BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance

When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

Why choose this course?

Watch Andrew's interview about Accounting at Derby

The BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance Degree at Derby is designed to ensure that graduates will be eligible for exemption from the ACCA and CIMA professional qualifications.

Students have the opportunity to undertake a work placement with Placement Officers on hand to secure your placement. This element of the course is designed to enhance employment prospects. We work with a wide range of employers including Luprizol.

Students who graduate can take advantage of a 10% discount to study a masters degree at Derby University.

About the course

This degree equips you with a sound knowledge of accounting and business which will enable you to take up a management position in industry and commerce, or become a professional accountant.

During the first year you will be introduced to the key concepts of accounting, and your knowledge and skills will be developed within a business framework.

The second year will see you learning more advanced techniques and specialisms in accounting, broadening your analysis and application of techniques in different sectors. You'll also be developing your teamwork, leadership and project management skills through the work and assessments you undertake.

You can choose to take a work placement, applying what you've learnt to the work place and getting valuable work experience, or you can move straight on to the final stage.

The final stage will see you tackling complicated accounting and ethical issues. You'll be studying leading edge and contemporary business and accounting issues, you'll understand general accounting and business concepts and will develop the skills and techniques required, through research, critical analysis and evaluation to suggest solutions to real management problems.

You'll be able to critically evaluate strategic business issues, and you'll complete your independent study. You can select two options in the final year which gives you the flexibility to specialise in an area that interests you, or where you see your career developing.

Throughout the degree we will also be developing your personal, transferable skills. These are the skills that complement your academic knowledge and which improve your employability.

You'll develop your communication, report writing and presentation skills and be able to manage your time and work to deadlines. You'll be able to work independently and be self-motivated, and also work effectively and constructively as part of a team. These skills are vital to your success, wherever you see your career developing.

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.

Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...

You will spend your first stage covering business subjects such as:

Operations
People management and Market Economics
Accounting

This is so that you have a cross functional awareness and understanding of business, can see how all of these areas integrate so that an operation runs smoothly and efficiently, and how they interrelate with accounting principles and activities.

You will look at the basic principles, techniques and concepts of accounting and their application to business, be able to explain financial transactions and prepare financial statements. You will also apply costing and management accounting concepts to business situations and be able to produce management reports to support decision making, planning and control.

The second stage sees you concentrating on accounting techniques and current issues in accounting. You'll apply accounting principles from financial accounting, management accounting, financial management, taxation and audit to various situations you're likely to encounter as a professional accountant. You'll look at the socio-economic, organisational, legal and ethical aspects that inform and affect accounting. You'll develop your skills so you are able to provide advice to management on a variety of business situations.

You can choose to spend your third stage on work placement where you can apply the skills you've learnt to the real world. Our Placements Officer will help you to secure your placement. You can apply the knowledge you gain during your placement to your final year studies.

The final stage sees you analysing the decision support that can be provided by accountants for business operations and strategy. You'll look at the fit between accounting theory and concepts and real practice, and you'll be able to provide financial and non-financial information to people in organisations so that they can make better decisions to enhance organisation control and effectiveness.

You'll be able to adopt a strategically informed position when considering complex accounting situations and issues.

You'll complete the independent study which is your research project that explores an interest in accounting. This could be in an area of personal interest, an area where you see you career developing, or related to your placement year.

Stage one

Introduction to Financial Accounting (Autumn)
Law for Accounting (Autumn)
Managing Performance in Operations (Autumn)
Introduction to Management Accounting (Spring)
Professional Practice in Accounting (Spring)
Market Economics and Mathematical Concepts (Spring)

Stage two

Financial Accounting (Autumn)
Principles of Taxation (Autumn)
Management Accounting (Spring)
Financial Management (Spring)
The Accountants Environment (Spring)

And you will choose one option from:

Audit and Assurance - ACCA (Autumn)
Operational Research (Autumn)
Innovation and Knowledge Transfer (Autumn)

Stage three - Optional placement year

Final stage

Independent Study - double module (Through*)
Financial Strategy (Autumn)
Management Accounting - Performance Evaluation (Spring)

And you will choose two options from:

Financial Reporting Theory - ACCA (Autumn)
The Professional Accountant - CIMA (Autumn)
Business and Personal Taxation (Spring)
Investing and Financial Markets (Spring)
Financial Statement Analysis (Spring)

* Through - this is a module that runs through the Autumn and Spring semesters

Your career

Watch Stanley's interview

There is always a demand for accounting graduates. Our past students have gone on to work for local public practices, multinational accounting firms and taken up accounting careers in merchant banks and other large businesses. As an accountant you will have the opportunity to work in many diverse fields, anywhere in the world.
We've designed the degree so you get maximum exemptions from ACCA or CIMA professional qualifications. This shortens the time required for you to become a fully qualified member of your chosen professional body.
On graduation 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 degree.

What our students say

"The vocational focus of the degree provided me with the technical skills to begin a career in accountancy and finance, and also allowed me to qualify for exemptions with CIMA."

Vicky Bostock. BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance graduate, and now working as Business Partner to the European Engine Oils Business Group at Lubrizol Ltd.

Read more student stories

How you'll learn

During the first and second stage you will learn mainly by formal lectures, tutorials and workshops where you will receive direction and feedback on your work.

In the second stage you will be expected to work more independently progressing to being more in charge of your own learning, whilst receiving guidance and direction from the academic staff in the final stage.

How you're assessed

There are a range of assessment methods used throughout the degree. In the first stage we use a range of computer based assessments to help you gauge your own level of learning. These assessments give you feedback on how you do so that it helps your learning in a constructive way. In other modules there are essays and reports to submit.

At the second and third stages you will be assessed mainly by examinations, but also by essays, business reports, portfolios and presentations.

Work placements

There is an optional placement year after stage two.

Anything else?

You will be assigned a personal tutor to assist you throughout the degree who will ensure that you maximise the opportunities provided by personal development planning.

You'll look at your own personal strengths and weaknesses and put in place strategies to develop these, so maximising your employability by the end of the course.

From your second stage you will also receive assistance from the Career Development Centre and the professional accounting bodies to help you plan your career development.

All of our accounting lecturers are professionally qualified with years of experience in different areas of accounting. All are available to help you with your career and development options.

International students

Ask us a question at bclinternational@derby.ac.uk

Start dates

If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:

September 2012

If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:

September 2012

UCAS code

N400

Fees

This is a classroom based course.

UK/EU students

Full time: £6,995 (each year)
Part time: £875 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total).

International students

Full time: £9,700 (each year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.