Course Summary

If you are seeking a career in accounting or finance, this course will provide you with great foundations for success. Right from the start of the course you will undertake tasks that simulate real business challenges. You will also acquire professional skills in communication, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership.

The course will introduce you to the fundamental accounting concepts and the principles and theory behind financial market operations. With this grounding, you will then continue on to advanced study in financial and management accounting, while also gaining an understanding of the role that accountancy plays in corporate behaviour.

In the final stage of the course you will then look at regulatory and risk management issues in accounting and gain a deeper understanding of how financial markets operate, and crucially, what makes them crash. During this stage you will have the opportunity to undertake a supervised research dissertation investigating a topical accounting or finance issue of your preference.

Why choose this course?

Graudates of the Accounting and Finance course will have the opportunity to gain maximum exemptions from professional examinations. You can also expect the course to lead you into a career in accountancy, banking, financial management, corporate governance and management consultancy.

During the course you will:

• Learn in our state-of-the-art Business Pods
• Be given the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in both accounting and finance, all through one well-structured degree
• Benefit from experienced teaching staff
• Be given a strong understanding of both theory and practical analysis
• Have the opportunity to transfer study to Accounting, Business Studies, Human Resource Management, International Finance, Marketing or Public Relations at the end of stage 1
• Benefit from two careers development events annually, run purely for the benefit of our students

Areas of study you may cover on this course include:

• Accounting and financial reporting
• Management accounting for decision making
• Tax computation and analysis
• Banking and financial intermediation
• Financial management

BSACFAAF

Assessment

The assessment strategy for the course as a whole is designed to satisfy professional requirements whilst at the same time assessing the development of students skills in a range of arenas. These assessments are also designed to give students feedback at critical moments and to present a steady gradient of challenge throughout the course. In course assignments will, in general, focus on graduate skills whilst terminal exams will focus on achieving technical excellence and thus professional exemption.

At level 1, the strategy is to present students opportunities to develop their undergraduate skills and business knowledge through the Business Core Integrated Programme. The Business Core Integrated Programme is assessed through regular weekly work that builds into a portfolio of evidence. The Business Core Integrated Programme represents introductory cognitive areas in Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Information Technology, Business Environment and Economics, and Business Statistics. Alongside this at level 1 students will take a technical accounting and finance unit which will be assessed through workshop activity, tests and examinations.

At level 2, Accounting units required by the ACCA will be assessed in a variety of ways. The two technical Accounting units will be assessed 60% by examination and 40% by coursework. The coursework will allow students to explore the nature of the subject area and to present their capability over a longer period. Within the course will be the requirement to work in groups to research contemporary issues in Accounting, presenting findings prior to the write-up of an individual report. The examination will meet the requirements for ACCA exemption.

Other units at level 2 will develop and assess students wider skills. For example in the PDAF unit students will be assessed by means of group-work and research and evaluation. In Quantitative Methods students will be required to undertake a case analysis involving a spreadsheet evaluation of data

At level 3, Accounting units required by the ACCA will be assessed as at level 2. In Auditing, group research work will be further developed whilst in Taxation and Financial Management, modern cases are introduced and analysed. These three units have a terminal exam aimed at achieving ACCA exemption. The final unit will be the Advances in Accounting project unit that will assess students sustained performance over a research area. Students will work in groups and individually to scope a topic area and to initiate a process of research around a given topic.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Assess the purpose of accounting systems in the UK and more widely, and the contexts in which they operate.

2. Analyse the essential principles and practices of accounting activity using the appropriate technical language to achieve this.

3. Apply accounting principles to the processing of transactions and other economic events and prepare financial statements complying with relevant regulatory requirements.

4. Critically evaluate the major theoretical tools of Finance and judge their practical relevance to the solution of financial issues.

5. Research and interpret financial data arising from financial statements using a range of selected tools and techniques.

6. Research and present the financing and governance structures of a range of entities, judging the effectiveness of these structures by the application of theory and researched evidence.

