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Are you interested in gaining the skills you need for a career in accounting and finance, but need some extra support before starting a full degree course? Our BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance with Foundation Year will equip you with the key academic study skills needed to complete your undergraduate degree, followed by the latest advancements in modern accounting and finance.
We’ve designed this course to give you the forward-facing skills required in today’s evolving accounting and finance sector. You’ll cover in-demand areas such as the role and scope of technology in the field in areas such as Fintech and blockchain, as well as gain the skills to make sound investment decisions. Throughout the course, you’ll have the opportunity to put your learning into practice, helping you gain real-world skills you can use in your future role.
Accounting
This course is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), three world-leading professional bodies. We’ve fully aligned your course content with these qualifications, meaning you can gain up to 26 exemptions towards any future exams you may take with these accountancy bodies.
Finance
The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) approved this course, meaning you can prepare to sit CFA Level 1 papers. This makes it one of the select few programmes carrying three professional accounting body accreditations and CFA endorsement.
We’ve also partnered with Bloomberg, giving you access to Bloomberg Financial Markets and valuable insight into what it’s really like to work in finance, as well as Moody's to give you access to a wealth of financial data. Using these alongside advanced statistical software, you’ll have the opportunity to make real-world financial decisions using live data, ensuring you’ll be well-versed in modern finance before you even graduate.
Arden's foundation year modules have been designed to give you a tailored and fully supportive introduction to university study. This first year of study will prepare you for success in higher education by introducing you to the academic skills and subject-specific knowledge required to excel in your chosen degree subject.
Your studies will begin by reviewing key preparatory academic study skills to ensure you’re ready to successfully complete your degree. Accredited by ACCA, CIMA, and ICAEW, our BSc Accounting and Finance course modules will provide you with key financial reporting and management accounting skills, and the ability to use these to inform good decision-making in real business situations. The specialist modules explored on this degree, as well as their practical application in the Bloomberg Terminal, will help you graduate as a well-rounded professional ready to take on all manner of challenges.
"I was already in the working world and running two businesses. Not to mention I also have a young family, so the freedom online learning offered, and the cost effectiveness of the course, was a big draw for me."
You have 4-12 years to complete your course, meaning that you can take up to three years to complete each level. However, many of our students complete the course in 4-6 years.
You’ll be assessed in a variety of ways throughout your finance and accounting degree. As this course complies with ACCA, CIMA, and ICAEW requirements, a number of modules will also be assessed by exams which will give you exam exemptions from these qualifications. However, we’ve limited these to a minimum to ensure you’ll gain real-life skills you can use in your future career.
Other methods of assessment may include:
This course is available to study through Arden’s blended learning study mode at our study centres in London Tower Hill, London Holborn, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds.
The course is also available to students via online learning. This gives you the convenience of being able to study from anywhere in the UK or worldwide, providing you with the same high standards of teaching but with lower tuition fees.
It’s a great way to study if you’re looking for flexibility. It was challenging to balance a full-time job with my degree but once I was in a routine, it was much easier to manage everything. Online learning has actually helped me become very good with time management and given me the ability to prioritise tasks.
When you choose our blended learning study mode, each week you’ll have eight hours of timetabled classes spread over two days at the Arden study centre of your choice. This is combined with around 25 hours of independent study, which takes place through ilearn, our university campus in the cloud. ilearn contains all the resources you need to study successfully. As a blended learning student you’ll also have access to our Library Portal, an extensive digital library with thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and a range of academic and industry databases that you can use to research and gain in-depth information on your area of study. At Arden, all of your course materials are provided free of charge, removing the need for you to buy expensive textbooks to study your degree successfully.
Blended learning is the best option for students who prefer the structure of regular face-to-face classes with their tutor and fellow classmates, and is particularly suited to students who live within commuting or driving distance of one of our UK study centres.
If you're a student from England who is enrolling on a blended learning course with Arden (based in one of our UK study centres) then you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan to help pay for your living expenses. You can find more information on our fees and funding page. If you're a student from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland you can find information about obtaining a student loan to cover your costs from your student finance body.
Learn more about blended learning
Studying this course online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location.
Our online students study their degree through ilearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud. ilearn provides everything you need to study at university. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and access to our Library Portal. The portal includes an extensive digital library including thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and academic and industry databases which you can use to research your assignments and projects. All of these materials are provided to you free of charge and contain all the research information you’ll need to complete your degree with us.
ilearn is also integrated with Zoom, making it easier to chat with your course tutor during your scheduled seminar sessions. You can even integrate our study materials into your Kindle, making it possible to study wherever you have you Kindle handy.
Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with like-minded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it. We’ve even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you’re currently learning.
Online learning students resident in the UK can apply for a Tuition Fee loan to pay for their course. If you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability, you may also be entitled to a Maintenance Loan to cover living expenses. Please find more information on our fees and funding page. If you're a student from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland you can find information about obtaining a student loan to cover your costs from your student finance body.
At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.
To be able to study this course, we need to see that you have:
Candidates are required to submit a personal statement (of between 350-550 words) or attend an interview demonstrating an ability to study for the programme. This statement should include:
We also offer an internal English test for applicants. More information on this can be found here.
Whilst you can read your study materials on your smart phone or tablet, to make the most of your learning experience, you will need access to a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection.
