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BA Accounting and Management

At a glance

  • Focuses on both accounting and management, with an international emphasis
  • Accredited by the ICAEW and ACCA with the opportunity to obtain credit for prior learning
  • Can lead to a variety of careers including accountancy, banking, retail and marketing
  • Option to undertake a work placement or study abroad in your third year
Subject area(s)
Accounting
Start Date
September 2024
Duration
3 years (4 years with a placement year/study abroad)
Attendance
Full-time
UCAS Code
NN24/NN42
Programme Director
Maggie Cooper005 75ipdsq6y
Dr Maggie Cooper

Overview

Accountancy isn't just about being good at numbers. It’s about being able to analyse and interpret information, spot trends, identify issues and opportunities, and communicate complex ideas in a clear and concise manner.

In the accountancy element of the degree you will cover the core areas of financial reporting, management accounting and business finance. In the management element you will explore areas such as marketing, organisational behaviour, strategy, information systems, human resource management, entrepreneurship and ethics.

After your first year, a range of optional management and finance modules will allow you to tailor your degree to your areas of interest. In your second and final years you will build on the commercial and academic knowledge you have already acquired.

Certain modules on the degree are professionally accredited, meaning you can claim credit for prior learning for professional accountancy exams in the future if you achieve the required grades.

An optional one-year work placement gives you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a professional environment. Alternatively, you could choose to spend a year studying overseas.

This course offers the opportunity to apply for credit for prior learning from two major accounting bodies: ICAEW and ACCA.

Part 1

Compulsory modules Credits

This module introduces management accounting concepts and techniques that assist managers with their organisational decision making, planning, control and performance evaluation.

Academic authors
Alisher Erkaboev
Dr Alisher Erkaboev
20 [10 ECTS credits]

This module introduces you to different aspects of 'business' and aims to develop your academic and professional skills that will be applied at university and in the workplace.

Academic authors
Maggie Cooper005 75ipdsq6y
Dr Maggie Cooper
20 [10 ECTS credits]

An introduction to double-entry bookkeeping and the preparation of financial statements for sole traders and limited companies.

The module aims to help students to develop a sound understanding of the techniques of double-entry bookkeeping, so that they can apply its principles in recording accounting transactions, adjusting financial records and preparing non-complex financial statements.

Academic authors
Leon Coopasamy
Leon Coopasamy
Sian Weatherburn
20 [10 ECTS credits]

Part 2

Compulsory modules Credits

This module introduces the theory and practise of business finance.

This module introduces the role and purpose of the financial management function within a business. It aims to explain the nature and purpose of financial management and to discuss the objectives of financial management decision-making. The module explores the theory and practice of financing decisions. The module aims to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills of financial management, assessing the working capital needs of a business and the ways in which the elements of working capital may be managed.

20 [10 ECTS credits]

This module looks closely at the content and application of a range of international financial reporting standards.

This module aims to develop and add to the knowledge, understanding and skills of financial accounting and reporting acquired on the level 4 modules Introductory International Financial Accounting A and B (AC105a and AC105b), and Introduction to Accounting (AC101 or AC110) ). The module also aims to foster in students, an inquiring and critical attitude towards issues in financial accounting and reporting.

Academic authors
Ekililu Salifu001redone 75iw160su
Dr Ekililu Salifu
20 [10 ECTS credits]

This module builds upon the foundations of management accounting established in AC107 Management Information by developing a critical understanding of the main concepts and ideas underlying management control systems.

To build upon the foundations of management accounting established in AC107 Management Information by developing a critical understanding of the main concepts and ideas underlying management control systems. The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the techniques, principles and underlying concepts relating to the provision and use of financial information in organisational decision-making, planning and control. This involves understanding the theories, technical language, practices and their location within the organisational and business context together with developments in contemporary management accounting.

Academic authors
IMG 8356 75nanzgsb
Tony Graham
20 [10 ECTS credits]

The module is focused on guidance and support in developing your employability, including improving the likelihood of securing your Placement or first job.

Key areas of the job application process as well as successful navigation of the contemporary business environment and the students’ future working environment are covered. It offers a combination of practical and applied elements as well as more conceptual and academic aspects. As a result, it enables the students to obtain a broad range of knowledge while allowing them to actively reflect on their career, employability and apply to their immediate experience.

The Module is designed to be delivered in the autumn. The lectures and seminars will run in parallel with the placement application process, therefore providing students with further support.

The module content, as well as delivery style, are designed to strengthen the students’ success rate of obtaining successful placements and future jobs upon graduation – fostering an in-depth understanding of the recruitment and development process.

Academic authors
Tatiana Rowson Staff Photo
Dr Tatiana Rowson
Olena Khlystova Updated Photo
Dr Olena Khlystova
20 [10 ECTS credits]

Work Placement/study abroad

  • Work placement experience (including a minimum of 9 months, full-time work placement) or study abroad (if applicable).
  • Students who have completed two years of study and for whom a work placement is unsuitable can progress directly into the third (final) year of study, converting this into a three-year degree programme
  • If you take a year-long placement or study abroad, Part 3 as described below may be subject to
    variation.
Optional modules Credits

This module provides insight into the practical application of your Accountancy and/or Business Management Skills.

Aims:

1. To gain relevant work experience in order to provide a practical context for the academic material studied in the first, second and final year.

2. To enhance employability through being able to demonstrate 12 months relevant work experience.

3. To extend knowledge and learning of degree discipline modules, to help identify future career path(s).

4. To further develop ‘soft skills’ (team-work, communication, time management, planning, leadership skills etc)

120 [60 ECTS credits]

Part 3

Optional modules Credits

An introduction to the moral norms of international accounting and financial management, the ethical choices to which they give rise and the resources on which such choices can be based.

