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Accounting and Finance BSc(Hons)

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    Overview

    Ready to kickstart a potentially exciting career in the expanding world of accounting and finance? An Accounting and Finance BSc(Hons) degree can set you up for success with a rounded education in financial management and business economics. You’ll study a wide range of subjects including:

    • financial accounting
    • banking
    • business development

    You’ll also learn your trade and work in a real-life, state-of-the-art trading room, which simulates the real stock market.

    Why study Accounting and Finance BSc(Hons)

    You’ll be studying at an AACSB International-accredited Business School. Globally, fewer than six per cent of institutions offering business degrees achieve this accreditation. Additionally, to ensure that our graduates are equipped with integral skills in and knowledge of business operations and financial management, this course is professionally accredited by:

    You can look forward to a high-quality education here, as your teachers rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates (HESA 2022). You’ll benefit, too, from guest lectures from professionals with varied expertise in, for example, accounting, finance, and financial services.

    After the second year of the course, you’ll put your knowledge and skills to the test in an optional 48-week work placement in your area of interest, in the UK or abroad, utilising our links with local, national, and international companies throughout many industries.

    This course will prepare you for a variety of potentially exciting careers in a range of fields in the industry. You could work as a chartered accountant, an auditor, a business analyst, or a financial planner. You can even go on to work for non-profits, government agencies, banks or even insurance companies.

    Entry requirements

    BBB-BBC at A Level .

    120-112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

    Merit in T Level

    DDM-DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

    • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
    • 120-112 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

    If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

    Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

    Course Detail

    Core modules:

    Economics of Business

    This module introduces you to economics of business and explains economic activity in markets and business. You’ll learn to identify and explain the key economic principles and the analytical frameworks used to analyse activity and policy within the macro-economy and the international economy and apply economic analysis to business problems and labour market issues.

    Foundations of Financial Accounting

    This module provides you with an introduction to the context and purpose of financial reporting and how to define qualitative characteristics of financial reporting. It helps you to understand how to maintain accounting records, prepare and present financial reports. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about different types of ownership of business organisations, and the sources of authority for financial reporting will be considered.

    Foundations of Management Accounting

    This module will introduce you to the basic concepts, principles and practices of management accounting. It covers cost classification and behaviour, and the various types of cost and costing systems used for products and services. You’ll explore the basic principles of planning and control in terms of budgeting and variance analysis and also learn the types of decision-making techniques such as cost-volume-profit analysis and pricing.

    Foundations of Finance

    This module introduces you to the main characteristics of finance and financial management and aims to introduce the key concepts of finance by building comprehensive perceptions and equipping you with different skills related to finance. You’ll explore the foundations of finance to enable you to learn more advanced topics in finance and give you the opportunity to develop clear understandings of the key financial concepts.

    Quantitative Analysis

    This module introduces quantitative techniques that are widely used in the formulation and solution of business models. The module aims to help develop your skills in representing financial and business data and in problem solving and understand the basic concepts and applications of probability along with the role of sample statistics in statistical inference.

    Business Law

    This module will help you gain an understanding and explain the concepts and principles associated with the English law as it applies to businesses and their environment.

    Core modules:

    Financial Reporting

    This module helps you to develop your understanding of the conceptual and regulatory frameworks for financial reporting and will help grow your skills in analysis and interpretation of financial statements and practice of preparing consolidated financial statements, including partly-owned subsidiaries and associated companies and then applying these International Accounting Standards in preparing published financial statements.

    Applied Management Accounting

    This module will give you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in the application of operational management accounting techniques and tools to provide information and analysis for planning, decision making, and control. It will build on the knowledge you have already gained in Foundations of Management Accounting and seeks to enhance your understanding of how management accounting departments contribute to the financial and operational success of an organisation.

    Financial Management

    This module will examine the quantitative aspects of decision making that are of particular value to accountants. You’ll have the opportunity to identify appropriate modelling methods and tools for a variety of financial and business problems and evaluate the various models available to improve problem solving and decision making in financial and business situations.

    Financial Technology and Control Environment

    This module introduces you to the wider legal, ethical and economic implications of using Fintech, financial such as cloud services, blockchain, data analytics (big data), and artificial intelligence (AI), combined with web based business modules, such as platforms and the impact on accounting and finance professionals. You’ll be introduced accounting software, data analysis, and data visualization via MS excel.

    Option modules:

    Choose two from a list which may include:

    Banking with Financial Markets

    This module examines contemporary issues in Banking and Financial Markets. It will help you acquire a clear perspective of banking, financial and monetary systems and help you understand the functions of financial institutions and markets, alongside the regulatory framework in which banks and financial institutions operate and the implications for the size and structure of financial markets.

