Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year one
An introduction to accounting and finance fundamentals and core business skills and knowledge.
You'll study:
- Business Law
- Economic Principles in a Contemporary Context
- Essential Information and Academic Skills
- Foundations of Financial Accounting
- Introduction to Management Accounting
- Introduction to Managerial Finance
- Management and Professional Development for Accounting and Finance
- Statistics and Data Management.
Year two
You'll build in-depth technical knowledge to support professional exemptions in financial and management accounting and finance. You'll develop your understanding of taxation, governance and strategic decision-making.
You'll study:
- Applied Management Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Governance and Accountability
- Management Accounting and Decision Making
- Principles of Taxation.
Plus, one optional module from:
- Credit Management: Theory and Practice
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Market Analysis for Private Investors
- Personal Financial Planning
- Race, Inequality and Injustice - An Interdisciplinary Perspective.
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work Placement or a Study Year Abroad after Year two.
Depending on which you choose, you'll either complete a placement learning or learning and development module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Final year
You'll progress to more advanced understanding and application of accounting and strategic decision-making in real-world contexts. There'll be opportunities to take some options in specialist areas of interest, or maximise exemptions from professional examinations.
You'll study:
- Work Integrated Learning or Cross Cultural Learning and Development*
- Advanced Case Study
- Business Strategy and Technology
- Corporate Reporting Theory and Practice
- Financial Management
- Strategic Management Accounting.
*Not available if you complete the Sandwich Year or Study Year Abroad.
Plus, two optional modules from:
- Accounting for Sustainability
- Auditing
- Credit Risk Analysis and Management
- Financial Crime
- Financial Technology
- Further Tax Theory and Practice
- International Financial Management.
Please check with the programme Leader for modules that would lead to exemptions.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we'll inform you.
"The Accounting Pro Bono Clinic gave me valuable experience, advising real clients under lecturer supervision. This developed my client-facing communication and presentation skills. I'm now applying these skills in my graduate role as a Trainee Financial Planner with Mazars." Hannah, 2022 Accounting graduate.
Learning and Teaching
You'll learn through lectures, workshops and tutorials, with regular opportunities to hear from and engage with current industry experts, employers and alumni.
In the Bloomberg Trading Suite, you will explore and apply real-time financial data, and you'll experience real audit work through the audit simulation.
You'll gain core professional skills in sessions led by global accounting firms and professional bodies.
The Academic Success Centre will support your academic skills development at every stage of your course, and in your first and second years you will be supported by additional peer-assisted learning.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study | Placement study |
1 | 26% | 74% | 0% |
2 | 24% | 76% | 0% |
3 | 18% | 74% | 8% |
*calculated from compulsory and option module choices (where applicable) each year.
Study time
You'll have at least 12 hours contact time a week. Additional independent study tasks include tutorial preparation, group work, coursework assignments and exam revision this will take around 24 hours per week.
We want you to graduate with the best possible employment opportunities. In the course of your studies, you'll be expected to undertake either summer internships, part-time work experience, Business Clinic activities, or a 40-week industry placement.
Assessment
Assessment will include business reports, essays, literature reviews, simulations, case study evaluations, presentations and portfolios. Modules leading to professional exemptions will always be assessed by examinations.
Learn more about assessments.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
1 | 51% | 23% | 26% |
2 | 70% | 30% | 0% |
3 | 52% | 48% | 0% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.