Accounting and Finance BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Undergraduate

Two students using Bloomberg terminals on the Trading Floor

This course offers you the chance to gain a solid foundation in a broad range of potential career options within finance, accountancy or general management.

Course option

Degree with foundation year

Year of entry

2024-25 2025-26

Location

CU Coventry (Coventry) and
Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

4 years full-time
5 years sandwich

UCAS codes

NNDF

Start date

November 2024

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Course overview

Our degree with foundation year could be the stepping stone you need to achieve your goals. The foundation year aims to prepare you for degree-level study and is a great way to build the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to succeed on your degree course.

Foundation year

This year aims to provide the fundamental knowledge and skillset in a range of mathematical and business principles, as well as the theories and concepts involved in investment risk and professional ethics.

Degree

Sound financial knowledge and accountancy skills are needed so businesses can make the right decisions, develop the right strategies and achieve growth, while also considering issues of ethics and sustainability. Many management roles require an understanding of budgeting and financial administration, to ensure the business remains on track and meets its targets.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

By studying this course, you will have the opportunity to:

Foundation year

Supports you to gain the academic skills required for degree-level study.
Provides a grounding in key areas of accounting and finance.

Degree

Tailor your study to your chosen career path
This course allows you to broaden your knowledge and skills or focus on specialisation as you see fit. You will first study a wide range of subjects laying a solid foundation for a career in accounting, finance or financial management. In the final year, you will have the opportunity to select from a range of optional modules to focus on a particular area of interest.
Prepare for professional qualifications²
Our degree is closely aligned to the syllabi of professional accountancy bodies including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Put your skills to the test
Prepare and analyse financial statements, as well as studying the impact of finance on real businesses through case studies of a diverse range of organisations.
Develop practical skills in our Bloomberg Trading Floor⁴
Develop your skills in our Trading Floor⁴, which is currently one of the largest academic trading floors in Europe, featuring contemporary Bloomberg terminals.
Benefit from real-world exposure
Prepare for a future career in accounting and finance with a work placement². Past students have undertaken placements with L'Oreal, Vauxhall Motors, and Digitus Accountancy Limited.

Accreditation and professional recognition

The degree is accredited¹ and recognised by the following bodies:

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

This course is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the 2023/24 intake. Upon successful completion of the course you will be able to secure certain exemptions from ACCA papers, depending on your choice of modules. Please note that additional papers will be required to be taken to become /qualified through the ACCA, which will incur additional costs, and you will also need to fulfil the practical experience requirement. Qualifying will be subject to competitive application, availability, and meeting any applicable visa requirements.

Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA)

This degree is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy CIPFA for the 2024/25/26/27/28 intakes. CIPFA recognition allows students who successful graduate from this degree to gain up to six professional examination exemptions as part CIPFA PAQ syllabus for professional qualification. This is subject to application, availability, meeting applicable visa requirements and additional fees may apply. If there is any change to the recognition of this course by the CIPFA, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

This course is recognised by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) for the 2024/25/26 intakes. CII recognition allows students to gain certain exemptions from some professional examinations, upon successful completion of this course (subject to application, availability, meeting applicable visa requirements and additional fees may apply). If there is any change to the recognition of this course by the CII, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Exemptions

Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW)

This course is recognised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) for the 2023/24 intake. Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to secure particular exemptions from certain ICAEW papers, depending on your selection of modules, and you will also need to fulfil the practical experience requirement to qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. Please note this is subject to availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional costs.

Chartered Institute for Management Accountants (CIMA)

This course is recognised by the Chartered Institute for Management Accountants (CIMA) for the 2023/24 intake. Upon successful completion you will be able to secure exemptions from CIMA papers, depending on your choice of modules. Please note that additional papers will be required to be taken to attain the CIMA qualification, which will incur additional costs, and you will also need to fulfil the practical experience requirement. This may also be subject to competitive application, availability, and meeting any applicable visa requirements.

Additional certificates

As part of the degree you will have the option to work towards two additional certifications (outside of your study modules):

[1] Bloomberg Market Concepts Certificate: Optional certification to help our students stand out and demonstrate their understanding of financial markets, central banking and the application of economic indicators, as well as hone their skills in utilising Bloomberg terminal functionalities for a fast moving market.

[2] Bloomberg ESG Certificate: Optional certification for students to demonstrate their understanding of the Environmental, Social and Governance factors, and their implications for strategy development and regulatory compliance.

Memberships

PRME - The Principles for Responsible Management Education

Coventry Business School is currently an active member of The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). PRME is a United Nations-supported initiative founded in 2007 that aims to raise the profile of sustainability in their classrooms through seven principles focused on serving society and safeguarding our planet.