    Management Science Applications

    This module will examine the quantitative aspects of decision making that are of particular value to accountants. You’ll have the opportunity to identify appropriate modelling methods and tools for a variety of financial and business problems and evaluate the various models available to improve problem solving and decision making in financial and business situations.

    International Business

    Globalisation means that nowadays all business to some degree are international. It is almost impossible to find a product or service that does not have an international aspect to its customer base and its supply chain. In this module, you'll investigate the business transactions taking place across national borders. You'll develop an understanding of all the external environment parts and the major issues that businesses are confronted with when operating in international markets. The module covers an introduction to international business principles, including environment, strategy, international trade, international marketing and people in multinational enterprises.

    Business Creation and Development

    In this module, you'll explore the theory and practices that inform and enable business start-up and small enterprise development. You'll follow the entrepreneurial journey in four phases; creativity and conceptualising the business; understanding context; opportunity spotting and scoping; and business model development. You'll use case studies to explore entrepreneurial practices in a variety of contexts. You'll experiment with opportunity spotting and the formulation of a business model, which will help you understand the practice and theory of new venture creation, from ideation to creating a business enterprise.

    Economic History

    In this module you’ll learn about the British economic history from the Post-World War and the structure and performance of the British economy, the role of the state in economic development and Britain’s changing position in the global economy. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about economic and social problems faced by developing countries, especially between the UK and its former colonies and discuss possible policy recommendations.

    Applied Business Economics

    In this module you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to integrate economic theory, mathematical methods, statistical techniques and data to study current economic issues in the business context. You’ll also learn how businesses operate and how managers make decisions and learn the different theoretical approaches to the analysis of public policy and business problems and what methods might be appropriately applied to the analysis of economics and business data.

    The course offers an optional one-year (48 weeks) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad.

    Core modules:

    Corporate Finance

    This module focuses on how firms manage their financial resources to be able to attain their goals and objectives. The module aims to explore how finance theory is applied in practice and to develop your knowledge and understanding on how firms raise finance and how to create value. This will extend and develop your evaluation of financial management through an examination of the theory of business finance and its contribution to financial decision making.

    Performance Management

    You will examine advanced issues in management accounting, focusing on its role in providing information for decision-making, planning and control and performance management. The module builds on existing knowledge of Management Accounting and seeks to enhance your understanding of how to manage the performance of a business.

    Advanced Corporate Reporting

    You will have an opportunity to expand your knowledge from previous studies of corporate reporting, with regard to conceptual understanding and more detailed application of knowledge of current reporting practices for individual companies and groups of companies.

    Issues in Accounting and Finance

    This module focuses on the development and evaluation of transferable skills to help maximise your employability including career preparation group case study work integrating all the knowledge and skills you should have developed over the length of your course.

    Option modules:

    Choose two from a list which may include:

    Principles of Audit

    This module examines the audit process enabling you to gain an understanding of the nature and purpose of auditing and assurance which is essential to the function and sustainability of financial markets and fundamental for accountable organisations. You’ll gain analytical skills and have the opportunity to apply these through the use of case studies.

    Strategic Management

    In this module you will learn about the foundational principles of strategic management, as well as emergent strategic ideas such as business models, open strategy and ecosystems that have been developed to cope with the rapid changes facing the 21st Century international business environment. You will engage with future shaping strategy and gain confidence in your own appraisal of strategic choices.

    Principles of Taxation

    This module introduces you to the subject of taxation, covering the underlying principles and technical computations required for the main taxes that affect the activities of individuals and businesses within the UK. The module also introduces the economic aspects of tax with a view to providing you with a broad understanding of fiscal policy in the UK.

    Investment,Portfolio And Risk Management

    This module looks at investment analysis and portfolio management using an innovative experiential learning environment – “The Portfolio Game.” You’ll have the opportunity to learn about financial markets, recognise the measure and value of the risk and return and be aware of the relationships between them and be aware of the opportunities and dangers offered by international diversification, alongside learning about the available hedging techniques of managing a successful investment portfolio.

    Climate Economics and Finance

    This module offers opportunities to explore climate change issues and form the necessary quantitative skills required to evaluate the impact of climate change on the economy and business organisations. The module will also focus on the responses and policies to mitigate the effects of climate change. You'll be required to understand the role of financial and economic instruments in designing appropriate climate change tools and policies.

    Global Financial Management

    This module introduces you to different finance, accounting and economic dimensions of multinational financial management. Themes will include the international monetary system , historical and the development of the International Monetary System (IMS), exchange rate system; and risk management within global finance context.

