BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance (Full Degree) with Foundation Year

The course aims to:

• Provide students with knowledge, concepts and principles of the main functional areas of accounting and finance.
• Develop knowledge and understanding of how accounting and finance relates to the principles and practices of business with the ability to apply these skills to the solution of work-based problems.
• Prepare students with the skills and competencies for a career in accounting.

Entry to the degree programme is governed by the regulations of the University of Chichester and requires one of the following:

• A minimum of three ‘A-Level’ passes (or High School Diploma to age 18 where it is deemed equivalent), or
• A Pearson/Edexcel BTEC National Diploma
• An International Baccalaureate (28 points), or
• A recognised and relevant Foundation/Access to Higher Education course.

Entry via the foundation year is considered for individuals with many years of work experience and relevant skills, do not meet the entry requirement for the full degree, are enthusiastic about further studies and are able to pass our initial assessment test.

Qualification Check

Please contact the Admissions Office to find out if your qualification is suitable. If you do not have a UK qualification or an International Baccalaureate we will use UK ENIC (Formerly UK NARIC) to find out how the qualifications, you already have compared to UK qualifications. UK ENIC is a UK agency that provides information and advice about how qualifications and skills from overseas compare to UK qualifications.

All students whose first language is not English and have not done the last two years of their education in English must meet a minimum English language requirement before commencing their programme. To join an honours undergraduate programme, they must pass our initial assessment Numeracy and Literacy test and must achieve at Level 2. Other equivalent English language tests at that level will be accepted.

Applicants who have not studied in English for the final two years of their qualification may also achieve an IELTS minimum score of 5.5 in the written, listening, reading and speaking component of the test or equivalent.

• Term 1
  • English for Academic Purposes (20 cr.)
  • Study Skills (20 cr.)
• Term 2
  • Using Numeracy and ICT Skills in Research (20 cr.)
  • Evolution of Management Theory and Practice (20 cr.)
• Term 3
  • Social Psychology in Organisations (20 cr.)
  • The Role of Accounting and Finance in Management (20 cr.)

• Term 1
  • Critical Thinking Skills (20 cr.)
  • Personal and Professional Skills for Management (20 cr.)
• Term 2
  • Organisation Theory (20 cr.)
  • Fundamentals of Financial Accounting (20 cr.)
• Term 3
  • Fundamentals of Management Accounting (20 cr.)
  • Business Economics (20 cr.)

• Term 1
  • Personal and Corporate Taxation (20 cr.)
  • Corporate and Business Law (20 cr.)
• Term 2
  • Management Information for Control (20 cr.)
  • Operations Management (20 cr.)
• Term 3
  • Financial Reporting (20 cr.)
  • Research Methodology (20 cr.)

• Term 1
  • Organisational Culture and Leadership (20 cr.)
  • Auditing (20 cr.)
• Term 2
  • Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics (20 cr.)
  • Corporate Financial Management (20 cr.)
• Term 3
  • Research Project (40 cr.)

Foundation YEAR ZERO (6 Compulsory Modules)

English for Academic Purpose

The module is designed to increase confidence and fluency in the use of formal and informal English language skills. In particular the course prepares students for the many different forms of interaction with speakers of English including academic staff and fellow students. The content focuses on the importance of clarity through the use of appropriate English in different academic situations and covers four key areas: listening and presenting skills, reading skills, writing skills, and how to select and use appropriate grammar and vocabulary in different academic contexts.

Study Skills

The module is designed to help students make the transition from secondary education to higher education. Higher education emphasises the importance of students becoming autonomous learners which can be a challenge for those new to this approach. Understanding how you learn, and your preferred learning style, enables students to create a learning agenda specific to their particular needs including learning as a collaborative activity. Technological innovations are enabling greater use of student-centric as opposed to tutor-centric learning so encouraging the development of the individual as an autonomous learner through collaborative learning.                                 

Using Numeracy and IT skills

Research is part of the process of developing an ‘enquiring mind’. Whether to deepen subject knowledge, write an assignment or carry out a project, research is fundamental to studying at higher education. The module provides a foundation in the use of relevant numeracy and ICT skills in order to investigate, process and interpret information in the course of conducting research.

