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Accountants are probably best known for checking the validity of company accounts – auditing – but they also devise and operate financial systems, conduct investment analysis, advise on business start-ups, company takeovers and company rescue schemes, and handle individuals’ and corporations’ tax affairs.
Overview
At Kent Business School, we have designed the Accounting & Finance degrees to ensure that they respond to the needs and expectations of the modern accountancy profession. We offer the opportunity to spend a year on work placement, or to combine accounting with related subjects. For more information on this degree with the additional professional work placement, see Accounting and Finance with a Year in Industry, in the related courses menu below.
Our supportive and flexible approach to teaching gives you the confidence and skills you need to follow the path that most interests you.
We have an excellent record of graduate employment with our graduates moving into a range of careers, including professional training in public practice (chartered accountancy) or in industry, commerce or the public sector, or financial services or general management.
Our programme is fully accredited by all the professional accountancy bodies and allows you to obtain more exemptions from professional accounting examinations than at most other universities in the UK. For example, we offer a taxation module which confers additional professional exemptions; taxation is not offered at many other UK universities.
About Kent Business School
Studying at Kent Business School is an exciting life experience, especially if you are moving away from home. We have combined a solid academic portfolio with excellent accommodation options, as well as hosting plenty of social and cultural activities.
Kent Business School delivers a high standard of business education and is the largest department at the University of Kent. Our academic research and links with global business inform our teaching, ensuring a curriculum that is both rigorous and current. We are a top 30 UK business school for our academic teaching and student satisfaction.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, Accounting was placed in the top 20 in the UK for student satisfaction. In The Complete University Guide 2016, Accounting and Finance was ranked 4th overall in the south-east and in The Guardian University Guide 2016, it was ranked 12th in the UK for graduate career prospects.
Course structure
The course structure provides a sample of the modules available for this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Based on sector research, the following innovative new modules will be offered on this programme from 2015/16:
Teaching and assessment
Usually you spend eight hours in lectures and four hours in seminars each week. Some modules have a number of workshops or sessions in computer laboratories. Most of your modules involve individual study using Library resources.
Most modules have an end-of-year examination that contributes either 70% to the final module mark: your coursework provides the remaining marks. Both Stage 2 and 3 marks count towards your final degree class.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- develop an understanding of some of the contexts in which accounting operates
- introduce aspects of the conceptual underpinning to accounting
- provide knowledge, understanding and skills, predominantly from a UK perspective, relevant to a career in accounting or a related area and professional training in accounting
- offer the opportunity for students to obtain a range of exemptions at the initial stages of professional examinations
- develop cognitive abilities and intellectual and transferable skills
- examine aspects of the roles and functioning of accounting from a range of social scientific perspectives.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- some of the contexts in which accounting operates
- aspects of the conceptual underpinning to accounting
- the main current technical language and practices of accounting in the UK
- some of the alternative technical languages and practices of accounting.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- critically evaluate arguments and evidence
- analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and unstructured problems
- numeracy skills.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- record and summarise economic events
- prepare financial statements
- analyse the operations of business
- undertake financial analysis and prepare financial projections.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- locate, extract and analyse data from multiple sources
- undertake independent and self-managed learning
- use communications and information technology in acquiring, analysing and communicating information
- communicate effectively
- work in groups and apply other inter-personal skills.
Careers
Kent Business School equips you with the skills you need to build a successful career. Through your studies, you acquire communication skills, the ability to work in a team and independently, and the ability to express your opinions passionately and persuasively.
We have an excellent record of graduate employment with recent graduates going into accountancy training with firms such as ABN Amro, KPMG, Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers, other financial services with banks or private companies, or other types of management such as recruitment or marketing.
For more information on the services Kent provides you to improve your career prospects visit www.kent.ac.uk/employability.
Professional recognition
Full or partial exemption from the preliminary stage of professional accountancy examinations provided you choose the appropriate modules. Single honours degrees offer further exemptions from the examinations of some accountancy bodies.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| GCSE | Mathematics grade B |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 at HL, including Mathematics 4 at HL or SL Mathematics (Mathematics Studies 5 at SL) |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
As a guide only, the 2014/15 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Exceptions may apply. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Our 2015 financial support package includes a £6,000 cash bursary spread over the duration of your course. For Ts&Cs and to find out more, visit our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence, which will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages.