Accounting and Finance
NN34Accountants are indispensable to every business. At Winchester we are passionate about enhancing your digital capabilities and agile thinking to make sure that you thrive in this core and rapidly evolving industry.
Course overview
Our rewarding and practical Accounting and Finance course develops the technical knowledge and professional skills you will need as a modern finance professional in a complex, dynamic world in which technical roles are increasingly automated.
You are taught by academics with professional experience as accountants, who support your personal development and help kick-start rewarding and fulfilling careers in multiple fields. We tend to favour workshop-style sessions over lectures and you will have the opportunity to apply cutting-edge knowledge and skills to real life scenarios. You will also have the opportunity to attend occasional field trips during your studies.
A Personal Development Plan (PDP) is embedded into each year of study and will enhance your academic, personal and professional growth. Your PDP will set your agreed goals which could be on developing your soft skills such as communication, teamwork and leadership; creating a roadmap to support your career aspirations, for example identifying internships and work experience; or planning out your opportunities for networking. Your PDP ensures you will receive continuous support tailored to your individual needs to enhance both your academic performance and career readiness.
Throughout the course, you develop a range of transferable abilities and professional practice skills highly valued by employers. These include critical evaluation, self-direction and problem-solving, as well as a sound grasp of analysis, presentations and negotiation techniques. Learning and teaching takes place in small class sizes to prepare you to work in management teams, and modules focus on applying theory to real business scenarios. In your final year, you have the option to complete a dissertation, undertake a consultancy project or work placement, or launch a start-up.
Before moving on to your final year, you may choose to spend a year on a paid work placement in a business relevant to your ambitions, increasing your professional confidence and employability. A number of previous graduates took up well-paid trainee positions with large accounting firms such as Deloitte and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
University of Winchester Pathways to Accounting, Economics and Finance Programme
The Pathways to Accounting, Economics and Finance programme runs for the first time from October 2024. The pathway is an opportunity for prospective accounting, economics and finance students to engage in a series of practical and informative sessions delivered by academics and finance professionals at the Faculty of Business and Digital Technologies
Participants in Pathways to Accounting, Economics and Finance are eligible to receive reduced contextual offers on the following University of Winchester courses:
- BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance
- BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance
Eligibility for the programme
The programme is open to all home/ Channel Islands Year 12 and Year 13 students.
Programme activities include:
• Lectures and seminar activities based on a variety of accounting and finance topics
• Experience of practical problem solving, analytics, and analysis of financial information
• Career guidance and advice from accounting and finance professionals
• Optional interview experience with the Dean of Faculty or Head of Department
All activities are delivered live at the University of Winchester. Some activities are also delivered virtually.
For more information on the Pathways to Pathways to Accounting, Economics and Finance programme and how to apply
Access the Business and Digital Technologies Pathways programme - Privacy Notice
What you need to know
Course start date
September
Location
Winchester campus
Course length
- 3 years full-time
- 4 years sandwich (with industry placement)
Apply
NN34
Typical offer
104-120 points
Fees
From £9,250 pa
Course features
- Develop a systematic understanding of current issues in accounting to meet the needs of a globalised profession in the 21st century
- Option to spend a year on a paid work placement in business
- Receive exemptions from selected professional examinations of the main accounting institutes, depending on the choice of modules you select
- Course accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Course details
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars, you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
Independent learning: 912 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
Independent learning: 912 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 240 hours
Independent learning: 960 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
Teaching hours
All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:
Year 1 (Level 4)*:
29% coursework
60% written exams
11% practical assessment
Year 2 (Level 5)*:
47% coursework
42% written exams
11% practical assessment
Year 3 (Level 6)*:
36% coursework
53% written exams
11% practical assessment
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
This module aims to develop the fundamental concepts and practices of financial accounting and the application of this knowledge to different forms of business organisations. With a focus on using the IASB’s Conceptual Framework and accounting for transactions and events from first principles, students will develop their conceptual understanding of accounting, their knowledge of the main accounting terminology and their awareness of the nature and purpose of financial reporting. They will acquire the techniques of double entry accounting and how to apply its principles in recording transactions, adjusting financial records and preparing non-complex financial statements.
Whatever a student’s future career, there are certain professional skills that are required in the workplace. This module provides opportunities to acquire and apply essential skills for academic success, while also developing digital skills that are a prerequisite for a successful career. Students will practice, and build confidence in wide ranging skills, as part of their transition into higher education. By establishing and pursuing a personal development plan, students develop a set of personal qualities such as self-awareness, confidence and resilience; and professional skills such as communication, teamwork, risk management, coaching and feedback. Whilst students learn to construct outstanding CVs and professional LinkedIn profiles, this module also aims to raise students’ digital skills competencies. The module will cover the general Microsoft Office suite and specific digital skills of particular relevance to the discipline that the student is studying. This module is taught as a mix of lectures, practitioner guest lectures, hands-on skills seminars and computer lab sessions.
