BSc (Hons) Professional Accounting
Our Professional Accounting degree (N400) gives you an excellent grounding in accounting and business disciplines. Above all, we focus on both the academic theories and the practical real-life applications, preparing you for success in the UK or abroad.
Throughout your degree, you'll be supported by experienced tutors and award-winning learning materials, to ensure you get the most from your studies.
Key Information
- Speed up the time it takes to qualify as a professional accountant
- Taught by experienced business and accounting professionals and academics
- Maximum number of exemptions from ACCA professional exams
- Flexible payment options allow you to spread your payments
- Benefit from BPP Partner in Learning status with the ICAEW
- Exemptions include CIMA, ACCA and ICAEW ACA professional qualifications
- Multiple UK locations let you study where you choose
Your degree
Our BSc (Hons) Professional Accounting degree gives you a unique combination of technical and practical skills – preparing you for a rewarding and successful career. Taught by tutors with many years' experience, it makes extensive use of case studies, with seminars designed to replicate real-world scenarios.
Teaching for the real world
This degree is led by tutors and lecturers from both professional and academic backgrounds. Their experience gives you valuable insights into the different areas of business accounting.
We also have links with many professional accounting organisations – helping you to network and connect with practitioners and firms. Thanks to our Partner in Learning status with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), you'll be given access to a range of professional events, advice and materials to support your learning and kick-start your career.
Fast-track your career
To become an accountant or begin a career in finance, you'll need to gain a variety of specific industry qualifications. Our degree course has been created with this in mind so, when you graduate, you'll already have completed some of the steps to achieving further certification.
For example, if you want to become professional chartered you'll be able to apply for exemptions from several key assessments. With a BSc (Hons) Professional Accounting degree, you'll have gained exemptions for up to eight of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) or Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) ACA professional level qualifications – a big benefit for potential employers.
The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has recently granted our undergraduate degree in Professional Accounting the maximum number of exemptions. Taking the degree will exempt you from papers F1 to F9, giving you a head start on your accountancy career.
Solid foundations for your future career
During the BSc (Hons) Professional Accounting course, you will develop the key employability skills, as defined by the Confederation of British Industry:
- Self-management – readiness to accept responsibility, flexibility, resilience, self-starting, appropriate assertiveness, time management, readiness to improve own performance based on feedback or reflective learning.
- Team working – respecting others, co-operating, negotiating or persuading, contributing to discussions, and awareness of interdependence with others.
- Business and customer awareness – basic understanding of the key drivers for business success – including the importance of innovation and taking calculated risks – and the need to provide customer satisfaction and build customer loyalty.
- Application of numeracy – manipulation of numbers, general mathematical awareness and its application in practical contexts (e.g. measuring, weighing, estimating and applying formulae).
- Application of information technology – basic IT skills, including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, file management and use of internet search engines.
- Problem solving – analysing facts and situations and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions.
- Communication and literacy – application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy – including listening and questioning.
Underpinning all these attributes, the key foundation, must be a positive attitude: a 'can-do' approach, a readiness to take part and contribute, openness to new ideas and a drive to make these happen. Employers also value entrepreneurial graduates who demonstrate an innovative approach, creative thinking, bring fresh knowledge and challenge assumptions.
Flexible study options
When and how you study for your BSc is up to you. To give you the best possible chance to succeed we offer full-time support.
Once you have decided how you are going to study, you can begin your course on any of our start dates. You can then either study on the traditional two-term per year basis (and complete your degree in three years) or you can choose to accelerate your learning by studying three terms per year (and complete you degree within two years).
Preparing you for industry
The BSc (Hons) Professional Accounting course combines academic rigour with a practical focus. Our team is comprised of experienced accounting and business practitioners and academics, ideally positioned to put accounting and business in a practical context.
You'll have the opportunity to attend lectures and presentations given by a wide variety of potential employers – as well as network with practitioners at special events and career fairs.
This real-life emphasis means you graduate equipped with the practical skills and knowledge that make a difference – and give you the competitive edge in your career.
Specialist careers advice
As part of our specialist careers service, you will be able to take advantage of invaluable one-to-one support. From advice on applying for jobs and internships, to intensive coaching for interviews and guidance on research on potential employers, our careers support is available from the moment you accept your place on the course – and up to a year after you graduate.
