Course specification and structure
Undergraduate Course Structures Postgraduate Course Structures

UDACFIFY - BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance (including foundation year)

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Bachelor of Arts Level Honours
Possible interim awards Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Higher Education, Certificate of Higher Education, Bachelor of Arts, Preparatory Diploma, Preparatory Certificate
Total credits for course 480
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School Guildhall School of Business and Law
Subject Area Accounting, Banking and Finance
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Part-time 6 YEARS 8 YEARS
Full-time 4 YEARS 8 YEARS
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

Accounting is a subject field with a high demand for graduates. Unlike many other universities, the London Metropolitan University, Guildhall School of Business and Law, BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance course has high level of professional exemptions from the accounting bodies with a long tradition of working closely with internationally recognised professional bodies and industries. The course aims to provide students with the opportunity to study the major disciplines in accounting and finance and to relate these to the business environment. It also aims to provide a sound conceptual foundation for a professional, managerial or business career which will help to understand current thinking, analyse current problems in accounting and finance and deal with the rapidly changing business environment. It provides a thorough understanding of the multifaceted and diverse roles and functions that accountants perform in organisational settings.

Completing this stimulating and highly rewarding course will help you to become a qualified accountant or to start working in accounting and/or finance-related profession. The course will help students to access an extensive national and international network of industry contacts with the opportunity of optional work experience placements and projects that will enhance students’ employability. This course is taught by professionally and academically qualified lecturers with vast industry experience in the accounting and finance sectors that includes public audit, taxation, financial reporting, management accounting, quantitative economics and finance, business law, accounting information system, corporate social responsibility and corporate governance, research methods, and accounting theory and regulations. The course places particularly emphasis on employability and the students will be supported to gain work related experience by completing relevant projects and optional work experience placements.

The Accounting and Finance (including foundation year) BA (Hons) degree is a four-year course with a built-in foundation year (Year 0, also called level 3). At Level 3 (foundation level) students will gain a broad understanding of and skills in data and information management, context of business, finance, business management and study skills. The skills developed at the foundation level will help learners to progress to the next higher levels. At Level 4, 5 and 6 At each level of the course, students will be exposed to a broader range of professional accounting and finance disciplines including managerial finance, financial accounting, company and employment law, principles of taxation (corporate and income), professional practice for accountants, management information system, business law and ethics, financial management, audit and internal control, project management, data science and research.

The majority of the modules will be taught through lectures and seminars, where lectures are designed to convey the broad outlines of knowledge pertinent to each module whilst the seminars are built around student activity in response to a set of prepared tasks that require students to apply knowledge, discuss and analyse. Students will be expected to prepare for the seminars using a variety of learning resources that will normally include textbook, module handout/Weblearn site including learning/stimulus materials, references to sources in the learning centre, and materials available on academically reputable internet sites

Subject specific knowledge and skills are developed, with guidance from the professional bodies and the subject benchmark. These include, where appropriate, knowledge of the contexts in which accounting can be seen as operating and why accounting is valuable in these contexts, numeracy, technical language and current practices, skills in recording and summarising transactions, contemporary theory, technical and qualitative analysis and dealing with empirical analysis of relevant material.

Teaching, study and assessment methods ensure that practical knowledge is developed through lectures and practiced, with guidance in seminars. Direct teaching is supported through text books, journal articles and electronic sources, with every component being supported with its own web site. The knowledge developed and subsequent understanding is assessed in a variety of ways, including reports, essays presentations, group work and unseen examination.

Intellectual skills, identified in the subject benchmarks are developed throughout the courses. These include critical evaluation of arguments and evidence, the ability to analyse and draw reasoned conclusions from a given set of data, the ability to locate, extract and analyse data from multiple sources, including the referencing of sources. Independent and self-managed learning is encouraged and the capacity to develop these skills is developed from the earliest stages of the course. Students are required to develop these essential skills as they are key components to both academic and lifelong learning.

Students are encouraged to engage in their own learning in the subject. This is achieved by relating as much as possible to the real world. This enables participants to understand the relevance of the subject to their own lives, and to the lives of other. Students, and are able to experience a real-world business environment through the professional practice modules and the work-related learning element embedded throughout the course.

Course aims

This course aims to deliver an academically rigorous programme of study, which provides students with the opportunity to study the major disciplines in accounting and finance and to relate these to the business environment.