The module introduces management accounting as a specialised service function primarily involving the collection, storage and recording of financial data, its conversion to useful information and the effective communication of this information for decision making. It prepares students for more advanced aspects of management accounting and finance encountered later in the programme.
Whatever a student’s future career, there are certain professional skills that are required in the workplace. This module provides opportunities to acquire and apply essential skills for academic success, while also developing digital skills that are a prerequisite for a successful career. Students will practice, and build confidence in wide ranging skills, as part of their transition into higher education. By establishing and pursuing a personal development plan, students develop a set of personal qualities such as self-awareness, confidence and resilience; and professional skills such as communication, teamwork, risk management, coaching and feedback. Whilst students learn to construct outstanding CVs and professional LinkedIn profiles, this module also aims to raise students’ digital skills competencies. The module will cover the general Microsoft Office suite and specific digital skills of particular relevance to the discipline that the student is studying. This module is taught as a mix of lectures, practitioner guest lectures, hands-on skills seminars and computer lab sessions.
Modules
This module enables students to develop their understanding and competence in using diverse research methods for academic and professional purposes. Students will explore a variety of research approaches and will develop practical qualitative and quantitative research skills including defining and scoping a project; designing an effective and manageable research protocol; collecting data and using appropriate analysis methods. In addition, students will develop an appreciation of ethical implications of the research process to facilitate responsible research practice. Secondly this module aims to introduce students to the key stages required to complete an applied project from concept to delivery. Students will be taught how to manage a project and contribute effectively as a member of a project team, using ideas generation techniques and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions to business problems. This module contributes to the students continued professional development as students will gain key insights into how to perform technical process improvement tasks in a range of environments to solve business problems.
This module builds on the knowledge of financial accounting from year 1 by requiring students to extend their understanding of double entry bookkeeping to the application of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The approach to teaching the IFRS will be Framework-based, an approach recommended by the IASB. The Framework-based approach develops a critical understanding of the well-established principles around corporate reporting. Students will be taught from exercises and case studies to illustrate key aspects of technical knowledge and to facilitate skills development. Cases are a very effective and enjoyable way to learn because they recount real life or lifelike business situations that present managers with a dilemma or uncertain outcome. This allows students to evaluate critically the appropriateness of certain accounting treatments and consider these within an ethical context. Cases come from a range of situations and organisations, so students can quickly and efficiently gain a breadth of experience and an appreciation of the limits to their knowledge.
This module introduces the core concepts and key topic areas of business finance and the financial environment. It will enable students to develop knowledge and understanding of how the financial markets operate, evaluate alternative sources of finance available to a business, calculate the cost of different sources of finance and the weighted average cost of capital of a business. They will undertake and critique techniques for capital investment appraisals, and business and financial asset valuation, and analyse critically the efficient market hypothesis, capital structure theories and dividend policies. By completing this module, students will be prepared to study more advanced finance, i.e. financial risk management, in their final year of study.
- Personal Income Taxation - 15 credits
- Data Analysis - 15 credits
- Financial Modelling - 15 credits
- Business and Corporate Taxation - 15 credits
This module enables you to develop your understanding and competence in using diverse research methods for academic and professional purposes. You will explore a variety of research approaches and will develop practical qualitative and quantitative research skills including defining and scoping a project; designing an effective and manageable research protocol; collecting data and using appropriate analysis methods.
You will develop an appreciation of ethical implications of the research process to facilitate responsible research practice and will be introduced to the key stages required to complete an applied project from concept to delivery. You will learn how to manage a project and contribute effectively as a member of a project team, using ideas generation techniques and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions to business problems. This module contributes to your continuing professional development as you will gain key insights into how to perform technical process improvement tasks in a range of environments to solve real-world business problems.
Optional
This module enables students to develop their understanding and competence in using diverse research methods for academic and professional purposes. Students will explore a variety of research approaches and will develop practical qualitative and quantitative research skills including defining and scoping a project; designing an effective and manageable research protocol; collecting data and using appropriate analysis methods. In addition, students will develop an appreciation of ethical implications of the research process to facilitate responsible research practice. Secondly this module aims to introduce students to the key stages required to complete an applied project from concept to delivery. Students will be taught how to manage a project and contribute effectively as a member of a project team, using ideas generation techniques and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions to business problems. This module contributes to the students continued professional development as students will gain key insights into how to perform technical process improvement tasks in a range of environments to solve business problems.
This module builds on the knowledge of financial accounting from year 1 by requiring students to extend their understanding of double entry bookkeeping to the application of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The approach to teaching the IFRS will be Framework-based, an approach recommended by the IASB. The Framework-based approach develops a critical understanding of the well-established principles around corporate reporting. Students will be taught from exercises and case studies to illustrate key aspects of technical knowledge and to facilitate skills development. Cases are a very effective and enjoyable way to learn because they recount real life or lifelike business situations that present managers with a dilemma or uncertain outcome. This allows students to evaluate critically the appropriateness of certain accounting treatments and consider these within an ethical context. Cases come from a range of situations and organisations, so students can quickly and efficiently gain a breadth of experience and an appreciation of the limits to their knowledge.
