Accounting and Finance and Economics
Develop the specialised skills and knowledge to drive your career as an accountant and economist.
Develop the specialised skills and knowledge to drive your career as an accountant and economist.
Think you've found the right course? We still have spots available through Clearing. Apply now to secure your space and join our dynamic and welcoming community at Kent this September.
Apply nowIf you’re a logical and numerical thinker with a curiosity to explore connections between society and the business world, then this is the course for you.
By combining Accounting and Finance with Economics, you will boost your career prospects and gain a unique perspective on decision-making in the financial sector. This is your opportunity to gain the skills you need to make a difference in the world around you.
Accountants and those in financial services are essential in any business. You will learn the detail-oriented world of accountancy and finance, and how people and groups make decisions in the context of a broader economic climate. Through theoretical and practical experience, you will learn key finance and accounting principles and acquire the skills to construct and use economic models.
Access wide-ranging support through our careers and employability service, student support and wellbeing, and health services.
Our expert teaching staff appear in the top 2% of researchers worldwide.
Immerse yourself in our joint honours programme.
On successful completion of the course you’ll meet the requirements for accreditation by ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA, CPA Australia, and CIPFA.
At Kent, you’re more than your grades. We look at each student’s circumstances as a whole before deciding whether to make an offer to study here. We also take this flexible approach when we receive your exam results.
Check our Clearing vacancy list or call us now +44 (0)1227 768896 to find out if we have a course that’s right for you. See our Clearing website for more details on how Clearing works at Kent.
This module listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
Your first year is a compulsory introductory year, designed to provide you with a strong foundational understanding of key concepts and ideas in accounting and finance, and economics. You’ll study core areas like managerial and financial accounting while building up your numerical, statistical, and Excel skills to prepare you for the rest of your degree.
The business environment is constantly changing because of technological improvements, stakeholder expectations, high competition and other pressures. Given these constant changes, how can financial accounting help managers create budgets, improve efficiency and develop short-term and long-term strategies to stay competitive? Study the core principles, concepts and policies, and the necessary adjustments that underpin the preparation of final financial statements of sole traders, partnerships and limited liability companies.
The module provides an understanding of the role of management accounting in the current global scenario and develops key skills in relation to cost accumulation and determination for decision-making. Areas that will be covered are:
Identify what is management accounting and how it differs from financial accounting. Appreciate who are the users of management accounting information and how management accountants can suit their information needs for the creation of customer and shareholder value in a complex and rapidly changing international context.
Understand the different typologies of costs that can be used for decision-making purposes and how cost behaviour has a significant impact on management accounting reports. Appreciate why different costs must be used for different decisions.
Analyse the relationship between the cost structure of a business and the level of production needed to achieve the desired level of profit for the said business. Apply this knowledge to the preparation of the optimal production plan for single and multi-product businesses. Appreciate the impact of any changes in the original assumptions on the forecasted profit for a business.
Calculate the cost of products/services considering all costs involved. Allocate costs to products under different internationally recognised costing systems and understand how the choice of a costing system is linked to the activity performed by a business. Understand the differences between different methodologies of cost calculation and their impact of on decision-making.
Core areas of the syllabus are:
• Management accounting and management accountants in an international context
• Cost terms and purposes
• Cost-volume-profit analysis
• Costing systems
Excel is a highly demanded skill by employers, in both starting your career and making rapid progress throughout it. You'll master the fundamentals of this powerful tool and also be introduced to some more advanced technologies that will give you an even greater edge in the workplace. Learn to think creatively through the application of analytics and Excel techniques to real world business problems.
The module provides students with a thorough understanding of economics at an introductory level and provides the basis for all subsequent study that is taken on economics degree programmes. It is designed to teach students how to think as an economist and how to construct and use economic models. It also shows them how to be critical of economic models and how empirical evidence can be used in economic analysis.
