Undergraduate BSc (Hons)
Accounting and Finance
with a Foundation Year
Learn and develop the skills that drive all businesses worldwide.
Learn and develop the skills that drive all businesses worldwide.
If you’re a problem solver who loves numbers, this Accounting and Finance BSc is the course for you.
The course is accredited by four professional accounting bodies, allowing you to gain exemptions from their exams and kick-start your career if you want to become a chartered accountant, or gain an edge if you see yourself working in the fields of finance.
You'll develop the data handling skills that employers are looking for by working on real-time business data in our state of the art facilities. You’ll learn from our expert academics and industry professionals through lectures, seminars, and practical sessions.
The foundation year is for students whose school-leaving qualifications are below the level required. It offers one year of full-time study prior to the start of your BSc course.
Hear from our successful alumni, Melina, who after graduating in 2022 is now completing her ACA training at Deloitte.
Study at a ‘Triple Crown’ business school accredited by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS.
Find out how Samuel's placement year at BMW helped him to secure a graduate role at BDO, an international accountancy firm.
of Accounting and Finance students are in work and/or study within 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21)
ASPIRE at Kent Business School is your chance to transform your entrepreneurial spirit into actions and success.
Our typical offer levels are listed below and include indicative contextual offers. If you hold alternative qualifications just get in touch and we'll be glad to discuss these with you.
DDD
MMP
80 Tariff points from your IB Diploma, Typically H5, H4, H4 or equivalent
Mathematics grade 4 / C and English grade 4 / C
Pass the University of Kent International Foundation Programme.
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
Access to HE Diploma in (subject being taken) with a minimum of 45 Credits at level 3 with 9 credits at Distinction and 12 credits at Merit
The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.
The Foundation Year aims to extend access to university education to students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds and age groups and prepares these students for our three or four-year degrees.
After successful completion of the foundation year, you can transfer on to the three or four-year Accounting and Finance courses. Please refer to the BSc Accounting and Finance, BSc Accounting and Finance with a Year Abroad or BSc Accounting and Finance with a Year in Industry programme for more information about specific modules.
How do businesses operate today? What are their key functions and how are they organised? Most importantly, what do managers need to know in order to make sound decisions?
You’ll develop a broad understanding of essential business management and accounting models, exploring theories that are integral to how businesses work. By looking at fundamental business strategies and different tools of analysis – like break-even calculations, ratio analysis, capital appraisal models, and decision trees – you’ll develop your understanding of the basics of business and start building up your skills in Excel.
Throughout the course, students actively engage in discussions and practical applications, preparing them to confront complex global economic challenges armed with a data-driven approach. By the end of the course, students emerge equipped with the necessary skills to analyse economic data effectively and contribute meaningfully to informed decision-making in the global economic landscape.
What knowledge and skills you need to succeed in a globalised economy? You'll learn about the key drivers of the global economy, the global sustainability, social, cultural, economic, international trade, investment and political environments, and how to identify and mitigate the risks associated with operating in unpredictable environment.
You'll gain important insights into the social, political, economic and technological issues related to business that are essential to pursuing a career in multinational corporations and understanding the world around you. Your understanding of the global business world will help you develop analytical skills to turn data into valuable information for business decisions and position yourself for success in international business.
Given the constant changes in business environments, how can financial accounting help managers create budgets, improve efficiency and develop short- and long-term strategies to stay competitive?
You'll study the core principles, concepts and policies in financial accounting and examine the necessary adjustments that underpin the preparation of final financial statements of sole traders, partnerships and limited liability companies.
You'll also gain practical experience with key accounting tools used by industry to prepare, analyse, and interpret financial statements, preparing you for the rest of your degree.
With the increasing complexity of financial securities and investment strategies in the financial market, quantitative skills are essential for people working in the Big Four accounting firms, global banks and hedge funds.
You’ll develop a broad understanding of basic mathematical and statistical concepts, from probability distributions to basic calculus, and develop analytical skills that are vital for accountants and financial professionals.
You’ll gain quantitative skills and practical skills in Excel to help you progress in your studies.
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.