This module introduces the core concepts and key topic areas of business finance and the financial environment. It will enable students to develop knowledge and understanding of how the financial markets operate, evaluate alternative sources of finance available to a business, calculate the cost of different sources of finance and the weighted average cost of capital of a business. They will undertake and critique techniques for capital investment appraisals, and business and financial asset valuation, and analyse critically the efficient market hypothesis, capital structure theories and dividend policies. By completing this module, students will be prepared to study more advanced finance, i.e. financial risk management, in their final year of study.
- Personal Income Taxation - 15 credits
- Data Analysis - 15 credits
- Financial Modelling - 15 credits
- Business and Corporate Taxation - 15 credits
This module enables you to develop your understanding and competence in using diverse research methods for academic and professional purposes. You will explore a variety of research approaches and will develop practical qualitative and quantitative research skills including defining and scoping a project; designing an effective and manageable research protocol; collecting data and using appropriate analysis methods.
You will develop an appreciation of ethical implications of the research process to facilitate responsible research practice and will be introduced to the key stages required to complete an applied project from concept to delivery. You will learn how to manage a project and contribute effectively as a member of a project team, using ideas generation techniques and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions to business problems. This module contributes to your continuing professional development as you will gain key insights into how to perform technical process improvement tasks in a range of environments to solve real-world business problems.
Modules
This module develops an understanding of the key concepts of investments and financial risk management. It introduces the core investment principles and techniques which will enable students to make informed investment decisions. Students will also gain knowledge in sustainable investing, which is an essential area of study within the field of investment in
today’s world. In addition, it will develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the
various types and nature of financial risk. It covers the main frameworks and techniques
concerning the practical aspects of financial risk management.
This module aims to extend student knowledge and application of IFRS to more detailed and
complex areas of reporting. The technical content is mapped to professional qualification
requirements and students will need to pass this module in order to gain full exemptions.
An inquiry guided approach to learning will be adopted with students drawing on the
conceptual framework and accounting standards introduced in level 5 to solve the challenges of reporting in other areas. Inquiry is an active approach to learning which is designed to support students in analysing technical issues, creating valid approaches to reporting and critically evaluating the current IFRS. Students will be exposed to technical articles and scholarly reviews and will be expected to draw on these to make informed judgements and sustain arguments on the reporting of financial transactions. Students will employ analytical skills to interpret financial statement information and develop an appreciation of the uncertainty and subjective nature of financial reporting.
Students must pick one of the following modules:
- Strategic Performance Management - 15 credits
- Audit & Assurance - 15 credits
- Strategic Leadership and Governance - 15 credits
- Digital Finance - 15 credits
Students must pick one of the following modules:
- Capstone Project: Dissertation - 30 credits
- Capstone Project: Placement for Good - 30 credits
- Capstone Project: Consultancy Project - 30 credits
- Capstone Project: Start Up For Good - 30 credits
Entry requirements
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
- BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
- T Level: Merit in a T Level
Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:
GCSEs in Mathematics and English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further.
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on their website which may be of interest.
If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
- IELTS Academic at 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by contacting our International Recruitment Team via our International Apply Pages.
2025 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International |
|
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 2 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 3 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Total | £27,750 | £50,100 |
| Optional Sandwich Year* | £1,850 | £3,340 |
| Total with Sandwich Year | £29,600 | £53,440 |
Additional tuition fee information
If you are a UK student starting your degree in September 2025, the first year will cost you £9,250**. Based on this fee level, the indicative fees for a three-year degree would be £27,750 for UK students.
Remember, you don’t have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £77.08 and a 15 credit module is £1,156. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £6,935.
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.
* Please note that not all courses offer an optional sandwich year.
**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.
Additional costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights optional costs for this course:
Optional
Core Text: it is recommended that students purchase the latest editions of all of the core textbooks. Many of these texts relate to extensive online material for which you require an access code supplied with the textbook. It is possible for students to purchase second-hand copies where applicable. Indicative cost is £50 - £200 per year.
Volunteering and Placements: students may incur travel costs on optional volunteering placements in the second or third year of study. Indicative cost is £5 - £30 per day.
Smart Clothing: students may be expected to dress formally for oral assessments. Costs will vary depending on the students existing wardrobe. Indicative cost is £0 - £50.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Careers
Many of our Accounting graduates take up trainee accounting positions with accounting firms or departments and go on to become professionally qualified accountants. Others choose to enter a wide range of business careers such as banking, insurance, financial services and general management. Recent employers of accounting graduates include Deloitte, RSM, Ordnance Survey, Larking Gowen, Aztec Group and PKF Francis Clark.
The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment or further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021, HESA.
Accreditation
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) all offer graduates of this programme exemptions from some professional examinations.
Pre-approved for a Masters
If you study a Bachelor Honours Degree with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.
OUR CAREERS SERVICE
Read all about Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Taxation, Lim Keong Teoh, and his shortlisting for the prestigious Times Higher Education Award for Most Innovative Teacher of the Year.
