BSc

Accounting and Finance

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The BSc Accounting and Finance degree at Aberystwyth University will prepare you for a career in professional accountancy or financial services, by focusing primarily on financial accounting and management accounting, with taxation, business law and business ethics dovetailed throughout the programme.

This course includes an integrated foundation year.

Course Overview

  • ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
  • The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
  • CIMA - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Why study Accounting and Finance at Aberystwyth?

Our teaching staff include researchers and industry practitioners, who will help you develop a broad understanding of the operational context, and the impact of financial measurement and disclosure on cash-flow, internal policy, and financial systems.

This will enhance your understanding of how financial data may be used to inform and influence managers, investors and decision makers; and how the presentation of financial information can impact the longevity (and profitability/sustainability) of a company or public sector organisation.

You will benefit from:

  • studying a degree accredited by the world’s leading accountancy bodies
  • being taught and mentored by professionally qualified and practising accountants with a wealth of industry and academic experience
  • introduction to legal issues relevant to the business environment
  • working with Refinitiv Workspace that provides access to company financial data and economic indicators as well as news and analytics to provide you with a richer, more interactive learning experience
  • professional exemptions from the main UK professional accounting bodies exams, which include:
  • ACCA
  • CIMA
  • ICAEW
  • CIPFA
  • CII
  • ICAS

Following the foundation year, the syllabus of this course is identical to Accounting and Finance, N400.

Our Staff

Students at the Aberystwyth Business School are taught by lecturers and other teaching staff who are active researchers and expert practitioners in their chosen subject area.

Over 75% of full time members of teaching staff are qualified to PhD level. Most are currently research active, meaning that students benefit from being taught ‘new’ knowledge in their chosen field of study as well as recognized literature. The School also employs part-time and full time staff devoted purely to teaching. Many part-time staff combine teaching duties with consultancy and business activities, ensuring that students have access not only to up to date research but the latest applied knowledge.

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Data Analytics AB15220 20
Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance AB11120 20
Fundamentals of Management and Business * AB15120 20
Understanding the Economy AB13120 20
Accounting and Finance for Specialists AB11220 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Accounting and Finance: Analysis and Application AB31420 20
Advanced Financial Accounting AB31120 20
Advanced Management Accounting AB31220 20
Investments and Financial Instruments AB31320 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Taxation AB31520 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Accountancy firms, investment banks and financial institutions offer a range of career opportunities to suit all interests including traditional auditing and assurance work, management consulting, corporate finance, IT consulting, tax planning and insolvency. We have established links with the major Accounting and Finance employers. As well as placing our students in traditional accounting firms including Deloitte, PwC, E&Y, KPMG, our recent graduates have secured employment with other well-known organisations such as Barclays, the BBC, Lidl and the NHS.

Graduate Destinations

  • Chartered Accountant
  • Chartered Certified Accountant
  • Chartered Management Accountant
  • Chartered Public Finance Accountant
  • Accountant Technician.

Some of our graduates have also explored other pathways:

  • Tax Advisor
  • Auditor
  • Investment Analyst
  • Financial Trader
  • Retail Banker
  • Economist
  • Actuary.  

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four-year degree scheme.

In your first year you will study:

  • Foundation modules which will develop your knowledge and prepare you for the next three years of your degree.

In your second year you will explore:

  • The three key areas of Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Financial Management
  • Quantitative techniques and the use of specialist statistical software.

In your third year you will study:

  • Investment analysis
  • Portfolio selection and risk management
  • The specific rules and practices of accounting in fields such as audit and taxation
  • Corporate governance
  • Financial and management accounting
  • Business Law.

In your final year you will study:

  • Trends in management accounting
  • Financial accounting and corporate finance
  • Options to focus on auditing, taxation or financial statement analysis.

How will I be taught?

Our course is taught through the medium of lectures, small-group seminars and tutorials. All our modules are available online after the lecture or seminar for you to watch in the comfort of your own room.

You will be assessed through:

  • Examinations
  • Assessed essays
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Presentations
  • Coursework.

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff

A Levels Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh, Mathematics (grade 4, new grading system in England)

BTEC National Diploma:
Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.

International Baccalaureate:
Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.

European Baccalaureate:
Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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