7. Display powers of independent study, thought and critical analysis.

8. Display skills of written and oral communication and argument.

9. Display interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team.

10. Display capability with information technology facilities and be able to use them in an accounting context.

External Benchmarking

QAA Honours degree benchmark statements in Accounting and Finance.

Educational Aims

• To enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the principles and rules of accounting processes


• To develop a student's ability to apply complex accounting rules and principles, including the ability to think logically and to analyse accounting problems and propose solutions


• To enable students to critically appraise accounting regulation and accounting processes and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of accounting


• To enable students to understand the significant concepts and theories of Finance and be able to apply and critically appraise these theories in the context of international market economies


• To develop a student's ability to discover, utilise, analyse and synthesise information


• To develop a student's skills in both written and oral communication


• To develop a student's awareness of the place and function of accounting and finance in a commercial and social context


• To develop a student's awareness of themselves and their own understanding of their learning skills


• To develop a student's independence in the learning process


• To develop a student's literacy, information technology and numeracy skills


• To accelerate the students achievement of professional status or masters study on completion of the course

Student support

• General student support e.g. living in Luton, disability advice, international student support, managing your studies etc. etc


• Things that make you miss classes, assignments, exams or even think of dropping out


• Things about your course


• See your course director

Your course director will advise you on the following:

• Are you on the right course?


• Are you taking the right units?


• Are your units in the right semesters?


• If your yearly results record you as an RY (repeat year) what should you do next?

Are your results correct?

• If you have a blank against a unit can you prove that you took it and should have a grade?

(you should have a receipt)

• Do you have a course handbook, an induction schedule and handbooks for each of your units?

You are entitled to the above range of advice right throughout the course, so be sure to contact your course leader as soon as any of the above becomes a problem for you.

In addition you will have a personal tutor who will meet you at an early stage of your studies. During the first level of study, your personal tutor will be the person responsible for delivery of your Business Core Integrated Programme Unit. From the commencement of level 2, students will be allocated a personal tutor from the Department of Accounting and Finance. It has been the policy of the Department of Accounting and Finance to appoint a specialist personal tutor for all progressing ICB students, and year tutors for all other students.

When you first arrive for level one at the University you will be inducted into your programme. At level 1, there will be a full week of activities that will introduce you to the course of study; the Business Integrated Core Programme; your key members of staff; the various support mechanisms in the University; and of course each other. You will also be introduced to your timetables of study for the immediate period.

If you are a direct entrant into level 2 or 3 there will be a tailored programme for you over a full day. This will include your course of study; your key members of staff; and support mechanisms.

Study Support:

We hope that your skills are such that you can cope with the rigours of a degree in Accounting. However during your course we will provide opportunities to assess your study skills and give you advice on how you might improve them and hence go on to achieve a better degree. These opportunities change year on year but in general include language support (provided by our Department of Language and Communication in the Business School) and academic development (provided by our Personal and Academic Development PAD section). These opportunities will be advertised regularly and will coincide with occasions when we give you feedback on your work.

Careers guidance:

The University has a most accomplished Centre for Careers Development. The Department of Accounting and Finance works closely with the Centre to organise a number of events over the course of the year. These events will be advertised and will be of great benefit to you. In addition the Centre welcomes Accounting students who are seeking advice on careers, placements and voluntary work.

If you have registered for the four year course incorporating a work placement in year three, it is particularly important that you visit the Centre at the end of your first year and the beginning of your second in order to establish your placement preferences. Guidance will be available to you for this purpose.

Team working

Team-working will be developed across the three years of the programme as follows:

In level 1: Students will undertake group projects as part of the Business Core Integrated Programme. They will learn to define tasks; designate activities and reflect on group performance.

In level 2: Students will undertake weekly group presentations as part of Personal Development in Accounting and Finance and will improve their skills in giving feedback to peers. Financial Accounting will require you to investigate a problem in financial reporting in teams.

