Accounting and Finance: University of Birmingham

Accounting and finance are woven into the fabric of their everyday lives and form an essential ingredient in any effective modern organisation. This popular programme gives students a critical insight into familiar, though often poorly understood, concepts such as profit and loss, cost and value for money
These terms are the ways in which business and public policy decisions are often explained and justified. Being trained to provide and advise on the use of such concepts, and how they relate to the real world, forms the substance of this programme.
First year
This year provides a basic knowledge of the general business context in which accounting and finance take place, ranging widely over topics such as accounting, finance, economics, law, management, quantitative methods and information technology.
A feature of the programme in the first year is their Professional Skills course. This aims to develop good information retrieval skills, incisive writing ability and confident oral presentation skills through projects that focus on the role of accounting and finance information in the business world. The programme also includes a compulsory three-day teambuilding session at the University’s outdoor pursuits centre in the Lake District.
Second year
Work in this year builds on the basic accounting and finance knowledge gained in the first year. It also explores auditing, taxation and accounting information systems, and completes your essential business studies with courses in Personnel Management, Marketing, and Business Law.
Third year
Your compulsory Accounting and Finance courses bring your technical competence to a high level and also reach into the areas of policy-making and management. Alongside these courses are options including Marketing, International Corporate Governance, Strategic Management, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Studies, Risk Management and Insurance, and Financial Statement Analysis. You also write an extended essay on a topic of your choice.
Career opportunities
As well as giving exemption from several examinations of professional accountancy bodies (for example, ICAEW, ACCA and CIMA), your degree equips you to pursue a career as an accountant in business, professional practice or the public sector. Their graduates also work successfully in finance institutions and many prefer to follow a career in general business management. Strong links with the major accountancy and financial services firms have helped their students in shaping their future careers.
Entry requirements

• Number of A levels required: 3
• Typical offer: AAB–ABB
• Required subjects and grades: GCSE Mathematics at grade A if not offered at AS or A2 level; GCSE English at grade B if not offered at AS or A2 level. Some combinations of A level subjects are not acceptable for their entry requirements. For a current list please see their website http://www.business.bham.ac.uk (applicants should check this website regularly to keep up to date with developments)
• 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
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 33–36 points

Other qualifications are considered – see the entry requirements section for full details.
For general information about open days:

• Phone: +44 (0)121 414 3374
• Website: http://www.undergraduate.bham.ac.uk/visitsopendays/

Contact details

• Admissions Tutor: Mr Marek Schroeder
• Telephone enquiries: +44 (0)121 414 2929
• Email:

Admissions

• Email:
• Tel: +44 (0)121 415 8900
• Website: www.marketing.bham.ac.uk/admissions_recruitment

Student Recruitment

• Email:
• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3374
• Website: www.marketing.bham.ac.uk/recruitment

International Relations

• Email:
• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 2894
• Website: www.international.bham.ac.uk