Program Overview

Diploma in Accounting and Finance

The Diploma in Accounting and Finance at LSE is designed to advance your knowledge and understanding of accounting and finance, and develop specialisms that will enable you to pursue a career in your chosen field.

Introduction

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.

Programme Overview

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.

Programme Structure

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.

Entry Requirements

• Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in any discipline.
• Indicating an interest in the Diploma in Accounting and Finance specifically as your first choice will maximise your prospect of admission to the programme.
• English language requirements: Standard.

Programme Content

This programme provides a clear route towards master's study within the department, subject to satisfactory performance. Should you wish to apply for the MSc Accounting and Finance in the following year you will not ordinarily be required to submit a GMAT test with your application.

Year 1

• Paper 1: Students take the following courses:
  • FM210: Principles of Finance I
  • FM211: Principles of Finance II
• Paper 2: One course from the following:
  • AC205: Intermediate Financial Accounting
  • AC491: Financial Accounting, Reporting and Disclosure
• AND one course from the following:
  • AC206: Intermediate Management Accounting
  • AC490: Management Accounting, Decisions and Control
• Papers 3 and 4: Courses to the value of two units from a range of options

Why Study with Us

• The Department of Accounting at LSE is recognised worldwide for the excellence of its research and teaching, ranked eighth in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.
• With a long-standing research tradition, the department has consistently been at the forefront of exploring the role of accounting in firms, markets, and the economy.

Your Application

• 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.

Fees and Funding

• The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.
• You're charged a fee for your programme. At LSE, your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union.
• Home student fee (2026/27): £33,000
• Overseas student fee (2026/27): £33,000

Learning and Assessment

• This programme runs for nine months, full-time only.
• The average taught course contact hours per half unit is 20-30 hours and a full unit is 40-60 hours.
• Courses are taught in lecture and class or seminar format.
• All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed.

Graduate Destinations

• 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.

Related Programmes

• MSc Accounting and Finance
• MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions
• Master's in Management
• MSc Management and Strategy

Key Information

• Study mode: Full-time
• Programme availability: Home full-time students (9 months) Closed, Overseas full-time students (9 months) Closed
• Academic year: 2025/26
• Start date: 29 September 2025
• Location: Houghton Street, London
• Application deadline: None – rolling admissions. However, please note the funding deadlines.