Introduction
This programme is offered under the BBA(Hons) Scheme. The credit requirements for this programme are indicative only. They are subject to review. All BBA(Hons) students must complete a short work placement during their studies, either in summer or during the semester. The School provides assistance in finding suitable placements.
Programme Aims
The aim of this programme is to leverage the synergy between accounting and finance to prepare students to become competent accountants with a sound knowledge of finance.
The programme provides well-rounded business education and an opportunity to specialise in accounting and finance. Students develop strong skills in accounting and finance, including accounting and financial analysis, control and risk management, corporate governance and ethics.
Characteristics
This programme combines theory and practice, with an emphasis on developing practical skills and academic and professional knowledge.
The programme prepares students to sit professional examinations such as the qualifying examinations for the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), CPA Program of CPA Australia and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Programme.
All students in the Faculty of Business are encouraged to participate in the Whole Person Development Programme (WPDP), which includes a range of extracurricular activities, such as leadership training camps, peer tutoring, mentorship and exchanges with overseas and Chinese mainland institutions.
Every student who joins the Professional Mentoring Programme is assigned a mentor who is an experienced executive or manager from the business world. Mentors provide advice and support and help students to plan their careers and prepare for their first jobs after graduation.
If they wish, and subject to availability, BBA students can spend a semester studying at another university overseas or in the Chinese mainland, and put the credits they obtain towards their PolyU degree.
PolyU's credit-based system enables students to complement their studies by taking subjects in a wide range of areas, such as as marketing, logistics and foreign languages (e.g. Japanese or Korean). Their degrees thus give them access to a much broader range of career opportunities.
Work-Integrated Education (WIE)
To graduate, every student must complete 100 hours (3 training credits) of WIE. The School offers opportunities for students to work in firms during either the spring semester or the summer in Hong Kong or the Chinese mainland. These and other forms of work experience count towards the WIE requirement.
Curriculum
This is a very flexible programme that offers a wide range of subject choices in the fields of accounting and finance.
In Years 1 and 2, students study University Core Curriculum subjects, such as Language & Communication, Freshman Seminars, Leadership & Intra-Personal Development, Service-Learning and Healthy Lifestyle, as well as fundamental business subjects in the fields of accounting, business law, economics, finance, information technology, management and marketing.
In Years 3 and 4, students continue their general business education by taking such subjects as Strategic Management and Corporate Social Responsibility. They also study accounting and finance in greater depth through such subjects as Business Valuation, Company Law, Corporate Finance, and Intermediate Accounting and Investments. Students also have the opportunity to choose Electives from a range of accounting and finance subjects, such as Advanced Financial Accounting, Auditing & Assurance, Fixed Income Securities, International Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions.
Along with a Major in Accounting and Finance, students can take a Minor in either another business discipline or a non-business discipline.
Professional Recognition
Subject to accreditation assessment, graduates with a BBA(Hons) in Accounting and Finance satisfy the requirements to sit the qualifying examinations for the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) programme and the CPA Program of CPA Australia, as well as the Level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) examination. Graduates who have taken the relevant subjects may also obtain a maximum exemption of nine papers in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) examination.
Career Prospects
Graduates with a BBA(Hons) in Accounting and Finance have a great variety of job opportunities in accounting and finance, such as in accounting firms, brokerage houses and the banking and financial planning industries. Given Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre and the huge demand for accounting and finance professionals in the Chinese mainland, graduates are expected to have access to an enormous range of opportunities in both locations.
Entrance Requirements
PolyU welcomes applications from qualified candidates from around the world. The following guidelines are for the reference of students who wish to seek admission to PolyU based on non-local qualifications. Qualifications that cannot be found below will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
GCE A-level / International A-level
GCE Advanced Level or International Advanced Level with passes in 3 AL, OR 2 AL and 2 AS, subjects
(This is only the minimum eligibility criteria. Applicants who gain admission, typically, attain at least BBB in 3 AL subjects.)
International Baccalaureate (IB)
A minimum score of 24 with at least grade 4 in 2 Higher Level subjects
(This is only the minimum eligibility criteria. Applicants who gain admission, typically, attain a score of 30 or above, including bonus points.)
SAT Reasoning Test/ACT/Advanced Placement Test/SAT Subject Tests
A High School (Graduation) Diploma (non-Chinese curriculum) and any one of the following:
a total score of 1190 in the SAT Reasoning Test; or
an American College Test (ACT) composite score of 24;
and
grade 3 in two Advanced Placement (AP) subjects; or
a score of 600 in two SAT Subject Tests
[English language requirement is waived for those attaining a score of 590 or above in the Evidence-based Reading and Writing in the SAT]
Applicants with good results in the GCE A-level / International A-level or International Baccalaureate (IB) can be granted up to 25% credit transfer upon admission to the 4-year degree curriculum.