The course provides a sound conceptual foundation for a professional, managerial or business career and to help students understand current thinking, analyse current problems in accounting and finance and help them deal with the rapidly changing business environment. It also enables them to understand and practice how the design, operation and use of accounting systems; information and traditions; techniques and regulations of accounting affect, and being affected by, the internal and external business environment.

The course also provides knowledge and understanding of the role of accounting and finance as to how it effects the business and organisational key decisions to achieve effective and ethical management and its impact on the system and the society at large.

It will enable students to enhance their employability and/or gain admission to a Masters programme or study for a professional qualification. The core and option modules of the course provide exemptions to the relevant requirements (partial) of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales ( ICAEW ), the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy ( CIPFA ) and the Association of International Accountants (AIA) as well as the award of full membership of the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA).

The programme promotes the use of a range of teaching, learning and assessment methods, which develop the students’ intellectual abilities, self-confidence and ability to study independently.

The course has been devised with reference to the subject benchmark statement for Accounting (2019) developed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Course learning outcomes

The University learning outcome that cuts across the entirety of the London Metropolitan University provision, and thus, the BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance (including foundation year), is:
On completion of this course, students will be able to: demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible professionals in their discipline (ULO)
Thus, upon graduating with an honors degree in Accounting and Finance, students will typically:
LO1: Have the confidence needed to take leadership decisions in challenging situations

LO2: Possess the necessary communication skills that will help them adopt a global and multicultural perspective in their professional context

LO3: Be cognisant of the effects of the social and environmental of their decisions and will
remain active citizens of the places they live and work

LO4: Demonstrate application of creative thinking skills to practical problems, and possess the analytical and organizational skills to translate creative ideas to operational solutions.

LO5: Have a wide knowledge and understanding of the broad range of areas of business and management and the detailed relationships between these and their application to practice relevant to the Accounting & Finance.

LO6: Consistently demonstrate a command of subject-specific skills as well as proficiency in generic skills and attributes.

LO7: Have a view of business and management that is relevant to Accounting & Finance and influenced by a wide range of learning sources, based on a proactive and independent approach to learning

LO8: Be distinguished from the basic standard (threshold) of achievement by their enhanced capacity to develop and apply their own perspectives to their studies, to deal with uncertainty and complexity, to explore alternative solutions, to demonstrate critical evaluation and to integrate Accounting/Finance theory and practice in a wide range of situations.

LO9: Practice a range of data recording and analysis using facilities on Excel spreadsheet
such as those of computational, financial and logical nature.

LO10: Discuss the concept of business contexts and demonstrate a range of skills
including commercial acumen and analyse impacts of globalisation which will help them to identify and explain how a business works and deals with external challenges.

Principle QAA benchmark statements

QAA Subject Benchmark Statement, Accounting (2019)

Assessment strategy

There are a variety of assessment tools used in the core and option modules. Students will be provided with the opportunity to demonstrate their writing skills by writing essays and reports. They will demonstrate their presentation skills in a number of modules, which in turn will prepare them for the employment market on completion of the course. Some modules use more traditional methods of assessment, such as closed book examinations in order to gain professional body exemption.

There are a range of formative assessments on all modules designed to enhance student skills development and prepare them for the summative assessments. Feedback will be provided on drafts of coursework prior to submitting their final work. The feedback can be provided in various forms: verbal (face to face), written on the draft work, Weblearn based and by email. All other forms of providing feedback will also be used based on accessibility and student circumstances to ensure that students receive the feedback and update their work to produce a better-quality coursework. Furthermore, individual and generic feedback (common errors identified from previous exam papers and mock exams) will be provided prior to the exam period.

Assessed work will be internally and externally moderated in accordance with the University’s policies and regulations as applicable.

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

The Level 4 core module (Learning through Organizations) provides the opportunity to deliver relevant skills that enhance their competence to become a business professional. This module will support them to start preparing them for future career by encouraging them to develop, put into practice and evidence the skills and behaviors that employers want to see. Furthermore, this module will help them to gain skills and understanding of the expected workplace knowledge, competencies and attitudes to become business professionals.

The course draws on external links with accounting and finance practitioners in the City and elsewhere in the UK. These links give rise to University and GSBL guest lectures, external speaker seminars and other meetings of interest to undergraduate students. These events throughout the course provide opportunities for students to gain knowledge and experience from outside the University.

