Programme summary for BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance

The Accounting & Finance programme at UEL had the highest level of student satisfaction of all the programmes at UEL and also was joint 7th (out of 76 universities) for student satisfaction ratings for Accounting & Finance programmes in the UK (Sunday Times 13 September 2009).

Our reputation is borne out by the almost a 90 per cent employability score over the past few years. Graduates have secured places with firms such as KPMG, Deloitte and Ernst & Young while others have gone on to postgraduate study.

This degree provides exemption from all nine papers in the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Fundamentals level exams (the maximum exemption). To go on and qualify as an accountant you need to take a further five ACCA exams externally at Professional level.

About the programme

Why Accounting & Finance?

Accounting and finance are central to business – a fact proven by the number of senior and board-level executives globally who started their careers in this field. Our programmes offers the ideal base for a range of business roles, as well as teaching skills invaluable in any career. Alongside intellectual skills, this programme focuses on acquisition of transferable competencies such as communication, which are highly valued by future employers and increase employability potential. The programme includes talks by professional accountancy bodies, enabling you to keep up to date with professional examination structures and registration requirements.

Programme structure

This programme comprises 18 modules, six per Level, taking you from the basics of accounting through to areas of specialist expertise. By choosing the appropriate option modules, you obtain exemption from all nine ACCA Fundamental level papers. We also offer Accounting BA (Hons), which does not include these two core Finance modules. You can transfer from one programme to another at the end of the first year if you wish.

Added Value

The level of exemptions from ACCA is an advantage if you want to gain a professional qualification in a shorter timeframe.
The quality of our Teaching and Learning has been judged “Commendable” by the government’s Quality Assurance Agency (the highest rating).
An optional sandwich year allows you to undertake paid placement between year 2 and 3 (we may be able to provide assistance in finding placements).
Research is part of many modules – making this excellent preparation for postgraduate study. You can also choose, if you wish, to carry out a Project at Level 3 by supervised independent study and in a topic area of your choosing.

A programme for students who enjoy…

Analysing and interpreting numerical data
Acquiring knowledge and expertise with direct employment relevance
Communicating information effectively
Carrying out research into accounting or finance

Career opportunities

These include management or financial accounting, budget control, taxation advice and internal auditing. If you wish to obtain professional qualifications you may complete ACCA within one year of graduation by passing a further five exams, enabling you to join a company that carries out external audits. Relevant UEL postgraduate programmes include Masters in Financial Management, International Accounting and Finance, Project Management, Risk Management, and Investment and Risk Management.

For more information see Accounting & Finance BA (Hons) Programme Specification.

Support

Students joining the programme have an induction week, at which they will meet with their personal tutor whom they will see regularly, especially in their first year. For students joining at Level 2 or 3, their personal tutor will be the year tutors for Levels 2 or 3. The teaching staff are always willing to give help and advice, and set aside certain hours each week to see students.

First year students take a module designed to help them develop study skills such as IT skills, using the library, using online databases, report and essay writing, presentations and working in groups.

Talks by professional accountancy bodies are arranged to enable students to keep up to date with developments in these bodies' examination structures and registration requirements.

A second year module enables students to explore careers options, and find strategies to maximise their employability skills. The Employability Unit gives students advice on job applications, preparing CVs, interview techniques and job opportunities. They also arrange Careers Fairs and organise Assessment Centres.

Central university services include Finance advice, an IT Helpdesk, Skillzone, counselling and a special needs advisor.

Admission

240 UCAS tariff points or equivalent

Pass in a recognised Access course or International Foundation programme.

In addition to the above, we require GCSE Maths grade C and English grade C or equivalents, unless competency is part of the qualification gained.

We also welcome mature student applicants and those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications, and these will be dealt with on an individual basis and may require an interview.

Students that apply to enter Year 2 or 3 of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English: for entry to Level 1, IELTS 6.0 is required: minimum 5.5 in writing and speaking; minimum 5.0 in reading and listening, or equivalent qualification. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate marticulation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.