BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance
Our multi-accredited accounting and finance 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. You will also have the chance to gain a CIMA-accredited certificate in Sage, which is the UK’s biggest accounting software provider.
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. This course is also available through Network75, a combined work and study route.
Learn more about Accounting and Finance courses at USW:
Professional Accounting and Finance Courses Brochure
The first year of your accounting and finance degree includes financial accounting, management accounting, an introduction to finance, quantitative techniques and data analysis, the business environment, and business and corporate law. You will also gain the opportunity to gain the Sage Accounting qualification.
Year two studies include financial reporting, performance measurement and control, audit and assurance, corporate finance, Digital accounting and a specialist employability module where you can develop your employability skills and work on live projects with real world businesses.
The final year explores advanced some advanced aspects of accounting and also taxation (option module) to further develop your knowledge and gain maximum professional body exemptions. You will further develop your employability skills, ensuring you are not only well educated but also well prepared to compete in the selection and recruitment processes and add value to organisations through subsequent employment. You will also study two specialist optional modules from a choice including taxation, forensic accounting, cases in audit, and the theory and practice of securities trading, where you can use our simulation trading room on campus. The cases in audit module allows our accounting students to work with a number of third sector organisations and carry out assurance engagements with actual clients from this sector.
Year One - Accounting degree
Your first year includes the core disciplines of financial accounting, management accounting, financial planning, data analysis and computerised accounting, the business environment, and business and corporate law. You can also gain the CIMA accredited Sage Accounting Certificate.
Modules studied:
• Financial Accounting
• Management Accounting
• The Business Environment for Accountants
• Business and Corporate Law
• Data Analysis and Computerised Accounting
• Personal Financial Planning
Year Two - Accounting degree
Year two studies include financial reporting, performance measurement and control, audit and assurance, digital accounting, financial management and a specialist employability module where you can develop your employability skills and work on live projects with real world businesses. This module also benefits from an impressive range of guest speakers.
Modules studied:
• Financial Reporting
• Management Accounting for planning and control
• Financial Management
• Digital Accounting
• Auditing and Assurance
• Professional Development in Accounting & Finance 1
Year Three - Accounting degree
The final year explores advanced aspects of accounting and has specialist optional modules, including forensic accounting and financial trading and investment, where you can use our simulation trading room on campus. If you choose the cases in audit module, you will have the opportunity to work with a number of third sector organisations and carry out assurance engagements with actual clients from this sector.
Core modules include:
• Advanced Financial Reporting
• Information for Decision Making and Control
• Strategic Business Partner (a Business Analysis module)
• Professional Development in Accounting & Finance 2
You can also choose to undertake a further two modules from the following list:
• Taxation
• Financial Trading and Investment
• Cases in Audit
• Forensic Accounting
• Financial Services
Option availability will be subject to student demand
For Year Three, September 2021 start only
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:
• Advanced Financial Reporting
• Global Governance, Risk and Ethics
• Business Analysis for Accountants
• Accounting Research
You can also choose to undertake a further two modules from the following list:
• Advanced Management Accounting
• Theory and Practice of Securities Trading
• Cases in Audit
• Principles of Forensic Accounting
• Introduction to Islamic Finance
Option availability will be subject to student demand
Teaching
Students on this accounting and 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.
Assessment
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.
Accreditations
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has fully accredited this Accounting degree.
Placements
You can 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.
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.
Facilities
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 first hand 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.
Lecturers
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.
Simon McCarthy, course leader
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
The entry criteria below shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. The University has a Contextual Admissions Policy, therefore, whilst most offers we make are at the top of the range, under the Policy we take certain aspects of an application into consideration and eligible UCAS applicants can receive a personalised offer or have results considered individually when you receive them. Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy Statement.
Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.
Please note that whilst this course does not require a DBS Check for entry, some professions will not consider candidates who have certain types of criminal convictions. Therefore, if you have a criminal conviction and you are considering a particular career path we would recommend that you check with the relevant professional body or refer to their recruitment policy to make sure that your conviction will not disadvantage you.
Typical A-Level Offer
BCC - CDD (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical AAT Offer
AAT Level 3 for 1st year entry or AAT level 4 for direct 2nd year entry onto the degree
Typical Welsh BACC Offer
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).
Typical BTEC Offer
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical IB Offer
Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 29 overall including 5 or above in English at standard level
Typical Access to HE Offer
Pass the Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points
Additional Requirements
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances
International Entry Requirements
We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.
English Requirements
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
August 2023 - July 2024 Fees
Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: £14100
Part-time UK: TBC
August 2024 - July 2025 Fees
Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC
Part-time UK: TBC
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
* Obligatory
| Item | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Placement expenses: | £0 - £300 | The exact cost of attending any placement is dependent upon the its 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. |
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
UK students
Apply via UCAS if you are a UK 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.
International and EU students
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.
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 with an accounting and finance degree, 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.
Our Careers and Employability Service
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.
Graduate Stories
Student Stories
Highlight Stories
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.