Overview
BA (Hons) International Finance and Accounting is a research led course, designed to embed employability skills into modules. The course is accredited by ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW, and provides broad opportunities to enhance digital skills in softwares such as Sage, Bloomberg, and S&P Capital IQ. You will build an understanding of the international finance sector and knowledge through specialist modules such as financial reporting, auditing, tax, financial management, international finance, business law and financial investment and risk.
You'll get the chance to examine real business issues by having guest speakers from the finance and accounting industry. We also have field trips to business houses such as Bloomberg, S&P, Lloyds of London, Bank of England to expose our students to the industry by observing the industry, real working environment, and external partners. We also use international case studies and placement opportunities which all give you access to industry and real working environment to ensure you graduate ready for work.
Our graduates are accountants, auditors, securities analysts, investment consultants and tax assistants. Recent graduates secured roles with Ernst and Young, KPMG, NHS, China Construction Bank, China Great Wall Securities Co., Ltd., Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holdings. Many are employed in successful accounting firms and financial institutions in the UK and internationally.
Further study is also an option, with many graduates progressing to master's level courses in accounting related areas.This degree offers maximum exemptions from professional exams from ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW, upon successful completion of this course and subject to certain criteria, application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional fees. If students would like to become a member of these professional bodies’, students will also need to register themselves and this is subject to each professional body’s requirements, application, and additional fees may apply. Please visit the relevant websites for further information.
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement, study abroad, field trips, further study or volunteering opportunities and that any such opportunities referred to on this webpage 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.
Why Coventry University London?
We believe that there is no better place to learn about business than to study in the heart of one of the most successful business and financial centres in the world. Launched in 2010 and located in the City of London, we are minutes away from the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange, and are surrounded by several blue chip companies.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
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.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityHeart of the City
Minutes from the Bank of England and Stock Exchange
Accreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
This course is accredited by Association of Chartered certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) for the 2021/22 intake. If the accreditation of this course and/or the modules changes, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Please note that this course offers certain exemptions from professional exams from ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW, upon successful completion of this course and subject to certain criteria, application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional fees, Please visit the relevant websites for further information.
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
What our graduates say
The Lloyds of London trip was enlightening and gave me fresh perspective on the insurance industry. I got to learn a lot about Lloyds and insurance in general and I am sure everyone else feels the same way.
Course information
This course will immerse you in a fascinating subject that can lead to a successful international business career. On graduation or at any point in the future, you could choose to go into finance/ accounting or any other professional or managerial role.
27This highly practical course is designed to make the most of the bustling financial district surrounding the campus. You could encounter some of the world’s biggest banks and businesses thanks to networking, guest speakers, and more (subject to availability).
*There may be opportunities for internships, consultancy projects and simulations, and you could apply for UK or international work placements.
You’ll be taught by tutors with superb international experience, who will draw on their work and research with the aim of illustrating any learning you acquire. Since the course is accredited by leading professional accountancy bodies, you could gain certain exemptions from ACCA, ICAEW and CIMA examinations, upon successful completion of the course and subject to criteria and fees. Please see the Accreditation and Professional recognition section for further information. You will also have the opportunity to be exposed to specialist software and databases that are available on campus. Please note that staff are subject to change.
* Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement, study abroad, internships, field trips, consultancy projects and simulations or volunteering opportunities and that any such opportunities referred to on this webpage 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.
This course also allows students to join directly to year 2, subject to the completion of a level 4 qualification, or directly to year 3, subject to the completion of a level 5 qualification. Please note that students joining directly to year 2 or 3 within the 2021/22 academic year will study a slightly different BA International Finance and Accounting course specification. Find out more information by contacting registry.london@coventry.ac.uk.
81%
of students agreed the course is intellectually stimulating.
UniStats
Course Specification
Download PDF (404 KB )
Modules
Coventry is rated 23rd out of 100+ in the UK for Finance & Accounting in the Guardian University Guide 2018
In more detail...
This course is ideal if you have a lively and enquiring mind, and are interested in how business really functions and how strategic decisions are made. It opens up a potentially varied but stable and well-paid career, with excellent prospects: organisations will always need to manage their finances.
Accreditation
This course has been developed by academic experts in collaboration with industry professionals, and is designed to complement the curricula of the leading professional associations. As a result, it is accredited by ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW and leads to a range of exemptions from professional examinations with bodies including ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW. During the course, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and become student members of key professional associations.
Technology
You’ll learn in our superb modern facilities in the heart of London’s financial district. As part of this, you’ll have access to industry-standard accounting, trading and research technologies, including Bloomberg, Fame, Sage, SAP and S&P Capital IQ. This means you’ll graduate with the immediate advantage of hands-on experience of the systems used by employers. Upon successful completion of this course you will be awarded a certification in Sage, the leading accounting software.