AACSB- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB is the world’s largest network of business schools and organisations committed to advancing business education and making a lasting, positive impact on society to create next generation of great leaders.

BGA - Business Graduates Association

Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the Business Graduates Association (BGA). BGA’s student and graduate benefits have been crafted to enhance your learning experience, providing a range of tools to support professional and personal development.

GBSN - Global Business School Network

Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the Global Business School Network (GBSN). The Global Business School Network is a nonprofit organisation that partners with business schools, industry, foundations and aid agencies to improve access to quality, locally relevant management and entrepreneurship education for the developing world.

SBC - Small Business Charter

Coventry Business School is a recipient of the Small Business Charter (SBC) Award. The award is a mark of excellence for business schools, recognising their expertise in supporting small businesses, student entrepreneurship, and effective engagement in the local economy.

International Audit Week

International Audit Week is usually held annually, and is dedicated to helping students develop their auditing skills, with a view to successful careers in the audit and accounting sectors.

What you'll study

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses

Accountancy BSc

Modules

Principles of Financial Accounting – 20 credits

This module focuses on the main principles governing the recording of business transactions and the presentation of financial information for external reporting globally, the systems and techniques used by businesses to produce financial statements, and the core concepts that underpin these statements. The module aims to introduce the main financial statements produced by different business organisations and explain what these indicate about business performance.

Compulsory

Principles of Management Accounting – 20 credits

This module focuses on the nature and behaviour of costs and introduces various approaches to the treatment of overheads and the different costing and decision-making techniques available to the professional management accountant. It aims to introduce the fundamental management accounting techniques including, but not limited to budgeting, measurement and analysis of variances, contribution analysis and throughput accounting.

Compulsory

Principles of Finance – 20 credits

This module provides you with an understanding of the importance of business finance, and of the constraints and opportunities relating to business finance, as well as how businesses raise capital and carry out investment appraisals. The module also explores the concepts of debt, savings and investments from a personal finance perspective. It provides you with opportunities to apply theories in finance to real-world business scenarios.

Compulsory

Mathematics and Statistics – 20 credits

This module aims to develop your ability to apply appropriate mathematical and statistical techniques to financial and economic problems. It starts by applying core mathematical methods that you will have studied previously, and then introduces you to other mathematical and statistical techniques in the context of financial and economic applications.

Compulsory

Business Economics - 20 credits

This module introduces you to the economic environment in which a business organisation operates and to develop an understanding of basic economic concepts that are applicable to careers in business, accountancy and finance. It also considers how resources are allocated in a market economy, alternative market structures and their implications for businesses and consumers, the role of government, macroeconomic issues, and the international economic environment.

Compulsory

Entrepreneurial Thinking – 20 credits

The aim of this module is to enable you to engage critically and creatively with entrepreneurship in the context of responsible management practice. Using a variety of tools, you will be supported to develop a self-awareness of your own entrepreneurial mindsets, competencies and skillsets. During the module, you will be able to share your own experiences with those of other practitioners from business, role play different entrepreneurial archetypes and peer review their enterprising traits and entrepreneurial competencies.

Compulsory

In year two, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:  

Technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge 
Study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner 
Professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career 
Global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen

Modules

Financial Reporting - 20 credits

This module provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and apply a number of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and accounting concepts. These standards and principles will be applied in the preparation of published financial statements for entities, including a simple group structure. Wherever possible the module applies theories and concepts to real-world examples, thereby replicating scenarios faced by accountants on a regular basis. You will also be able to develop the skills necessary to critically analyse and interpret financial statements and become aware of limitations in published accounting information.

Compulsory

Management Accounting - 20 credits

This module introduces you to the behavioural aspects of managerial accounting in areas such as transfer pricing and divisional performance management. It also provides you with relevant accounting techniques that can be used in decision-making and explores how they can be applied in business situations, and their limitations.

Compulsory

Financial Management – 20 credits

This module introduces you to key concepts in financial management. You will learn about the function of financial management the operations of capital markets, the trade-off between risk and return, how to price financial assets and the importance of the way a business finances its operations. The module is designed to develop numeracy and analytical skills within a sustainable, socially responsible and ethical framework.

Compulsory

Designing a Research Proposal - 20 credits

This module provides you with the opportunity to identify current or global challenges in the environment and present ideas to address those issues in a proactive manner. You will develop an awareness and a critical understanding of key research methodologies within your chosen area of study and design a proposal for researching the relevant contemporary issues.

