Professional Accounting BA (Hons)
Study level: UndergraduateHNC/HND courses

Accountancy is a vital function in business, fulfilling a significant role in business development and profitability.
Year of entry
Location
CU Coventry (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Part-time
Duration
3 year - Degree
2 year - HND
1 year - HNC
Flexible part-time
Course code
NN1K / 004N / N400
Start date
July 2023
Course overview
The ability to produce quality financial data is integral to strategic decision-making and could ultimately be the reason a business thrives or dissolves. Consequently, studying accountancy and finance can lead to an exciting career in a variety of organisations from public sector to private sector as well as charities.
At CU Coventry, we aim to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skillset to help you get into the accounting profession. Alongside your learning, you will also have the chance to conduct critical research with our experienced staff, learn from guest visitors and take part in practical modules.
Why CU Coventry
We offer a style of education which is flexible and designed to fit around your life, allowing you to benefit from a modern, forward-thinking higher education institution, reinforced by the quality and reputation of Coventry University. We aim to provide career-focused courses, wherever possible, coupled with placement opportunities to help prepare you for the world of work. We are dedicated to making higher education accessible and enjoyable to everyone, so we keep our fees low and made it a policy to cover one module at a time, allowing you to become a specialist in each topic before moving onto the next.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
This course has been specifically designed to coincide with learning material recognised by professional accounting bodies. This means graduates from our course leave with a degree embedding the essential skills that will help toward gaining professional qualifications from a range of accounting bodies.
To achieve these qualifications, you must complete the degree course and gain relevant work experience. Upon completion of the course you will have the opportunity to apply for exemptions from the professional accounting bodies to work toward their professional qualifications.
However, this is not a condition of academic credit. Assessments for the professional qualification will be independent from that undertaken for the academic award. Should you decide to apply for exemptions from units of the professional qualifications there will be additional student membership fees and assessment fees.

The Association of Accounting Technicians
This course is accredited by The Association of Accounting Technicians for the 2021/22 intake. If the accreditation of this course AND/OR the modules on this course change, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) is a professional membership body. An AAT qualification is a route to some of the most in-demand skills in the world and provides you with a professional status. The AAT will grant exemption from the Level 4 AAT qualification. In addition, students can apply for membership of the AAT, providing they obtain the relevant working experience and demonstrate reading on professional ethics.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
This course is accredited by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for the 2021/22 intake. If the accreditation of this course AND/OR the modules on this course change, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) offers qualifications recognised by employers and accountancy professionals. The ICAEW will grant exemption from eight of their units. Students can also obtain the ICAEW Certificate for Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) providing the student completes their accounting exam.

The Institute of Financial Accountants
The Institute of Financial Accountants has recognised this degree as a pathway to membership of the Institute. It provides graduates with exemptions into the IFA Direct Education Programme’. Further information on the arrangement can be found on the IFA website or contact the IFA education team at education@ifa.org.uk.
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What you'll study
This detailed course focuses on giving you the foundational knowledge needed for a successful career within accounting.
For a variety of industries, we will provide you with theoretical insights and the practical knowledge needed to effectively deliver financial services. This course covers a comprehensive range of themes including taxation, financial reporting, budget management and business operations.
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.
How you'll learn
This course is available as a full-time three year or optional four-year sandwich course, the latter incorporating a work placement or study year in a related field. Alternatively, part-time study is also available.
Our teaching methods are varied, offering a number of teaching styles to suit the needs of all our students, so in addition to lectures, we also utilise a blended learning approach, including online aspects, workshops and group work. We also operate an open-door policy, with additional availability via email and our online learning platform, Aula.
Progression through the modules develops knowledge and skills, including communication (written and oral), study skills, research methods, project management, presentation and career development. We will also encourage you to consider your employability and/or entrepreneurial development.
Due to the professional alignment of the course, exams will be a common feature when it comes to final assessments. However, a variety of assessment methods will be used. You’ll be required to deliver reports, presentations, essays and projects plans as part of a group and individually.
Full-time
If you choose to study full-time you can expect up to 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.
Part-time
If you choose to study part-time you'll usually receive up to eleven hours per week of blended learning, including classes, tutorials and online learning. Outside of this, there will also be independent study and online support. Please note: part-time courses run subject to numbers.
Assessment
The learning outcomes of modules and assignments 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.
Assessment methods vary and include practice assessments, written practical reports, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which take place in week 3 and week 6 of each six-week block.
Assessment Credit Value:
- 10 credit value for Coursework/Phased Test (assignment 1)
- 20 credit value for Phased Test Assessments (assignment 2)
Job ready
On completion, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of the theoretical, analytical and practical aspects of policies, strategies and processes within a changing environment, to meet stakeholder interests.
- Critically appraise theories related to the development of a successful budgeting and financial strategy including the risk factors that need to be considered including country, currency and competitor risk.
- Be proficient in developing management level strategy.
- Develop appropriate research and analysis techniques, alongside the ability to undertake reliable market research activities.
- Operate, lead and collaborate in a team to solve problems of a practical (experimental) nature and to provide.
- Apply appropriate presentation and evaluation tools to establish the significance of research data produced.
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2022/23 entry.
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK | £6,800 per year | £6,800 |
International | £15,300 per year | Not available |
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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 government's 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
All our facilities are located at Mile Lane. Our building has been designed to enable collaboration, creativity and innovation to flourish, and includes (subject to availability):
- Indoor and outdoor social spaces, including a café
- A library that includes loan laptops, over 115,000 eBooks and a silent study area
- Open access IT suites and 83-inch teaching screens
- Engineering lab, science lab and a moot courtroom
- Student support and careers advice teams
Careers and opportunities
With an ever-growing demand for accounting professionals in all industries, graduates of this course have an expansive list of career paths to explore.
Successful graduates will be knowledgeable across a range of accounting and management disciplines, giving an advantage over candidates who have gone through the traditional route of an independent and narrowly focused course. Further, students may have gained several professional certificates in addition to their degree, meaning you could have an excellent advantage for progression towards becoming a Chartered Accountant.
Where our graduates work
Some of our graduates have gone on to further study with a master’s degree in the finance industry at institutions across the UK. Specialist areas have included Banking and Finance MA, Accounting and Finance MA and Business Administration MBA in Dubai.
Other graduates from this course have gone on to work successfully in leading global companies such as Santander, BDO Accountants and RSM International.
How to apply
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UK students
Full-time UK undergraduate students apply through UCAS. Otherwise, you will need to apply to CU directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
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International students
International students should apply directly to CU directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International pages or Coventry University Group's International hub.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
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Disclaimers
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the CU Group. A copy of the 2022/23 contract can be found here. 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 CU Group will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at CU Coventry.
Tuition fees
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we 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. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
Accreditations
Many 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 CU Group maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
Facilities
Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Placements and study abroad opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Additional costs
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas.