Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
This course has recently been updated. Please download the course specification for the up to date information.
The BSc (Honours) Accounting and Finance with Foundation year degree at Birmingham City Business School provides a valuable introduction to the worlds of accountancy practice, commerce, industry and finance. We create graduates who possess a global outlook, with the conceptual and applied knowledge in the fields of accounting and finance that will enable them to make a positive impact on society.
The foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to develop your academic and interpersonal skills whilst developing your business skills further to support you to success on your academic path.
This course has been designed to be accredited by the major professional accounting bodies, including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), offering significant exemptions from their professional qualifications.
This course offers an accounting and finance curriculum that is up to date, vocationally relevant, challenging and reflects the complex and challenging nature of the accounting and business environment.
You will gain expertise in areas including financial and management accounting, corporate finance, international accounting and finance issues, data analysis and business technology. You will have the opportunity to use software relevant to the modern business environment, equipping you with the skills and experience sought by employers. You will develop scholarly attributes, becoming an independent learner with the ability to critically evaluate data and evidence, draw reasoned conclusions and communicate effectively in a professional manner.
Delivery of the course is flexible and includes a blend of lectures, workshops, field trips and online learning. The modules, which feed into the course, are broad, covers key current topics such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help you to appreciate accounting and finance from a range of perspectives. Ultimately, decision making in this field, calls for one to exercise judgement and intuition and this course helps you to strengthen that judgement.
With our practice-based approach to teaching, you will learn from professionally qualified academics with a wealth of industry experience, and research active academics whose research underpins and informs our approach to teaching.
You will be actively supported and encouraged to undertake an additional professional placement year, providing the opportunity to improve your employability skills. Our students have worked for industry leading accountancy practices including PwC and EY, as well as for organisations such as the NHS, IBM and Vodafone.
The international focus of the course is derived through a variety of means including the study of international accounting standards, student body, the teaching team and the use of international teaching materials. Moreover, students can choose to spend a full semester studying their modules overseas at a partner institution.
The course also offers the opportunity to study abroad at one of our international partner institutions.
This course is in the final stages of approval to ensure it meets the very highest standards of quality, creativity and applied learning.
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
80 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level with a minimum of 2 A Levels. |
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Level 2 Qualifications | ||
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UK Qualification | Requirements 2021/22 | |
GCSE |
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Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) |
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Scottish National 5 |
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Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) Qualifications | ||
UK Qualification | Requirements 2021/22 | |
A level and Advanced VCE |
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AAT Diploma in Accounting (QCF) |
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Access to HE Diploma |
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IBO Certificate in Higher Level |
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International Baccalaureate Diploma |
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IFS / LIBF Diploma in Financial Studies |
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Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) |
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NCFE CACHE Level 3 Applied General Certificate in Health and Social Care |
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OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma |
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OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma |
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OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate |
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Scottish Advanced Higher |
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Scottish Higher |
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T-Levels |
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Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate - Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015) |
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Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma – Core (awarded until 2016) ESW/KS Combined component |
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Other Qualifications | ||
If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS. Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. |
Essential | ||
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Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications to 80 points are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
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Essential | ||
EU/Non-EU (International) Qualifications | Requirements 2020/21 | |
IELTS |
6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
From A/AS Level with a minimum of 2 A Levels
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2021
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2021
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
UK and EU students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits).
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 60 credits).
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 60 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
You have the flexibility to transfer to any standard undergraduate course offered within Birmingham City Business School after successful completion of your foundation year.
Some of the Accounting and Finance related course you could go on to are:
BSc (Hons) Accountancy is designed to equip you with technical knowledge and skills as well as a range of employability skills, attributes and attitudes. The course will encourage your intellectual and ethical development and your personal commitment to the social purpose of becoming a business professional. As you progress you will become more effective and creative as a problem solver and be able to critically advise individuals and companies in the UK and internationally on a range of business related matters.
BSc (Hons) Business Accounting will help you develop the professional accounting skills required of any senior manager, and you'll have the flexibility to customise your own course during the second and final years to become a specialist in economics, taxation, project management or international business..
BSc (Hons) Business Finance is designed to equip you with the expert knowledge and technical skills required by the Association of Corporate Treasurers qualification and the wider industry, this flexible course will encourage your development towards becoming a successful business finance professional.
BSc (Hons) Finance and Investment is focused on a practical application of financial skills in the investing world, qualities that are in high demand in modern business. Designed to equip you with technical knowledge and skills, the course will encourage your development and commitment in becoming an investment professional.
Please note that the course specification above is not finalised, and is therefore subject to change.
When you successfully complete your Foundation Year, you will be able to proceed on to any of of our undergraduate degree programmes offered within Birmingham City Business School (excluding Integrated Master's).
"Part of my decision to come to BCU was the fact that the Accounting and Finance course offered the sandwich year. As soon as I saw that, I didn’t have to think twice!"
Your course will prepare and equip you for a career in accountancy, finance, management or business, by relating your studies to the latest practice-based business developments.
Throughout the course, we have regular visits from professional bodies such as the ICAEW, CIMA and ACCA. These visits help ensure that you are learning the exact skills organisations and regulator bodies are looking for.
You will also have the opportunity to attain the Microsoft Office Specialist – Excel qualification, enhancing your employability prospects.
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Many of our graduates move on to exciting roles within accounting and finance. Because of the range of areas our course covers, students also go on to more diverse careers. We’ve seen graduates go into roles as fraud officers, hedge fund analysts and office managers.
"Part of my decision to come to BCU was the fact that the Accounting and Finance course offered the sandwich year. As soon as I saw that, I didn’t have to think twice!"
Welcome to the Birmingham City Business School, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!
Birmingham City Business School is one of the UK’s largest, most established and most respected business schools. Our programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.
We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities.
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law, Business and English students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.
The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.
"We have a great team of academics and students waiting to welcome you onto the course and begin this journey with you. We have a range of field trips, projects and many other opportunities planned to help you achieve your ambitions."
Steven Monks, Course Director
Samantha Roberts holds an honours degree in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Accounting and Financial Management. She is ACMA, CGMA qualified and after a 15 year career in the banking and finance sector Samantha moved into higher education.
Margaret Saunders is a CIMA qualified accountant who gained a vast amount of experience working within industry before moving into education. After a number of years teaching within further education and working with apprentices, she joined the Business School in 2013 where she now teaches across a number of undergraduate courses.
After completion of her Chartered Accountancy Professional Qualification from India, Shaista Mukadam worked and audited in many of the multi-national companies in India. She retrained as a lecturer, and now teaches on accounting modules at Birmingham City University.
Kulvinder is a senior teaching fellow in financial accounting. He is part of the course management team and is the course leader for the BSc Accounting and Finance course. He has taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as on the professional ACCA programme.