Compulsory

Accounting Information System - 20 credits

This module explores the processes by which financial and management accounting is supported by various Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools, Statutory Accounting Principles (SAPs), and market leading accounting software (e.g. SAGE) in the analysis and decision-making process.

The module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to operate in a finance or accounting role in real world situations using internationally recognised software products to develop your abilities and understanding of the role of such tools in an industry setting.

Compulsory

Financial Services - 20 credits

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the functions and operation of retail financial services in the UK, the key financial products, regulation of financial services, financial inclusion, FinTech, financial crimes, risks, and current issues and trends. You will learn about the workings of the equity and bond markets, gain quantitative skills to price stocks and bonds and develop critical understanding of theories in finance.

Compulsory

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement² can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee³ of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

UK Work Placement– 0 credits

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

International Study/Work Placement – 0 credits

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

Year three aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from years one and two. You could also work on a large final project in an area of your interest, with the support of a supervisor.

Modules

Advanced Management Accounting – 20 credits

This module aims to enable you to design, use and critically appraise management and cost accounting information systems. You will learn how to employ advanced management accounting techniques and how to evaluate their strengths and limitations, and appreciate when different techniques may or may not be appropriate in the light of recent research in this area.

Compulsory

Corporate Financial Management – 20 credits

This module provides you with a deeper understanding of the scope and nature of the financial management issues that exist within modern corporations. It covers the major strands of financial management theory such as working capital management, financing of the firm, risk management and seeks to apply the theory to real world applications.

Compulsory

Project (Dissertation) - 40 credits

This module provides you with the opportunity to apply and develop your research skills and to extend your knowledge, understanding and ability to critically analyse a topic in a specialist area of interest. You will choose a research topic related to your programme of study and apply critical analysis skills acquired through this and other modules to research the topic in depth. You will receive academic support through a series of group supervisions and will be allocated a project supervisor.

Compulsory

Optional Modules

Choose two of the following modules:

Optional

The foundation year offers an introduction to your chosen subject and supports you to develop the skills required for degree-level study.

Modules

Academic Skills for Accounting and Finance - 30 credits

In this module, you will start the year by setting academic goals, this helps track development throughout the course. You’ll be introduced to a range of skills that will aid you throughout the course and further study, such as critical thinking, planning and resource management and interpersonal skills.

Additionally, you will look to gain skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), team working, communication, planning and more. We will also discuss plagiarism, referencing and professional standard skills throughout the module, so that you receive thorough academic training.

Compulsory

Accounting and Spreadsheets - 30 credits

In this module, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of accounting and finance. You will explore and analyse different streams of accounting, such as partnership accounts, control accounts, sole trader accounts and accounting systems. We introduce professional software to you from the outset, so that by the end of the year, you should be proficient in industry-standard software.

To solidify your understanding, we test your knowledge through case studies centred around spreadsheet software.

Compulsory

Investment and Risk - 30 credits

Investment and risk are specialist sectors within financial services, yet the discipline is required in every business.

In this informative module, you will understand the impact that macro- and micro-environments have on investment and returns, as well as the nuances of ethically and socially responsible investments. Exploring modern and exciting case studies, you will learn about asset class, packaged investment products and asset allocation.

Throughout this module, we will introduce you to the notion of working autonomously, taking control of your work and gaining the confidence to make informed decisions.

Compulsory

Cost, Revenue and Professional Ethics - 30 credits

This module focuses on the application of the fundamental concepts for accountants, including, ethics, costs and revenues. In preparation for progression onto our degree course, this module teaches you the ethical side of accounting, such as resolutions to ethical dilemmas and legal considerations when dealing with clients. In addition, you will look closely at costing methods and behaviours within the accounting profession. At this stage, you should be able to analyse data and information and you will be required to complete a test to confirm your competency in this subject.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

The Accounting and Finance BSc at Coventry University provided me with a rigorous and comprehensive platform for building my accounting and finance knowledge. The Bloomberg Trading floor and huge amount of online academic resources are a great help.
Yilong Chen, Accounting and Finance BSc (2021)

Two students working on a bloomberg terminal in the trading floor

How you'll learn

The foundation year is focused on applied learning through a blend of lectures, tutorials and online learning. There are no end-of-year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which are more reflective of a working environment.

The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.

Teaching contact hours

You can expect up 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 30 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary and may include practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which generally take place at the end of each six-week block.

Our teaching has a strong focus on merging theory and practice. You will be engaged in simulation and practical exercises, such as preparing and analysing financial statements or assessing financial investment options, giving you the opportunity to apply theory to real-life scenarios that professional accountants encounter on a day-to-day basis.

You will have the opportunity to use one of the largest educational trading floors in Europe⁴, running Bloomberg trading terminals and giving access to a wealth of live and historical trading market data.