Evolution of Management Theory and Practice

As organisations grew and developed so the need to efficiently and effectively manage their operations became more important. But organisations also evolve in response to changes in their operating environment and the practice of management has evolved with these changes. This module considers four phases in the development of the theory and practice of management – the origins of management practice, management in the early stages of the industrial revolution, management in the post-industrial era and the shape of management practice in the future.

Social Psychology in Organisations

Sound management practice relies on understanding the causes of behaviour in the workplace. There is a technical aspect to work but it is important to also consider social aspects. Social psychology theories can help explain specific workplace phenomena, such as the behaviour of individuals, motivation and organisational culture, which can affect the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. In particular, process theories help explain why certain phenomena occur while need theories help explain the extent to which individuals will participate and engage with given tasks.

The Role of Accounting and Finance in Management

Accounting is concerned with collecting, analysing and communicating information whereas finance covers the ways in which business organisations raise and invest funds to develop their operations. The first part of the module analyses the range of financial information organisations are required to produce before considering how day-to-day operations are managed using an understanding of costs and budgets. In the final part of the module sources of short term and long term finance are considered together with an examination of how capital investment decisions are made.

YEAR ONE (6 Compulsory Modules)

Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is the ability to question what we read, hear and/or see. In all academic disciplines there are differences of opinion, conflicting evidence and uncertainty and a key skill in higher education is the ability to assess the evidence and arguments presented by others. This involves researching the topic, analysing the arguments given by different researchers in the field, and weighing up the evidence so that you can form your own understanding and conclusions about whose point of view you agree with and why.

Personal and Professional Skills for Management

The module examines the personal and professional skills needed to successfully manage individuals and teams in a business context. The effectiveness of people in the workplace is critical to maximising performance, and an understanding of how to successfully communicate and influence workplace behaviour is, therefore, a fundamental managerial skill. Managers also need to understand how teams develop and how to lead an effective team using appropriate inter-personal skills with an ability to coach and develop people in order to achieve a productive workforce.  

Organisation Theory

Modern economies could not function without organisations. Whether formal or informal, their efficiency and effectiveness has a major impact on innovation, employment and standards of living. After examining early theories of how organisations evolved, the module analyses different organisational structures in the context of their environment, and how, over time, changes in the environment can change the nature and function of organisations. The module concludes by considering how technological advances are forcing organisations to become less hierarchical and more flexible.

Fundamentals of Financial Accounting

The module examines the underlying principles, concepts and techniques of collecting and recording data for the preparation of financial statements. In addition to the needs of shareholders it would be impossible for business managers to organise and manage operations without information on profitability (or loss), cash flows and a statement of financial position showing assets, liabilities and equity in the business. Issues of definition, measurement and interpretation of these items can fundamentally affect the presentation of statements and these issues are considered at the end of the module

Fundamentals of Management Accounting

The module considers how accounting information can be used by management to take strategic decisions based on an assessment of business performance. In the first part of the module, sources of management information are examined together with the statistical techniques that can be used to analyse data in order to make decisions. This leads to an analysis of various approaches to costing and the role of budgets for monitoring and control. The final part of the module considers performance measurements for the control of operations and the efficient use of resources.

Business Economics

The module examines the different types of business organisations, their stakeholders, structures and operating environment, before considering the governance of organisations including reporting systems, compliance and security issues. Understanding how market economies work is a key management skill and the second half of the module analyses the relationship between the economic and business environment by examining how individual markets operate (microeconomics), and how economies operate at the aggregate level (macroeconomics). 

YEAR TWO (6 Compulsory Modules)

Personal and Corporate Taxation

An understanding of relevant tax legislation and the liability for payment by both individuals and companies is fundamental to the work of an accountant. After examining the framework of the UK tax system and the role of HMRC, the module analyses how personal tax liabilities are calculated including the computation of NI contributions. The scope and liability for corporation tax is then analysed including how the chargeable gains of companies are established, the principles of VAT and its computation. In the final part of the module the affect and economic consequences of levying taxes are considered.

Corporate and Business Law

An understanding of the legal context in which businesses operate is essential to the function of accounting and finance. The first part of the module considers the nature and sources of law in the UK and international agreements and conventions governing global trade. The second part explores the law of obligations as applied to international business including transportation documentation and payment. The following section examines different types of business organisation, their formation, constitution and financing, and how and under what circumstances they are dissolved. The module finishes by analysing the management and regulation of companies including fraudulent and criminal behaviour.

