About this course
Learn how to prepare and interpret financial and managerial information for a variety of users. You'll also gain a sound understanding of investment and finance. Our research-focused academics keep the course up to date with the latest financial, regulatory and accounting requirements and trends.
BSc Accounting and Finance is a flexible course and can be tailored to your own interests and career plans. You could choose to learn more about international banking, or select modules in other areas of business and management such as marketing, human resources management, or project management.
With this accounting and finance degree you will:
-
benefit from direct contact with research-led academics who are experts in corporate governance, taxation, auditing, and financial accounting and reporting
-
gain a thorough grounding in management and financial accounting theory and practice
-
explore possible career paths by taking optional modules in a range of business and management topics
-
take a year on an industrial placement to improve your skills
-
benefit from our strong links with industry, including an opportunity to present an assignment to audit partners from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
-
attend guest lectures
-
gain accreditations that will enable you to apply for exemptions from professional exams
All of our Business courses include the option to spend a year studying abroad, at one of our partners in Europe, North America, Australia or Asia. It is a unique opportunity to experience another culture, improve your language skills and enhance your CV.
You'll graduate with a degree accredited by:
-
ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)
-
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
-
CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
-
AIA (Association of International Accountants)
-
AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)
Our graduates have gone on to work for leading banking and finance companies such as Deloitte and Barclays Capital.
Your A level results will determine which core or compulsory modules you'll need to take. Please see the programme specification for the most up-to-date module lists.
Study this course in Malaysia
You can also study this course at University of Southampton Malaysia.
Accreditations





New Normal: Understanding the world of business post COVID-19
Course location
This course is based at Highfield.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
Download the programme specification
The programme specification sets out the learning outcomes of this course and details how the course is taught and assessed.
Entry requirements
For Academic year 202021
A-levels
AAB
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies
The below subjects are considered as restricted. This means that we can accept one subject from the following list if combined with other academic subjects
Applied subjects
Art: including Design, Fine Art, Photography, Textiles
Communication Studies
Communication and Culture
Creative Media
Creative Writing
Critical Thinking
Dance
Drama
Film Studies
Health & Social Care
Home Economics
Hospitality and Supervision
ICT/IT
Leisure Studies
Media Studies
Music Technology
Outdoor Education
PE
Performing Arts
Public Services
Sports Studies/Science
Theatre Studies
Travel & Tourism
World Development
Please note; Computing, Computer Studies, Product Design and Applied Business (single and double awards) are not considered to be restricted subjects
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer:
ABB and grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience.
Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows:
ABB
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level
International Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.
Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC
D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AA from two A levels
DD in the Business BTEC Diploma plus A grade from one A-level
DDD in the Business BTEC Extended Diploma
BTEC additional information
There are no additional requirements
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 39 must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit
Access to HE additional information
Offers typically exclude Social Care/Healthcare pathways
Irish Leaving Certificate
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)
A1, A1, A1, A1, A1, A2
Irish certificate additional information
There are no additional requirements
Scottish Qualification
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3 D3 M2 in three Principal subjects
Cambridge Pre-U additional information
Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer
Welsh Baccalaureate
AAB from 3 A levels
or
AA from two A levels and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
Welsh Baccalaureate additional information
There are no additional requirements
Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
European Baccalaureate
79-85% overall
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 6/B *). * We can accept a grade 5 in GCSE mathematics if you achieve grade B in A level Maths, Physics, Economics, Geography, Psychology or Business
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 6.5
- reading
- 6.0
- writing
- 6.0
- speaking
- 6.0
- listening
- 6.0
We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
-
our Access to Southampton scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
-
skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
COVID-19: we've made some changes to the structure of the course for this academic year. Download the programme specification addendum in 'About this course' to learn more.
This course is made up of a combination of modules.
Compulsory modules will give you a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of management and financial accounting.
Different to other accounting and finance degrees, you can choose from a wide range of optional modules. Choose from risk management to learning a language and also explore finance economics and accounting topics in more detail.
You do not need to select your modules when you apply. Your academic tutor will help you to customise your course.
Year 1 overview
You'll study the fundamentals of management. You'll gain a vital understanding of the theories and techniques of successful management, and work as a team to develop and deliver a presentation.
Other key subjects include management accounting and financial management. Your optional modules cover management analysis and the foundations of business analytics.
Year 2 overview
You'll gain a greater understanding of business essentials such as financial accounting, company law, portfolio theory, and the principles of audit and taxation.
You can choose from a wide range of module options including human resource management, digital marketing, and management ethics.
You'll also be able to broaden your studies by choosing:
Year 3 overview
Your final-year dissertation is a chance for you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills by completing an extended piece of writing on an aspect of management you have researched yourself.
