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 is designed to progress students who fall below normal entry requirement levels on to full Undergraduate degrees.
• This degree course is accredited by the ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW and CIPFA professional bodies for maximum exemptions. This means that the course is as professionally relevant and up-to-date as possible, taking into account the very latest developments in the profession.
• On all of our courses you will gain a professional focus and real world experience of accounting, ensuring you are equipped to make an immediate impact in the business world. You have the opportunity to embark on a year-long professional placement as part of your degree course. Your placement tutor will also give you guidance throughout.
• Our links with accrediting bodies and big name businesses mean we regularly hold industry talks and guest visits on campus.
• Recognising the global scope of business, all our courses have an international focus. This is embedded throughout the curriculum, giving you the opportunity to transform your experience with us into a global one. There are a variety of exciting possibilities open to you, including our many overseas study exchange programmes.
• Your course will consider the study of accountancy, finance and business from an international perspective, and you will be given the opportunity to travel abroad as part of your course.
• As a student on one of our undergraduate degrees, you will be able to benefit from our Graduate+ initiative. This three-year award course enables you to gain award levels for all the extra-curricular activities you undertake so that you can stand out from the crowd on graduation.
• You will study in our state-of-the-art City Centre Campus, ideally located for you to take advantage of our links to Birmingham’s business district, one of the largest in the UK.
• We keep group sizes small, and focus on teaching instead of lecturing, meaning you’ll get all the time and focus you need from our industry experienced staff.
• You will be able to work on exciting projects for real-life clients through our Business Advice Centre, giving you exposure to the challenges and issues faced by businesses as well as the chance to develop successful solutions. Opportunities are available with local, regional, national and even global businesses such as BMW.
• The Centre also offers expert support for your own entrepreneurial ideas, so you can start planning your own start-up or take your existing business to the next level. Following graduation, you will have the opportunity to apply for STEAMhouse Business Incubator membership.

Find out more

• Our Facilities
• Our Graduates
• Our Placements
• Our Students
• Our Trips

Additional information for EU/International students

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.

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:

• Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here
• Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies
• Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country
• Learn where to find financial support for your studies

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our Facilities

We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities.

The Curzon Building

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.

The Curzon Building also features:

• An impressive new library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
• Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
• A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
• Brand new, accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
• Shared facilities with the wider campus including the recently opened Parkside Building and Millennium Point