Hassaan studied accounting and finance at the University of Kent, followed by an MSc and PhD in Finance from Durham University. Prior to joining Arden, Hassaan was associate dean at Global Banking School, looking after the finance and business management degree courses. He was director of programmes at BPP University where he was responsible for degree programmes in finance and applied management as well as professional courses and degree apprenticeships in accountancy.
This course has been created by experienced finance and accounting professionals to ensure that you gain the knowledge you’ll need to find secure employment after graduation. We aim to prepare you with universal skills that employers from a variety of organisations will value, so you’ll graduate feeling confident to decide where your future career lies.
By mastering the fundamentals of accounting and finance, you’ll be able to demonstrate to employers how valuable you are. Just as valuable, are the key skills you can develop with this undergraduate course, including:
During your Foundation Year, you'll get comprehensive support and preparation for your university journey, including:
Introduction and preparation: our Foundation Year courses introduce you to university-level teaching, learning, and assessment methods. You'll develop essential study skills, research techniques, and critical thinking abilities, laying a strong foundation for your degree studies.
Personalised support: our academic staff will guide you throughout your Foundation Year. They'll ensure a smooth transition into your degree programme, providing the support you need every step of the way.
Direct relevance to your future degree: your programme content is carefully designed to align with Arden's degree courses. Studying a Foundation Year will equip you with subject-specific knowledge and interdisciplinary exploration, establishing a solid base for your chosen degree.
Improved degree outcomes: we prioritise not only your academic preparation but also your success. By boosting your confidence, academic skills, and understanding of the subjects, we empower you to achieve the best possible degree outcomes and expand your career opportunities.
As a graduate of this accounting and finance degree, you’ll be prepared to enter a variety of business, financial, and accounting roles. Candidates equipped with a solid understanding of business management, financial knowledge, and accounting skills are highly valued and sought after by many employers, meaning there are a variety of job roles you might want to consider, such as:
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a powerful global presence within the accountancy profession, inspiring its members and students towards greater success and prosperity.
When a higher education degree course is accredited by the ACCA, that course has been assessed by the ACCA’s professional qualifications approvals team, and exemptions from future ACCA exams are awarded accordingly.
At Arden, our BSc Accounting and Finance is awarded the maximum nine ACCA exemptions. This means that students who go on to study ACCA after graduation will start their studies at the appropriate level, studying only five ACCA papers out of the standard 14 that make up the ACCA qualification.
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is one of the most globally reputable organisations in professional accountancy. The institute works to provide continued professional development services, fund academic research, develop thought leadership, and monitor professional standards in the accountancy sector.
It also maintains a code of ethics for members and works with external tuition providers and assessment services to provide the best study and examination experiences possible for accounting students. CIMA currently has a network of more than 696,000 members, students, and professionals in management and public accounting.
Our BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance has exemptions from CIMA at operational and certificate levels. Upon successfully graduating from this degree, you will also achieve the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is a world-leading professional membership organisation that promotes, develops, and supports chartered accountants and students around the world. At the end of 2020, it had over 189,000 members and students in 147 countries.
This course has nine exemptions from ICAEW, which means you’ll only need to complete six of the 15 exams on the qualification.
The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA) is a global association of investment professionals. The organisation offers the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation to candidates that have successfully completed Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the CFA qualification.
Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholders apply their knowledge and skills in a wide range of positions throughout the global finance industry. Distinguished by their commitment to setting a higher standard of excellence, they are sought after as investment management professionals. The BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance programme covers all CFA Level 1 knowledge domains, thereby allowing students to prepare for Level 1 of the CFA programme. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be ready to sit the CFA Level 1 exam, taking you one step closer to gaining the Chartered Financial Analyst qualification.
We have partnered with Bloomberg to provide our students access to the Bloomberg Financial Markets Platform, an industry leading and cutting-edge financial tool. Through this, you will be able to interact with financial markets in real-time, giving you insight into what it’s really like to work in finance and allowing you to gain valuable employability skills in a safe environment.
You will also have access to Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) – an industry leading course. BMC is a self-paced e-learning course that provides an interactive introduction to the financial markets. The course is available to you for free for the duration of your degree, and a year after graduation.
You’ll have access to Moody's Orbis database throughout your studies. Orbis is a leading publisher of business information specialising in private company data combined with software for research and analysis. It’s the world’s most powerful comparable data resource on private companies, with information on more than 400 million companies across the globe and 41 million of these including detailed financial information.
Through this, you’ll be able to gain a holistic overview of different companies and how data can be used for better decision-making and increased efficiency. You can use the database to explore areas such as credit risk, compliance and financial crime, corporate finance, business development and strategy, and much more.
Arden University is a member of the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB International is a global association of leaders in education and business dedicated to supporting and advancing quality business education worldwide.
This membership reflects the fact that Arden University has successfully matched the high standards required by the AACSB, and enables the sharing of ideas and the exchange best practises between global business schools. Membership also gives our faculty members access to in-depth data and research to support the development of our courses and teaching methods, ensuring that we are able to provide you with the best possible university experience.
The BGA is a membership and quality assurance body. As a member, Arden University have signed up to the BGA Charter, committing their institution to responsible management practices and lifelong learning, positively impacting their students, communities, and the economy. This shows our students that we are demonstrating responsible management ourselves, as well as it being a central theme that runs through our own courses.
As Arden University is a member of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), students will receive complementary BGA student and graduate membership. Through this membership, current students will have access to the BGA Career Development Centre, packed with interactive tools, e-learning content, partner discounts and the latest job opportunities. This is a lifetime access, which means students will continue to have access to these services even after they graduate.
