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BSc Accounting and Finance

Start date
September 2025
Duration
3 years
UCAS code
N400
Course Type
Undergraduate, Single Honours
Fees

For 2025/26:
£9,535 (UK students)
£28,130 (International students) More detail.

On our BSc Accounting and Finance degree you will be taught using a variety of methods by leading researchers and academics who have worked professionally in the accounting and finance sector.

Why study this course?

  • You will study at one of the handful of business schools in the UK that holds the prestigious ‘triple-crown’ accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
  • Your employability options are vast and varied, our strong links with industry mean that rigorous undergraduate academic study is combined with a real practical focus, leading to excellent job opportunities.
  • The University of Birmingham is the first choice for leading graduate employers searching for graduate recruits (High Fliers Research 2024).
  • On successful completion of your degree, you may be eligible for exemptions from a number of professional examinations offered by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
  • The finance pathway of this programme is affiliated with CFA and IMC. This means the curriculum for this programme is closely tied to professional practice and prepares students well to sit the examinations of CFA and IMC. Scholarships from the CFA will be offered every year to selected students who take the CFA examinations during their programme.
  • You may apply for a placement year during your 2nd year and undertake a year-long placement during your third year. If you successfully secure a placement you will be moved on to the four-year BSc Accounting and Finance with Placement Year degree. 

Your programme of study

Your first year is designed to raise your knowledge and understanding so that you are operating at degree level. It doesn’t count towards your final degree classification but you must pass it to proceed. 

The second year of this programme allows you to take optional modules in the form of pathways, which most suit your interests and maximise your exemptions from those areas. Your second year contributes 25% of your final degree classification and your third year 75%.

You can apply for a placement year during your second year and undertake a year-long placement during your third year. If you successfully secure a placement you will be moved on to the four-year BSc Accounting & Finance with Placement Year degree. You can apply for any paid placement opportunity from multi-national, third sector, and SME employers in the UK and internationally. BBS Careers also source exclusive opportunities that are only available to BBS students. 

Experience a year abroad on this course

Polaroid photos of students on their year abroad

If you choose to study on this programme, you will be offered the exciting opportunity to study for an additional year at one of our highly regarded partner institutions across the world. This gives you the chance to continue to study a language you have already taken at GCSE or AS level, or even to start a new language. You may choose to study in countries where English is the spoken language, but some of our European partners also offer programmes in English.

If you take up this option, this international study will take place in your third year and you will then return to the UK for your fourth year to complete the final (3rd year) year of your programme. Find out more about the process

The number of places at each institution varies from year to year so you will need to be flexible about where you go, but remember there are many advantages of choosing to go to a country outside your comfort zone. A Year Abroad tutor within the Business School will provide you with support before and during your international study experience.

Study in Dubai

The Business School now offers the BSc Accounting and Finance degree at our campus in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). Our leading academic staff teach to the same standards as our UK based programmes and you will graduate with the same BSc degree from the University of Birmingham; a qualification that is internationally respected and recognised. Dubai is a rapidly developing, cosmopolitan city that offers an exciting experience and a world of opportunity to students. 

Study BSc Accounting and Finance in Dubai

Growing up, I never had an abundance of opportunities at my disposal. For the most part, I had a greater chance of excelling in either sports or music as opposed to having a professional career. I am now working at Barclays on the Treasury graduate scheme, where I am training towards the ACA – from which I have exemptions gained from studying Accounting and Finance.

Ryan Makuku, Alumnus

Modules

Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025.

First Year

Core modules

You must also take one of the following (depending on whether you have A Level Mathematics):

Second Year

Core modules

Optional modules

Take one of the following pathways dependent on prior qualifications:

Professional Accounting pathway

You can choose this pathway in order to maximise professional exemptions.

Finance pathway

The Finance pathway is only an option if you have A Level Mathematics or equivalent.

Future Leaders pathway

You must take the below modules plus one further module from the Professional Accounting pathway or the Finance Pathway.

