Accountancy and Financial Management Top-up BA (Hons)

Overview

This 2 year top-up degree course allows you to build on your previous higher education studies to gain a full BA (Hons) degree in Accountancy and Financial Management. You must have 120 first year higher education credits in accountancy to apply for this course.

This degree focuses on modern accountancy skills. You'll learn to understand, visualise and present financial data to inform and persuade businesses to make the right financial decisions. You'll work in small groups that replicate the workplace, with a focus on teamwork, real world case studies and developing strategy from financial data.

You'll be able to tailor your learning to your area of specialist interest, choosing your modules to focus on:

• professional modules: take the fastest route to becoming an ACCA chartered accountant
• finance modules: your best preparation route for working in banking or investment management
• analytics modules: combine accounting with data analysis, including data cleaning, visualisation and modelling

The course is accredited by 2 key accounting bodies (ACCA and CIMA), so whichever route you take you'll have exemptions from professional exams.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). This means that in addition to achieving a degree, you receive exemptions from ACCA, and CIMA professional examinations. This course offers the maximum number of exemptions for ACCA and CIMA (dependent on the modules you choose to take).

Why is this important?

To progress your career as an accountant you'll need to do further study after graduation whilst you're working. Combining study and work can be difficult, so it's good to complete some units whilst you're still at university. This also benefits your future employers, as they'll have less professional examination fees to pay.

Entry requirements​

Ideal skills and qualities for this course

As well as meeting the entry requirements for this degree and being comfortable working with numbers, we're looking for people who are team players and who embrace a challenge.

Having a curious mind is important, because employers value graduates who can adapt to new situations and find solutions to complex problems.

Facilities and clinics

Careers and opportunities

Accountants are needed in good times and bad and they're needed in every type of business. This means that you can apply your skills in any sector you're passionate about, from sports and entertainment, to manufacturing, charities, or the arts. You'll also be able to work in other parts of the world as your accredited qualification is recognised internationally.

Our graduates go on to work in accounting practice, the finance departments of large corporations, and the finance sector.

If you decide at the end of your studies that you don't want to qualify as an accountant there are many other options open to you. The data analysis skills and problem-solving skills you'll develop on this course will open many other doors.

You could also choose to continue your studies at postgraduate level, or set up your own business with help and support from the University.

Work placement year

You can boost your employability by taking an optional paid placement year between years 1 and 2 of your degree.

Previous accountancy and finance students have had placements in organisations such as:

• Deloitte
• PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
• NBC Universal
• Siemens
• Decathlon
• Metropolitan Police Service

Many of our students are offered graduate jobs by their placement employers.

The average salary for a 12-month paid placement is £19,000. It could be more or less than this amount depending on your placement. You'll only pay a very small percentage of your tuition fee for this year.

You could also set up your own business, or take a voluntary placement.

Ways to enrich your study

What you'll study on this BA (Hons) Accountancy and Financial Management Top-up degree

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Teaching​

Portsmouth Business School is ranked 3rd in the UK for teaching power.

Our teaching has been developed to maximise skills that employers are looking for. In our classes you'll engage in activities that both enhance your learning and develop your communication, presentation and team working skills. Where appropriate, you'll use computer packages that are valued within the accounting and finance professions.

We've listened to our students and they've told us that they want to keep some of the positive changes we've made to teaching and learning, so we're keeping a blended and connected model which will include some online learning. Around 20% of your timetabled teaching will be online.

The majority of your timetabled teaching will be face-to-face and will include:

• seminars
• practical workshops
• computer workshops
• group work
• 1-to-1 tutorials
• guest speakers from the profession and industry

We pride ourselves on the academic support we offer our students. In addition to our dedicated teaching team, you'll have a personal tutor, student engagement officers and study support staff to help you throughout your studies.

Assessment

We use a diverse range of assessments and we focus on the types of work you'll be expected to complete in the workplace.

As with all accounting courses, accreditation requirements mean that you will be assessed by a number of exams, but your assessment will depend on which modules you take.

Assessment methods are likely to include:

• analysis of topical case studies
• written reports
• presentations
• self-led project or dissertation
• group work
• portfolio creation
• essays
• exams

What happens if I can't get to Portsmouth?

We strongly encourage you to join us in Portsmouth as soon as possible, but on this course we will provide blended teaching with online learning if you cannot join us on campus due to travel restrictions.

For the most up-to-date information please see our international student Coronavirus information page

Teaching Staff Profiles

These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course.

How you'll spend your time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We're planning for most of your learning to be supported by timetabled face-to-face teaching with some elements of online provision. Please be aware, the balance between face-to-face teaching and online provision may change depending on Government restrictions. You'll also do lots of independent study with support from staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle. Find out more about how our teaching has transformed to best support your learning.

A typical week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for this degree.

Your total study time will depend on the modules that you take, but in your first year this is what your week may look like:

• timetabled teaching activities (lectures, seminars, tutorials, classes and workshops) = about 15 hours a week
• independent study (research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group) = about 20 hours a week

You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

Supporting your learning

​Course costs and funding

Tuition fees (2022 start)

• UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU – £9,250 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
• International students – £16,200 per year (subject to annual increase)

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Tuition fees terms and conditions

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Apply

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.