After completing level 5, students have the option to take Professional Experience Year Placement taken between Levels 5 and 6. This is a sandwich placement module that is undertaken as an additional 30 credits before commencing their study at level 6. The module aims to develop student employability and career prospects upon graduation. If approved by our placements office, this sandwich placement year requires learners to undertake a minimum of full-time employment which is developmental and relates to their graduate career goals. Pre-placement preparation workshops and one to one support will be provided by Placement Officers. The officers provide guidance and assist students in their search for an appropriate placement relevant to their area of study. The work placement will help students to develop professionalism and transfer their learning from the classroom, and any previous employment to the placement workplace. During the placement year, students will be supported in applying theoretical knowledge in a practical context, analysing business problems and proposing solutions, and identifying and articulating transferable skills and knowledge developed during the placement. Students will be expected to demonstrate improved understanding of their abilities and career goals, knowledge of the workplace organisation and professional awareness through reflective and reflexive learning. Students will receive briefings prior to the placement and a post-placement debriefing. They will be supported remotely by a Placement Tutor who will provide guidance with assessment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The course includes the option to take a paid 30-credit Work Placement module at level 6 or sandwich year (subject to approval of the Placement and Employability Office) which would extend the course to 5 years including the placement year. Students must seek advice on funding implications of extending their course to five years.
Students are encouraged to seek advice and guidance on fees and funding from the University’s team of specialist advisers and the University’s fees and funding webpages.

Course specific regulations

Modules are required to be taken as indicated in the course structure. Where a student is taking no more than 90 credits in an academic year within the maximum permissible time limit, they may be designated as Part Time.

There are no course specific regulations.

Modules required for interim awards

Modules are required to be taken as indicated in the Course Structure

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

The arrangements for promoting reflective learning and PDP are delivered through BA3005 Using and managing data and information and MN3102 The Context of Business
at level 3, the Level 4 Learning through Organizations, the Level 5 Research and the level 6 Dissertation modules that incorporate issues and controversies in Accounting and Finance. All have formative and summative assessments requiring varying degrees of critical self- evaluation and reflection in the context of accounting and finance professional practices.

Other external links providing expertise and experience

Professional accountancy body requirements for specific exemptions.
QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ) 2014

Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) accreditations & exemptions

If you successfully complete the full four-year course, you can gain exemption from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)’s fundamental exam papers, F1 to F9.

The core modules that you study in Year 1, 2 and 3 also satisfy many of the requirements of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants (CIPFA), the Association of International Accountants (AIA) as well as the award of full membership of the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development

Employability and workplace skills are developed in a number of ways throughout the courses. The introduction of a core Level 4 Learning through Organisations module where each student will do a short work placement activity will assist in developing skills for the workplace. Career management is encouraged through reference to the relevant professional bodies, work experience and careers advice. Each year we have a professional accountancy body panel briefing for final year students and presentations for all students integrated in to lectures throughout the year.

In addition, students are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities including involvement in peer coaching of students, receiving academic mentoring, volunteering in the not-for-profit sector, joining or setting up student society and national competitions such as the Universities Business Challenge.

The Student Enterprise team based at the University’s specialist off-campus business incubator, Accelerator, provides students with all the advice, support, networks, knowledge and resources to get started. Through one-to-one advice sessions, support and a number of programmes that run throughout the year, Accelerator has helped to launch student businesses and support student entrepreneurship.

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

  • at least one A level (or a minimum of 32 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC Subsidiary/National/BTEC Extended Diploma)
  • English Language GCSE at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent)

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2019/20 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 17 Jul 2019 Last validation date 17 Jul 2019  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes
Route code ACFIFY

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 03 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
BA3005 Using and Managing Data and Information Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR WED PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR TUE PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR TUE AM
          NORTH AUT+SPR MON PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR MON AM
          NORTH AUT+SPR WED AM
MN3101 Development for Success in Business Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR WED AM
          NORTH AUT+SPR TUE PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR WED PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR MON PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR MON AM
          NORTH AUT+SPR TUE AM
MN3102 The Context of Business Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR MON PM
MN3104 Orientation for Success in Higher Education Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR MON PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR WED PM

Stage 1 Level 03 January start Not currently offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
BA3005 Using and Managing Data and Information Core 30        
MN3101 Development for Success in Business Core 30        
MN3102 The Context of Business Core 30        
MN3104 Orientation for Success in Higher Education Core 30        

