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BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance

Learn accounting and finance whilst prioritising responsible, ethical and sustainable practices.

Year of entry: 2024/25

UCAS code

NN43

Institution code

Y50

Length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

AAB (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2025 (semester dates)

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£23,700 per year

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Book your place for our Open Days on 6 and 7 September.

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Developed with the insight of a number of professional bodies, this programme offers an academically rigorous and vocationally relevant degree, serving as an ideal gateway into the world of accounting and finance.

This course will begin in September 2025. The fees listed here are the standard fees for September 2024 entry. 

In this programme, as well as acquiring the expected technical and problem-solving capabilities in accounting and finance, you will also the opportunity to foster broad commercial awareness and approach organisational challenges critically.

This programme ensures the chance to develop analytical, research, and communication skills, enabling you to illustrate the interconnectedness of accounting and finance to real-life practices. As well as governance and policymaking, a key component of this programme lies with ethics and sustainability, and our understanding of social responsibility when it comes to accounting and finance.

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Our Trading Room lets you experience how financial markets really operate. Course leaders use live market data to show you how to make decisions like a professional investor.

Highly ranked

We're ranked 16th in the UK for Business and Management Studies according to the Complete University Guide 2024.

Course content

Our BSc Accounting and Finance, and BSc Accounting, Business Finance and Management degrees share some common elements in Year 1 to introduce you to the core concepts underpinning these key disciplines. As you progress, you'll develop the knowledge and skills acquired in your first year, giving both depth and breadth to your learning.

By the end of your course you'll have a good understanding of accounting and finance practices, and how they relate to business and management.

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Placements

You can apply to spend a year in industry as part of this course.

Year 1

Year 1 introduces you to business and management, and some of the key concepts and techniques used in accounting and finance. Modules will give you a broad overview of topics you can study in more detail in later years. You'll also learn important skills for accountancy and statistical analysis.

Core modules

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2

In Year 2 you'll develop your understanding further, and explore some new areas of study. You'll learn new research techniques, become familiar with important business processes, and apply your practical skills in planning and problem-solving.

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study one option module. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:

You can also choose to add a placement in industry before your final year.

Year 3

In Year 3 you can choose option modules to develop new skills, take a closer look at topics you're familiar with, or investigate an interesting subject in detail. 

Be aware that the modules you choose may affect which professional accreditation you qualify for.

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study two option modules. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Apply key accounting theories and concepts to prepare financial statements within current regulatory frameworks and draw on these theories and relevant research to critically appraise practice.
  • Demonstrate critical awareness of the ethical and professional dilemmas faced by accountants, investment and financial managers in the workplace and respond appropriately in the light of the individual’s ethical responsibilities to the communities within which they operate.
  • Support and influence organisational decision-making by analysing and evaluating financial performance and risk in the light of the organisation’s strategic objectives, the broader economic environment, the financial markets and the individual behaviours.
  • Report on organisational performance by combining complex financial and non-financial information to clearly represent underlying economic activity.
  • Evaluate and explain the implications of significant issues  in accounting and finance for organisations, stakeholders and society.
  • Clearly communicate complex financial and non-financial information to  a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Independently apply the principles of asset valuation, risk management strategies, and sustainable investment and management approaches  in financial markets.
  • Operate effectively with others on team projects in a professional and collegial manner.        

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,250 £23,700

UK (home) or international fees?

The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Fees for subsequent years

  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.

Additional costs

You may find it useful to buy textbooks, and for some modules this may be required. Textbooks usually cost around £30 - £60 each.

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

This information on fees is in relation to courses with a September 2024 intake, and may be subject to change for September 2025 intakes.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

Teaching and assessment

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

Our modules and assessments incorporate real data and case studies which will help you better understand how to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life problems.

You will also have access to several financial datasets used by accounting and financial professionals, and you will learn how to analyse data, and produce professional reports. We employ diverse teaching approaches to accommodate different learning styles, including:

  • Lectures
  • Small-group seminars
  • Activity-based workshops
  • Group projects
  • Individual projects

Our modules are structured to promote self-learning and personal development, complemented by comprehensive support from our academics.   

In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.

Teaching location

You will be based in the School for Business and Society, with most of your teaching taking place in the Church Lane Building and additional contact hours elsewhere on both Campus East and Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment in this programme comprises a blend of essays, projects, and exams, with modules featuring reports, videos, or group presentations. The emphasis on exams aligns with accreditation requirements by the accounting professional bodies. In the second and final year, optional modules allow students to tailor assessments to their preferences.

Careers and skills

Our bespoke employability sessions help you identify and improve your skills. Our dedicated support team will help you to build an employability portfolio and to present yourself at your best for the next step of your career.

Our graduates go on to careers in all aspects of business and management. Many progress to postgraduate degrees at York and other leading universities.

Career opportunities

Graduates are anticipated to be well positioned to pursue a diverse array of potential future career opportunities in fields including:

  • Financial Services
  • Accounting, auditing and taxation
  • Consultancy
  • Banking
  • Corporate Finance

Transferable skills

  • Critical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Communication, presentation and reporting
  • Numeracy and data analysis
  • Time management
  • Teamwork and leadership
  • Negotiation and persuasion

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels

AAB

Access to Higher Education Diploma 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher
BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD
Cambridge Pre-U D3, D3, M2
European Baccalaureate 80% overall
International Baccalaureate 35 points
T levels We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry. Please visit our dedicated T Levels page for a full list of accepted T Levels.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers Scottish Highers - AABBB

Advanced Highers - not required for entry

We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.
International foundation programme Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Additional requirements

We also require GCSE Mathematics at grade 5 (B) or equivalent. We do not accept adult numeracy in lieu of GCSE Maths.

Alternative offers

Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.

Criteria Adjustment
Widening participation If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS, YorWay to York. More about widening participation.
Contextual offers If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers.
EPQ If you achieve B or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.
Core Maths If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic) 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in each component
GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) Grade C / Grade 4
LanguageCert SELT B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
KITE 459 Main Flight score with 426 in each component
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component
TOEFL 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all components

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

If you have faced obstacles to higher education, or you are returning to education after a long absence, you may benefit from the York Access Scheme.

Next steps

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