Accounting and Finance BSc (Hons)

Study level: 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, financial management or fiscal management.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

UCAS codes

NN34

Start date

September 2026


Course overview

Sound financial knowledge and accountancy skills help businesses make informed decisions, develop the right strategies and achieve growth, while also considering ethics and sustainability. Management roles often require budgeting and financial administration skills to keep a business on track and achieve targets. Coventry University’s Accounting and Finance BSc (Hons) course is designed to help you develop these capabilities.

A star in the centre of a rosette.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2026

Why you should study this course

  • Tailor your study to your chosen career path: in your first year, you will study a range of subjects aimed at giving you a grounded understanding of the principles around accounting, finance and financial management. In your second and final years, you will build on this foundation and narrow down your focus to specialise in your area of interest.
  • Prepare for professional qualifications: 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 the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
  • Enjoy an engaging student experience: participate in events2 such as International Audit Week and International Tax Week, where you get to network with industry partners, engage with student delegations from international universities and compete in a simulated environment, bringing academic learning to life.
  • Put your skills to the test: prepare and analyse financial statements and study the impact of finance on real businesses through case studies of a range of organisations.
  • Develop practical skills in our Bloomberg Trading Floor:4 gain hands-on experience of market-leading financial databases such as Bloomberg, LSEG Workspace, Fitch Connect and Bureau van Dijk Fame, along with opportunities for professional certifications for Bloomberg, LSEG Workspace and in ESG.2,4
  • Benefit from real-world exposure: boost your employability with an optional sandwich year2, offering you the chance to gain hands-on industry placement experience. Past students have undertaken placements at PwC, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, Jaguar Land Rover and the NHS.
  • Join like-minded communities: enrich your student experience by becoming a member of a student-led society such as the Investment Society or the Economics Society.2

Accreditation and professional recognition

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

This course is currently accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the 2025/26 intakes and is subject to re-accreditation for the 2026/27 intakes. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be eligible for exemption from a number of Applied Skills level ACCA papers, depending on the modules studied. Please note that additional papers will be required to be taken in order to attain the ACCA qualification, which will incur additional costs. You will also need to fulfil the practical experience requirement, register with ACCA and apply for relevant exemptions as well as meet any applicable visa requirements. For more information, please visit the ACCA website.


Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

This course is currently accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) for the 2025/26 intakes and is subject to re-accreditation for the 2026/27 intakes. Successful completion of the course entitles students to exemptions from a number of CIMA papers. Please note that additional papers will be required to be taken in order to attain the CIMA qualification, which will incur additional costs. You will also need to fulfil the practical experience requirement and register with CIMA and apply for relevant exemptions. Please see the CIMA website for more details. Should CIMA accreditation not be received we will write to you as soon as possible.


Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

This course is currently accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) for the 2025/26 intakes and is subject to re-accreditation for the 2026/27 intakes. Subject to the accreditation being approved, upon successful completion of this course, and obtaining a minimum mark of 50% on the specified modules you will be able to secure exemptions from certain ICAEW papers. Additional papers are required to be taken in order to attain the ICAEW qualification. These will incur additional costs, and you will need to fulfil the practical experience requirement. You will also need to register with ICAEW and apply for the relevant exemptions. Please visit the ICAEW website for more details.


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 (Hons)
  • Accounting and Finance BSc (Hons)

Modules

Modules

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.

Modules

Modules

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.

My experience at Coventry University was characterised by exceptional education and unwavering support from faculty members. They demonstrated a profound sense of responsibility, nurturing both my academic achievements and my personal growth. During seminars, teachers diligently addressed my queries, and their prompt responses to emails further demonstrated their dedication to my learning. Additionally, Coventry University offers an outstanding academic environment, featuring a 24-hour accessible library and abundant scholarly resources, which greatly facilitated my learning endeavours.

Leyi Chen, Accounting and Finance BSc (2024)
Two students working on a bloomberg terminal in the trading floor

How you'll learn

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.


Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. You will normally study one 30-credit module at a time. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary depending on your year of study and selected modules. During your first year, you can expect 12-15 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

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

Assessment methods may include:

  • 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

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.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed2.

My passion is to help build students' confidence in their own abilities to disentangle the complex issues of accounting and finance. It’s great when students question assumptions, consider alternative perspectives, reflect on ethical dilemmas, and discuss wider social or environmental implications. I qualified with two professional accounting bodies (CIMA & CPA Australia) and worked as an auditor and commercial analyst. Subsequently, I taught for many years at various institutions in several countries. Whilst I share my experience with learners, I also listen to them as well as hope to inspire them, so they embrace the life-changing possibilities this course offers them.

Dr Simon Huston, Associate Course Director 2024
Two people looking at screens displaying stock market stats

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC
GCSE GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards
BTEC DMM
IB Diploma 24 points
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits at Merit. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above.

 

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

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.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international foundation pathway. Upon successful completion this should provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year
Not available
EU 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £16,800 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £16,800 per year
Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.

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.

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 permits 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.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above 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.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

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).

*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.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

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.

 

People at the Talent team fair on the balcony and on the ground floor

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.

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.

The graduate destinations listed above illustrate potential career paths. You may need to gain additional qualifications or practical experience, pass professional examinations, complete training, cover associated costs and meet specific visa or immigration requirements to secure employment in these fields.

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

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