Mixing with business
This is a very practical course, designed to offer hands-on experience through placements, consultancy projects and simulations. Guest speakers from global employers, networking opportunities and overseas trips all offer essential exposure to the word of work. Close proximity to leading financial institutions within the Square Mile (the financial district in the heart of London) offers opportunities to visit organisations such as the Bank of England, Bloomberg and the London Stock Exchange.
Tutors
Your teaching staff all have wide-reaching international experience. Some have worked for ‘big four’ firms; some serve on business boards; some hold PhDs; some conduct research or consultancy; some are published; most are senior fellows of at least one professional association. Their experience will be invaluable in understanding the practical application of your theory and in explaining how your career might develop. You will find them all to be accessible and supportive in helping you begin to find your own role in the world of international finance. For more information on our academic staff visit our Staff Directory.
Strategic approach
This course aims to prepare you for the world of finance and accounting by significantly developing your ability to think critically and strategically. To help you do this, you can engage in interactive, problem-based learning through case studies, live briefs, simulations, consultancies and international projects.
- Coventry University is ranked 12th in the UK, according to the Guardian University League Tables 2018
- This course is closely aligned to the leading professional associations and to what employers are looking for in graduates
- You’ll graduate from this course with a clear idea of the career options open to you in the world of international finance and accounting – and beyond.
- You’ll develop your confidence as an individual, as well as within a team, and you’ll become more skilled in researching, writing up and presenting your work
- Between them, our tutors and our Employability Team have an incredible network of contacts in global finance and accounting, which can help you with networking and placements
- In your final year, besides the more standard dissertation, you could do an internship or a global business simulation, or develop an entrepreneurship business plan – all of these will stretch your strategic thinking
- This is a practical course, which means if you go on placement, and when you graduate, you’ll transition more easily into the world of work – and you’ll already have learned how to use many industry-standard software programs
Your main study themes are:
- Internationalisation – This course aims to prepare you to apply your skills anywhere in the world, perhaps working in a multi-national organisation or moving/ trading money internationally.
- Frameworks – You’ll learn about all of the systems which govern finance and accounting, including ethics; legal and regulatory frameworks; and international standards.
- The use of information – You’ll learn to accurately gather, record, analyse, model and present key financial information, both for internal and external use, within the appropriate frameworks.
- Business strategy – This course contextualises finance and accounting so that you will understand its relationship to business and economics. You will understand how business strategy both depends upon, and influences, financial and accounting policy and results.
You’ll enjoy excellent teaching from experienced tutors at Coventry University London. We hold the Gold Rating for Teaching Excellence (TEF) and we’re number 6 for Student Experience (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018). We’re also the UK’s top new university and we’re ranked 12 among all UK universities (The Guardian University Guide 2018)
In a typical week, you’ll attend up to 9 hours of lectures and seminars. For larger groups, lectures last for up to an hour and seminars last two hours. Seminars are interactive and may involve group discussions, debates and case studies.
You’ll also develop the invaluable discipline of managing your personal learning, which is a life-long skill. This will entail 24 hours each week spent studying and revising in your own time, including some guided study using hand-outs and online activities.
Since this is a practical, hands-on course, you’ll learn to use a range of industry-standard, internationally recognised finance and accounting software platforms. Your learning will also include interaction and collaboration with your fellow students using Coventry University London’s online learning platform.
*A range of options will enable you to address real business scenarios, and you could even choose to do an internship with an employer. You’ll also have opportunities to hear from industry experts through networking and guest lectures.
If you decide to add a year to your course in order to work or study abroad, this will contribute significantly to your learning, both personally and professionally. You will encounter real-world challenges and opportunities, strengthening your confidence and resilience while making a major contribution to your knowledge and understanding.
*Subject to successful application
Teaching methods may include:<br> Lectures, seminars, textbooks, workshops, debates, case studies, consultancy projects, simulations, business plans and online collaborations.
Learning will be assessed using a combination of exams and coursework such as essays, reports, presentations, simulations and workshop activities.
Some assessments are taken as group work. With all our assessments we make sure that students not only demonstrate subject knowledge but also develop professional skills such as professional report writing, structuring a logical argument, analysing data or making a compelling presentation.