Virtual learning support
To help you get the best learning experience, we use state-of-the-art facilities and technology. BPP Virtual Learning Environment – our student intranet – features a variety of resources and revision aids, including interactive modules, podcasts, videos and multiple-choice tests.
As with all our undergraduate courses, we'll help you sharpen your competitive edge. We want you to graduate with the practical skills and knowledge necessary to build a successful career – in whatever area of finance you wish to enter.
Modules
The BSc (Hons) Professional Accounting degree is made up of 360 credits from the modules listed below. You must complete all the compulsory modules, plus options totalling 180 credits.
Core modules allow you to focus on an application of core employability skills in a business context. In particular, you will develop the ability to:
- Undertake technical accounting training
- Analyse financial information
- Construct arguments on real business evidence
Stage 1 - Certificate in Higher Education (Professional Accounting)
The aim of the module is to provide you with knowledge and understanding of the factors that contribute to that difference, looking specifically at how individual and group behaviour can be influenced by and in turn influences the organisation.
Through a range of contexts you will be able to develop your understanding of the major components of human behaviour together with the organisational process that influence and direct that behaviour for better or for worse.
The aims of this module are to:
- develop your understanding of the nature and scope of organisational behaviour
- enable you to develop a practical framework to demonstrate how managers, employees, and other stakeholders are influenced through the human behaviour that creates and sustains them
- encourage you to develop a range of skills and abilities to navigate and make sense about individual, group and team behaviour within organisations
Business decisions are often supported by sound quantitative analysis. Whether in the finance, retail, or advertising industries, every organisation requires an effective use of quantitative analysis in their decision-making process.
By understanding essential mathematical principles (such as percentages and ratios), as well as mastering the use of fundamental statistical techniques (such as descriptive analysis, data representation and regression analysis) and the interpretation of statistical findings, you will be able to ground business decisions firmly and make recommendations with skill and confidence.
This module is structured to develop these skills which will be the foundation upon which later modules will be built. As the majority of quantitative analysis in the modern corporation is made through electronic spreadsheets, this module will make frequent use of spreadsheet applications to encourage the development of such practical skills from the beginning of the programme.
This module in Accounting Information for Business aims to:
- develop your knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts, theories and context that underpin financial and management accounting
- establish your appreciation of introductory issues arising in business tax
- develop your technical abilities
- to record and report financial transactions and events
- to analyse cost, volume and pricing structures
- broaden your understanding of the modern business environment and contemporary costing techniques
- develop your communication skills to present information to different users of financial information
- increase your awareness of the ethical dimensions in making commercial decisions
Stage 2 - Diploma in Higher Education (Professional Accounting)
The Strategic Analysis and Positioning module is part of Stage 2 BSc.
The Issues in Financial Reporting module aims to:
- develop further your technical abilities to record and report more complex financial transactions and events
- increase your knowledge, confidence and ability to understand and evaluate a published set of financial statements
- increase your appreciation of the theoretical basis underpinning accounting and the impact this has on current accounting standards and practice
- enable you to recognise the political context of accounting regulation and standard setting
- develop your communication skills to present information to different users of financial statements
- enable you to identify key ethical issues for accountants working in industry and professional practice
- develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the concept of strategic management accounting
- develop the professional judgement necessary to apply appropriate performance management techniques
- develop the ability to use market data to develop effective financial decisions (e.g. pricing)
- enable understanding of the limitations of any analysis performed and the possible solutions to those limitations
- develop communication skills to present information to different users of management information
In this module, you will examine how organisations go about producing goods and services (operations) and understand and satisfy their customers (marketing). You will then move on to look at how these processes are supported and enabled by technology and people. The end result will be a greater appreciation of how organisations work and a set of tools which you can use to analyse activities in a wide range of contexts.
The Managing Business Operations module aims to:
- introduce key business functions and their interrelationships
- examine key specific issues in the management of operations and quality
- provide an overview of the nature and purpose of marketing including recent developments
- discuss the management of information systems and impact of changes in technology
- demonstrate the importance of HR management and its key processes
The primary aim of Extra Credit Project is to develop your ability to work autonomously, conducting research and/or exhibiting other skills at a level appropriate for this stage of legal educational development. You will develop and submit a proposal arising out of a taught module (core or elective) or other legal areas that you may be involved in (e.g. pro bono work and mooting), then (once approved) undertake the extra credit project, followed by submission of both evidence of your substantive work and a reflective learning report on that work.
