Accounting and Economics

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Personal and Professional Development

  Throughout this module, you will acquire the essential skills and knowledge needed to make informed career decisions and proactively manage your professional development in the accounting industry. You will be able to cultivate a diverse range of job application skills, such as crafting a professional CV, cover letter, and public profile, that will empower you to excel in assessment and selection scenarios. Moreover, you will have the chance to establish your career aspirations and devise a comprehensive plan to realise them. This will entail introspection regarding your existing career competencies, establishing objectives for personal and professional growth, and creating actionable strategies to attain them.
  
  By the end of the module, you will have a clear understanding of what is expected of a working professional and job applicant in the accounting field, and be able to identify your unique selling propositions, which will help you to stand out from other candidates.

• Macroeconomics II

  In this module, you will delve deeper into macroeconomic theory and policy by examining national economies and international linkages. You will analyse long and short-run macroeconomic models, fiscal and monetary policies, exchange rate policies, government debt, and currency unions. Through theoretical analysis and examination of recent economic events, you will develop a critical understanding of macroeconomic hypotheses and competing approaches. You will also enhance your problem-solving, critical thinking, and data analysis skills to apply theoretical understanding and empirical knowledge to macroeconomic policy debates.

  By completing this module, you will gain critical self-awareness by assessing the impact of macroeconomic shocks and economic policies in determining key economic variables. The carefully curated learning framework will enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Microeconomics II

  This intermediate module enriches the understanding of microeconomic theory built in previous modules. It covers individual consumer preferences, market demand analysis, production costs, pricing behaviour of firms, and asymmetric information. You'll apply economic theory to real-world scenarios, including issues of price and income subsidies, taxation, insurance, and asset markets. The module utilises a graphical approach to help you develop a basic understanding of general equilibrium theory. You'll learn to distinguish between issues of equity and efficiency in product markets, gaining a deeper understanding of economic policies' societal impact.

  Through this module, you'll also develop self-management, learning, communication, and problem-solving skills essential to success in academic and professional settings. 

• Advanced Financial Accounting

• Management Accounting

  This module enriches and consolidates your accounting knowledge learned in previous levels of study. You will learn advanced management accounting techniques, incorporating contemporary methodologies. You will be expected to apply these techniques to real-world scenarios and critically analyse their efficacy. You will compare and contrast varying budget-setting approaches and examine the intricate relationship between budgetary control systems and human conduct. Moreover, you will evaluate and apply performance management systems and appraisal techniques to facilitate both short-term and long-term decision-making. Additionally, you will explore diverse costing methods, assessing their differences and similarities. Finally, you will learn how to meticulously analyse and effectively communicate management accounting information to business management.
   

• Financial Reporting

Optional modules

• Choose 2 Optional modules from those below:

• Corporate Finance

  This module will introduce you  to the fundamentals of finance and to the finance function in a company or corporation. This will enable you to understand the sorts of decisions that are taken by financial managers along with their rationales. The content includes an explanation of the role of finance in business and the objectives of the finance function. You will also examine the decisions affecting capital structure and the cost of capital.
   

• Personal Taxation

  This is your introduction to taxation in the UK and the framework within which you’ll have to make financial decisions during your future working life. You’ll look at the taxation consequences of:
  
  employment
  self-employment
  savings
  dividends 
  pension contributions.
  
  You’ll also look at how they are reported to the fiscal authorities and you’ll also explore benefits-in-kind and national insurance contributions. Developing your knowledge and understanding of UK personal taxation.
   

• Applied Analytics for Accounting and Management

• Applied Econometrics

  This module provides an introduction to the interpretation and analysis of economic data through the application of appropriate statistical and econometric methodologies. You will gain practice in applying theory and develop your skills of statistical and econometric analysis through the completion of problem sets. Practising quantitative techniques in seminars is essential in helping you to identify your learning needs and to encourage you to become critically self-aware of your relative strengths and weaknesses in relation to the acquisition of quantitative skills, a fundamental attribute of graduates in economics and finance.

  On completion of the module you will have an understanding of hypothesis testing and statistical inference; the ability to conduct essential statistical analyses of data; and an understanding of regression analyses.

• Introduction to Auditing Theory and Practice

  This module introduces you to the entire statutory audit process from planning and risk
  assessment, gathering audit evidence and finishing with review and reporting. You will develop your understanding of key concepts in auditing and underpin later study of auditing in the final year. You’ll learn the process of how an audit is undertaken in the ‘professional auditing world’ through simulation activities using case studies.

  Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to explain the concepts of audit and assurance and functions of audit including ethics, and identify, evaluate and test the internal controls and plan an audit of financial statements accordingly.
   

Year 3 (optional placement)

Optional modules

• CHOOSE ONE MODULE FROM:

• Placement

  On this placement you will be able to access a 40-52 week work-based learning / placement opportunity to help develop your employability and enterprise skills. You will gain first-hand knowledge and experience of making applications to and working in a placement role. You will set your own work-based targets and reflect upon your progress in the role you have on your placement. Halfway through your placement you will make a presentation to your line manager and placement tutor which summarises your gained knowledge on your placement and the tasks you have/ will complete in your placement role.

