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Accounting and Finance

BSc (Hons) & Foundation Year

Home Courses Undergraduate Finance degree

Summary

Study level

Undergraduate

Award

Foundation Year Entry Degrees

Full time

4 years

Part time

4 years+

Location

London, Birmingham, Manchester, Berlin or Online

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Faculty of Business

Course Overview

Are you looking to pursue a dream career in accounting and finance, but need extra preparation? Our BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance with Foundation Year course is ideal for those wanting to successfully graduate with a full degree and establish a professional career in the finance industry – regardless of previous qualifications.

Arden’s accounting and finance with foundation degree is designed to provide you with the skills needed to achieve your higher education goals, even if it’s been a while since you last studied. And what’s more, our flexible study options provide the best of both worlds when it comes to the university experience.

Starting with an accounting and finance foundation degree is the perfect option for those looking to improve their study habits, develop a wide range of universal skills, and gain an in-depth understanding of a range of disciplines before continuing to undergraduate study. If this sounds like the best option for you, then we’re here to support you through every stage of your accounting and finance degree studies.

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Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the global body for accounting professionals..

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Course details and modules

Our accounting and finance foundation degree will equip you with the skills needed to succeed at undergraduate study. You’ll then progress to your accounting and finance degree where you’ll cover a range of specialist topics across a variety of fields – from financial reporting and management accounting, to applying these concepts to inform good financial decision-making in real business situations.

"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."

Adrian Williams

BA Business (Human Resource Management)

Modules

You’ll have 4-12 years to complete your accounting foundation degree and undergraduate degree, meaning that you can take up to three years to complete each level. However, many of our students complete the course in 4-8 years.

Foundation Year Modules

Using Numeracy, IT and Data
Research Skills and Using Information
Values, Ethics and Working Collaboratively
Developing Academic Skills
Structure of Business
Technology in Organisations

Year 2

Financial Accounting
Cost Accounting
Developing Personal and Management Skills
Business Maths
Understanding the Business Environment (Accounting and Finance)
Management Information Systems

Year 3

Business Law
British Taxation
Accounting and Audit Framework
Financial Reporting
Management Accounting
Decision Making

Year 4

Audit
Financial Management
Ethics
Professional, Statutory and Current Accounting Issues
Research Methods and Dissertation

How do we assess you?

On this accounting and finance foundation year course, you’ll have the opportunity to regularly demonstrate what you’ve learned, allowing your tutors to track your progress. As this accounting and finance course complies with ACCA requirements, a high proportion of modules will be assessed by examination. These assessments include:

Assignment
Essays
Presentations
Exams
Dissertation

Study options

This course is available to study through Arden’s blended learning study mode at our study centres in London Ealing, London Tower Hill, London Holborn, Manchester, Birmingham, and Berlin, Germany.

The course is also available to students as a fully online programme, which gives you the convenience of being able to study from anywhere in the UK or worldwide.

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.

Toby Bradley

BA (Hons) Business & Accountancy

Blended learning

How does it work?

When you choose our blended learning study mode, 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. You’ll also have access to our online library, Perlego, which contains almost half a million books, journals, and industry literature which you can make use of throughout your studies, removing the need to buy expensive course books in order to study 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 the UK 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.

This course is also available to study full-time at our campus in Berlin, Germany, where you’ll have the opportunity to experience life as an international student in the heart of one of Europe’s most dynamic and historic cities.

Please note: study centre classes are temporarily being conducted online in our virtual classroom due to Covid-19 restrictions. Face-to-face classes will resume once the current restrictions are lifted.

Learn more about blended learning

Online learning

How does it work?

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 online library (which when used along with our supplementary library, Perlego, gives you access to almost half a million books and journals – yours for free while you study 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 likeminded 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.

Learn more about online learning

Entry requirements

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.

Find out more

Eligibility

To be able to study this course, we need to see that you have:

Passes at grade C (grade 4) or above in three subjects at GCSE level OR 45 credits at Level 2 or equivalent – if your qualifications are older than 3 years we would also ask to see a professional CV.
Applicants may be considered based on a minimum of 12 months of professional work experience evidenced with a CV and Reference if they do not meet the qualification requirements.
We also offer this course as a standard bachelor’s degree without foundation year. To view the course details, please click here

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:

Your motivation for undertaking the programme
Why you’ve chosen your particular course
Any long-term goals or career aspirations

English Proficiency

IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 80; or equivalent

We also offer an internal English test for applicants. More information on this can be found here.

Before you start studying

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.

Course fees and funding

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Meet the faculty

Our courses in finance and accounting have been designed with the highest industry standards and forward-thinking practices in mind. We create our modules to reflect professional body standards as well as the critical techniques and skills used today in finance and accounting positions around the globe. I look forward to welcoming you to the Arden University family.

Dilshad Sheikh

Dean of the Faculty of Business

Career prospects

Accounting and finance skills are high in demand, and employers are seeking candidates who can demonstrate knowledge in a range of specialist areas. That’s why we’ve designed our accounting and finance foundation degree to help you develop into a well-rounded and forward-thinking finance professional - ready to launch your graduate career.

What can an accounting and finance with foundation degree do for me?

After graduating from your accounting and finance degree with foundation year from Arden, you’ll be ready to enter a variety of business, financial and accounting roles. Graduates equipped with a solid understanding of business management - as well as financial knowledge and accounting skills - are highly valued to many employers.

What can I do after Arden University?

Every organisation and business around the world requires accounting and finance skills, meaning your career possibilities are endless – but you don’t have to decide right now! In the meantime, some roles you might want to consider are:

Accountant
Finance Analyst
Financial Manager
Actuarial Analyst
Investment Banking
Broker
Tax Advisor

Industry skills

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

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.

Business Graduates Association (BGA)

Arden University’s Faculty of Business is an esteemed member institution of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), an international quality assurance body of world-leading education providers who share a commitment for responsible management practices and lifelong learning. Membership with the BGA means that Arden University will support its students’ professional growth, allowing them to contribute to an international network in which ‘Leaders Never Stop Learning’.