The module explores how people make choices about what and how to produce and consume. It looks at the differences in economic outcomes between firms, people and countries and how they can be related to the effects of choices they, and others, make. It builds on the very simple and plausible assumption that people make decisions in their own interests and subject to constraints.
The first term covers the principles of microeconomics and shows how they can be applied to real-life situations and economic policy. The second term develops a framework for understanding macroeconomic events and macroeconomic policy. The emphasis throughout both terms is to demonstrate the usefulness of economics as an analytical tool for thinking about real world problems.
The module introduces students to a basic understanding of mathematics necessary for intermediate and advanced level modules (levels 5 and 6) taken in Stages 2 and 3. The module is designed for students who have A-Level mathematics or an equivalent qualification, or who meet the minimum entry standard. The module (or its equivalent for students without A-level mathematics) is compulsory for all Single and Joint Honours degree programmes in economics.
The module considers the following topics: linear equations, quadratic equations, multivariable functions; matrix algebra; differentiation; techniques of optimisation; constrained optimisation; non-linear functions and integration. These topics cover the important uses of mathematics in economics (and business) and are developed within a clear, contextual framework derived from first principles. Each topic is applied to a range of economic phenomena and problems and linked explicitly to the core Stage 1 economics module - ECON3040 Principles of Economics. Notably, the analytical and quantitative skills developed in the module are transferable across many different occupations.
This module introduces students to the basic concepts of probability and statistics, with applications to a variety of topics illustrated with real data. The techniques that are discussed can be used in their own right to solve simple problems, but also serve as an important foundation for later, more advanced, modules. Importantly, the module serves as a prerequisite for Stage 2 econometric modules ECON5800 and ECON5810.
The module commences with an overview of descriptive statistics. It then considers the key ideas in probability theory before moving on to statistical inference - the science of drawing conclusions from data. The main topics covered in the module include:
• Graphical and numerical analyses of data
• The principles of probability
• Probability Density Functions
• Sampling and its use in inference
• Regression and correlation
Your second year allows you to enhance your understanding of financial systems and core areas of accounting while expanding your learning in key areas of micro and macroeconomics. You’ll explore the worlds of international financial reporting and taxation and gain an understanding of financial markets to set you up for success for the rest of your degree.
Management accounts act as a constant for businesses in a dynamic and rapidly changing environment, making them crucial for success and valuable to organisations. You'll apply management accounting tools and techniques to assist managers in making profit planning decisions, controlling company performance, and evaluating long-term investments to grow. Through developing skills in how to become a business partner, analytical problem-solving and decision-making skills you’ll be ready to analyse economic results, identify growth opportunities and advise managers on how to drive sustainable performance across their organisation.
Nearly all listed companies in the European Union and the United Kingdom have to prepare consolidated financial statements that comply with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards). You'll develop knowledge and skills in understanding and applying IFRS and the theoretical framework in the preparation of financial statements of entities, including groups and how to analyse major elements of those financial statements. You'll also be able to identify trends and potential obstacles to financial reporting while being able to track financial performance in real time. These skills are what managers are looking for from finance professionals, giving you an edge in a competitive career market.
How does the financial market work? Who are the players in the financial market? How does the central bank's monetary policy affect the financial market? You'll understand the financial system and the market within the system, the roles of financial intermediaries and various financial instruments, as well as the inter-relationships within the wider economy. You'll be equipped with knowledge and skills that are ready to be deployed to analyse the current development in the financial market and the wider economy, ideally placing you for a career within finance.
Why do we need taxes and why does the subject of taxation always seem to spark debate? Governments use taxes to generate revenue to fund public services and infrastructure, as well as influencing our lifestyle choices. Learning about personal taxation is important for understanding legal obligations, making informed financial decisions and advancing professional opportunities. You'll learn to evaluate financial risks while complying with regulatory requirements and enhance your career prospects in accounting and finance.
