BSc in Accounting and Finance

The BSc (Honours) Accounting and Finance degree at Birmingham City Business School provides valuable insight into the worlds of accountancy practice, commerce, industry and finance. We create graduates who possess a global outlook, with conceptual and applied knowledge in the fields of accounting and finance that will enable them to make a positive impact on society.

Delivery of the course is flexible and includes a blend of lectures, workshops, field trips and online learning. The modules, which feed into the course are broad and cover key current topics, such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and help you to appreciate accounting and finance from a range of perspectives. Ultimately, decision-making in this field, calls for one to exercise judgement and intuition and this course helps you to strengthen that judgement.

This course has been designed to be accredited by the major professional accounting bodies, including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), offering significant exemptions from their professional qualifications.

What's covered in this course?

This course offers an accounting and finance curriculum that is up-to-date, vocationally relevant, and challenging and reflects the complex and challenging nature of the accounting and business environment.

You will gain expertise in areas including financial and management accounting, corporate finance, international accounting and finance issues, data analysis and business technology. You will have the opportunity to use software relevant to the modern business environment, equipping you with the skills and experience sought by employers.

You will develop scholarly attributes, becoming an independent learner with the ability to critically evaluate data and evidence, draw reasoned conclusions and communicate effectively in a professional manner.

With our practice-based approach to teaching, you will learn from professionally qualified academics with a wealth of industry experience, and research-active academics whose research underpins and informs our approach to teaching.

You will be actively supported and encouraged to undertake an additional professional placement year, providing the opportunity to improve your employability skills. Our students have worked for industry-leading accountancy practices including PwC and EY, as well as for organisations such as the NHS, IBM and Vodafone.

The international focus of the course is derived through a variety of means including the study of international accounting standards, the student body, the teaching team and the use of international teaching materials. Moreover, students can choose to spend a full semester studying their modules overseas at a partner institution.

Professional Placement Year

This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).

Why choose us?

1. This degree course is aligned with the ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW and CIPFA professional bodies for maximum exemptions. This means that the course is as professionally relevant and up-to-date as possible, taking into account the very latest developments in the profession.
2. In all of our courses, you will gain a professional focus and real-world experience in accounting, ensuring you are equipped to make an immediate impact in the business world. You have the opportunity to embark on a year-long professional placement as part of your degree course. Your placement tutor will also give you guidance throughout.
3. Our links with accrediting bodies and big-name businesses mean we regularly hold industry talks and guest visits on campus.
4. Recognising the global scope of business, all our courses have an international focus. This is embedded throughout the curriculum, giving you the opportunity to transform your experience with us into a global one. There are a variety of exciting possibilities open to you, including our many overseas study exchange programmes.
5. Your course will consider the study of accountancy, finance and business from an international perspective, and you will be given the opportunity to travel abroad as part of your course.
6. As a student on one of our undergraduate degrees, you will be able to benefit from our Graduate+ initiative. This three-year award course enables you to gain award levels for all the extra-curricular activities you undertake so that you can stand out from the crowd at graduation.

First Year

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits)

• Governance, Ethics and Law
• Professional Development in Accounting
• Introduction to Economics and Finance
• Introduction to Financial Accounting
• Introduction to Management Accounting
• Data Intelligence

Second Year

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete the following CORE module (totalling 20 credits):

• International Accounting and Finance Issues

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete 60 credits in semester one from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules: 40 credits from the following optional modules:

• Financial Reporting
• Management Accounting

Or:

• Integrated Business Accounting

And:

20 credits from the following list of optional modules:

• Corporate Finance
• Entrepreneurial Finance

In order to complete this course you must also successfully complete 40 credits in semester two from the following indicative list of optional modules:

• Principles of Taxation
• Business Technology and the Finance Function
• Business Operations
• Personal Wealth Planning and Management
• Principles of Islamic Finance
• Study Abroad*

All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

Professional Placement (Optional)

In order to qualify for the award of BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance with Professional Placement Year you must successfully complete the following module.

• Professional Placement

Final Year

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 40 credits):

• Empowering Future Leaders
• Accounting for the Planet

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 80 credits from the following indicative list of optional modules.

• Tax Planning
• Banking, Financial Markets and Institutions
• Audit and Assurance
• Advanced Financial Reporting
• Project Management
• Strategic Management Accounting
• Corporate Financial Strategy
• Islamic Banking and Capital Markets20 credits
• Principles of Not-For-Profit Accounting and Governance
• Fintech
• Business Research Methodology and Practice
• Business Research Project

All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

Enhancing employability skills

Your course will prepare and equip you for a career in accountancy, finance, management or business, by relating your studies to the latest practice-based business developments.

Throughout the course, we have regular visits from professional bodies such as the ICAEW, CIMA and ACCA. These visits help ensure that you are learning the exact skills organisations and regulatory bodies are looking for.

You will also have the opportunity to attain the Microsoft Office Specialist – Excel qualification, enhancing your employability prospects.

Placements

In order to apply and enhance the skills you learn from the course, you will have the option to undertake a year-long work placement in the UK or overseas. Shorter-term work placements, voluntary work and internships will also be available.

In the past, students have benefited from our partnerships with the NHS, Volkswagen and Bentley.