Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The Accounting, Finance and Management degree programme  aims to produce high quality graduates with the knowledge, skills and understanding for an effective and valued career in the accounting and financial management  professions or more general management situations.

Within this general aim the programme specifically seeks to encourage students

• To develop knowledge, concepts and skills in the major academic disciplines of business and management  as a sound basis for practice, study and training in the graduate's chosen profession.
• To develop a deep understanding in the areas of accounting and financial management  by pursuing them over an extended period and in considerable depth.
• To develop the concepts, analytical approaches, evaluative thinking and numeracy skills necessary for management problem solving, including through individual experience on placement.
• To develop a positive attitude to change, a desire for excellence, a visionary and positive approach to future developments and an openness to new ideas. 

Consequently the programme seeks

• To provide a relevant, practical and constantly updated programme through close links with industry, professional firms and accounting bodies, through vocational experience in a professional placement and through accreditation by the major professional accounting bodies.
• To provide students with the opportunity to see ways in which theory can be applied in practice, both through taught content and through individual experience on professional placement.
• To allow students to examine critically and in depth the evolving nature and role of accounting and financial management theory and practice.
• To provide a range of optional subjects in accounting, financial management and other management disciplines to complement the core of the programme and to allow students to explore and develop their own interests and strengths.
• To develop teaching and learning in response to advances in scholarship and the needs of the business community.
• To enhance the employability of our graduates.

The School of Business and Economics at 含羞草视频 is distinctive amongst 'traditional' university business schools in incorporating a third year spent on professional placement. This is an integral element of the programme and something which we believe is of particular benefit in achieving these aims.  It offers students on our Accounting and Financial Management degree additional and valuable opportunities to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills. 

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• Accounting Subject Benchmark Statement
• General Business and Management Benchmark Statement (B+M)
• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• Requirements of the professional accounting bodies

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the areas shown below. These intended learning outcomes are set in the context of the QAA subject benchmark statement for Accounting and those relating directly to this benchmark are marked (A) below.

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Foundational disciplines of management, including economics, business mathematics and statistics;
• Domestic and international business organisations in their technological, economic, fiscal, legal and political contexts;
• The behaviour of people in national and international organisations;
• The processes of management and decision making;
• Accounting and financial management in its major contexts, including the legal and social environments, the business entity and capital markets (A) and the integral nature of the accounting function in the successful management of national and global organisations;
• Current technical language, developments, methods, practices and issues in accounting and financial management;
• Selected alternative techniques and practices in domestic and international accounting and financial management (A);
• Methods of recording and summarising global and domestic economic events and preparation of financial statements (A);
• Analytical tools for the effective financial management of  business operations (A);
• Contemporary theories of accounting and financial management and their related research evidence (A);
• The development, management and exploitation of information systems and their impact on organisations;
• A range of contemporary issues in management.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

•     Analyse, model and solve structured and unstructured problems (A);
•     Evaluate and assess alternatives in complex scenarios;
•     Gather relevant data and evidence from various sources, integrate them appropriately and reference sources adequately (A);
•     Critically evaluate arguments and evidence (A);

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

•  Record and summarise transactions and other economic events (A);
•  Prepare financial statements (A);
•  Use appropriate analytical tools for accounting and financial management tasks (A);

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

 i)       Organise themselves personally and independently to be a valued contributor through time management, self-direction, self-motivation, tenacity and proactiveness (B&M);

ii)        Learn (A) and work independently;

iii)       Work well in a team, using appropriate skills, including leadership, team building and project management (B&M);

iv)       Interpret numerical information, reason numerically and apply appropriate mathematical and statistical techniques (B&M);

 v)       Use communication and information technology appropriately in acquiring, analysing and communicating information (A);

vi)       Communicate quantitative and qualitative information, analysis, argument and conclusions using a variety of styles, in effective ways (A);

vii)      Make oral and written presentations appropriate to the audience (A).

4. Programme structure

4.1 Part A - Introductory Modules

Students will be required to select one or other of BSA080/085 in Semester 1 and again to select one or other of BSA110/115 in Semester 2 based on their level of maths education at entry.

4.2       Part B - Degree Modules

4.3       Part I

Candidates pursue one of the following streams:

i)       Placement Stream

Candidates will undertake an appropriate business placement.

ii)      Study Abroad Stream

Candidates will study at one of the School of Business and Economics approved academic institutions.

iii)       Split Stream

         Candidates will undertake an appropriate business placement for half the year and will study at one of the School of Business and Economics approved academic institutions for the other half of the academic year.

(iv)    Language Related Placement

         Candidates will undertake a year abroad in employment, for example as an English language assistant in a school or other educational establishment,  approved by the School of Business and Economics.

4.4       Part C - Degree Modules

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B and from Part B to C and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also: 

- To progress from Part B to the period of professional training or study at an approved institution abroad, candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits in Part B as well as achieving at least 30% in all modules taken in Part B.

Provision will be made in accordance with regulation XX for candidates who have the right of re-assessment in Part A or Part B of the programme to undergo re-assessment in the University’s special assessment period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates’ final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C, in accordance with the scheme set out in regulation XX.  The average percentage marks for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 25: Part C 75, to determine the final overall percentage mark for the Programme (the Programme Mark).