Management Information for Control

Part of the function of accounting is to produce management reports evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. The process involves identifying problems and opportunities using appropriate management information systems to focus on operational costs, pricing and revenue growth. The first part of the module examines various costing and accounting techniques before examining relevant decision-making tools and how they are used to assess organisational performance. The final part of the module considers how budgets are used for control purposes and the use of performance measures in different operational contexts.

Operations Management

Operations management is concerned with the process by which organisations transform a range of inputs into the outputs of goods and services that will be purchased by customers. In particular it focuses on designing and controlling processes to ensure that its operations are efficient in terms of minimising the use of resources and effective in terms of meeting customer requirements. It is thus the core function of an organisation that can have a major impact on the long term sustainability of the business.   

Financial Reporting

The purpose of financial reporting is to provide a detailed picture of an organisation’s financial position at a specific point in time. Because of the complexity of financial transactions and the problems of definition, measurement and treatment of assets and liabilities, most countries have adopted the International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for financial reports. Organisations operating in these countries are required to produce financial statements that comply with these standards and this module focuses on the main requirements of the standards.

Research Methodology

The module lays the groundwork for undertaking a research project in the final year of the programme. In particular it examines different research philosophies and the basic elements of research design and how they shape and inform the research process. Core skills that will be developed include selecting an appropriate method of data collection and analysis, identifying relevant information sources, preparing and collecting data, analysing data using different approaches for qualitative and quantitative research projects, and writing the report once the research is complete.

YEAR THREE (5 Compulsory Modules)

Organisational Culture and Leadership

There is a strong inter-dependence between leadership and organisational behaviour. A specific leadership style, such as democratic or authoritarian, can have a profound influence on an organisation’s culture. But an organisation may have a particular culture that has developed for a number of reasons and leaders that do not understand this culture, or worse try to lead an organisation against the interests of an entrenched culture, often achieve sub-optimal results. The module examines how organisational culture originates and develops, and how to diagnose and define a specific culture. In the final part of the module different leadership styles and their relationship to organisational culture are analysed.

Auditing

The auditing of an organisation’s financial statements is fundamental to ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the financial picture presented by management and the confidence of investors. However, this task has become more challenging as a result of the increasing complexity of company structures and the development of ever more intricate financial instruments. The module first considers the concept of auditing and its regulation before examining the basic principles of the auditing process including the analysis of an organisation’s internal controls. The module finishes by reviewing how evidence presented for audit is sampled and tested.  

Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – which involves the relationship between business organisations, governments, communities and individuals – has increased in significance as an awareness of the impact of business operations has grown. Increasingly, organisations are expected to behave ethically in areas such as human rights, supply chain management and sustainability. This responsibility extends to the way organisations manage their workforce with the rise of job insecurity through the growth of part-time and zero hours contracts, and worsening terms and conditions of employment leading to increased stress. However, it is in the area of environmental degradation through climate change and the depletion of limited natural resources that CSR is of most relevance.

Corporate Financial Management

Corporate finance is concerned with the different ways organisations can raise finance and invest in assets in order to grow their business. There are three sources of finance for investment; internally generated cash flow, by borrowing and by selling shares. The central focus of corporate finance is the decision on what investments should be made and how it should be financed. However, both raising finance and investment involves risk and fundamental to the function of corporate finance is assessing the likely return on investments and manage the risk of raising finance.

Research Project

The independent research project provides students with an opportunity to integrate and apply knowledge and understanding from the three levels of the degree to a typical workplace environment and to develop research skills in a specialised area. The project is an original, detailed research analysis on a topic selected in consultation with, and supervised by, a member of LSME’s academic staff. The project includes a critical literature review and primary and/or secondary empirical work to address a specific research question (or questions). 

Normally the course will involve three years of full-time study with an additional year for the foundation option.

The BSc (Hons) Business Management programme is delivered through a full-time of formal lectures, workshops and seminars.

Various methods are used to assess each module including essays, reflective assignments, written reports, oral reports, case studies and projects. There will be time-constrained examinations also for selected modules.

Students who are awarded a minimum of a 2(2) classification can progress to a range of university Masters programmes in a relevant subject area, including MSc in Accounting and Finance and MBA. Students can claim exemptions for many of the modules for professional courses like ACCA.  Students can also progress in employment in a range of positions with supervisory, team leading or managerial roles.