A Magherafelt woman has graduated with a first-class honours degree in accountancy and secured a training contract with professional services firm RSM UK.

Rebecca Scott completed a Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business at Northern Regional College’s Magherafelt campus in June 2023. She then progressed to Ulster University in Belfast, where she earned a BSc (Hons) in Accountancy.

She will now begin her training contract with RSM UK, combining professional experience with further study through Chartered Accountants Ireland to qualify as a Chartered Accountant.

She said the business diploma gave her a strong foundation for university and helped develop practical skills she continued to use throughout her degree. She also credited the support of her lecturers at Magherafelt with building her confidence for the step up to university.

Gráinne Quigley, a business lecturer at Northern Regional College, described Scott as a hardworking and dedicated student. She said the achievement shows where a vocational qualification can lead and serves as an example for current and future students.

The Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business is equivalent to three A-levels and covers areas including finance, human resources, IT, marketing, and public relations. It provides a route into university, an apprenticeship, or employment.