20 [10 ECTS credits]

This module looks closely at a number of international financial reporting standards and at the preparation of consolidated financial statements.

Academic authors
Lei Tao
Dr Lei Tao
20 [10 ECTS credits]

The module aims to provide an analytical framework for an understanding of the firm’s major financial decisions by considering the theoretical models that explain these decisions. It develops the knowledge, understanding and skills of financial management introduced in AC203, Business Finance

The module aims to introduce students to key perspectives, theories and practices in Advanced Business Finance by considering inflation and taxation effects on investment appraisal, the effects of capital structure, portfolio analysis, different approaches to business valuation and tools of risk assessment and measurement.

Academic authors
Dan Zhou 75e5pfilu
Dr Dan Zhou
20 [10 ECTS credits]

*The module or course content descriptions set out on this page are correct for those being taught in the current academic year. Modules or course content marked as optional are indicative and may be subject to change. Please note, constraints in timetable scheduling may mean you are unable to take some optional modules at the same time as others.

Our undergraduate degrees are taught through a mix of lectures, group projects and interactive classroom lessons. This gives you the opportunity to discuss, explore and then apply the subject content in depth with your lecturers and fellow students.

Through exploring and tackling real-world challenges, you will also be able to develop your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Modules are assessed through written assignments, in-class tests, group presentations and formal examinations. This helps you graduate as a rounded individual and develops your transferable skills, which are highly sought after by leading graduate employers.

Each academic year you will be required to complete a number of compulsory and optional modules, totalling 120 credits. A typical 10 credit module requires a total of 100 hours of study. This includes contact hours with lecturers as well as independent study.

Typical offer

A Level: ABB

International Baccalaureate: 32 points overall

GCSE: Maths and English at grade B (5).

BTEC: DDD

Contextual offer

A Level: BBC

For more information on contextual offers, please visit the University of Reading webpage

Tuition fees for undergraduates at University of Reading are:

  • £9,250 a year, for the full course duration, for UK if you started your undergraduate course in September 2020 onwards*.

*This fee capped for the full duration of your course.

Your fees will be fully covered by a loan from the Student Loan Company, in line with its published repayment terms and conditions.

Government Funding

UK students can get government loans to help towards their living costs, known as ‘maintenance loans’. If you choose to take out both a fees loan and a maintenance loan, these will be rolled together and repaid only after graduation through the tax system, as a proportion of your income over £25,000.

UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.


The International Undergraduate 2024/25 fee level for this programme is £22,350. There may be financial support available - consult your local British Council/Education Counselling Service.

Please see the University's financial pages for further information on international fees.

You can apply online for all of our courses via the national admissions service, UCAS.

Find out more

ACCA Accredited Programme

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is the global body for professional accountants. ACCA awards a specific level of exemption to graduates, which matches the knowledge and skills gained from their degree qualifications. Students will be partly qualified Chartered Certified Accountants once they complete their degree programmes at Henley Business School successfully.

Henley Careers

Our aim at Henley Careers is to empower and enable you to leave the Business School confident in being able to progress your career forward successfully.

We are committed to enable you to take a strong career leadership approach to your career planning. We will work with you to help you understand yourself better, as well as truly understand the obstacles and opportunities around you. Research both at Henley and other leading Business Schools shows that people who are self-reliant and usually achieve higher levels of success. We therefore encourage your job search to be driven by you and your needs, but along the way, we provide you with advice and insight regarding your strategy.

You can book a telephone or video appointment with your dedicated Careers Consultant to get support and advice for your career planning or professional development. We also hold numerous events to help you learn about different careers and develop your skills, such as Monday Night Employer Panels, Success Studios and Resilient You.

A work placement offers you an enormous range of benefits – both during your degree and beyond.

On most of our undergraduate courses you can choose to do a 9 to 12-month placement in your third year, before returning to complete your final year at the Business School. This will appear on your degree transcript and offers many of the following benefits:

  • Put your learning into practice
  • Enhance your CV by developing sought-after skills such as time and project management, teamwork, commercial awareness, and communication
  • Build a professional network - a successful work placement can lead to the offer of a permanent role with the same organisation upon graduation
  • Gain a wealth of knowledge, experience and transferable skills to set you on the right path for a successful career
  • Gain insight into the real world of business

How we support you

Our dedicated placement team, who all have a background in industry and graduate recruitment, will provide you with expert advice and guidance – from helping choosing the right Industry Placement through to supporting you while working during your third year.

You will start to consider what kind of work placement you would like to pursue in your first year. Students returning from their work placement will give presentations and share their experiences with you, providing a valuable insight into what you can expect.

You will receive ongoing support during your work placement, with your tutor visiting twice during the year to discuss your experience and performance. You will also develop and agree a training plan with your placement tutor and line manager.

Work placement destinations

Recognising that the majority of our students prefer to remain in and around Reading during their placement year we work with leading graduate employers in the region.

We also encourage and support students who wish to do their placement year in London, or other cities in the UK or abroad.

Study abroad

Most undergraduate students have the opportunity to benefit from our international links and spend time studying overseas. Find out more: https://studyabroad.reading.ac.uk/outgoing/

Rhianydd Dow

Associate Professor in Accounting and Financial Management

Dr Maggie Cooper

Associate Professor in Accounting and Financial Management

Tony Graham

Associate Professor of Accounting and Financial Management

Dr Dan Zhou

Associate Professor of Financial Management

Dr Biao Mi

Lecturer in Accounting

Dr Ekililu Salifu

Lecturer in Accounting

Dr Lei Tao

Lecturer in Accounting

Dr Tatiana Rowson

Associate Professor in Organisational Behaviour

Contact us

If you have any questions regarding Accounting, Business & Management Courses, please contact us by:

Email: UG-BMAP@henley.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)118 378 5058

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