Develop the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to stand out in a competitive labour market. The focus is on understanding the graduate labour market and securing work experience through placements, internships and the University's award-winning Employability Points scheme. You'll learn how to compete and stand out when applying for graduate opportunities. You'll practice all stages of the recruitment process, from the application to psychometric tests, virtual job interviews, assessment centres and more. Secure the jobs of today and tomorrow.
This module builds on the Stage 1 teaching of microeconomics to provide an intermediate course, which takes full account of the policy issues and controversies in the application and understanding of microeconomic issues. It introduces the fundamental theoretical foundations of microeconomics and provides examples of their application.
The module provides an analysis of the way in which the market system functions as a mechanism for coordinating the independent choices of individual economic agents. It addresses the behaviour and decision making of consumers and firms, and evaluates the efficiency and equity implications of competition and other market structures. The role of government in incentivising types of economic behaviour and addressing market failure is also explored.
This module builds on the Stage 1 teaching of macroeconomics to provide an intermediate course, which takes full account of the policy issues and controversies in the world macroeconomy.
Autumn Term considers the basic methodology of macroeconomic models and examines how macroeconomic theories of aggregate demand and aggregate supply are derived. It is important to be aware that there are many theories of aggregate demand and supply and that consideration of these theories involves studying the markets on which they are based. The Autumn Term develops and extends use of the IS-LM model to derive a theory of aggregate demand in both open and closed economies. It also scrutinises the labour market to derive a theory of aggregate supply and study the relationship between inflation and unemployment.
Spring term starts with studying the long-run, that is, what determines the standard of living of countries in the long term, as opposed to short-run economic fluctuations. It then considers microeconomic fundamentals of macroeconomics to understand in-depth the determinants of consumption, investment, and labour supply decisions. These considerations and the ideas developed in the autumn term are then used to extensively examine macroeconomic demand management policies (fiscal and monetary) and their shortcomings. Finally, we consider the role of the financial system in the macroeconomy and the causes behind some financial crises. Particular focus is given to the 2008/09 global financial crisis.
Your final year allows you to develop your specialist knowledge with the flexibility to choose modules to shape your course to your interests. Choose to do modules with an accounting and finance focus and look more closely at topics like taxation, auditing, financial and management accounting or choose to do options with more of an economic focus and look at topics including econometrics, financial economics, and economic trends (e.g. financial crises). You’ll also have the opportunity to pick modules from our wider portfolio of business-related topics. This allows you to develop your competencies in areas that matter to you and tailor your degree to suit your career goals.
Finance is at the centre of everyone's decisions. In a world of tricky economic conditions and volatile financial markets, how can companies and investors apply the main principles of finance when undertaking investment and funding decisions?
You'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate various financial decisions, such as raising capital in financial markets or from financial institutions, investing in real assets or financial assets, and selling and trading securities.
You'll become proficient in using the Bloomberg terminal to gain a better understanding of financial market operations and you'll learn how companies and investors use this information and the main principles of finance to take funding and investment decisions to deliver profits and sustainable growth.
Delivered in collaboration with employers, industry professionals and alumni of Kent Business School, you'll master the selection processes used by graduate recruiters and develop the ability to manage your career throughout your working life. Reach your potential and develop lifelong career management skills.
This module will cover the following topics:
• The historical development of auditing
• The nature, importance, objectives and underlying theory of auditing
• The philosophy, concepts and basic postulates of auditing
• The regulatory and socio-economic environment within which auditing process takes place
• Auditing implications of agency theories of the firm
• Auditing implications of the efficient markets hypothesis
• The statutory and contractual bases of auditing, including auditing regulation and auditors' legal duties and liabilities
• Truth and fairness in financial reporting
• Materiality and audit judgement
• Audit independence
• The nature and causes of the audit expectation gap
• Auditors' professional ethics and standards
• Audit quality control, planning, programming, performance, supervision and review
• The nature and types of audit evidence
• Principles of internal control
• Systems based auditing and the nature and relationship of compliance and substantive testing
• The audit risk model and statistical sampling
• Audit procedures for major classes of assets, liabilities, income and expenditure
• Audit reporting.