• Full Year International Study Abroad

  This is your opportunity to study Business topics abroad in order to experience a different national, educational and business culture and to build on your knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies you’ve gained so far. You will undertake an international study exchange at a university outside the UK, arranged with the University’s exchanges office. This international study exchange lasts for one academic year and is taken after your second year of studies (Level 5).

• OR CHOOSE THESE TWO OPTIONS:

• Short Placement

  This 24-week placement is your opportunity to develop your employability and enterprise skills. In the UK or Europe you will gain first-hand knowledge and experience of making applications to and working in a placement role. You will set your work based targets and reflect upon your success in your placement role. At the end of the placement, you will make a presentation to your line manager and placement tutor which summarises the knowledge and skills you have developed on your placement.

• Work-based Learning

  This module is also a 24-week work-based learning opportunity for you to develop your employability and enterprise skills. As on the other modules you will have the opportunity to obtain first-hand knowledge and experience of making applications to and working in a placement role. This could include employment, volunteer work experience or undertaking a consultancy type project. 
  
  You will agree a brief before your work-based role begins,set work based targets and reflect upon your success in your placement role. At the end of the placement, you will make a presentation to your line manager and placement tutor which summarises the knowledge and skills you have developed on your placement.

Year 4 (or year 3 if no placement) - choose Accounting OR Economics

Compulsory modules

• Accounting Capstone (Choose this option for Accounting-related double module)

  
   

• Perspectives: Global Challenges (Choose this option for Economics-related double module)

  This module is your advanced introduction to pluralism and competing paradigms in economics, finance and international business. You will investigate contemporary topics by using theoretical and empirical tools in economics and finance where you’ll employ orthodox and non orthodox approaches. 

  Through the module you’ll develop a deep understanding of key global trends and outcomes that are relevant to the world of international business. Also you will progress your analytical investigation skills in the sphere of global economics.
   

• Business Aspects of Management Accounting

  This module is uniquely designed to encourage you to critically evaluate a business from a management accounting perspective. You’ll learn to apply and critique advanced management accounting techniques. While gaining a critical appreciation of management accountants, and their strategic approach, you’ll also analyse their changing role in the modern business environment.

  The module will equip you with the skills to apply the techniques studied, and provide you with a critical understanding of the theoretical aspects of strategic management accounting. 
   

• Financial Accounting Theory

  Through looking at the practice of financial accounting and reporting, this module enables you to take a critical look at accounting practices in contemporary society. You’ll assess the actual role of accounting in organisations, while contrasting this with its theoretical role. 

  On successful completion of this module, you’ll be able to demonstrate the capacity to apply international standards and  practices, and understand the function of accounting in a range of contexts.      
   

• Contemporary Issues in Economics

  This module adopts a political economy approach and focuses on selected controversial economic issues such as economic growth, inequality, pricing mechanism and resource allocation, unemployment, economics of information, and mechanism designs, and so on. It examines each issue by comparing and contrasting the philosophy and methods of the neo-classical approach with alternative approaches.
   

Optional modules

• Open Data & Distributed Finance

• Applied Audit and Assurance

  How is auditing used in practice? What role does auditing fulfil in accountability structures and in corporate governance? 
  
  In this module, you’ll delve into and analyse contemporary issues on audit and assurance engagements. Using a professional regulatory framework, you’ll explore auditing cases that include both historical and current international corporate scandals. You’ll also gain practical and theoretical skills on how to apply International Standards on Auditing on audit and assurance engagements.

• Advanced Financial Management

  This module extends the basic theory of corporate finance covered in previous years by developing more complex approaches to financial management which can guide decision-making in the face of risk and uncertainty. It also examines corporate decisions concerning capital structure and the choice between internal and external finance and sets these decisions in the context of developments in a range of financial markets. Your learning outcomes include being able to apply investment appraisal techniques to conditions of risk and uncertainty, assess the impact of cost capital for businesses and understand the key principles and techniques of risk management.

• Business Taxation

  You will gain essential knowledge of UK taxation principles and practise based on the study of individuals and companies. You will also learn practical aspects of assessing liability to income tax, capital gains tax, corporate tax and VAT are covered. 

  Upon completion of the module, you will be able to:

  • Outline the UK tax system
  • Relate and apply current tax legislation and case law to a range of situations
  • Explain, justify and use tax planning principles recognising tax avoidance and tax evasion issues
  • Compute tax liabilities, including capital gains tax, for individuals and corporations
  • Advise on minimisation of tax liabilities through consideration of exemptions, allowances and reliefs etc.
     

• Advanced Applied Econometrics

  Further and broaden your knowledge of econometrics. You’ll progress and develop your econometric skills that are needed to be able to successfully investigate economic and financial relationships by using appropriate econometric methodologies. You’ll study examples based on both economic and financial data that illustrate the application of the methodologies you’ll learn to use.

• Environmental Economics

  On this module, you build your understanding of modelling techniques and analytical tools of environmental economics. You will be able to critically analyse a range of environmental issues which impact environmental externalities on economic agents and the range of policy responses available to policymakers.

• Sustainable Investing

  You will develop your critical and practical understanding of creating and analysing a sustainable investment portfolio. You’ll have access to our Bloomberg virtual trading terminals to develop your practical skills. You’ll also construct an investment portfolio aligned to sustainable investing principles. 

  This will include focusing on practical aspects of portfolio management, including establishing key performance metrics, risk measurement and fundamental analysis.