Accounting and Finance Degree 2013
Our Accounting and Finance degree is designed to provide a thorough knowledge of the financial services sector. There is global demand for accountancy and financial management skills. On this degree programme you will gain a broader knowledge of business processes through the Surrey Business School. Therefore, those qualifying in this specialism can compete for roles across a wide range of businesses, not only accountancy firms and commercial banks.
Degree programme
Entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements
- A-level grades AAB
We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers.
Conditional offers from Surrey will be made in grades or marks, and not listed in points from the UCAS tariff.
Required subjects
GCSE English Language at grade C or above and GCSE Mathematics at grade B or above (or equivalent).
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
Other suitable qualifications
Cambridge Pre-U
M1, M1, M1
European Baccalaureate
75%
International Baccalaureate
35 points
BTEC (QCF Level 3) Extended Diploma
DDD
In addition, we accept a wide range of qualifications, including other Level 3 QCF Level 3 qualifications, Scottish qualifications, the Irish Leaving Certificate, Access Diplomas and foundation courses. Other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.
It is important to check whether the qualifications you are taking are suitable for your chosen degree. If you are uncertain whether your qualification meets our entry requirements, please contact us.
If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year.
Selection process
Offers are usually made in terms of grades. We invite suitable candidates to visit the University to find out more about the programme and meet staff and students.
Tuition fees
UK/EU students
Tuition fees are currently set at £9,000 per year for UK/EU undergraduates starting in 2012.
The tuition charge will be accompanied by a generous financial support package, underlining our continued commitment to widening access for those students who come from low income households.
Overseas students
The fee for students classed as overseas for fees purposes is £14,440.
The University will assess your fee status. If you are unsure whether you are likely to be considered a home, EU or overseas student for fees purposes, the UKCISA website offers more information.
Professional Training Year Fees
Programmes marked with an asterisk (*) in the table above include a professional training year.
Currently fees of £1,050 (based on an inflation assumption of 2.5%) are charged for the Professional Training Year. Fees will not have to be paid up front for those students who decide to take up the Government’s loan for higher education fees. The Professional Training year is a key factor in the high employability rates achieved by students with Surrey degrees.
Our Degree
Accountancy and financial management are central to business, financial and public service sectors. We work closely with the professional accountancy bodies to provide you with the opportunity to work towards different Chartered Accounting qualifications.
On this programme you will study each of the key elements of accounting and finance in detail, as well as undertaking subjects that increase your depth of understanding of management within organisations.
We will provide you with an insight into the various facets of business operations and introduce you to the way businesses operate within a global political, legal and social environment. Throughout the programme you will explore the challenges of managing people, processes, customers and finances within business. As your studies progress you will learn how businesses pursue their strategic direction.
Employers’ demand for qualified accountants continues to grow. You will have the opportunity to prepare yourself for any Chartered Accounting qualification during or after this degree programme. The modules in the programme are carefully designed to match the requirements of the professional bodies.
We have excellent links with industry and outstanding opportunities to enhance your employability on our renowned Professional Training placement scheme. The experience obtained from a suitable professional placement may contribute in part towards the three years of practical experience required by most professional accountancy bodies.
We are one of only 14 business schools in the UK to hold accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
Programme content
Programme overview
The programme consists of compulsory and optional modules that you study to earn credits towards your final degree.
In year 1 all modules are compulsory and your study is focused on learning the fundamental elements of financial and management accounting, providing a valuable platform of knowledge. This year will also build your knowledge in economics and provide you with fundamental training in business mathematics.
In year 2 you will explore more advanced modules such as Taxation and Intermediate Economics. All modules at this level are also compulsory. At the end of this level, you may consider registering with a professional accountancy body to attempt some of their professional exams.
In year 3, the combination of optional and compulsory modules allows you to explore areas such as Financial Risk Management and Firms and Markets. Business Strategy allows you to understand how modern businesses make strategic management decisions. During year 3, you will have the opportunity to choose up to three modules from a carefully selected list that includes exciting modules such as Entrepreneurship and Business Planning.
Programme structure
Year 1 (FHEQ Level 4)
Compulsory modules:
- Business Communication Skills
- Operations Management
- Business Mathematics
- Financial Accounting 1
- Business Information Skills
- Law and Ethics
- Business Economics
- Management Accounting 1
Year 2 (FHEQ Level 5)
Compulsory modules:
- Accounting Information Systems
- Intermediate Economics
- Business Finance
- Financial Accounting 2
- Business Delivery Skills
- Introduction to Taxation
- Corporate Finance
- Management Accounting 2
Professional Training year
- Optional Professional Training placement year
Year 3 (FHEQ Level 6)
Compulsory modules include:
- Business Strategy
- Financial Management
- Company Financial Reporting
- Financial Risk Management
- Auditing
- Three optional modules
Optional modules in year 3 include:
- Firms and Markets
- Entrepreneurship and Business Planning
- E-Business
- Ethics, Responsibility and Citizenship
- Management Accounting 3
- Real Estate Finance and Investment
- International Trade
- Project Management
- Advanced Taxation
- Topics in Finance
Professional training
The optional Professional Training placement year allows you to consolidate the management education you have acquired and provides a platform on which you can build when you return to your studies. It gives a valuable opportunity to put your management learning into practice in real organisations in the UK, with some placements available overseas.