You will benefit from formative feedback on your work delivered in class and online.

You will aim to develop team working, communication and leadership skills through participating in group projects.

If you choose to start this course in January it will be run as a condensed programme. You’ll start your course in January and finish your first year in August. Upon successful completion of Year 1, you will progress onto Year 2 in September and then continue to start subsequent years of your course in September, completing your degree at the same time as the September starters unless you opt to do a placement year.

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include:

On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
Group work
Self-directed learning
Work placement opportunities².

If you would like more information, you can request information about teaching hours.

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs. This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

Formal examinations
Phase tests
Essays
Group work
Presentations
Reports
Projects
Coursework
Exams
Individual Assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International Experience Opportunities

Coventry is a multicultural university, so our typically diverse student and staff body helps to facilitate a multicultural learning environment.

Coventry University aims to give you the global opportunities² needed to become a truly global graduate, enhancing your employability on a global scale. Options might include language classes, studying or working abroad, international field trips, summer schools, leadership development or work experience.

In the past, our students have had the opportunity to visit universities abroad to study alongside students, see how finance is taught internationally, appreciate the issues in different countries and broaden their perspectives.

Closer to home, you might have the opportunity to participate in European field trips² as part of events such as the annual Tax Week initiative or the annual Audit Week, both of which were conducted in collaboration with European universities, and saw students work collaboratively on related projects.

You can watch a video that explores a previous International Audit Week.

My absolute passion is making the complex issues of accounting and finance easily understandable to students. I am a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), with over 15 years of teaching and research experience at various universities in three different countries.; I love bringing that experience to my teaching and inspiring learners to think about the possibilities that studying this course can potentially open up.
Dr Hafij Ullah, Assistant Professor in Accounting 2022

Two people looking at screens displaying stock market stats

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

72 UCAS tariff points. All foundation courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C/9-4 including Maths and English, and at least one A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

If you don’t fulfil the entry criteria your application may be considered on an individual basis, taking into account any work experience, other qualifications and/or any training you have completed. Speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Got higher grades? Have you considered direct entry to the degree without foundation year?

Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Foundation year

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£7,950	Not available
International/EU	Not currently available***	Not available

Degree

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,250 per year	Not available
International/EU	Not currently available***	Not available

Please note: UK (home) tuition fees for the degree course years will be charged at the current Coventry University UK (home) degree fee level. This was set at £9,250 for the 23/24 academic year.

If you choose to do a work placement², you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee³ of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Foundation year funding

In order to receive funding for degree with foundation year courses, you will need to complete a four-year degree programme which includes the integrated foundation year, otherwise you may be responsible for your foundation year fees. For further information, please refer to the 'Tuition Fee Loan' details in the 'Funding your undergraduate course' section of our 'Fees and finance' page.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our foundation years are taught at CU Coventry’s Mile Lane building, a short walk from the city centre. You’re part of the university from day one, so during your foundation year you’ll have access to the wider facilities at Coventry University. Once you successfully complete your foundation year, you'll transfer over to studying your chosen degree at Coventry University, where you'll be taught on campus in the relevant academic buildings.

Located on our Mile Lane campus, you will have access to our Library and Learning Services (LLS), fully equipped seminar rooms and IT suites⁴. You can also take advantage of reading rights in Coventry University’s Lanchester Library, make use of sport centre facilities and receive full membership to Your Students' Union.

Two students walking outside with the CU Coventry building behind them.

Mile Lane

The campus is home to an on-site library with bookable one-to-one academic writing service and library support sessions, fully equipped seminar rooms, open-access study areas, a café and an IT suite. Our labs contain industry-standard equipment so that you learn using the same equipment as many industry professionals.

The Hub

At The Hub you'll find the Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Students’ Union and Square One (which provides entertainment from quiz nights to live music), the Spirituality and Faith Centre, Tank Studio, Careers Office, Enterprise Hub and a fantastic food court.

Lanchester Library

Coventry University’s Lanchester Library is open 24/7, 364 days a year and has 1,400 study spaces, including group and silent areas. It also currently offers more than 550 computers and an additional 120 free-to-loan laptops.

We have a range of facilities⁴ available to support our students in putting the theories you are taught into practice.

A student using a computer at a desk wearing glasses next to a tutor pointing at the screen

The Trading Floor

The Trading Floor is an invaluable facility that allows you to get hands-on with industry-standard software. Featuring contemporary dual-screen Bloomberg terminals, the facility can add a dynamic practical element to your course.

Talent Team

Employability is at the forefront of all our finance courses. You will have access to our dedicated employability service, the Talent Team, from the first day of your course, to graduation and beyond.