Advanced Management accounts offer a unique set of skills for managing costs and improving profitability of businesses. You'll learn to hone your analytical abilities, attention to detail, sustainability and problem-solving and how to apply these skills to the sustainable growth of a business. The knowledge and skills you gain will set you up to thrive in a professional analytical or strategically focused business landscape.
How do business leaders make decisions? Using advice from great financial accountants, which you'll become when you study with Kent Business School. You’ll master techniques for preparing complex financial statements to international requirements. You’ll go beyond the numbers to enable you to make sound, ethical business decisions and advise senior leaders – so you are ready to take a giant leap towards launching your accounting career.
This module is a one-term placement opportunity that allows you to teach aspects of your degree subject in a local school. Launched to coincide with Kent's 50th anniversary in 2015, it highlights the longstanding excellence of human and social science research and teaching at the University, and the important role the institution has in contributing to the local community.
If selected for this module you will spend approximately 6 hours in a Kent secondary school in the Spring term (this session excludes time to travel to and from the School, and preparation and debrief time with the teacher). Generally, you will begin by observing lessons taught by your designated teacher and possibly other teachers. Later you will act somewhat in the role of a teaching assistant by working with individual pupils or with a small group. You may take 'hotspots': brief sessions with the whole class where you explain a topic or talk about aspects of university life. Finally, you will progress to the role of "teacher" and will be expected to lead an entire lesson. Throughout the module you will be given guidance and support by a local convenor based in your academic school as well as the overall module convenor.
You will be required to keep a log of your activities and experiences at each session. You will also create resources to aid in the delivery of your subject area within the curriculum. Finally, you will devise a special final taught lesson in consultation with the teacher and with your local module convener. You must then implement and reflect on the lesson.
In a world where financial landscapes are marked by escalating risk exposure, Risk Management delves into the principles of effective oversight and value generation, with a specific emphasis on financial risk dynamics.
You'll rigorously examine advancements in risk governance, regulatory frameworks and industry risk management practices, focusing on in-depth evaluations of financial risk. As you develop your understanding of financial risk types through real world examples, you'll emerge with specialised insights into managing financial risks in professional, financial and business contexts.
We empower students to explain complex risk management concepts, think critically in uncertain situations, and approach risk-related problems systematically. Prepared with this expertise, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the financial risk management challenges in the global business arena.
"The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward." Johan Maynard Keynes was clear on what he thought of taxes, but why do we need them and why does the subject always seem to spark debate?
Governments use taxes to generate revenue to fund public services and infrastructure, as well as influencing our lifestyle choices. Learning about the operation and scope of the UK business tax system is important for understanding legal obligations, making informed financial decisions and providing the base to make strategic commercial decisions. You'll learn how to evaluate financial risks while complying with regulatory requirements and enhancing your career prospects in accounting and finance.
Fixed income assets constitute one of the largest markets globally. They provide fixed income regularly, so investors know what they will get and when they will get it. A fixed income trader will aim to generate profits for their clients or the firm they work for by using trading strategies in the fixed-income market. They monitor the market and financial data to make informed investment decisions, based on the financial objective and risk tolerance of clients. You'll gain an understanding of the intricacies of this market, the different levels and techniques that will help you value those assets. Learn how to use all the tools to provide client driven decisions and profit.
In the rapidly evolving world of finance, Excel is the industry standard software for data processing and modelling. You'll engage with the most commonly used financial approaches of the field as you learn to implement finance techniques using Excel functions and methods. Using realistic problems and extensive exercises, you’ll learn how to adjust your decision-making to satisfy client expectations. These practical skills in putting Excel to use as a strategic tool for financial analysis and management will enhance your professional toolkit for the demands of the finance industry.