In level 3: Students will approach the Advances in Accounting unit as groups in order to scope the allocated study area.

Career Management Skills

The programme has a dedicated unit in which career management skills are delivered Personal Development in Accounting and Finance.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

Students completing the programme will have the skills and the knowledge to enter most branches of Accounting or Finance. This might include financial accounting operations, management accounting, taxation or financial management. The course curriculum is designed to offer students the flexibility to pursue a career in Accounting or Finance and will provide an excellent platform for further professional study in the areas of Accounting and Finance (for example the Chartered Insurance Institute will give exemption for students passing Financial Accounting and Taxation and the Association of Chartered Accountants for all relevant units that have been successfully completed). Students wishing to enter general business management will also find that a degree in Accounting and Finance will enable them to understand much of the operations of business.

Further study:

The programme forms excellent underpinning for the Departments MSc International Finance and Banking, or other masters award. Students of the programme often develop an interest in a specific area and go on to further masters study in that area. The majority of graduates however are attracted by the approval awarded by the professional institutes and thus go on to professional study, alongside career development.

Entry

Additional:

Applicants with other entry qualifications will be assessed individually by the field chair for APCL. This might include applicants with complete or partially complete AAT, CAT, ACCA, CIMA or other professional qualifications. Overseas qualifications will be assessed in a similar way.

In general APEL will not be allowable for any unit achieving ACCA exemption.

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
• Students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa cannot apply for our foundation courses. For these courses the University of Bedfordshire is not able to sponsor Tier 4 Student Visa applications.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the  standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.

• UK/EU students application form
• International (non-EU) students application form
  

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Teaching Strategy

At level 1, the Business Core Integrated Programme will form 90 of the 120 credits. This is an innovative learning vehicle involving student activity in small groups to foster planning, problem solving, communication and other skills in a Business context.

For the remaining 30 credits at level 1, and for levels 2 and 3, weekly direct contact teaching for all technical accounting and finance units will normally comprise one 2 hour lecture (occasionally two 1 hour lectures) and one 1 hour seminar. Lectures will major on the application of theory to practice. Students will be encouraged to work through examples in their private study time and seminars will illustrate the presentation of best practice analyses and solutions.

Unit content will be consistent with that of the professional bodies requirements in order to maximise examination exemptions.

All unit handbooks, lecture presentation slides and examples for practice will be available via the BREO VLE. In addition there will be material present to you through BREO that you will be expected to use in order to improve your technical skills in Accounting and Finance.

The provision of classroom teaching and tutorial support which generates a relevant learning environment without compromising both the academic standards of the degree and the ability of the programme to cover the maximum content of professional examinations syllabi are seen as a prime responsibility by the course team.

The structure of the Personal Development unit at level 2 will be through a single weekly 2 hour session. The final year project unit will be delivered through intensive 2 hour sessions over the first three weeks.

The overall picture of the programme therefore is of a strand of delivery that focuses on business and personal skills development running right through the levels (Business Core Integrated Programme at level 1; Personal Development for Accounting and Finance, and Quantitative Methods at level 2: and Advances in Accounting at level 3). Alongside this will be the professional Accounting and Finance units (30 credits at level 1; and 90 credits at each of levels 2 and 3).

Each of the professional units will be delivered in such a way as to require not only technical expertise in Accounting and Finance to satisfy professional needs, but the skills and attributes necessary to be a professional. This will be such skills as the ability to analyse and solve problems in a group and individually; the ability to research information to scope the issues surrounding a topic; the ability to prepare and present information to an audience, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the information.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) awards exemptions from its F1 to F9 papers for those students successfully completing relevant units.

Students with disabilities

The programme has been carefully examined and there are no issues affecting the teaching, learning and assessment of disabled students.

Skills Development

For each of the following core skills areas, you should indicate the overarching strategy to developing each. Reference should be made to explicit units that emphasise each skills area and to how the strategy changes from level to level as the student progresses with his or her study.