Practitioners in accounting and finance fields currently face many challenges around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) decisions. Ethical conduct is essential to maintaining the integrity of financial information, promoting investors' confidence and upholding the standards of the profession.
Your professional ethics will determine how you behave when doing your job and help you act responsibility. You will examine codes of conduct issued by several professional organisations (ACCA, ICAEW, CFA, etc) and explore various factors influencing professional judgement in accounting and finance decisions.
You will also develop the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate ethical dilemmas and make sound ethical decisions in your professional career.
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.
Business Economics explores the constantly evolving economic world within which actuaries work, providing context and developing economic insights that can inform real-world business decisions.
You'll be equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to understand the workings of competitive markets, and the interaction of consumers and suppliers, using a variety of models and examples to investigate decision-making in the economy. The practical roles of money, capital and labour, and the involvement of government in influencing the big-picture of the economy, will be tied to the interests of business, with a strong foundation of economic theory underpinning real-world examples and illustrations. Theories are challenged, economic conventions are interrogated, and different viewpoints are considered to ensure a practical and relevant understanding of economic issues.
The module is designed to satisfy the standards of subject CB2 of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries examinations for exemption purposes.
Almost all listed companies in the European Union and the United Kingdom have to prepare financial statements that comply with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). With a thorough understanding of how financial statements are prepared under IFRSs, managers of mid-sized companies will have the skills needed to identify trends and potential threats, and actively track their financial performance in real-time.
In this module you’ll develop the knowledge and skills to understand and apply IFRSs. You’ll also learn the theoretical framework for preparing and analysing financial statements. Learning how to apply IFRSs will give you the necessary skills to become a successful accounting and finance professional.
How do financial markets work? Who are the major players? How do central banks’ monetary policies affect financial markets?
You’ll develop a broad understanding of the financial system and how the market works within it. You’ll also examine the roles of financial intermediaries and various financial instruments, and explore how these are connected with the wider economy.
By the end of this module, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to be able to analyse current developments in financial markets and the wider economy, a crucial skill for a successful career in finance.
Strategic management helps guide the smallest start-ups through turbulent markets, empowering them to navigate complexities and innovate. It can also steer the largest corporations towards sustainable success by optimising resources, envisioning the future, and charting a course towards growth and sustainable global impact.
This module is designed to give you an overview of strategic analysis, strategic decision-making and strategic processes within and between organisations. It explores approaches to strategic management as well as concepts, frameworks and issues in strategic management.
By taking a case study-focused approach, this module fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It will help you to contribute meaningfully in your future career, as employers seek individuals capable of strategic thinking.
Management accountants are the strategic business partners who can help companies thrive and succeed. How do they do so, and with what tools?
In this module, you’ll use management accounting tools and techniques to help managers assess companies’ performance and evaluate long-term investments.
You’ll develop analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills which will allow you to analyse economic results. This will help you identify growth opportunities and advise managers on how to drive sustainable business performance.
Corporate finance is concerned with the way companies can efficiently manage financial resources. Managers are concerned about provision of resources (capital funding decisions) and allocation of scarce resources (investment decisions). What factors do they consider when deciding how to fund their operations and where to invest?
In this module, you’ll examine the underlying financial economic theories and concepts that help managers to run sustainable businesses. You’ll develop analytical and problem-solving skills to advise managers on investment opportunities, capital structure decisions, dividend policies, and merger and acquisitions activities.
What are the legal responsibilities of businesses and individuals towards customers, suppliers, the environment, the workforce, and the public? This module covers key aspects of contract, negligence, company, and employment law. It looks at the formation, control, and performance of legally compliant contracts, organisational structures, employee treatment, and duty of care.
You’ll learn to apply legal knowledge to business-related client disputes. In the process you’ll enhance your problem-solving skills and boost your confidence in analysing and debating legal issues. By applying the law to real-world business scenarios, you’ll deepen your understanding of relevant business law and gain insight into making and supporting responsible business decisions.
Many large companies operate as groups and are required to prepare consolidated financial statements. In this module, you’ll develop a critical understanding of the principles and practices that underpin the preparation and interpretation of these reports, and learn how to apply international financial reporting standards.