Derivatives have become the ultimate tools of financial engineering. Used to hedge the risk of price fluctuations of various assets, study of the derivative is fascinating and continuously expanding. The better an investor understands them, the better protection they provide. You'll learn the basic principles on which derivatives products operate and how their payoffs are derived from the price of a particular underlying asset such as stocks, bonds, currencies and interest rates. You'll master the concepts of forwards, futures and options contracts and use your creative minds to understand how more exotic derivatives have been created by combining them. In the end, you'll acquire valuable risk management and decisional skills that will enable you to select the appropriate derivatives strategy in order to get access to a target financial market, how to transfer risk from one market to another and how to minimise various financial risks.
Development Economics is a sub-field of economics that focuses on the unique problems of poor countries. In the course we will use economic analysis to understand the structure of poor economies and the behaviour of individuals within them. The goal is to better understand why the world looks the way that it does so that one can make more informed opinions and decisions about policies meant to improve global welfare. The topics considered in the module will include:
• The development gap in the world economy and the measurement of poverty
• Characteristics of underdevelopment and structural change
• Models of the growth and development process
• The role of agriculture and surplus labour in the development process
• Industrialisation
• Dualism and vicious circles of poverty
• Trade and Development
This module introduces students to applied econometrics using a general-purpose statistical software package (e.g., Stata or R), which is suitable for those intending to undertake postgraduate training in economics and/or becoming professional economists.
The module assumes a basic knowledge of statistics and quantitative methods and is designed for students who have followed Stage 1 modules in mathematics and statistics and who have taken relevant Stage 2 modules in econometrics.
What distinguishes this module is the adoption of the modern learning-by-doing approach to teaching econometrics, which emphasises the application of econometrics to real world problems. The focus is on understanding the theoretical aspects that are critical in applied work and the ability to correctly interpret empirical results.
This module presents a systematic and operational approach to the econometric modelling of economic time series, which gives an understanding of the techniques in practical, appropriate, analytical and rigorous manner. Econometric analysis is a core skill in modern economics.
The module gives an introduction to univariate time series analysis, dynamic econometric modelling and multiple time series, linking theory to empirical studies of the macroeconomy.
All topics are illustrated with a range of theoretical and applied exercises, which will be discussed in seminars and computer classes. As such, the module emphasises the development of practical skills in the use of software for empirical research, and introduces you to the research methods used by macroeconomists in academia, government departments, think tanks and financial institutions. It also helps you to prepare for the quantitative requirements of a master programme in economics.
The module provides an introduction to game theory and its use by economists as a professional tool for understanding and analysing economic decision making under uncertainty. The module introduces students to topical and important research areas of microeconomic analysis, and develops their skills in setting up and solving games that arise in business and economics.
The module introduces students to the field of Industrial Economics and studies why and how firms and industries behave and interact with each other. Understanding firms' behaviour is relevant not only to the firms but also to the governments that design industrial policies in order to favour consumers without decreasing firms' efficiency.
The module is designed for students who have taken intermediate microeconomics and addresses issues that are present in everyday news: anti-competitive practices, the effect of market power on consumer welfare, incentives for product innovation, and the private and public effects of mergers.
The module introduces students to the theoretical underpinnings that constitute international finance and the nature and extent of monetary and financial relations between countries.
The module introduces basic concepts of international macroeconomics such as the balance of payments and exchange rates, and arbitrage conditions. It then proceeds to analyse the impact of opening up the economy on the alternative macroeconomic policies available. The main factors that determine exchange rates between currencies, and the power of different models are also considered. Finally, the module explores 'hot topics' in international finance including the benefits and drawbacks of fixed and floating exchange rates, the concept of a speculative attack, current account imbalances from an inter-temporal perspective, and how world macroeconomic imbalances drove the 2008/09 international financial crisis and recent sovereign debt crisis in Europe.
