Accounting and Finance with Foundation Year
NN3XAccountants are indispensable to every business; without them, a company would not know whether it was making a profit or a loss. But there’s so much more to modern accountancy than just balancing the books.
Accountants are seen as business advisers, providing strategic financial guidance to senior executives, and are often cornerstones of criminal investigations. The people behind the successful conviction of Chicago crime boss Al Capone were none other than accountants!
Course overview
Our hugely rewarding and highly useful Accounting and Finance course develops the technical knowledge and professional skills required for a modern finance professional in a complex, dynamic world in which technical roles are increasingly automated.
You are taught by academics with professional experience as accountants, who support your personal development and help kick-start rewarding and fulfilling careers in multiple fields.
Throughout the course, you develop a range of transferable abilities and professional practice skills highly valued by employers. These include critical evaluation, self-direction and problem-solving, as well as a sound grasp of analysis, presentations and negotiation techniques. Learning and teaching takes place in small class sizes to prepare you to work in management teams, and modules focus on applying theory to real business scenarios.
A Foundation Year is the perfect way to boost your academic skills, build your confidence and develop your wider subject knowledge so you can succeed at Winchester. This course offers an extra year of study at the start (Year 0) which leads onto a full degree programme (Years 1, 2 and 3).
A Foundation Year is ideal if you are returning to education after a break; haven’t quite achieved the entry qualifications required; are wanting more support during the transition to studying at university; or are unsure about which subject you wish to pursue.
In Year 0, you will study a set of modules from across the Faculty of Business, Law and Digital Technologies which are designed to develop your academic and practical skills. This broader focus in your first year introduces you to studying at university level and provides you with a better understanding of Accounting and related subjects.
You will experience a variety of teaching methods including lectures, discussion-based seminars and independent study. You will also receive support to boost your academic skills to prepare you for the rest of your time at Winchester.
What you need to know
Course start date
September
Location
Winchester campus
Course length
- 4 years full-time
- 5 years sandwich
Apply
NN3X
Typical offer
48 points
Fees
From £9,250 pa
Course features
- Develop a systematic understanding of current issues in accounting to meet the needs of a globalised profession in the 21st century
- Apply your advanced knowledge to real business scenarios
- Receive exemptions from selected professional examinations of the main accounting institutes depending on the choice of modules studied
- The BA (Hons) degree is Accredited by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Course details
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars, you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
Year 0 (Level 3): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
- Independent learning: 912 hours
Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 360 hours
- Independent learning: 840 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 276 hours
- Independent learning: 924 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 204 hours
- Independent learning: 996 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
Location
Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester.
Teaching hours
All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.
Assessment
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:
Year 0 (Level 3)*:
- 83% coursework
- 0% written exams
- 17% practical exams
Year 1 (Level 4)*:
- 8% coursework
- 92% written exams
- 0% practical exams
Year 2 (Level 5)*:
- 42% coursework
- 58% written exams
- 0% practical exams
Year 3 (Level 6)*:
- 38% coursework
- 62% written exams
- 0% practical exams
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Feedback
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
Further information
For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures.
Student satisfaction
As rated by final year undergraduate students in the 2017 National Student Survey, Accounting and Finance achieved greater than 90 % overall satisfaction.
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
This module is designed to support students with the transition to university, the development of the academic skills and attributes necessary for successful future study and the foundations of a developing sense of vocation. Through a carefully structured and scaffolded series of seminars and workshops, students will be supported in building their self-awareness of, and confidence in, themselves as active learners. Delivered in the context of their subject area and aligned with the development of academic skills and attributes required across all Foundation Year modules, workshops will focus on academic skills such as referencing, selecting and using valid academic resources, reading/researching for academic purposes, using feedback constructively and gaining confidence in contributing to discussions and debates. Coordinated assessment points across the Foundation Year experience enables this module to provide students with ongoing support and opportunities to practice and develop their skills and confidence with a range of written and oral assessment types relevant to their subject area as they progress through the year.
This module is designed to raise students’ knowledge and competence in commercial awareness and digital skills so that they will be able to cope with the necessary demands of the undergraduate business and computing degrees. Students will be trained in a range of business and digital skills, reflecting and discussing how the development of their IT skills can enable future success at university and in the workplace.
This module introduces students to business management as an academic discipline through exploring a range of approaches, theories and contemporary themes. Specifically, students will study a range of topics and begin to understand the ways in which strategy, people, markets, finance, and ethical issues are entwined with, and impact upon, responsible business.
Modules
This module aims to provide an introduction to the main technical language and practices of financial accounting and to the application of this knowledge to different forms of business organisation. With a focus on using the IASB’s Conceptual Framework and accounting for transactions and events from first principles, students will develop their conceptual understanding of accounting, their knowledge of the main accounting terminology and their awareness of the nature and purpose of financial reporting.
Management accounting is a specialised service function primarily involving the collection, storage and recording of financial data, its conversion to useful information and the effective communication of this information. This information assists management in a complex and dynamic business environment to make optimal business decisions.
