Accounting (Joint Honours)
Why choose this course?
- You can combine Accounting with one or two other subjects to create a varied and interesting joint honours degree.
- Develop your understanding of the world of accountancy and its relevance to the modern business environment.
- You'll get exemptions from professional body qualifications.
- You'll be taught by our enthusiastic accounting staff. Most are qualified accountants.
- The course is stimulating yet challenging. In the final year we encourage your independent learning as you work on your dissertation in an area of your own choice. This can be based on where you see your career developing.
- You can opt to take your third year as a placement year. Spending a year in industry is great experience and really sets you apart as you graduate and enter the jobs market. It can also count towards your work experience requirements for entry in to your chosen professional body.
Fact file
UCAS code: Y002
Start date: September
Course length: full time: three years, or four with optional placement year.
Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus
This course is available to international students
About this course
If you don't want to specialise in just one area, want to impress employers with your CV, want a mix of skills to move your career on and enjoy two of your A level subjects equally, a joint honours degree could be just for you.
You can combine Accounting with another subject and study it as a major, joint or minor pathway, which means that you can choose the amount of accounting modules you want to take in your degree.
If you're keen on a career in general management or aim to become a qualified accountant, this course will give you the perfect start. You'll gain a real understanding of the concepts, methods and techniques in modern business accounting and financial management.
What can I combine this programme with?
- BA (Hons) in Accounting and Applied Criminology
- BA (Hons) in Accounting and Business Management
- BA (Hons) in Accounting and English
- BA (Hons) in Accounting and Human Resource Management
- BA (Hons) in Accounting and Law
- BA (Hons) in Accounting and Marketing
- BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Mathematics
- BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Psychology
What you will cover
Accounting is available as a major, joint or minor pathway. Depending on the pathway you choose, will determine how may option modules you can study.
Stage one
You will study these modules
- Introduction to Financial Accounting (Autumn)
- Introduction to Management Accounting (Spring)
And you will choose your options from:
- Law for Accounting (Autumn)
- Managing Performance in Operations (Autumn)
- Professional Practice in Accounting (Spring)
- Market Economics and Mathematical Concepts (Spring)
Stage two
You will study these modules
- Financial Accounting (Autumn)
- Management Accounting (Spring)
And you will choose your options from:
- Principles of Taxation (Autumn)
- Financial Management (Spring)
- The Accountants Environment (Spring)
- Audit and Assurance (Autumn)
- Operational Research (Autumn)
- Innovation and Knowledge Transfer (Autumn)
Stage three - Optional placement year
Final stage
You will study these modules
- Financial Strategy (Autumn)
- Management Accounting - Performance Evaluation (Spring)
And you will choose your options from:
- Financial Reporting Theory (Autumn)
- The Professional Accountant (Autumn)
- Investing and Financial Markets (Spring)
- Financial Statement Analysis (Spring)
Entry requirements
Our entry requirements are usually 220-300 UCAS points, of which at least 200-240 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.
We'll accept up to 60 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.
We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.
We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.
Your points at level 3 will be in addition to 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.
The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.
Fees and finance
This is a classroom based course.
UK/EU students
- Full time: £7,700 (each year)
We'll be announcing our international fees for 2013/14 later in the year.
*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.
How you will learn
Your first year modules will give you the basic knowledge, background and skills in accounting. In your second year you'll learn more advanced techniques and be introduced to more advanced specialisms in accounting. In your final year you'll be tackling and discussing complicated accounting and ethical issues as you focus on strategy, management and leadership.
We'll also develop your personal skills throughout the course. From group working and time management through to report writing and presentation skills, we'll equip you not only with the subject knowledge, but also with the personal, transferable skills that are vital to your career and which you need to be successful in the graduate job market.
Our teaching staff are all professionally qualified and have industry as well as academic experience. As well as teaching on degree programmes, they are also teaching on the professional body courses - ACCA and CIMA. This means that they are aware of and work to the latest and most current professional standards, so you'll benefit from their expertise and understanding of the modern business world.
Careers and employability
- Accounting is the ideal course to combine with another subject so that you gain a valuable awareness of financial language, budget and accounting information. This will be a great base for a variety of careers. You'll be equipped with an accounting and general business education, and if you've chosen the major or joint pathway you will subsequently be able to apply for exemptions from the professional accounting bodies on your route to becoming a qualified accountant.
- Our past students have gone on to work in accountancy firms, as management accountants in business or have entered general management positions.
- You can choose to continue your studies with a masters degree here at Derby. Take advantage of the 10% discount you'll be eligible to once you've completed your joint honours degree.
What our students say
"I feel privileged to study at Derby because of the excellent quality of teaching and the dedicated support staff, together with the amazing online accounting study resources. You always get the help you need to develop your skills, and learning at Derby has put me on track for my career in accounting."
Zhuoran Zhang