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

• Produce essays and reports communicating your findings on a range of accounting issues. Some of these will be in the form of assignments, whilst others will be in time constrained settings. These will begin at level 1 with assignments for the Business Core Integrated Programme and exams in Introduction to Accounting and Financial, and will culminate in final exams at level 3 and the Advances project


• At level 1 students will report simple findings. At level 2 this will be analysed and classified with strengths and weaknesses concluded. At level 3 students will evaluate the utility of outcomes to various user groups


• Presentational skills will be developed through the level 1 Business Core Integrated Programme and be followed up in Personal Development in Accounting and Finance at level 2

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

Analyse and report on financial and other information at all levels of the course. In this course information literacy perhaps has a wider range of meanings than in other courses in that the information will be more highly skewed towards quantitative information than qualitative. You will learn how to read and interpret a range of information in all units and will learn techniques of information interrogation in order to make meaning of the data. In the Business Core Integrated Programme you will learn and apply simple tools. These will be expanded and explored in Personal Development and in other level 2 units. At level 3 you select and critically appraise information in the Advances unit and in all other units.

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

• Explore information in the Business Core Integrated Programme at level 1


• Seek, select and apply research to cases at level 2


• Apply research to novel situations at level 3, critically appraising the outcomes of the research

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

• At level 1, use team-working skills to breakdown problems into their component parts in order to develop known solutions


• At level 2, use skills to create financial and economic models to provide solutions to problems, linking together a range of techniques to synthesise solutions


• At level 3, you will critically appraise financial theory and its utility in solving global economic problems through the Advances unit and in other taught units

Improving learning and performance

You will be expected to engage with the feedback you are given in order to improve your performance. All assessments will consolidate your strengths and weaknesses in such a way as you can plan to improve your performance. Feedback will be given within three weeks of sitting an assessment.

Your tutors publish their appointments times and you are encouraged to discuss preparation for assessments with them, and the results of assessments once completed. It is your responsibility to make the appointments.

At level 1, your personal tutor will meet with you at pre-appointed times to discuss your progress, but in levels 2 and 3 you will be expected to make appointments yourself.

A degree of testing will take place at all levels of the programme which will mostly be formative. Online material has been acquired that will enable you to self assess and prepare for summative work. You are expected to engage with these tests and to take the results seriously in order to develop plans for your own improvement.

Study skills will be developed at each level.

• Business Core Integrated Programme


• Personal Development for Accounting and Finance


• Advances in Accounting

Progress files

Students will be introduced to Progress Files during the Business Core Integrated Programme. Students will keep an e-portfolio (BLOG). This will be monitored through the personal tutor system.

Professional standards

Professional standards are first introduced during the Business Core Integrated Programme but are re-enforced during Personal Development in Accounting and Finance. At level 2, students are exposed to employers demands in order to contextualise these standards.

Students are asked to state what modes of behaviour are acceptable in group working situations and what are not. These are then discussed and codified within the unit.

The table below indicates how this operates:

• Each group member


• Important factors in your opinion


• Important factors in the team's opinion


• Factors that currently exist


• Attends, arrives and finishes on time


• Co-operates on the task in hand and takes on a specific role as required


• Contributes ideas and gets involved in the discussion or activity


• Brings enthusiasm and interest to the shared goal or topic


• Allows unsound or illogical ideas to go unchallenged


• Refrains from private agendas or conversations


• Gives constructive criticism and feedback to help other improve


• Attempts to communicate clearly and freely


• Encourages others to speak and listens actively with respect


• Takes responsibility for the effective functioning of the group


• Does not argue, to avoid confrontation


• Makes constructive use of differences see that conflict can be constructive does not not it personally


• Shares the workload equally


• Sticks to organised meeting times


• Respects the values and opinions of others

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

The introduction of these standards is dealt with above. They are reinforced at intervals during Personal Development and students are encouraged to deal with issues arising within their own cohort.