When preparing these reports, you’ll also make ethical assessments of managers’ stewardship and examine the information needs of various stakeholders. This module will help you deepen your financial accounting knowledge and help you develop your technical and analytical skills which you can use to address complex accounting standards and current issues in financial reporting.
In an ever-changing financial world offering a wide variety of investment opportunities, investors and portfolio managers face the challenging task of identifying securities and allocating assets optimally to earn risk-adjusted returns. This module addresses these issues by covering various contemporary asset pricing and security valuation models, as well as modern portfolio construction techniques.
You’ll build on your knowledge of market and industry analysis and use real-world securities market data to construct optimal portfolios. You’ll also use a range of methods to evaluate their performance.
This module will present you with the opportunity to explore current issues in financial markets including responsible, ethical, and sustainable investing. It will prepare you for a variety of roles in the investment industry such as financial analysis, investment advice, and portfolio management.
More businesses are incorporating sustainability as a core corporate strategy. Sustainability issues are becoming increasingly important to customers and investors. Navigate through ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) regulation and industry initiatives which are designed to improve transparency and accountability, encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and protect investors from greenwashing. You will gain analytical skills that will help you integrate sustainability into financial decisions taken by both corporate managers and professional investors.
For centuries taxation has been an important fact of national life. Without tax it would be impossible to pay for the country's defence services, its health, welfare and social services, it schools and universitites and its transport systems. In addition , taxaion is a means for government to influence our everyday activites. In this module you will be introduced to how the taxation system operates in the UK, providing a core knowledge of the underlying principles and major technical areas of taxation as they impact the activities of individuals and businesses. Through case studies, practical examples and discussions, you will gain a core understanding of the various UK taxes. We will explore the areas of tax compliance, reporiting obligations and develop effective tax planning strategies. In this module, you will gain a deeper appreciation of how taxation impacts on every area of our personal and business lives.
Gain the knowledge and skills required for meeting the strategic needs of businesses in the digital age. You will develop competences in the application of management accounting techniques to complex organisational problems, learn how to analyse data, solve problems related to cost, pricing, variances and performance management and convey your solutions in a succinct and impressionable manner for the purpose of planning, controlling, evaluation and decision-making.
Apply your learning, experience, skills and curiosity to varied contemporary accounting and finance issues. Under the guidance of academics, alumni and businesses, you'll be given the autonomy to select, investigate, report on and defend a contemporary accounting and finance problem or topic leading to the development of a business case or dissertation.
Auditing of companies' financial accounts help increase transparency as it assures stakeholders and potential investors that companies' accounts are reliable, unbiased, and faithful representations of companies' financial performance. You'll gain a thorough understanding of a range of auditing topics together with an appreciation of the regulatory and social environment within which auditing process takes place. Through real-life case studies, you will gain technical knowledge and critical thinking skills that will help you undertake efficient auditing processes and provide assurances to all interested stakeholders.
Our enthusiastic team of international teaching staff are all experts in their field of study and are regularly published in leading journals worldwide. They guide and support your learning, bringing their subject to life and drawing you into the conversation through lectures, seminars, presentations and computer-based simulations.
Your progress is assessed through a mix of coursework – including reports, essays and presentations - and exams. Undergraduate students can expect around 8 contact hours per week, depending on year of study and optional module choices made. The remainder of the working week consists of self-guided study.
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 course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
Our Accounting and Finance graduates move into a range of careers within the world of business. Many go on to become chartered, certified or management accountants working at top accounting firms, including the ‘Big 4’, as well as other local, national and international firms.
Recent graduates have taken up positions with a wide range of companies, including:
*The Government announced on 4 November 2024 that tuition fees in England for Home students will increase to £9,535 from £9,250 for the academic year 2025/26. This increase requires Parliamentary approval, which is expected to be given in early/mid 2025.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Students will require regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. Please see information about the minimum computer requirements for study.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
If you are from the UK or Ireland, you must apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not from the UK or Ireland, you can apply through UCAS or directly on our website if you have never used UCAS and you do not intend to use UCAS in the future.
We welcome applications from students all around the world with a wide range of international qualifications.
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