With consistently high student satisfaction in the National Student Survey, this multi-accredited degree offers you the chance to develop and practise your technical knowledge, skills and expertise, while gaining professional recognition from the world’s leading accountancy bodies. You will gain a solid grounding in the core elements of accounting and finance, ensuring you are well prepared for a variety of accountancy careers. Topics covered include financial reporting, management accounting, corporate finance, taxation, audit, and computerised accounting systems.
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has fully accredited this Accounting degree, so you can gain up to the maximum exemptions from a professional qualification when you graduate. We are a recognised Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) 'Partner in Learning' and, depending on your module choices, you can gain exemptions from ICAEW, with further exemptions offered towards the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants (CIPFA) examinations.
You will also have the chance to gain a CIMA-accredited certificate in Sage, which is the UK’s biggest accounting software provider. We work with local employers to offer valuable work placements, where you can practice your new technical skills and understand the realities of the workplace. A placement will also contribute to your degree.
Your first year includes financial accounting, management accounting, an introduction to finance, statistical techniques and data analysis, the business environment, and business and corporate law.
Year two studies include financial reporting, performance measurement and control, audit and assurance, corporate finance, taxation and a specialist employability module where you can also gain the Sage Accounting qualification.
The final year explores advanced aspects of accounting and has specialist optional modules, including forensic accounting, Islamic finance, and the theory and practice of securities trading, where you can use our simulation trading room on campus.
Your first year includes the core disciplines of financial accounting, management accounting, an introduction to finance, quantitative techniques for accounting, the business environment, and business and corporate law. Modules studied:
Year two studies include financial reporting, performance measurement & control, audit and assurance, taxation, an introduction to financial management and a specialist employability module where you will develop your Excel spread-sheet skills, work on some of the softer skills that employers require and benefit from an impressive range of guest speakers. You can also gain the CIMA accredited Sage Accounting Certificate. Sage is the UK’s biggest accounting software provider. For students who do not have prior relevant work experience, the employability module incorporates a 70-hour work placement that will allow you to become instantly more employable, learning both profession-specific as well as more general work-related skills.
Modules studied:
The final year explores advanced aspects of accounting and has specialist optional modules, including forensic accounting and the theory and practice of securities trading, where you can use our simulation trading room on campus.
Core modules include:
You can also choose to undertake a further two modules from the following list:
Option availability will be subject to student demand
The BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance is also available as a four year course including an integrated Foundation Year, and is designed for students who do not currently meet admissions criteria for direct entry onto the degree.
You will start by completing a foundation year, which provides well structured support, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge before continuing onto the three year degree programme.
Find out more: Foundation Year (Social Sciences)
Students on this Finance degree will learn through a mix of lectures, tutorials, workshops, innovative e-learning techniques and directed self-study. As well as our links with the ACCA, you will benefit from regular presentations from guest lecturers representing many aspects of the profession. Throughout your course, you will get practical experience of the accounting, auditing, and general software packages you will use after you graduate – another skill to add to your CV.
Most modules are assessed by a combination of examination and coursework. There is a variety of coursework – helping you develop your employability skills through the use of IT, preparing written reports, and giving presentations.
In addition to the 70-hour work placement in Year two, you can also apply for a one year work placement after your second year of study or short-term placement (up to three months) between your second and third year. It’s a great option if you want a mixture of academic and practical learning, teaching and assessment. The longer work placements are offered with a number of organisations, and in recent years this has included Atradius – one of the world’s largest credit insurers, Alcatel-Lucent – a global communications industry leader, and the Welsh Government. Names like this on your CV will certainly help you stand out from the crowd.
The University of South Wales’ accounting students have access to a financial Trading Room including state-of-the-art computer hardware and software.
The Trading Room will add a new experiential dimension to the accounting and finance courses, allowing simulation of share dealing and decision making incorporating theory and practice.
Through the simulations, you will experience the dynamic and exciting environment of real-time trading in the classroom. You will learn and experience firsthand the complex strategies associated with buying and selling, understand the volatility and fluctuations of the market and the uncertainty of risk.
You will be able to assess your individual performance and compete against fellow students. This will give you a range of skills and tools to take into the workplace, ready for a successful career.
Many of our staff are professionally qualified accountants and financial planning professionals who have a wealth of experience in teaching accounting and finance at all levels, including preparation for the examinations of professional accounting bodies. Many of our accounting lecturers are members of our Business Accountability and Responsibility Centre (BARC).
The entry criteria below shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. Most offers we make are at the top of the range, but we take all aspects of an application into consideration and applicants receive a personalised offer. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.
BCC - CDD (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
AAT Level 3 for 1st year entry or AAT level 4 for direct 2nd year entry onto the degree
Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).
Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with higher grades of between 655-445 (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points)
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits overall – the credits should equate to between 106-80 UCAS tariff points (examples below)
45 Level 3 credits equating to 15 Distinctions, 24 Merits and 6 Passes (106 UCAS Tariff Points)
45 Level 3 credits equating to 12 Distinctions, 6 Merits and 27 Passes (80 UCAS Tariff Points)
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances
We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.
In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.
However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.
This course is eligible under the Enhanced Learning Credits scheme for Ex-Armed Forces personnel.
Students have access to a wide range of resources including textbooks, publications, and computers in the University’s library and via online resources. In most cases they are more than sufficient to complete a course of study. Where there are additional costs, either obligatory or optional, these are detailed below. Of course students may choose to purchase their own additional personal resources/tools over and above those listed to support their studies at their own expense. All stationery and printing costs are at a student’s own expense.
* Obligatory
| Item | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Memberships: | £334 - £419 | Yr. 1: Initial ACCA registrations fee of £79 and annual membership fee of £85.
Yrs. 2, 3 and 4 (if undertaking placement): Annual membership fee £85. |
| Placement expenses: | £0 - £300 | The exact cost of any attending any placement is dependent upon the it's location in relation to the student's place of residence, mode of transportation etc. and therefore cannot be determined at this moment in time. Furthermore, depending upon the placement the student may need to purchase suitable attire (e.g. a suit or formal clothing). |
| Other : Text books | £300 | Some additional text books may need to be purchased. |
| Additional assessment or memberships: Student membership of professional bodies | £20 | Reduced fee membership of ACCA "Accelerate" scheme. Normally £79 but we have a special fee of £20. |
| Other: : Travel Costs for Work placements | £0 - £300 | Placement Year. Travel costs depend on placement location. |
Apply via UCAS if you are a UK/EU residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK/EU.
Accountancy careers offer great salaries, travel opportunities and the chance to work your way to the top. All kinds of financial careers will be available to graduates of this course, in all kinds of organisations. You could work in management or financial accounting, tax-related work or management consultancy. Accounting and finance is an ideal foundation for senior management roles, or even starting your own business.
To give you a head start following graduation the University organises an annual employability conference for its accounting students. Previous attendees have included PwC, Eversheds, JK Accountancy, Civitas Law and Watkins & Gunn.
As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.
This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.
Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.
The Pontypridd Campus is made up of two sites: Treforest and Glyntaff. Our students love the community atmosphere, as well as living and studying in the same place. It’s quieter than the cities, with green open spaces and views across the valley.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.