Final Year

Core modules

If you are on the Future Leaders Pathway you must also take the Fundamentals of Leadership module.

Optional modules

You will also choose either 20 or 40 credits of optional modules dependent upon the pathway you've chosen. All modules below are worth 20 credits each.

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Fees for students starting in 2025-2026

UK students

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.

International students 

Full-time Band 2 £28,130

Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Scholarships

At Birmingham we ensure that fears about finance do not constrain prospective students from considering university and that excellence is rewarded.

The University offers a range of additional financial support for students studying at Birmingham in the form of bursaries, grants and scholarships.

Learn more about our scholarships and awards. 

How To Apply

Apply through the UCAS website using code N400.

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

View further information on How to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
AAA
Required subjects and grades:
GCSE Mathematics at grade 6/B
General Studies:
not accepted as one of three A2s, but a good performance may be taken into account if you fail to meet the conditions of the offer and have General Studies as a fourth A2.

Widening participation and contextual offer grades:
Mathematics at grade 5/B.

Find out more about our different types of offers

BTEC Extended Diploma 

Only the following subjects can be considered: Business 

BTEC Diploma 

The following BTEC subjects subjects are prohibited: Animal Management; Art and Design; Beauty Therapy; Blacksmithing  and Metalworking; Children’s Care, Learning and Development; Children’s Play Learning and Development; Dental Technology; Equine Management; Fish Management; Floristry; Forestry and Arboriculture; Horse Management; Horticulture. 

BTEC Subsidiary Diploma 

The following BTEC subjects subjects are prohibited: Animal Management; Art and Design; Beauty Therapy; Blacksmithing  and Metalworking; Children’s Care, Learning and Development; Children’s Play Learning and Development; Dental Technology; Equine Management; Fish Management; Floristry; Forestry and Arboriculture; Horse Management; Horticulture.

Additional qualifications accepted: AAT level 3 NVQ in Accounting/AAT level 3 Diploma in Accounting (QCF); CeFS (Certificate in Financial Studies); DipFS (Diploma in Financial Studies); EDI Level 3 Certificate in Accounting.
(Please note that these qualifications are not accepted in lieu of A Levels).

T-Levels

Only the following subjects can be considered: Management and Administration; Accounting; Finance 

Pathways to Birmingham 

Our typical Pathways to Birmingham offer is ABB with GCSE Mathematics at grade 6/B.  The typical contextual offer for this programme is AAB GCSE Mathematics at grade 6/B.

Learn more about entry requirements

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

International Baccalaureate Diploma: 6,6,6 at Higher Level with a minimum of 32 points overall.

Standard English language requirements apply.

Learn more about international entry requirements 

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

How you will learn

Throughout your time with us you will be taught by staff who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the accounting and finance sectors. Some have had successful financial careers prior to teaching at university; others have taught and researched in universities all their working lives. Many of our staff continue to gain first-hand experience of real world accounting and finance issues, researching for and advising top financial companies and government, so you benefit from their first-hand knowledge and acumen. 

Learn more about our staff

How you will be assessed

Your modules will be assessed using a combination of coursework, exams and tests, the mix of which will be dependent upon the modules you choose.

If you choose to take up a year abroad in your third year, it will be worth 120 credits, accounting for 12.5% of the final degree award. Assessment will be conducted by the host institution, and your marks will be translated and transferred to your programme.

Your personal tutor

From the moment you begin your studies, you’ll be allocated a personal tutor who is a member of the academic staff. He or she will take an interest in your general wellbeing and academic progress, meeting you on a regular basis either individually or in a small group throughout the year.

Contact hours

Depending on the modules you've chosen, you will have 22 hours of teaching per week which is usually carried out by the faculty with contributions from external industry experts on certain modules.