On successful completion, you should be able to:
- Discuss the role and function of markets and financial institutions
- Use internationally recognised software such as Sage, SAP, Fame, Bloomberg and S&P Capital IQ
- Articulate the legal and regulatory requirements governing financial accounting and reporting practices
- Evaluate the impact of international standardisation and harmonisation
- Explain complex financial information using high levels of numeracy and digital literacy
- Record and summarise transactions, and prepare, analyse and interpret financial statements
- Use statistical and financial functions and procedures, and be aware of the context in which they can be processed using accounting systems
- Evaluate factors which influence the investment opportunities and behaviour of private individuals and organisations
- Take a logical and creative approach to problem-solving and decision-making
- Consider issues of ethics, sustainability, personal and social responsibility, diversity and global citizenship
- Take a cross-cultural approach to the operational and strategic positioning of organisations
- Begin qualifying as an accountant and gain exemptions in professional examinations.
In a typical week you will have up to 9 contact hours, with a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops.
One of our major strengths is the way we internationalise your learning. Besides building in a global perspective to every aspect of this course, we offer opportunities for you to spend a year studying or working in another country.
Tutors may include joint projects with partner universities in Europe. There are also other opportunities for short overseas trips to explore aspects of your course. In the past, students have visited Dubai, the USA and destinations across Europe. These trips might involve looking at taxation in other countries, tours of stock exchanges, and visits to the local offices of major global accountancy firms.
What our students say...
The Lloyds of London trip was enlightening and gave me fresh perspective on the insurance industry. I got to learn a lot about Lloyds and insurance in general and I am sure everyone else feels the same way.
Entry Requirements
We will consider other qualifications for a pre-result unconditional offer providing that you have an appropriate proven performance at GCSE (or equivalent) level and predicted grades in line with grades that we expect to see at A-level. Other qualifications that we may consider for a pre-result unconditional offer include: the International Baccalaureate Diploma, BTEC Level 3 qualifications, Cambridge Pre-U and combinations of qualifications (e.g. BTECS plus A-levels).
An unconditional offer is what it says it is. So if you don’t meet your predictions then your place at Coventry is still guaranteed. However we would hope and expect that you continue to work hard to make the most of your potential and be best prepared to study at university level.
We can’t but our experience over the years has shown us that students like you with a track record of high grades and excellent predictions are very likely to achieve those grades. Our assessment takes into account all elements of your application to allow us to take a holistic view of your potential. There is still the opportunity to gain one of the Coventry University Scholarships if you achieve the required grades so there is a financial incentive to aim high. Unconditional offers are only made to individuals who have demonstrated their commitment so we believe their focus and determination is unlikely to waver in the final stages of their qualifications.
No, the unconditional offer is only available to those who will take up their place in 2019.
What our students say...
‘Bloomberg: Equity Portfolio Risk via PORT’ trip was a wonderful experience. Something new, challenging and very informative. Your hard work and dedication to make the best of our time is much appreciated!
EU student fees:
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans:
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans:
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
What our students say...
‘Bloomberg: Equity Portfolio Risk via PORT’ trip was a wonderful experience. Something new, challenging and very informative. Your hard work and dedication to make the best of our time is much appreciated!
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
When you graduate, you’ll be ready to take the first steps into a high-flying business career in the private or public sectors anywhere in the world.
This course is accredited by leading accountancy bodies including ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW, which means you should be well-prepared to sit exams to qualify as an accountant, and you may be exempt from some exams with ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW. You should also be equipped for a career beyond accounting, because the financial acumen, business skills and global outlook you’ll have begun to develop will be superb preparation for a career anywhere, in any professional or management role.
You’ll be adept at problem-solving and decision-making, and should have an understanding of how to balance risk and investment. You’ll also have had the opportunity to gain a wide range of softer skills, such as teamwork and communication, which will be highly transferable across all industries and employers.
97%
of students in work or further study six months after they left university
DLHE 2015/16
Where our graduates work
Past graduates of this course have had a wide array of career options to choose from. Some have joined ‘big four’ international accounting and consultancy firms. Others have joined private businesses of every size, insurance companies, or not-for-profit organisations such as charities. Some have gone into local and central government departments either in the UK or overseas. Some set up their own companies as entrepreneurs.
As a graduate yourself, you might decide to become an accountant and then to work within a private business or at a global accountancy firm. Alternatively, you could choose to go into consultancy; become a taxation specialist, a financial analyst or an independent financial advisor; or even start your own company.
Recent graduates have secured roles with Ernst & Young, KPMG, NHS, China Construction Bank, and Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holdings. Many are employed in successful accounting firms and financial institutions in the UK and internationally.
of graduates are in a professional or managerial job within 6 months of graduating
What our students say...
I’d always wanted to be a forensic accountant – someone who investigates fraud. Course modules like Financial Reporting and Auditing really developed my analytical skills and attention to detail.
Disclaimer
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 2020/21 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 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.
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.
