretical and technical concepts, classes will allow you to apply these concepts through exercises and in-depth study. Seminars are more informal, and often involve presentations by students on selected course materials.

Our faculty adopts a range of teaching methods to ensure you learn in a way that fits your preferred style. In addition to in-person learning, you’ll complete independent study, engaging in activities such as reading, note-taking, thinking and research.

The Diploma in Accounting and Finance provides a clear route into further learning at LSE, and many students go on to study a master's within the department. In this context, it can be considered as the first year of a two year MSc in Accounting and Finance, with progression subject to suitable academic performance in the Diploma year. Others pursue careers across a wide range of sectors, in accounting, corporate finance, equity research, fund management and management consultancy.

Companies who have employed recent graduates from the programme include Barclays Capital, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, HSBC, Mazars, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley.

Welcome to the Department of Accounting – one of the world’s leading centres for accounting and financial management research. The department was rated the top place in the UK to study accounting (Good University Guide 2024).

Our work is focused on understanding the role played by accounting in organisations, the markets and society at large. We have strong links with national and international professional bodies and regulatory institutions, and our research has contributed to shaping international accounting practices. Alongside teaching and research, the department also hosts the interdisciplinary Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation.

Every year, we admit more than 400 students to our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Our students don’t just learn about accounting principles – they learn how accounting is used in institutional and organisational processes of calculation, reporting and evaluation. This involves exploring the interdependencies between accounting and accountability, sustainability, governance, risk, performance management, policymaking and change.

We’re proud of our open and collaborative culture, welcoming students, academics, external speakers and practitioners from around the world – all contributing to our rich and diverse community.

Learn more about our programmes and research.

Department of Accounting

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose
• two academic references
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Our graduates pursue careers across a wide range of sectors, in accounting, corporate finance, equity research, fund management and management consultancy. Companies who have employed recent graduates from the Diploma in Accounting and Finance programme include Barclays Capital, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, HSBC, Mazars, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, PayPal, Simon-Kucher & Partners and Société Générale.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.