This module aims to provide students with a holistic view of how an entity’s performance can be affected by both its own internal operating environment and the external environment. Students will study various aspects of management theory, external environment mapping and uses of technology by finance professionals. In a complex, dynamic business environment, finance professionals must focus on their flexibility, resilience and relationship-building skills in order to develop their own career and add value to their clients or employers. Professional skills are a key part of the modern business environment; this module will enable students to explore professional skills frameworks and think critically about their own skills development.
This module is an assessment module which requires students to demonstrate some of the programme level learning outcomes at level 4 and some of the module level learning outcomes at level 4 in the context of an integrated assessment.
This module aims to introduce the core concepts and key topics areas of business finance and financial environment. It will enable students to develop knowledge and understanding of how the financial markets operate, evaluate alternative sources of finance available to a business, analyse the cost of different sources of finance used by a company and the weighted average cost of capital. Students will also learn how to apply the cost of capital in the investment appraisal process and evaluate the investment projects using the main investment appraisal methods.
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This module aims to develop knowledge and skills in understanding and applying IFRS in the preparation of financial statements. This module acts as an introduction to corporate financial reporting and relies on and develops technical knowledge and academic skills acquired at level 4.
In a rapidly changing work environment, adaptability is seen as a key skill for career success and longevity.
This module seeks to promote the core skills that will enable students to secure a fulfilling, enjoyable and challenging graduate career. Students will develop a keen awareness of their individual knowledge, skills and experience acquired throughout their Degree programme and will learn how to effectively communicate these attributes to demonstrate employability and advance them in their chosen career path.
The practice of reflection will underpin the module to support students’ identification of their knowledge, skills and experiences and highlight areas for meaningful development.
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The module aims to develop students’ knowledge of investment appraisal techniques, valuation techniques and dividend policy. Students will learn how financial markets operate and how to evaluate the alternative sources of finance available to a business. The module builds on students’ knowledge of finance and financial management from Level 4, as well as preparing students to study more advanced aspects of financial risk management and investing at Level 6.
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- Data Analysis - 15 credits
- Financial Modelling - 15 credits
- Be Your Own Boss - 15 credits
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- Advanced Financial Reporting - 15 credits
- Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Finance - 15 credits
- Business and Corporate Taxation - 15 credits
- Strategic Leadership and Governance - 15 credits
- Volunteering - 15 credits
- Digital Finance - 15 credits
Entry requirements
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A-Levels: EEE from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations
- BTEC/CTEC: PPP from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 1 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on their website which may be of interest.
- IELTS Academic at 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by contacting our International Recruitment Team via our International Apply Pages.
2024 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International |
|
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 2 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 3 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 4 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Total | £37,000 | £66,800 |
| Optional Sandwich Year* | £1,850 | £3,340 |
| Total with Sandwich Year | £38,850 | £70,140 |
Additional tuition fee information
If you are a UK student starting your degree in September 2024, the first year will cost you £9,250**. Based on this fee level, the indicative fees for a four-year degree would be £37,000 for UK students.
Remember, you don't have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year. If finance is a worry for you, we are here to help. Take a look at the range of support we have on offer. This is a great investment you are making in your future, so make sure you know what is on offer to support you.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £77.08 and a 15 credit module is £1,156. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £6,935.
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.
* Please note that not all courses offer an optional sandwich year. To find out whether this course offers a sandwich year, please contact the programme leader for further information.
Additional costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights optional costs for this course:
Mandatory
Volunteering and Placements:
Students will incur travel costs on a mandatory volunteering placement in their Foundation Year (Year 0). Indicative cost: £5 - £30 per day
Optional
Core Text:
It is recommended that students purchase the latest editions of all of the core textbooks. Many of these texts relate to extensive online material for which you require an access code supplied with the textbook. It is possible for students to purchase second-hand copies where applicable. Indicative cost is £50 - £200 per year.
Volunteering and Placements:
Students may incur travel costs on optional volunteering placements in the second or third year of study. Indicative cost is £5 - £30 per day.
Printing and Binding:
The University is pleased to offer our students a printing allowance of £5 each academic year. This will print around 125 A4 (black and white) pages. If students wish to print more, printer credit can be topped up by the student. The University and Student Union are champions of sustainability and we ask all our students to consider the environmental impact before printing.
Smart Clothing:
Students may be expected to dress formally for oral assessments. Costs will vary depending on the students existing wardrobe. Indicative cost is £0 - £50.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Careers
Many of our Accounting graduates take up trainee accounting positions with accounting firms or departments and go on to become professionally qualified accountants. Others choose to enter a wide range of business careers such as banking, insurance, financial services and general management. Recent employers of accounting graduates include Deloitte, RSM, Ordnance Survey, Larking Gowen, Aztec Group and PKF Francis Clark.
The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment and further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021, HESA.
Accreditation
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) all offer graduates of this programme exemptions from some professional examinations.
Pre-approved for a Masters
If you study a Bachelor Honours Degree with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.
OUR CAREERS SERVICE