A female student sat at a desk holding a pen and looking at a laptop.

sigma Centre

The sigma Centre is housed in our Lanchester Library, and offers maths and statistics support through drop-in sessions and bookable appointments, the ideal place to help you navigate any issues you might have while studying an accounting and finance degree.

Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

Explore and evaluate the complex and dynamic global business environment in which accounting and finance operate including awareness of interdependencies between the regulatory, legal, ethical and economic frameworks.
Identify, extract and interpret data from a variety of financial and other numerical sources using appropriate financial analysis techniques and an appreciation of statistical concepts.
Record and summarise transactions and other global economic events, prepare financial statements in compliance with relevant regulatory requirements and demonstrate awareness of the contexts in which accounting data and information is processed and used, by different stakeholder groups.
Demonstrate an understanding of the financial needs of business entities, an appreciation of how theory and evidence may be used to guide practice, the workings of capital markets, and the relationships between risk and return.
Critically evaluate a range of contemporary theories, models and concepts in accounting and finance, and synthesise these to devise optimal investment and financial risk management strategies for entities including managing investment portfolios and currency risk.
Apply critical, analytical and problem-solving skills, including critical analysis and evaluation of data, drawing reasoned conclusions to formulate effective strategies for individuals or organisations.
Use digital information and communications technology⁴ for the acquisition, analysis and communication of information.
Effectively communicate and present quantitative and qualitative information, analysis and findings in a form appropriate to the intended audience.
Evidence effective critical self-reflection, ethical awareness, intercultural awareness and well-developed interpersonal skills including numeracy, collaborative problem-solving and effective time management.

Designed to prepare you for a successful career in finance, accounting or management, this course aims to offer you opportunities to gain industry experience, such as field trips, live cases with clients, business simulations and work experience².

You should have the confidence to give sound financial advice and make effective financial decisions. You should be well placed to pursue a wide variety of potential future careers options in areas such as:

Finance
Management
Accounting
Banking
Personal and corporate finance
Business
Education in private, public and third sector organisations.

Alternatively, this course could set you on the path towards further study for a professional qualification as a Chartered Accountant.

Where our graduates work

In the past graduates have gone on to work for companies spanning a range of sectors such as BDO, Britvic, Meggit, ICON plc, and The Wigley Group.

Typical roles that graduates of this course may progress to include Finance Analyst, Account Technician, Audit Graduate Scheme, and Finance Graduate Scheme.

Further study

Upon successful completion of our Accounting and Finance BSc (Hons) course, you may wish to continue to further your studies at postgraduate level with our Finance MSc here at Coventry Business School.

You can explore all of your options using our postgraduate course search tool.
You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

Please note that further study opportunities² are subject to competitive application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional costs may apply.

Accountancy at Coventry

Student Caleb Mellen talks about the skills and experience he’s learning on his 3rd year work placement.

Two students sat at a desk working on a laptop

Discover Phoenix+

Phoenix+ brings you together with other students to learn, experience and develop essential knowledge and skills. Whatever destination you choose, it's about preparing you for life after university.

Learn more about Phoenix+

How to apply

BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Apply via UCAS

C85

Institution code

View our courses on UCAS

Visit UCAS

UK students

Full-time students applying to start in September 2024 can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

Apply via UCAS

Part-time students should apply directly to the university.

Apply via the portal

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team

Complete our contact form

International students

International codes:
CFBLU081I

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team

Complete our contact form

Disclaimers

Study location

The Foundation Year study route will be delivered by CU, part of the Coventry University Group, for and on behalf of Coventry University.

If you choose to study at CU Coventry for your Foundation Year, then your learning will be based at CU Coventry. Mile Lane, Coventry. Subject to meeting requirements you will then transition to the relevant Coventry University subject faculty building for your progression degree.

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

Your next steps

Student life

Accommodation

Fees and funding

Accounting and Finance BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Course overview

Foundation year

Degree

Rated Gold Overall

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

Why you should study this course

Foundation year

Degree

Accreditation and professional recognition

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA)

Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

International Audit Week

What you'll study

Modules

Modules

Modules

Modules

Modules

How you'll learn

Teaching contact hours

Assessment

Teaching contact hours

Assessment

International Experience Opportunities

Entry requirements

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

Fees and funding

Foundation year

Degree

Foundation year funding

*Irish student fees

**This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.

Facilities

Mile Lane

The Hub

Lanchester Library

The Trading Floor

Talent Team

sigma Centre

Careers and opportunities

Where our graduates work

Further study

Accountancy at Coventry

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How to apply

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