Stage 2 Level 04 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
AC4052 Financial Accounting Core 15 NORTH AUT FRI PM
          NORTH AUT MON PM
          NORTH AUT WED AM
          NORTH AUT FRI AM
AC4053 Management Accounting Fundamentals Core 15 NORTH SPR FRI AM
          NORTH SPR MON PM
          NORTH SPR WED PM
          NORTH SPR MON AM
AC4054 Management Information Systems Core 15 NORTH AUT FRI PM
          NORTH AUT WED PM
AC4055 Data Science, Research and Analysis Core 15 NORTH SPR THU PM
          NORTH SPR MON PM
          NORTH SPR MON AM
AC4056 Business Law and Ethics Core 15 NORTH AUT FRI PM
          NORTH AUT WED AM
          NORTH AUT WED PM
          NORTH AUT FRI AM
FE4051 Introduction to Financial Markets and Institutions Core 15 NORTH AUT MON PM
          NORTH AUT MON AM
FE4055 Understanding the Business and Economic Environ... Core 15 NORTH SPR MON AM
          NORTH SPR MON PM
          NORTH SPR WED AM
          NORTH SPR WED PM
          NORTH SPR THU AM
          NORTH SPR THU PM
MN4W50 Learning Through Organisations Core 15 NORTH SPR THU PM
          NORTH SPR TUE AM
          NORTH SPR TUE PM
          NORTH SPR WED AM
          NORTH SPR WED PM
          NORTH SPR THU AM

Stage 3 Level 05 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
AC5062 Financial Reporting Core 15 NORTH AUT FRI PM
AC5063 Principles of Finance Core 15 NORTH AUT TUE PM
          NORTH AUT TUE AM
AC5064 Taxation - Income Tax Core 15 NORTH AUT FRI PM
          NORTH AUT FRI AM
AC5065 Taxation - Corporate Tax Core 15 NORTH SPR FRI PM
          NORTH SPR FRI AM
AC5066 Management Accounting Core 15 NORTH SPR TUE PM
          NORTH SPR TUE AM
BL5055 Company and Business Law Core 15 NORTH AUT THU PM
FE5056 Problem Solving: Methods and Analysis Core 15 NORTH SPR FRI PM
          NORTH SPR THU AM
          NORTH SPR THU PM
          NORTH SPR FRI AM
AC5061 Audit and Internal Control Option 15 NORTH SPR THU PM
LT5078 Sustainability, Business and Responsibility Option 15 NORTH SPR WED PM
          NORTH SPR MON AM
          NORTH SPR TUE AM
          NORTH SPR WED AM
MN5076 Fundamentals of Project Management Option 15 NORTH SPR WED AM
          NORTH SPR WED PM
          NORTH SPR THU AM
          NORTH SPR THU PM
          NORTH SPR FRI AM
          NORTH SPR FRI PM

Stage 4 Level 06 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
AC6064 Advanced Financial Reporting Core 15 NORTH AUT THU PM
AC6065 Financial Management Core 15 NORTH AUT THU PM
          NORTH AUT THU AM
AC6066 Advanced Management Accounting Core 15 NORTH SPR THU PM
          NORTH SPR THU AM
AC6068 Audit and Assurance Services Core 15 NORTH SPR THU PM
FE6P04 Dissertation Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE AM
          NORTH AUT+SPR WED AM
AC6067 Accounting Theory and Regulations Option 15 NORTH SPR WED PM
          NORTH SPR WED AM
FE6052 Personal Finance Option 15 NORTH SPR WED PM
FE6053 International Trade and Finance Option 15 NORTH AUT WED PM
FE6057 International Banking Option 15 NORTH SPR THU AM
          NORTH SPR TUE PM
FE6059 Financial Instruments Option 15 NORTH AUT WED AM
FE6060 Financial Engineering Option 15 NORTH SPR TUE PM
          NORTH SPR MON AM
MN6071 Practising Business Strategy (with simulation) Option 15 NORTH SPR MON AM
          NORTH SPR MON PM
          NORTH SPR TUE AM
          NORTH SPR TUE PM
          NORTH SPR WED AM
          NORTH SPR WED PM
MN6W04 Professional Experience Year Placement Option 30 NORTH AUT+SPR NA