BA (Hons)
Accounting
Develop a professional competence in accountancy
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Accountants are at the centre of every organisation. The global demand for qualified accountants has never been higher, offering great opportunities for accounting graduates.
Designed to equip you with the comprehensive knowledge and understanding of accounting, this course trains you to meet the demands of today’s economic climate.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Use the University’s Bloomberg terminals to monitor and analyse real-time financial market data movements and trade
- Be paired up with a local practicing accountant to gain real-world advice and feedback on your studies
- Train as a Citizens Advice Bureau counsellor in order to specialise in offering debt advice
What opportunities might it lead to?
Our high-calibre graduates enter a wide range of interesting and rewarding careers with 75 per cent of them in employment six months after completing the course and a further 15 per cent continuing their studies. We maintain close links with the key professional accounting bodies including Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) to enable you to maximise on accreditation opportunities leading to exemption from some of the professional examinations required by these major accounting bodies.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- audit and assurance
- taxation
- forensic accounting
- management accounting
- financial analysis
- treasury
My course is challenging but at the same time it is something I enjoy studying, and with the facilities available in the Portsmouth Business School, I have all the support I need for my degree.
Max Doherty, BA (Hons) Accounting student 2013
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- N400
- Duration
- 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry
300 points from 3 A Levels or equivalent.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a* International full-time students: £10,500 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 8484 - Department
- Portsmouth Business School
Subject:
Accounting, Economics and Finance
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- How they apply theory to real-world issues by looking at current affairs
- The ability to gain relevant work experience in the local community as well as through a placement year
- The friendly and challenging environment that will enable you to gain the skills and knowledge employers need
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
This common first year across all our accountancy courses provides you with a broad understanding of key concepts and techniques. What you learn in the first year will form an essential base for your development in the following years.
Core units in this year include:
- Essentials of Financial Accounting
- Economics for Accounting
- Toolbox for Accounting Professionals
- Organisational Management Accounting
- Business Law for Accountants
- Quantitative Methods for Accountants
Year two
The second year has a slightly different approach. Alongside the core elements of your degree, you will have the chance to tailor your studies to your individual interests and your preferred career path.
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Taxation for Accounting Programmes
- Professional Adviser
- Personal Finance
- Financial Crime and Fraud Investigation
- Management Science
- Accounting packages and information systems
- Language
Year three*
After the optional placement year you will be well prepared to tackle your final year. You will also undertake a project or dissertation, which allows you to carry out an in-depth investigation on a subject of your choosing.
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Auditing
- Advanced Business Finance
- Integrated Management
- International Financial Management
*This course is also available as a 4-year sandwich (work placement)
Teaching and Assessment
We go to great lengths to ensure you will have an excellent learning experience with a high level of support. Teaching is usually undertaken in lectures supported by smaller group seminars, workshops, tutorials and practical sessions. Extensive use is also made of information technology and other teaching innovations.
How are you assessed?
You will encounter a balance of formal examinations and varied methods of coursework assessment throughout the course including:
- analysis of topical case studies
- written reports
- essays
- presentations
- self-led project or dissertation
Tutor's view
Margaret Yarr
Accounting
Our BA (Hons) Accounting is aimed at preparing you for a career in the accounting profession. We will provide the opportunity for you to achieve a one year’s paid placement in an accounting firm and the course is designed to enable you to maximise on professional accreditation opportunities to fast-track your chosen career path.
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Bloomberg Suite
You too can virtually access the same data, analytics and software used by city traders via one of our Bloomberg terminals
Volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau
Students giving advice
Placements Office
Our Placements Office is here to help you find your ideal work placement
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment
Bloomberg Suite
You can use this essential business research tool and gain real-life financial experience. Created by the Mayor of New York, Mike Bloomberg, the system is used by over a quarter of million finance professionals globally. You too can virtually access the same data, analytics and software used by city traders via one of our Bloomberg terminals.
Volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau
We are proud to be able to offer some students the opportunity to train as financial counsellors, and use their new skills to help others. Each year a small number of students train as Citizens Advice Bureau counsellors in order to specialise in offering debt advice to the population of Portsmouth.
Placements Office
Take advantage of our Faculty’s Placements Office. Advertising a great variety of work placements, the experienced team is always on hand to offer advice on everything from producing high-quality applications through to preparation for a company assessment day.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau as an advisor has given me a great insight into resolving debt and financial problems and really built my confidence in speaking with clients.
Rebecca Wilson, BA (Hons) Accounting student 2012
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
On completing the course, our graduates often choose to join an accounting firm or larger company to complete their accounting training, while others use their expertise within financial services or branch out into more general management roles. If you wish to widen your focus to industry and commerce in areas such as banking, insurance and investment, fund management,consultancy and law, this highly numerate and practical degree will put you ahead of the game.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- management accountant
- financial analyst
- internal auditor
- stockbroker
- account manager
Example of what one of our graduates has gone on to do:
- Lombard North Central, Risk Manager – assesses risks in banking choices
Work experience
Boost your degree with the opportunity to undertake a one-year placement working in a paid full-time role which offers a suitable level of responsibility and the prospect of progression. You will benefit from the contemporary business experience that employers demand, making you highly employable upon graduation.
You’ll also have the chance to volunteer locally as a Citizens Advice Bureau counsellor, dealing with clients face to face in real-life scenarios – a great way to give your CV the edge to impress future employers.
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more