Accounting and Finance (with Professional Exemptions) BA (Hons)

Get a head start in the process of becoming a qualified accountant. Undertake a paid 48-week placement and enhance your practical experience. Gain exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

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Overview

The BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance course has long been a popular choice because of its excellent career prospects. The course is so closely tied to real-world professional requirements that, when you've successfully completed it, you'll be exempt from exam papers from professional accounting bodies: the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Part-time option

If you choose to study part-time, we'll endeavour to ensure you're not on campus for more than two days a week, plus independent study.

Why us?

We've been shortlisted for Business School of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2024
The course provides professional exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
Our Accounting and Finance courses are in the Top 20 in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2024)
Key accounting and finance themes are supported by specialist areas such as taxation, law, and auditing

Every module has a link to industry so that you can apply your learning in authentic business scenarios
Course content has been carefully designed with students and employers to enhance your employability
Cutting-edge topics are covered such as issues around sustainability in business and digital aspects of business in the 21^st Century workplace

Course structure

A typical week for you will include lectures, seminars, self-directed study, workshops, and case studies. As part of your active learning, you'll work on problems and issues with the tutor and other students. Through analysing data and drawing your own conclusions, you’ll explore approaches to different business situations.

Due to the accreditation associated with this course, you'll predominantly be assessed via closed-book written examinations. Other methods include coursework and narrative reports.

The part-time option for the course is delivered over ten semesters, with no more than two days a week on-campus, plus independent study.

Course modules

Year 1 (national level 4):

Business Law (20 credits)

Develop an understanding of the key legal principles relating to the different models of business structure. Delve deeper into contract law, corporate governance and insolvency. Learn how to apply the law by using scenario-based assessment questions.

Economics (20 credits)

Learn why goods and services are demanded, how suppliers meet this demand and at what price. Explore why countries specialise in particular products and the effect of trade barriers and tariffs on economic wealth. Examine the concept of efficiency and become skilled at presenting and interpreting economic diagrams and graphs.

Introduction to Business Management (20 credits)

Understand the role of business management. Learn how organisations are structured and managed and gain insight into different approaches to management and key schools of management thought. Develop your understanding of leadership and management of teams and individuals and explore the role of internal and external stakeholders and the impact of external forces.

Introduction to Financial Accounting (20 credits)

Start off your financial journey by focusing on the basic accounting concepts and conventions used as building blocks to prepare financial statements. Learn how to produce financial reports, including income statements, statements of financial position and statements of cashflows. Take part in practical examples and discussions.

Introduction to Management Accounting (20 credits)

Get to grips with the basic tools of management accounting. Gain an awareness of the role of management accounting, an understanding of the basic models, concepts and techniques in management accounting, and an understanding of basic budgeting and budget preparation.

Quantitative Methods for Business (20 credits)

Learn how to present quantitative data visually and identify trends, averages and variation. Explore the concept of probability and how managers apply the principle of probability to business scenarios. Examine the theory of forecasting using historical data to predict future outcomes acknowledging margins for error and factors beyond manager’s control, and gain confidence in processing numbers to interpret business performance.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Audit and Assurance (20 credits)

Learn current accounting issues dealing with auditing and carry out investigative research of financial consequences of issues in auditing. Integrate theory with contemporary financial articles sourced from recent newspapers and research journals. Develop your understanding of the purpose and value of an effective audit, including auditors and directors professional, legal and corporate governance responsibilities; the code of best practice and the London Stock Exchange listing rules; the audit processes and audit reports.

Business Finance (20 credits)

Learn the instrumental role business finance plays within the world of today's global business organisation. Gain an understanding of the differing options available to businesses when considering raising finance to fund investment and growth. Analyse and evaluate whether business finance theories can be successfully applied within the modern day business environment.

Business Management (20 credits)

Study elements of strategic management and reflect on the role of human resource management. Find out about organizing for stability and for change. Explore management and marketing and investigate effective management control processes.

Business Taxation (20 credits)

Develop a deep understanding of the national taxation system and the importance of tax planning to the wealth and success of individuals and corporations. Explore topics that include administrative aspects of taxation, allowances, partnership and individual taxation, corporate taxation, and capital gains.

Financial Accounting (20 credits)

Continue your journey into financial reporting from the year 1 module, Introduction to Financial Accounting. Continue to develop ideas for the key elements of international financial reporting and learn to analyse financial statements. Gain knowledge of current ethical issues; create group accounts, and discuss ideas and thoughts of current practices within the industry.

Management Accounting (20 credits)

Learn how to use accounting information in solving practical business problems and the limitations of theoretical techniques when applied in practice. Identify the techniques appropriate to solve particular business problems and apply them to business problems. Use management accounting information for planning, decision making and control, and interpret management accounting statements.

Optional 48-week placement:

Applied Professional Practice (120 credits)

Gain a strong understanding of a business including the identification and examination of an organisational issue, initiative or process. Examine areas of value to the host organisation. Develop the relevant practical knowledge and skills under the guidance and supervision of an academic mentor and host business.