Surrey Business School has many years’ experience of helping students secure one-year paid placements appropriate to their degree programme or career direction, and has partnerships with a range of excellent companies. Placements are offered across all sectors of the accounting and finance industry, including banks, consultancies and accountancy firms. Companies such as KPMG, PRG Schultz, the Bank of England, Alpha Bank London, JP Morgan, Deloitte & Touche and Ernst & Young UK participate in the scheme.
Elements of your Professional Training programme may also contribute in part towards the three years’ practical experience required by most of the professional accountancy bodies. You will be encouraged to document your activities so that you can start to build your record of relevant experience.
Career opportunities
Graduate prospects
Graduates have gone on to enter employment at companies such as Apple and Intercontinental Hotels. Current final-year students have received job offers from their placements at KPMG, Ernest Jones, UBS and Deloitte.Career opportunities
The Accounting and Finance degree was introduced for 2007 in response to industry demand. The first cohort graduated in 2010, with those undertaking a Professional Training placement year graduating in 2011.
Surrey Business School has a proven track record of graduate employment and this programme has been especially designed to help ensure excellent employment opportunities in all sectors, including businesses of all sizes, banks, consultancies and accountancy firms.
Upon graduation, if you choose to follow a professional qualification alongside your degree studies, you may have a head start towards being a fully qualified Chartered Accountant and ultimately may be eligible to apply for full membership of a reputable accountancy professional body.
Additional information
Teaching
Each 15-credit module is designed to involve 150 hours of student work. This time will be spent in lectures, computer labs and tutorials, and includes private study on your own or in small study groups. You will also write essays and assignments drawing on your understanding of a particular area.
Our staff members are innovative in delivering engaging learning sessions that bring together theory and practice for your intellectual and professional development.
Why Surrey?
Accounting and Finance degree 2013 at Surrey
- The Surrey Business School has an excellent, well-established worldwide reputation
- Prepares you for membership of any professional accountancy and finance bodies
- Professional placements with leading UK or overseas companies and the big four professional accounting firms
- Student exchange opportunities in various global locations
- Outstanding employment prospects
- International and professionally qualified staff with strong industry links
- The use of integrated technology to enhance your learning
- An international and multicultural environment in which to learn
- A strong entrepreneurial culture is encouraged throughout the programme
Surrey’s strong global presence and partnerships with universities around the world were also big factors for me as I wanted to study abroad...
Dexter Lo
BSc Accounting and Finance
Making decisions about your future is never easy, and choosing which university to attend is no different. I knew Surrey was the right choice for me after attending an Open Day, where I got the feeling there was a really good campus community and atmosphere.
I was also attracted to Surrey because it has the best employment rate compared with any other university in the country, and its degree programmes offer the chance to undertake a Professional Training placement year. This meant I was able to spend the penultimate year of my degree on placement at Microsoft Consulting Services as an operations programme manager.
Surrey’s strong global presence and partnerships with universities around the world were also big factors for me as I wanted to study abroad, which I did by going on student exchange at La Trobe University in Australia. This was an amazing experience.
Surrey’s Accounting and Finance programme is an excellent way to prepare yourself for any chartered professional accounting qualification, and is also a great way to find out if it is the right career choice for you. The academic staff come from an array of backgrounds and are able to share their industry knowledge, experience and groundbreaking research with you.
There is a great learning environment at Surrey, with modern facilities and real encouragement to learn. There is also a heavy emphasis on e-learning, and with my interest in technology, I think this is a great way to prepare you for your working life beyond Surrey.
I have no regrets on choosing the University of Surrey. It is an excellent university with a great social experience.
The modules on my programme include group work, individual reports, class tests, presentations and examinations, ensuring students are able to convey their knowledge in various ways.
Yusuf Ahmet
BSc Accounting and Finance
The Surrey Business School is a world-renowned place of study with approximately 1,000 internationally diverse students. This provides the opportunity to engage with people from various backgrounds and cultures, which is imperative when building on networking skills and is one of the factors in why I decided to come to Surrey.
The modules on my programme include group work, individual reports, class tests, presentations and examinations, ensuring students are able to convey their knowledge in various ways. Contacting our tutors is always easy; we can pose questions through an online forum, via email or over the telephone, as well as speaking to them in person.
For my Professional Training placement year, I worked at Ernst & Young LLP. This was an amazing chance to experience work life and apply the theoretical knowledge I learned throughout my modules into practice.
In addition to my studies, I took part in the University tutoring and mentoring scheme where I volunteered at a local primary school, which was great fun. I studied German in addition to my studies and I’m also the Vice President of Surrey Islamic Society, which involves arranging inspirational events throughout the year to cater for the needs of Muslims on campus.
For me, university has given me a degree, increased my employability and allowed me to make many new friends, but also allowed me to really understand what I want from life. The University has kept me motivated and enthusiastic and I really look forward to taking my university experiences with me to my future place of employment.