The module has both a theoretical and an applied emphasis in order to apply available theories into the real problems of the world economy. It does not analyse the detailed workings of international financial markets or questions related to firm financial management in international capital markets but students interested in these aspects can acquire basic foundations that are fundamental in understanding the context in which firms and governments work.
The topics covered in the module include:
• Open economy macroeconomics and policy.
• Exchange rates determination theory and empirics.
• Microfounded models of the current account.
• International financial flows.
• International indebtedness.
• International financial crises
• International monetary arrangements.
This module provides students with an in-depth understanding of current issues and theoretical debates in international trade, together with their policy implications. It also provides the knowledge and skills necessary for interpreting related studies of countries at different levels of development.
International trade is a key issue on the world agenda and has considerable effects on countries' economies. The effects occur at the micro level of firms and households as well as at the macro level, where they are the subjects of government policy debates. International Trade takes advantage of the tools of economic analysis, which are common to other areas in economics, to study the issues raised by the economic interaction between sovereign states.
This module introduces students to monetary and macroeconomic issues from a theoretical perspective. The following topics are considered:
• Structural macro and monetary modelling
• Reduced form macro and monetary modelling
• Short-run analysis of the aggregate economy
• Long-run analysis of the aggregate economy
• Policy interventions.
The module focuses on the role of the government in the economy. It uses the tools of microeconomics and empirical analysis to study the impact of government policies on individual behaviour and the distribution of resources in the economy. The module explores the economic arguments for and against government intervention in the economy, also introducing insights from behavioural economics into the analysis and design of public policies.
This module provides an overview of the main instruments in financial markets, the motivation for trade in these assets and the pricing of these assets. Specifically, we show how the economics of uncertainty motivates trade in a wide range of financial assets. This helps us determine how the risk and maturity of different assets affects the demand for those assets.
First, the module introduces the key principles of asset pricing: discounting, diversification, arbitrage and hedging. Second, the module introduces and motivates the use of debt, equity and derivative instruments in financial markets. Third, the module applies the key principles of asset pricing to help understand the behaviour of prices across these asset classes. While different classes of assets expose their holders to different types of risks, the key principles of asset pricing are common to all asset classes. This concept is formalised by the Fundamental Theorem of Asset Pricing.
While focusing on financial applications, the module does speak more widely to methodological challenges encountered when testing economic theories against data. These challenges are particularly relevant in financial economics. While the literature has developed a range of innovative techniques to more effectively test competing theories against the data, the answers to a number of key questions remain contested.
The module develops skills in asset pricing and an understanding of the theoretical basis of the theory behind it. The module requires knowledge of some mathematical techniques but stresses practical training in asset pricing with a focus on the intuitions and heuristics behind theorems and formulae, rather than their rigorous derivations and semantic definitions
There are three key topics; (i) investors' optimisation, (ii) discrete time models and (iii) option Greeks and option strategies. For (i), the module first introduces the basic financial economics, and, based on it, we establish the basis of the risk-neutral probability. For (ii), the module discusses how to construct the tree model based on the historical price data, and shows that the model can be used to find the fair prices of a wide range of financial derivatives. For (iii), the module investigates the Black-Scholes-Merton (BSM) formula, and then how to use it to find the optimal hedge ratio for delta hedging. In this respect, the module also discusses how to use the return correlations to find the optimal hedge ratio.
This module covers a variety of growth issues from both empirical and theoretical views. The first part of the course deals with basic concepts of economic growth, including how to measure growth and the core theories of economic growth. The second part deals with productivity; how to measure productivity and analyse different sources of productivity growth. The third part deals with economic fundamentals, including the relationship between government policies, income inequality, and growth.
The aim of the module is to teach the basic principles of economic growth in order to answer such questions as:
• what are the determinants of growth?
• how can we improve productivity?
• what kind of role does the government play on growth?
• why are there differences in the level of income among countries?
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).
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.
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.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.
Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
For programme aims and learning outcomes please see the programme specification.
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