Professional qualification exemptions and accreditation

The BSc Accounting and Finance course offers several exam exemptions from professional Accounting and Finance qualifications:

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Depending on the modules you study over the course of the degree and the results you obtain, you could secure exemptions from the ACCA exams, completion of which is required to become a chartered qualified accountant.

Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
On successful completion of the Accounting and Finance course you may be eligible for exemptions from professional CIMA exams which need to be completed to gain chartered management accountant status.

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
In order to become a Chartered Accountant you need to complete some professional exams set by the ICAEW. On completion of the Accounting and Finance course depending on the modules you have studied and your performance you may qualify for exemptions.

CPA Australia
To become a CPA, you will also need to satisfy CPA Australia’s required knowledge areas and have successfully completed the CPA Program examinations and the practical experience requirement.

Professional Development Module

Our Professional Development Module is an option that offers a learning experience that will help bridge the gap between your studies and your future professional life.

Worth 20-credits in your final year, the module includes a work placement and is a great opportunity to learn in a professional setting related to your interests and your degree. You will have access to support from our dedicated Placements Team to help identify the best opportunity for you.

Our BSc Accounting and Finance graduates are highly sought after by diverse employers globally. They go on to become: accountants, auditors, tax specialists, financial analysts, fund managers, traders, brokers, and investment researchers working for employers such as Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, Lloyds Banking Group, Grant Thornton, Deutsche Bank, BDO, HSBC to name a few. 

Learn from industry professionals

Some of your classes will be led by representatives from the most prestigious professional service firms in the country, allowing you to develop your network and understanding of what they do. Many of the firms and some of the accountancy institutes sponsor prizes awarded for academic performance in each year group.

BBS Careers and Careers Network

As a Birmingham Business School student, you benefit from two award-winning Careers teams.  

Careers Network is the University of Birmingham careers and employability team offering: career fairs, employer events with top firms across the UK, start-up and entrepreneurial activities, and support. Internships and bursaries are also available exclusively to University of Birmingham students.   

BBS Careers is a dedicated service for Birmingham Business School students. The team provides guidance, support, and work experience opportunities, tailored to business school students, to help you succeed during and after university. We offer workshops, alumni & employer events, and 1-to-1 consultations. These will help you to develop your skills and learn how to submit high-quality internship, placement, and graduate applications.  

BBS Careers is one of a few, if not the only business school career service to offer life-long support.  

We are here to support you! Whether you are applying for a summer internship, a third-year sandwich placement, a graduate job, or applying for a management role five years after graduation. 

Visit the BBS Careers website for more details

 

Work Experience, including Placement Year

You will have the chance to gain work experience, including year placements, summer internships, voluntary work, work shadowing, insight programmes, and part-time work.   

All BSc Accounting & Finance students can apply for a placement year during their second year and undertake a year-long placement during their third year. If you successfully secure a placement you will be moved on to the four-year BSc Accounting & Finance with Placement Year degree.  

Students can apply for any paid placement opportunity from multi-national, third sector, and SME employers in the UK and internationally. BBS Careers also source exclusive opportunities that are only available to BBS students. 

Professional Development Module

The Professional Development Module (PDM) is an award-winning 20-credit module that is optional for students in their final year who don’t undertake a placement year. The module includes a minimum of 40 hours of work placement in the summer or during term time.   

The module aims to help you bridge the gap between your academic life at Birmingham and your future professional life after graduation. The module is flexible, so you can use it to extend your experience into a specific area of work that interests you.

Careers workshop

This event happens in the second year when professional service firms such as Deutsche Bank, Deloitte, and PwC visit campus. Representatives are available for students to talk to so you to get a better idea of what each company does, allowing you to build professional networks.

Exclusive to Birmingham - the Capgemini Challenge

Global consultancy firm Capgemini works exclusively with us to deliver a second-to-none consultancy training experience that you won’t find at any other UK university. Taking place over one week at Capgemini’s world-renowned facilities, this is an amazing opportunity to make a difference by engaging in projects for charitable organisations. 

Learn more about the Capgemini Challenge