    Financial Valuation and Modelling

    This module aims to develop your understanding of the various ways in which companies can be analysed through financial modelling based on their valuation. Valuation is the analytical process of determining the current and projected worth of a company or an asset. It is one of the most critical elements of finance and successful investment in companies.

    Monetary and Financial Framework

    This module examines contemporary and policy issues in Monetary Theory, Monetary Policy and International Finance. You’ll have the opportunity to analyse the impact of different types of risk and uncertainty in money and finance and use appropriate theory to help decide the financial methods to avoid or reduce risk.

    On average 20%* of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, workshops etc. Study and assessments will be based on your choice of modules. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

    Feedback (either written and/or verbal) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

    *based on 22/23 programme specifications

    Further information

    The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

    Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth a number of credits. Each year you study modules to the value of 120 credits, adding up to 360 credits in total for a bachelor’s qualification. These credits can come from a combination of core, compulsory and optional modules but please note that optional modules may not run if we do not have enough students interested.

    If you achieve 120 credits for the current stage you are at, you may progress to the next stage of your course, subject to any professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

    1. The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.

    2. Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

    3. We are first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 22 since 2008 (2023 data).

    4. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

    At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

    Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

    *full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

    Placements

    The course offers an optional one-year (48 weeks) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad.

    Our Placement Office works with national and international employers to ensure excellent work experience opportunities are available to you on placement courses as well as giving advice in areas such as interview skills and preparing CVs and covering letters.

    Previous placement providers have included Audit Partnership, Brosnans Chartered Accountants, Capita: Yorkshire Bank, Certis Accountants, DHL, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, H Accountancy, Haines Watts Leeds LLP, Kirklees Council, Lloyds Banking Group, L’Oréal, NHS England, PPG Architectural Coatings EMEA, Redmayne Bentley Stockbrokers, Rolls Royce, SA Chopdat Chartered Accountants, Sigma Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisors, Smart Accounts and Tax, The Symphony Group, Thornton and Ross, Walker and Sutcliffe Chartered Accountants and West Yorkshire Accountancy Services.

    The placement year is a valuable tool that can enhance your employability and help you to develop as an individual. It is acknowledged that graduates with industry experience are generally much more attractive to employers.

    You can find more information on placements here.

    I chose to do a placement as I knew the job market is tough, and I wanted to make sure I had some extra experience that will put me ahead in the job market. This placement has given me a clearer perspective on what I enjoy and where my key strengths are so I can pursue them further.

    Omar Kaf Al-Ghazal stood outside Enterprise Rent-A-Car

    Omar Kaf Al-Ghazal, Management Assistant, Enterprise Rent-A-Car

    What our students have to say

    The University of Huddersfield offers a diverse and vibrant student environment, located on one central town centre campus site. Huddersfield Business School provides you with a modern, professional environment to learn and develop, located right next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal it's in a leafy and picturesque location at the heart of the campus.

    Watch our profile video to hear Omar describe why he chose the University of Huddersfield.

    The Street where the café is located.
    Professional software providing financial analysis

    Discover more about the course

    Your Career

    Discover the job roles our graduates are working in now.

    Professional links and accreditation

    Recognised connections to give you an extra edge when you graduate.

    Inspiring Graduate

    Get inspired by real students and their careers.

    Careers advice

    Check out the personalised guidance we offer you.

    Student Support

    Discover all the support available so you can thrive.

    Further Study

    Learn about pursuing a Master’s or PhD at Huddersfield.

    Research Excellence

    See how our innovative research shapes what you'll learn.

    Important information

    We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

    Changes to a course you have applied for

    If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

    Cancellation of a course you have applied for

    Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

    Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

    We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

    Changes to option modules

    Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

    Major changes

    We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

    For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

    Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    Termination of course

    In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

    Equal opportunities

    The University of Huddersfield is an equal opportunities institution. We aim to create conditions where staff and students are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, age, race, caste, class, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, family responsibility, trade union activity, political or religious belief, or age. Please visit our website to see our Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

    Data protection

    The University holds personal data on all enquirers, applicants and enrolled students. All such data is kept and processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Legislation. The University’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notices are available on the University website.

    Students’ Union membership

    Under the 1994 Education Act, students at all UK universities have the right to join, or not to join, the Students’ Union. There is no membership fee. If you choose not to join you have the right not to be disadvantaged; however, you are not entitled to vote, take part in elections, or hold any office. The following arrangements apply in order that non-Union members are not disadvantaged: Non-members are welcome to take part in the activities of Affiliated Clubs and Societies on payment of the appropriate subscription. However, they may not vote or hold office in the society or club. Union members may be offered a discounted subscription. Non-members are free to use Union facilities on the same basis as members. Welfare, catering and shops are available to non-members as well as members. Union members may be offered a discounted price.

    The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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