Why choose the School of Accounting, Law and Sustainable Tourism
Our accounting and finance courses rank UK 3rd in their subject field for satisfaction with teaching (Guardian, 2026); they rank in the UK top 15 for student experience (Times, 2026).
In the National Student Survey 2025, our finance courses tied UK 4th in their subject field for learning opportunities, which includes developing knowledge and skills for the future.
They are also in the UK top 10 in their subject field for teaching and in the UK top 20 for academic support, organisation and management, and learning resources (NSS, 2025).
About the course
This course teaches you to apply economic theory and analysis to real-world financial problems. It provides you with the subject knowledge to understand key developments in global markets and the challenges faced by economies alongside building the technical and analytical skills you need to find innovative solutions. You gain an in-depth understanding of the main ideas and principles of modern economics and finance, and how they shape the operation of businesses, policies of governments and interactions between countries.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- New business analytics suite to support data analytics, 'big-data', data mining, SEO and other management skills needed in today's workplace
- Access to industry-standard applications and platforms to aid practical learning including Sage, Refinitiv Workspace and econometrics software STATA
- Access to digital learning platforms and knowledge tools
- A well-equipped trading room to access economic data and enhance your financial skills
- Gain competencies in key digital skills such as Excel through SIMnet, our Microsoft Office training platform
Your student experience
Benefit from our connections with top financial firms, including Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG, PwC, and Deloitte, along with professional bodies like the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Our business analytics suite and state-of-the-art trading room give you the opportunity to simulate real-world economic decision-making; you experience what it’s like to be on the trading-room floor, reacting to live ‘stock-market’ data and building international investment portfolios.
Build your transferable skills and experience in critical thinking, problem solving, presentation and team working as well as in using information technology.
Learn from masterclasses from industry experts, benefitting from their experience and keeping at the leading edge in the finance field.
Enhance your student experience with conferences, Industry networking events and field trips to major financial institutions including the Bank of England.
Working with the University’s Research and Innovation Service (RIS), get involved in solving real-life problems for businesses, from start-ups to established corporations, through our business development packages.
Companies that have benefited from our business development packages include Vauxhall; Drax Technology; the Royal Air Force; Luton and Bedford Borough Councils; and a range of national charities.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Studying our Economics and Finance BSc (Hons) course will equip you with the in-depth knowledge and skills around economic principles and financial analysis. Beginning with an Introduction to Economics and Finance, you will digest basic economic theories and policies underpinned by finance concepts and techniques. You will then get to apply this knowledge in our business-focused units, such as in an Introduction to Accounting and Business Technology. Using the latest technology alongside various analytical tools, you will engage in preparing, analysing and interpreting account statements within a business environment.
Paired with our Data Analysis for Finance and Economics unit, you will also be guided to use statistical techniques and software to collect, summarise and analyse data that informs business processes and economic policy. To help you with this, our unit in Applied Numeracy for Business will give you the confidence to develop the mathematical and numerical skills used for decision making and problem solving for businesses.
You will be introduced to microeconomic and macroeconomic theory in our Economics unit, while also examining government economic policies, growth, and factors that contribute to the levels of income and employment in an economy. Using this economic theory, you will discuss major economic issues faced by EU countries and their effects on businesses in our International Economics unit. Here, you will develop your understanding of international trade and international monetary theory and policy. To apply this knowledge, our unit in Applied Economic Policy will allow you to consider how economics can be applied to design, guide and interpret economic policies. Furthermore, you will also analyse government policies and evaluate economies in various countries.
In other areas of study, our Financial Theory and Practice unit will discuss core finance theories for you to analyse financial statements and identify revenues and costs for management solutions and decision making. Other units include Financial Management, where you will receive specialist knowledge required for financial and investment decision making based on long-term business objectives. To expose you to working with numerical information, our Fundamentals of Econometrics unit will develop your understanding and interpretation of quantitative analysis and judgements in economic environments. Finally, you will also have the opportunity to conduct thorough academic research and/or a practical project using a range of tools and approaches in our Business Project Unit. To support you with this, our units in Data and Research Methods for Business will provide you with the knowledge and skills to conduct research and analyse data in a business context.
Additionally, the course also offers a Professional Practice Year (Accounting, Finance and Economics) where you will have the opportunity to undertake a career-related experience. To prepare you for this, we have specialised units - Beginning your Professional Business Journey and Personal Development and Employability - that aim to ease your transition into the workplace and provide an insight into professional business environments. Using real-life situations, you will work with faculty peers to practise a broad range of business skills such as communication, team collaboration and networking that will develop your professional practice.
Different assessment methods are chosen to evaluate and support your learning in understanding and applying economics and finance theories to real issues. The assessment strategy is also focused on enhance your employability throughout this course. A pivotal element of this is that feedback will be given in due time so it is integrated in the learning process. Some of assessments are listed below and in some cases they will be used in combination. In addition your knowledge and skills will be also formatively assessed through problem solving sessions or case study discussions.
Careers
This course provides an excellent pathway for a career as an economist in financial institutions and banking business management consulting commerce the public sector and voluntary organisations. They can be skilled managers researchers analysts and strategists. Graduates may also progress on to postgraduate study.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Virtual Tour
