BSc (Hons) Professional Accounting

Our Professional Accounting degree 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
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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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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)

Compulsory
Credits
Organisational Behaviour
15
This Organisational Behaviour module is part of Stage 1 of the BSc.
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Quantitative Techniques for Business
15

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.

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Economics and the Business World
30
 
Studying this module, you will be debating the highly topical nature of the real world of business. Through a review of developments and trends within the business sector and an examination of the inter-relationship between the business sector and other elements of social and economic activity, you will be provided with the knowledge and understanding of factors relating to the business environment within which businesses like Cadbury operate. This will enable you to understand David Cumming's statement "business is business".

 

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Optional
Credits
Accounting Information for Business
30
This module is part of Stage One of the BSc. It is a compulsory module worth 30 credits.
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Business Communication
15

This module provides you with the opportunity to look at the theories, processes and practices of good business communication. It allows you to explore this subject through a range of interesting exercises and tasks, all of which prompt you to evaluate the quality of communications with the intentions of self-development and aiding in business success. (15 credits)

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Stage 2 - Diploma in Higher Education (Professional Accounting)

Compulsory
Credits
Strategic Analysis and Positioning
15

The Strategic Analysis and Positioning module is part of Stage 2 BSc.

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Issues in Financial Reporting
15
This Issues in Financial Reporting module is part of Stage 2 of the BSc.
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Financial Decision Making
30

This module is part of business and accounting undergrad courses.

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Optional
Credits
Managing Business Operations
15
This Managing Business Operations module is part of Stage 2 of the BSc.

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Extra Credit Project
15

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.  

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Tax Reporting and Planning
30
This Tax Reporting and Planning module is part of Stage 2 of the BSc. 
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Company Law
15
This module is part of UG business and accounting courses, stage 2. (120 credits)

 

Electives - choose 60 credits

 

  • Company Law (15 credits)

     

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Managing People and Projects
30
This Managing People and Projects module is part of Stage 2 of the BSc.

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Stage 3 - BSc (Hons) Professional Accounting

Compulsory
Credits
The Accountant in Business and Society
30
The Accountant in Business and Society module is part of Stage 3 of the BSc.
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Competitive Intelligence and Research
15
In business there exists a constant need to seek answers to questions; questions like how customers feel about the product you are making and/or selling, questions about the service you are offering or how employees feel about working for your organisation. To ensure continued success and competitive advantage, businesses need to gather information about their competitors. This enables them to make decisions about their operations that will best place them in the market.


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.

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Financial Reporting and Analysis
15

 This module is part of UG business/accounting courses.

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Optional
Credits
Business Performance Management
15
This module is part of Business and Accounting UG courses (stage 3)
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Assurance for Stakeholders
30
Assurance for Stakeholders

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Business Integration Project
30

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)


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Issues in Financial Management
15
This Issues in Financial Management module is part of Stage 3 of the BSc.
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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

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 English is not your first language, you'll need to hold an IELTS level 6.5 score (or equivalent). This shows that your English is good enough for you to enrol on one of our courses.

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 locationsl listed below. Whichever you choose, you will be assured of access to the latest equipment, world-class support and a comfortable study environment.

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:

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. 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:

International students

Tel: +44 (0)207 430 7065      
Email: internationaladmissions@bpp.com