Accounting with Placement Year N409

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Typical offers

Typical offers
A Level	AAB
BTEC	DDD
International Baccalaureate	36

Course details

Not sure what to study? We have a suite of accounting degrees (BSc Accounting, BA Accounting and Management and BA Accounting and Finance). This degree is a single honours accounting degree. If you would prefer to study more finance, please see BA Accounting and Finance. If you would prefer to study more management skills, please see BA Accounting and Management?

Accounting is the ideal choice if you have an analytical mind and like solving problems – contrary to popular opinion, you don’t have to be a maths expert to study accounting - communication in both written and verbal form is just as important as crunching numbers. Accountants are trusted business advisors and work in many areas of business. This single honours degree will immerse you in the study of accounting and business from day one. Offering maximum professional accreditation from some ICAEW, ACCA and CIMA examinations, on successful completion you can graduate as a partly exam-qualified accountant, with only work experience and a few final exams to complete to be fully-qualified (subject to optional module choices and to achieving specific grades in certain papers).

The degree has six subject pillars and one theme:

Financial accounting
Management accounting
Technology
Audit and assurance
Taxation
Research in accounting
Employability theme

The subject pillars build throughout the degree so that you can identify links between modules. The employability theme helps you to understand the connection between work done and employability skills gained.

Employability is woven into every aspect of the course, from modules developed in consultation with accounting bodies and leading employers to the placement year, which is a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand industry experience and start building a network of business contacts. If the placement route isn’t right for you, we also offer the option to complete the course in three years or take a year abroad.

The degree has been designed for maximum professional exemptions which means the first two years are made up of core modules. You will have an opportunity to study subjects connected to your specific interests during the final year. You will also complete an independent piece of research in an area related to your work experience or an area of special interest.

The BSc in Accounting combines academic excellence, insightful research and exceptional global business connections. On completion, you will be equipped with the skills to become an innovative business thinker in and beyond your career.

Course Structure

Year 1

Core modules:

Financial Accounting teaches the techniques of double entry accounting and its application in recording transactions, adjusting financial records and preparing non-complex financial statements.

Quantitative Methods 1 provides the fundamental quantitative techniques needed for your degree. Additionally, it provide a rigorous introduction to the foundation mathematical techniques needed for various modules throughout the degree program.

Fundamentals of Management Accounting teaches you to understand, apply and critically appraise the fundamental knowledge and techniques that underpin the area of management accounting, from planning and control to costing and decision making.

Ethics and Sustainability will introduce you to the social and ethical contexts in which business operate, using real-world examples. You will learn about the professional codes of ethics, learn to identify when an issue arises and develop the skills to propose alternative solutions. Additionally, you will gain understanding of the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and their implication in the wider business societies.

Introduction to Financial Economics introduces the basic principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics. Microeconomics explores areas including the role of consumers and businesses in the marketplace, markets in action, market structure, strategic rivalry and growth strategies. Macroeconomics includes exchange rates and the balance of payments, globalisation, fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment and economic growth.

Foundations of Finance introduces the key principles of corporate finance and their importance to firms. It also provides students with a solid grounding in issues of finance as they relate to business and financial markets.

Principles of Taxation enables you to understand the general objectives of tax and to complete basic calculations in relation to income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, corporation tax, and VAT. You will also be able to prepare basic tax computations and provide tax advice to individuals and companies.

Year 2

Core modules:

Financial Management explores the areas of financing, managing financial risk and investment decisions. You will learn how businesses operate and how accounting and finance functions support businesses in achieving their objectives.

Management Accounting covers the major techniques in modern management accountancy including decision making, appraising risk and budget control.

Taxation looks at areas such as income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, corporation tax, inheritance tax, VAT and stamp taxes in more depth.

Financial Reporting explores international accounting and reporting concepts and ethics, single company financial statements and consolidated financial statements. You will also learn about International Financial Reporting Standards and how it applies to specified scenarios.

Assurance develops your understanding of the critical aspects of managing an assurance engagement (including audit engagements). It covers the process from acceptance, planning and managing through to concluding and reporting.

Business Strategy and Technology provides you with an understanding of how an organisation develops and implements strategy, including any ethical implications.

You will also benefit from additional employment-focused activities in Year 2, such as:

Placement preparation training
Year 3 option choices taster sessions

Year 3

Year 3 is spent on placement. During the year you will be assigned an academic tutor who will visit you, liaise with your employer and provide the support to ensure you gain the most from your experience.

The placement year, which requires a minimum of 40 weeks of work experience, is an opportunity to put learning from the first two years into practice in the workplace. You will also gain valuable experience and a tailored skill set to take forward to your final year. The skills and professional network gained during the placement year will give you a head start with graduate employers.

Year 4

Core modules:

Research Methods in Accounting equips you with the knowledge and skills to undertake an independent research project. You will learn to distinguish between research philosophies, identify appropriate research methods, plan a research project and complete a literature review.

The Dissertation, on an accounting topic of your choice, develops your ability to plan and manage your own learning. It provides you with an opportunity to research the topic and present your findings and conclusions.

In recent years, optional modules have included:

Corporate Reporting
Tax Planning for Business
Corporate Governance
Audit and Assurance

Please note this is the current structure of the programme and is indicative of the modules that will be offered for the Academic Year 2025/26 and is subject to change.

Placement

You may be able to take a work placement. Find out more.

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Department information

Business School (School of Economics, Finance and Business)

The Departments of Accounting and Finance are two specialist departments within Durham University’s Business School; one of the UK's longest established business schools. We offer an inspiring and stimulating learning environment, and consistently rank highly for the quality of our teaching, research and for graduate career prospects.

Our reputation is down to the expertise of our staff. Their global experience, outstanding research insight, professional experience and real business connections keep us at the leading edge. We offer a wide selection of courses in both accounting and in finance, including specialist routes that are designed to provide maximum accreditation from professional accountancy qualifications.

Areas of study in accounting may include financial and management accounting, the legal, regulatory and social context within which accounting operates, the mechanisms by which individuals plan their tax affairs, the role of the accountant in achieving sustainable business practices and the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data on the world of accounting. You won’t just learn the technical side of accounting, but you’ll also have the opportunity to think critically about how accounting impacts on the global world of business.

If you are interested in finance your studies may include areas such as corporate finance, investments, financial institutions and the vast array of sophisticated financial products traded in today’s global financial markets.

Both our finance and our accounting courses offer a final year dissertation – an independent piece of research – which helps you build your research skills and allows those looking for further Masters study able to demonstrate their research skills.

For more information see our Business School website.

Rankings

11th for Accounting and Finance in The Complete University Guide 2024
3rd in The Guardian University Guide 2024
Top 100 in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2023

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see the Business School website.

Facilities

You’ll be taught across the University campus by world leading academics from the Business School. You’ll have access to the Business Schools modern, spacious meeting rooms and study areas. The University campus is within walking distance of the historic centre of Durham, a city with UNESCO World Heritage Status. Resources include up-to-date financial information and online databases. In addition, you’ll have access to Durham University’s prestigious libraries and archives.