If you're in employment when you take your law degree, you can use this option to make your studies specifically relevant to your job.
Please note that an Extra Credit Project may be undertaken at any stage of the LLB (Hons) (Business Law), provided that it is pitched at the appropriate level.
This module will provide you with the tools to calculate tax liabilities for all of the major UK taxes, the ability to evaluate the tax implications of a number of common transactions with a view to mitigating the overall tax liability, and a broader understanding of the need for taxation and the ethical end economic context in which tax planning and avoidance takes place.
The Tax Reporting and Planning module aims to:
- enable you to understand the scope and objectives of the major UK taxes
- provide you with the knowledge and ability to evaluate the tax liabilities arising for businesses and individuals
- increase your awareness of the difference between planning, avoidance and evasion Develop the ability to analyse transactions with a view to mitigating overall tax liabilities Increase your awareness of the social context in which tax planning takes place
Electives - choose 60 credits
- Company Law (15 credits)
- develop your understanding of theories of management and how these relate to the different activities of the practicing manager
- enable to you distinguish between leadership and management and analyse the circumstances in which each is an appropriate response
- develop your understanding of the drivers of organisational change and how to effectively manage change within organisations
- enable you to make an informed contribution to project teams and project management activities
Stage 3 - BSc (Hons) Professional Accounting
- develop your critical understanding of ethical behaviour and how this influences decisions made within organisations
- provide you with a framework to evaluate the role of the accountancy profession within society and to analyse the pressures on accountants to behave ethically
- enable you to evaluate corporate risk management practices and recommend improvements to internal control systems
- develop your ability to critique the impact of corporate social responsibility policies on stakeholder’s expectations
If you're willing to probe more deeply into research issues, then this is the module for you. Through evaluation of different research methods, you will acquire a working knowledge of business research, skills and their application. These skills will not only prove useful in your personal development but will also prove professionally useful in your career with respect to problem-solving and the development of appropriate solutions. This has been identified as an essential requirement for successful employment.
- develop an in-depth theoretical and practical understanding of complex accounting areas such as the accounting for groups, financial instruments, foreign exchange rates and provisions.
- develop your abilities to perform financial statement analysis using a range of techniques enabling you to critically evaluate, interpret and draw conclusions from a set of relatively complex financial statements.
- improve your generic communication skills to present financial and non-financial information to a range of audiences
- develop your problem solving and decision making skills to encourage the application of professional judgment in complex situations
- increase your understanding of issues relating to corporate governance and to help formulate your own ethical perspective and abilities to discuss them within more general contexts
- develop a critical awareness of contemporary and emerging issues in financial reporting
- develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the concept of strategic management accounting
- develop the professional judgement necessary to apply appropriate performance management techniques
- develop the ability to use market data to develop effective financial decisions (e.g. pricing)
- enable understanding of the limitations of any analysis performed and the possible solutions to those limitations
- develop communication skills to present information to different users of management information
The Assurance for Stakeholders module aims to:
- increase your awareness of the terms ‘audit’ and ‘assurance’ and how they are used in society
- inform you of the assurance provider’s rights and responsibilities under various legal, ethical, regulatory and best practice frameworks
- explain to you how an audit is obtained, managed, planned and delivered
- develop the professional judgement necessary to conclude the audit process and communicate its outcomes to various parties
- enhance your skills by illustrating the various techniques used during the audit, through analysis of internal controls and other elements of financial statements
- expand your awareness of the impact that the auditor can have on an entity’s corporate governance
- enable you to consider the future of both audit and assurance and where they could be going in the 21st century
This is a practical project that aims to identify and address business problems and provide a platform for the further development of skills such as self-management, team working factors, innovation, risk and profit, etc. You will be working as part of a team, combining your knowledge, strength and expertise with your peers to achieve maximum results.
The outcome of your endeavors will lead to a value adding, practical business solution where you will be able to demonstrate your professional credibility. (30 credits)
In this module you will look at a variety of financial management techniques that are constantly being used by companies in the real world; from multinationals such as Tesco’s planning their investments into overseas markets, to companies like Kraft planning the acquisitions (most recently of Cadbury), and to Marks and Spencer having to review its dividend policy.
