Accounting and Business BA (Hons)

About the course

This is a flexible programme of study for students who require a greater choice and specialisation within their course. It enables you to study subject areas not offered by our single honours degrees and affords you the possibility of creating a programme to meet your individual needs.

Accounting

Studying accounting on the Joint Honours programme will provide you with a sound basis for progression to careers in accounting or with an accounting bias, as well as for careers in general management. It will also afford a good preparation for professional accounting qualifications. A Major in accounting will provide you with subject exemptions from the examinations of two of the UK professional bodies, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Business

Studying Business as part of your course allows you to gain a firm understanding of the role of business in society and develop knowledge of the main functional areas; accounting, marketing and human resources through a creative mix of academic study, skills development and practical training. This can lead to a wide range of careers, but also allows focus on one functional area for more specific career prospects.

Why choose this course?

• Develop the skills and knowledge required to become an accountant.
• Enhance your employability skills by undertaking a 12-month work placement to gain first-hand experience.
• Develop strong intellectual capabilities.

Study routes

• Sandwich,
• Full Time,

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Teaching methods

Alongside traditional teaching methods of lectures, seminars and tutorials, we operate a web-based student support system called StudyNet where you can expect to find a range of material and communications about every module.

The teaching method for most modules on the course is a one hour lecture followed by a one hour seminar. Typically, a new topic will be introduced in each lecture. The seminars provide an opportunity to discuss and obtain feedback on the topic introduced in the previous week's lecture. Usually, assessment is split between coursework and examination. Coursework may take a variety of forms and could be individual or group work.

Work Placement

As with all our courses students have the opportunity to complete a sandwich placement, which will usually last for one year. During this time you will be employed by the company and will subsequently be paid; for students on placement salaries have ranged from £11,500 - £14000. In past years students have completed placements with:

• KPMG
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Clark & Co Accountants
• Lloyds TSB

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Quantitative Analysis for Accounting and Finance

  This module introduces the student to a number of essential mathematical and statistical techniques that are used in business in general, and in accounting and finance in particular. Particular attention will be paid to the circumstances in which the methods considered should be employed. The following quantitative methods will be considered on this module: equations and graphs; measures of location and dispersion; indices; probability; the Normal distribution; confidence intervals; critical path analysis; correlation and simple linear regression; time series forecasting. Appropriate software (eg. Excel) will be used to support learning.

• Global Perspectives in Business B

  Internationalisation of business is creating a substantial increase in intercultural contact, which is reflected in the skills set of managers operating in a globalised world. Managers need to develop sensitivity to and a critical understanding of issues arising out of cultural difference, and be equipped to manage and operate in diversity. The module will explore themes of: a) concepts of culture, b) cultural differences and c) globalisation. It will also explore related ideas such as ethnocentrism and prejudice. It will look at and draw upon the work of leading theorists, such as Hofstede and Trompenaars, in the analysis of cultural difference. It will look at cross-cultural differences in communication and negotiation style. The workshop element of the module will consider the practical consequences of cultural difference for corporations and sojourners. Types of international corporate culture will be examined, including expatriate staffing policies. The nature of culture shock will be explored.

• Economics for Business

  This module aims to enable students to understand the economic context of modern business by introducing and developing an appreciation of the utility of economic approaches in studying the business environment. The basic tools and approaches which economists use; demand and supply and industry analysis, among others; will be introduced and applied to help understand the economic issues involved and the public policy which can be derived. Economics, of course, provides one of the key pillars of a solid education in business and this module represents some first steps in this direction as well as highlighting some of the major contemporary issues in our society such as the credit crunch and recession.

• Introduction to Business and Management

  The module provides students with a series of academic skills and study strategies which will underpin their subsequent studies. The module is composed of several themes which will include communication, thinking and methods of enquiry, IT-literacy, numeracy and the nature of knowledge. These will allow students to effectively match problem-solving techniques to different scenarios. Students will be expected to operate in teams, reflect on their practice and recognise aspects for self-development and improvement. The module selects a series of issues that are pertinent to business and management. Topics studied will include recruitment, working in an organisation, problem-solving and change and progression.

• Accounting for Business

  The module provides an introduction to accounting from the manager's viewpoint. Areas covered include the collection and reporting of accounting information to both internal and external users, as well as the use and interpretation of publicly available accounting information. The role of accounting in supporting the management functions of planning, control, and decision-making is also covered. Indicative topics include: - preparation and presentation of a simple income statement and balance sheet, including the need for adjustments such as depreciation, accruals, prepayments and bad debts; - the difference between profit and cash; - interpretation of an income statement and a balance sheet using ratio analysis; - costing: cost behaviour; marginal costing - methods and uses; absorption costing - methods and uses; - budgeting: nature and purpose of budgeting; its contribution to planning, control and motivation in an organisation; preparation of simple budgets.

• Principles of Marketing B

  This initial marketing module, which assumes no prior knowledge of marketing, aims to introduce students to some of the key ideas of marketing and is suitable for both marketing and non-marketing students. It examines the environment within which organisations operate and the role of marketing within the organisation so that students can understand the context within which marketing personnel work, and the different activities which are carried out under the umbrella term of 'marketing'. Concepts central to an understanding of marketing are considered - segmentation; targeting and positioning; the product life cycle; the 4Ps; buyer behaviour, etc.

• Law for Accounting and Finance

  Module will cover legal issues of relevance to accountants.

Optional

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £8,500 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Full time: £9,500 for the 2013 academic year

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Scholarships

• National Scholarship Programme

Find out more about scholarships for UK/EU and international students

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply