Accounting is concerned with the analysis and provision of financial information to many different types of people: managers, investors, lenders, suppliers of goods and services, customers, and governmental agencies amongst many others. It includes the preparation and auditing of published accounts as well as providing information for managers within a company. Finance looks at the way in which funds are raised and managed.

Accounting and Finance are issues of central importance to a business: a reflection of this is that many of the senior managers in companies of all sizes started their career as accountants. In good times or bad, the expertise of accountants is always in demand.

Accounting & Finance at UEL

The BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance offers students the opportunity to obtain a degree which opens the door to graduate level employment, while at the same time gaining exemptions from all 9 papers at the Fundamentals level of ACCA. If they wish to become professionally qualified, they would need to, externally, take five  ACCA exams at the Professional level (the ACCA no longer offers exemptions from this level).

The quality of the Teaching and Learning has been judged "Commendable" by the government's Quality Assurance Agency, the highest rating.

Our graduates' employability rate had been nearly 100% for the last two years, and recent graduates have secured places at KPMG, Deloittes, and Ernst and Young. Others have completed Masters degrees or are undertaking doctoral studies.

Student feedback is consistently positive, as confirmed by the high ratings in the most recent National Student Survey - in the top 10 nationally for the Accounting and Finance subject area.

An optional placement year has recently been introduced, which will be available to students between their second and final year, and which will enable them to undertake a year's paid placement and gain valuable experience.

The BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance is a three-year full-time programme, taught during the day. Attendance is normally four hours, three days a week.

There are two semesters in each year of study, and in each semester a full-time student would study and be assessed in three modules. Each module carries a credit value of 20.

There is no separate part-time mode of attendance but a student can decide to study on a part-time basis, by taking less than three modules in a semester. They will study modules alongside full-time students, during the day. A part-time student can take up to two modules in a semester and a maximum of four over one year.

If a student wished to take an optional placement year, the degree would take four years.

The programme is designed with option modules. By choosing the appropriate option modules, students may obtain exemption from Nine ACCA papers in the Fundamentals level, the maximum allowed. Alternatively, students may choose an option module at level 3 to carry out a Project by supervised independent study, in a topic area of their choosing.

The programme is taught at our Docklands campus, which has extensive state-of the-art resources. The Library and ICT provision was described as "outstanding" in the most recent review of the programme, with students having access to 600 computers in an open-plan environment, which is open 24 hours a day during teaching weeks. Students have access to the internet and to the university network, which has an extensive range of on-line facilities. These include electronic databases containing thousands of journals, electronic books, and financial databases.

The university library has an extensive range of books and services for students, and includes the "Skillszone", a friendly centre which can give students opportunities to acquire many different skills in addition to their main studies. For example, they have learning materials to help students develop skills in other languages, or to develop skills to become self-employed.

Teaching takes place in classrooms which are all equipped with computers and projectors. Students are also able to access these facilities to practice their presentation skills.

The programme aims to develop student IT-related skills including word-processing, spreadsheets and PowerPoint, commercial accounting software applications, and effective searching of on-line data bases. Students have free access to the "European Computer Driving Licence", an interactive online computing course. If they choose to take the associated tests, they will gain an internationally recognised qualification accredited by the British Computer Society, which is valuable for employability.

An optional placement year has recently been introduced, which will be available to students between their second and final year, and which will enable them to undertake a year's paid placement and gain valuable experience, and a head start when seeking a permanent post.

Students will be provided with information about firms offering placement opportunities, and will apply for those they are interested in. To secure a placement, a student would apply to the employer and go through a selection process. During the placement, they will be supported by a member of staff who will liaise with the employer and visit the student during the year.

Each module is assessed during the semester in which it occurs.

In the first year, assessment is largely coursework, with examinations in the Accounting subjects. First year results do not count towards the degree classification.

In the second and third years, assessment for most modules is by a mixture of coursework and end of semester examinations, with the proportion of coursework being mostly either 40% or 50%. Coursework includes case study analysis, reports, and presentations.
Degree classifications are based on performance in the second and third level modules, with third level modules being more heavily weighted.

Many of the modules have coursework which is essentially a mini-project, often involving the use of online facilities to carry out research into a particular area, such as a particular company, a case study or a specific Accounting or Finance topic.

In the second year, students will become familiar with electronic sources of accounting and financial data, and how this can be analysed and interpreted. They will also learn about the different ways of carrying out research and will review the ways in which this has been presented in journals in the past.

In the third year, students will look at and report on current aspects of Financial Accounting and Management Accounting as coursework in two modules.

There is also an optional final year "Project" module, which allows students to carry out independent research in an area of their own choice. Students will be supported and their progress regularly monitored by their academic supervisor, but this would be self-managed study, assessed by a report.

The Nine exam papers exemptions from ACCA which are available to Accounting & Finance graduates is of considerable advantage to students who wish to obtain a professional accounting qualification. In addition, the programme will have enabled graduates to be well prepared for the ACCA Professional level examinations (for which ACCA requires all students to sit the external ACCA examination papers).

Many modules enable students to carry out research in a variety of areas, which is good preparation for postgraduate study, and also enables students to be well prepared to demonstrate their abilities to potential employers.

There is a strong emphasis on the acquisition of intellectual and transferable skills, such as communication skills. Surveys show that these skills are valued by employers, and this is helpful for employability after graduation.

Students who take a placement year will enhance their employability as work experience is valued by potential employers.

• Acquiring knowledge and expertise in accounting and finance
• Being able to put this knowledge to use within an organisations
• Understanding developments and current issues in this field
• Gaining employment-related skills in a sought-after area
• Obtaining a post where you can make a real difference to a company
• Carrying out research into accounting or finance

• Analysing and interpreting numerical data
• Using online resources to gain information
• Communicating information effectively

• To study in a friendly and supportive atmosphere
• To become knowledgeable in a range of topics in Accounting and Finance
• To enhance your career prospects

After graduation, a range of graduate employment opportunities will be available, and a wide variety of such posts are advertised by companies. Examples might be: Financial Accountant, Management Accountant, Budget Controller, Tax adviser, Internal Auditor, or a banking or insurance post.

If graduates wish to obtain professional qualifications, they may complete ACCA within one year of graduation by passing a further five exams. This would enable them to join a company which carries out external audits.

Graduates can undertake teacher's training - UEL offers suitable postgraduate programmes.

Relevant postgraduate study paths could be a specialist degree such as an MSc Financial Management, MSc Project Management or MSc Risk Management.

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.