Accounting and Finance and Economics - BSc (Hons)

with a Year in Industry

Course structure

Duration: 4 years full-time

Modules

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.  

On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘elective’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.

• Year in industry

Teaching and assessment

Accounting & Finance

Most modules are taught by a combination of lectures and seminars and some have a number of workshops or sessions in computer laboratories. Most of your modules involve individual study using library resources.

Most modules have an end-of-year examination that contributes either 70% or 80% to the final module mark: your coursework provides the remaining marks. Both Stage 2 and 3 marks count towards your final degree class (together with your marks from your year in industry, if applicable).

Economics

All of our modules are taught by a combination of lectures and small group sessions, which include seminars, computing practicals, problem sets, debates and role-play games.

On this programme, you develop transferable skills, including numeracy, analytical problem solving, data analysis, and written and oral communication, as well as subject-specific skills for further study at postgraduate level.

The modules are assessed by continuous assessment of coursework throughout the year and an end-of-year exam in the final term. A number of modules at each stage are assessed solely through coursework.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

• Provide students with knowledge and skills relevant to the practice of accounting and finance within the economic, legal and social environment;
• Develop competence in applying the concepts, principles and regulations in the main areas of accountancy, finance and related disciplines to practical problems;
• Promote students’ ability to research and critically evaluate issues of contention and debate within the main areas of accountancy, finance and related disciplines;
• Cultivate the ability to organise and plan work both autonomously and as part of a team;
• Cultivate the ability to communicate both quantitative and qualitative information effectively;
• Provide teaching informed by research and scholarship;
• Meet the lifelong needs of a diversity of students;
• Support national and regional economic success;
• Produce graduates of value to the region and nationally, in possession of key knowledge and skills, with the capacity to learn;
• Prepare students for employment or further study;
• Provide learning opportunities that are enjoyable experiences, involve realistic workloads, based within a practice-based framework and offer appropriate support for students from a diverse range of backgrounds;
• Provide high quality teaching in supportive environments with appropriately qualified and trained staff; Meet the requirements for accreditation by ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA, CPA Australia and CIPFA on successful completion of the programme.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain a knowledge and understanding of:

• Some of the contexts in which accounting can be seen as operating
• The main current technical language and practices of accounting in the UK
• Some of the alternative technical languages and practices of accounting 
• Contemporary theories and empirical evidence concerning accounting and the ability to critically evaluate such theories and evidence 
• Theories and empirical evidence concerning financial management, risk and the operation of capital markets
• Theoretical knowledge integrated with business practice through a work placement or business start-up environment

Intellectual skills

You gain the following intellectual skills:

• The capacity for the critical evaluation of arguments and evidence 
• The ability to analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and, to a more limited extent, unstructured problems
• Numeracy skills, including the ability to manipulate financial and other numerical data and to appreciate statistical concepts at an appropriate level
• Apply intellectual skills in practice through a work placement or business start-up environment. 

Subject-specific skills

You gain the following subject-specific skills:

• Skills in recording and summarising transactions and other economic events
• Preparation of financial statements 
• Analysis of the operations of business
• Financial analysis and projections
• Apply subject-specific skills in practice through a work placement or business start-up environment.

Transferable skills

You gain the following transferable skills:

• The ability to locate, extract and analyse data from multiple sources, including the acknowledgement and referencing of sources 
• Capacities for independent and self-managed learning 
• Skills in the use of communications and information technology in acquiring, analysing and communicating information
• Communication skills including the ability to present quantitative and qualitative information, together with analysis, argument and commentary, in a form appropriate to the intended audience
• An ability to work in groups, and other interpersonal skills, utilising a variety of presentation skills
• Apply transferable skills in practice through a work placement or business start-up environment

Careers

Graduate destinations

Recent graduates have entered into accountancy training with the Government Economics Service or with firms such as:

• KPMG
• Ernst & Young
• PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Our graduates have also gone to work in:

• management consultancy
• business
• journalism.

Help finding a job

The Backpack to Briefcase scheme provides bespoke career and skills development events and activities for all Kent Business School students. Available from first year through to graduation, Backpack to Briefcase is designed to prepare you for a successful career after university.

The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:

• apply for jobs
• write a good CV
• perform well in interviews.

Career-enhancing skills

As part of your degree, you also develop a number transferable skills that are useful in any career. These include the ability to:

• think critically
• communicate your ideas and opinions
• manage your time effectively
• work independently or as part of a team.

You can gain additional skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.

Professional recognition

Provided you choose the appropriate modules, your degree can earn you full or partial exemption from the preliminary stage of professional accountancy examinations. .