Year 3 (national level 6):

Strategic Management Accounting (Professional) (30 credits)

Through this module you’ll cover the following areas of study: Relevant costs for decision making; activity-based costing; pricing decisions; budgeting; management control systems; variance analysis; performance management; transfer pricing; budgeting and control, including quantitative analysis in budgeting; performance management systems; measurements and control, including performance analysis in not-for-profit organisations and the public sector. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to evaluate a range of key sustainable strategic management accounting models and concepts, critically understand specific analytical skills in key areas within the management accounting profession at local and international level, appraise the role and limitations of management accounting theory, and apply key management accounting concepts and methodologies in order to contribute to successful, sustainable decision making in an organisation.

International Financial Reporting (Professional) (30 credits)

Through this module you’ll cover the following areas of study: International reporting standards, shareholder ownership and equity, financial statement analysis, trend analysis, financial reports and decision making. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to appreciate the current key issues in international financial reporting, critically understand the conceptual framework as a paradigm for sustainable accounting, analyse and evaluate financial reports for strategic decision making, and apply cognitive skills of critical thinking and analysis.

Corporate Governance and Ethics (Professional) (30 credits)

Through this module you’ll cover the following areas of study: Defining corporate governance, accountability, and disclosure; the impact of corporate governance weaknesses and failure; corporate governance reform in the UK (recent developments and future directions); the role, functions, and duties of board of directors in corporate governance; the role of shareholders, including institutional investors in corporate governance and context of socially responsible investing; the role of transparency, internal control and risk management in corporate governance; an introduction to corporate governance systems worldwide, and corporate governance and stakeholder accountability. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to critically discuss the key sustainable corporate governance and ethics concepts; demonstrate a distinguished understanding of different theoretical perspectives on corporate governance and understand their assumptions about key actors, motives and control mechanisms; explore international comparative perspectives of corporate governance, focusing on the system found in the UK and contrasting this with a range of different corporate governance systems in countries around the world; and construct critical thinking about a range of approaches and options for corporate accountability and ethics requiring the organisation of thoughts, analysis, synthesis and critical appraisal.

Financial Management (Professional) (30 credits)

Throughout this module you’ll cover the following areas of study: Capital markets and market efficiency, debt, equity, and hybrid financing, cost of capital and capital structure, capital budgeting, dividend decision-making, risk management, and merger and takeover activity. By the end of the module you’ll be able to evaluate key strategic decisions that a business may have to make and appreciate how the accounting and finance profession can assist in evaluating those decisions, critically understand specific analytical skills in key decision making areas within strategy and finance at an international and local level, appraise limitations of the current state of financial theory in making sustainable strategic business decisions, and apply key valuation concepts and methodologies of financial decision making in order to contribute to the wider sustainable decision making of an organisation.

Facilities

You’ll be based at the impressive Reg Vardy Centre at the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s in stunning surroundings overlooking the banks of the River Wear.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

Qualification	Minimum grade
High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade: SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement	GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1100/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 2 subjects) ACT (score of 26+)

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.

If you've studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade, you'll need to achieve a grade 4 or above.

Our admissions policy uses a range of flexible options to support you to study with us. This may include a reduced offer of up to 16 UCAS tariff points, (or equivalent). Find out if you are eligible.

If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

2024/25 fees:

The annual, full-time fee for this course is:

£9,250 if you're from the UK
£16,000 if you're an international student
£10,250 if you are an EU student (this fee includes a scholarship of £5,750)
£6,935 per 120 credits for part-time study

2025/26 fees:

The annual, full-time fee for this course is:

£9,250 if you're from the UK*/Europe
£16,500 if you're an international student
£7,145 per 90 credits for part-time study**

*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

**Please note that part-time study is not available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.

Read more about EU fees and funding in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

The Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's by night

Career ready

Many students on this course will be considering a career as a professional accountant, whether as a financial accountant or a management accountant. A financial accountant will typically work for many different clients, while a management accountant is employed by just one organisation and has a say in the running of that organisation.

Business graduates have secured roles with organisations including Facebook, Microsoft, Sage, HSBC, IBM, Enterprise, Nissan, Accenture, Procter & Gamble, Nissan, Marriott Hotels, Viacom 18, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Adidas.

Work placements

To further enhance employability, we encourage you to undertake a 48-week paid placement between your second and final year. It effectively becomes a third year of a four-year course.

Placements are an excellent opportunity to put your learning into practice and understand the context for your new knowledge. The contacts made during placements can also be valuable for future job offers.

Guest speakers

Our invitations to guest speakers allow you to listen to people who are already in the type of management position that you may one day hold. Recent speakers include Maurice Duffy, CEO of Global Blackswan; Mike Johnson, CEO of Castrol and Executive Vice President of BP; Uday K. Dholakia, Senior Partner of Global Consulting; Neil Stephenson, CEO of ONYX; James Ramsbotham, CEO of the North East Chamber of Commerce; as well as other representatives from a number of our region’s largest employers.

Student Business Society

The University supports student-led initiatives that help you gain practical experience of management. The Business Society organises events and guest speakers, as well as attending tours of various companies. With its professional approach, it’s a great way to put the lessons about how to make organisations function effectively into practice. There's something for every student who's studying a subject related to business.

Meet the students

Studying at the University opened doors to a range of different job opportunities and contacts.

Nathan Todd

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Business, Law and Tourism.

Page last updated: 03 December 2024

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.