The Issues in Financial Management module aims to:
- develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the principles and concepts that underpin financial management
- develop the professional judgment necessary to evaluate the appropriate type of dividend and capital structure policies
- analyse and advise on suitable policies to manage financial risk
- develop the ability to analyse the valuation and risk of investment projects
- enable understanding of the limitations of any analysis performed and the possible solutions to those limitations
- develop communication skills to present information to different users of management information
Entry requirements
We use the UCAS Tariff to set our minimum entry requirements. The tariff provides a points equivalent for a range of qualifications, such as 'A' Levels, NVQs and so on. See the UCAS website for more details on the UCAS points system and eligible qualifications.
Admissions requirements (January and September 2012)
UCAS Tariff Points - 2011/12 entry
- 260 and above
- Equivalent to three 'A' Levels graded BCC (Plus grade C or above in English Language GCSE)
If you're not sure whether you have the required tariff points, we still encourage you to apply. Your application will be considered on merit and we may invite you to attend an assessment to give you the opportunity to secure a place on one of our undergraduate courses.
Applying for the BSc Professional Accounting course
- For full-time two or three-year degrees you apply via UCAS
International students
BPP welcomes students from all over the world. Applications for full-time full-time undergraduate courses are via UCAS.
For details of which international qualifications are accepted for this course, please see our country-specific entry requirements.
If you're an international student, and English is not your first language, you will need to have an IELTS level 6.0 score (or equivalent) in addition to the requirements outlined above. Students with an overall IELTS of 6.0 or equivalent will be required to undertake a compulsory, additional, in-sessional Academic English course during the first term of their studies.
Your experience
At BPP University College, your studies are just part of your student experience.
While we're unlike many traditional universities – being highly career-focused and concentrating on practical application as well as academic theories – we want your time at BPP to be a great all-round experience.
There are many student-led activities and societies for you to choose from and lots going on off-campus. So as well as giving you the practical and academic knowledge you need to get ahead, we'll help you build the social skills you'll need to thrive in work – and life.
At BPP we give you all the skills and advice you need to get ahead. As part of helping you get the best possible start to your working life, we provide a specialist Careers service.
BPP students are eligible for an NUS card.
BPP Students' Association
Founded in 2011 after a year of consultation with and design by students, our new Students' Association is home to 5,500 students across all ten BPP sites.
Every student of the University College automatically becomes a member of the Students' Association on joining the institution.
The Association aims to put you – the student – at the heart of everything BPP does, giving you:
- an independent voice on student matters.
- information, support and guidance about your academic and personal life.
- academic, cultural, social and professional enrichment through the development of clubs, societies, events and initiatives.
- awareness and enhancement of your employability.
Study locations
You can choose to study our BSc Professional Accounting course at the locations listed below. Whichever you choose, you will be assured of access to the latest equipment, world-class support and a comfortable study environment.
View the term and assessment dates.
Accommodation
Whether you're looking for long-term, short-term or temporary accommodation, we'll help you find the perfect place to stay while you study. We can offer information on halls of residence, student houses, flat-shares and hotels – as well as advice on any accommodation issues.
If you'd like to know more about mixing events, finding a housemate or discussion boards, or if you just need some general advice, please contact our Accommodation Officer:
- Tel: 0845 075 3506
- Fax: 020 7404 1389
- Email: accommodation@bpp.com
Paying for your course
If you start your degree in January or May 2012
- UK or EU students, two- and three-year degrees: £3,225 a year
- International students, two- and three-year degree: £6,500 a year
Fees from September 2012 onwards
- UK or EU students, three-year degree: £5,000 a year
- UK or EU students, two-year degree: £6,000 a year
- International students, three-year degree: £7,000 a year
- International students, two-year degree: £10,500 a year
Student loans and grants
All full-time UK/EU students intending to study at BPP are eligible to apply for a Student Loan and Maintenance Grant. These help cover tuition fees and living costs while you are studying. Find out more about student loans
To help you with your fees, we also offer a number of instalment options.
View a list of 2012 Undergraduate Payment Plans.
For details, please contact the Student Finance Office: studentfinance@bpp.com
Scholarships
BPP welcomes and supports applications for student scholarships. With widening participation in the education sector, we now offer a generous number of scholarships for undergraduates.
For more information, please contact the Admissions Office:
- Tel: +44 (0) 845 077 5566
- Email: admissions@bpp.com
International students
Tel: +44 (0)207 430 7065Email: internationaladmissions@bpp.com