You'll also study further compulsory modules covering financial and management accounting.
Your optional module choices include strategic marketing, project management, and futures and options.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
For entry in Academic Year 2021-22
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules in year 1:
The purpose of the module is to provide a general overview of law relevant to students working in business and finance. The course provides an introduction to law, before focusing in more depth on areas of Contract Law and Tort Law. There is then an intro...
• Introduction. • Conceptualising Financial Statements. • Introduction to Double Entry & Accounting Equation & Trial Balance. • Adjustments: Accruals, Prepayments & Bad Debt. • Assets, Inventory, Depreciation and Revaluation. • Sources of finance ...
This module introduces economic principles, theories, and methods of analysis. It provides a framework for the application of economic theory to real-world problems. The module will cover key concepts in economics. It will provide a non-technical overv...
This module provides you with a broad view on key management related topics. It also provides a chance for you to gain hands-on experience on teamwork through preparation and delivery of a group presentation as part of the module assessment. The lectures ...
The module introduces you to the basic concepts of marketing and explains its function in today’s business environment. You will discuss principal theory and practice of marketing and how marketing builds value to the firm and the customer, with examples ...
• to introduce the main functions of management accounting systems; • to introduce the roles of management accountants in the context of for-profit-organisations; • to introduce the key traditional management accounting techniques.
MANG1007 Management Analysis seeks to develop and enhance the basic mathematics and statistics knowledge and skills that are relevant to decision making in organisations. MANG1007 Management Analysis is a comprehensive module. It covers a wide range of fu...
You must also choose from the following modules in year 1:
This module helps students build an intellectual foundation to business as a field of inquiry. The module presents a ‘big history’ of ideas to expose students to the major schools of thought in philosophy, politics and early thinkers of social science (ec...
This module considers generic aspects of decision processes that take place in personal, professional and organisational contexts. The module provides students with an appreciation of key issues and behaviours that pervade all areas of judgment and decisi...
This module helps students to appreciate the central importance of technology in the development of business organisations, industrial sectors, and national economies more generally - ‘from steam engines to search engines’. The module will locate industri...
Year 2 modules
You must study the following modules in year 2:
Organisations exist in dynamic environments, which mean that frequent changes need to be made to remain competitive. This requires managers to make important decisions which can ‘make or break’ an organisation. These decisions need to be based on sound ev...
The aim of this module is to situate Accounting and Management students in the Company Law environment where accountants and business managers typically work. Students will consider the legal frameworks of the commercial world to gain an understanding of ...
The module is intended to introduce students to regulation in financial reporting and to examine specific problem areas using a conceptual framework as a basis of the analysis. This allows an evaluation of current external reporting practice within the co...
This module provides a deep insight in some key theories and topics in Financial Management. The module looks at how firms and corporation manage financial investment and decisions in the long term and short term. The module will discuss topics ranging fr...
This module builds upon the foundations laid in the first year studies, principally from MANG1002 Management Accounting 1. Some of the topics covered in Management Accounting 1 will be revisited, but a significant amount of new learning material will be ...
The module aims to develop understanding of the role of financial markets, security analysis and valuation, efficient market theory, asset pricing theory and portfolio management. This is an excellent module to understand the basics of finance, how financ...
Auditing and taxation are both essential elements of accounting. An appreciation of the two subjects is important not only for accountants but also for management. Auditing is a crucial element of financial reporting and corporate governance. Taxation imp...
You must also choose from the following modules in year 2:
Programming is a structured way of giving a computer unambiguous instructions to perform specific tasks. Knowledge and experience of programming not only improves your employability but it also teaches you analytical skills such as breaking down a problem...
This module concerns issues in human resource management and organisational design. These are what ultimately implement the firm’s strategy. Although many organisations recognise the importance of managing the work force effectively and even "know" what a...
This module discusses issues related to business ethics. It covers philosophical foundations of ethical theories, and applications of ethical theory to real-life case studies and hypothetical dilemmas. It also discusses causes and consequences of unethica...
This module explores the ways in which organisations can be designed (by management or others) in order to achieve their objectives. It exposes students to the ways in which economists, psychologists and sociologists address this and related management id...
MANG2006 introduces the building blocks of Management Science as a discipline, which is at the heart of decision-making. The module introduces the history and the context along with the general Management Science approach to decision-making. The rest o...
This course provides part of the essential knowledge and skills required for conducting the Final Project module in the final year. SAS (Statistical Analysis System) is the leading data analytics software package. This module will cover the fundamental...
Year 3 modules
You must study the following modules in year 3:
To provide an opportunity to undertake a sustained piece of individually researched academic study. Inter alia this provides a context within which research skills may be developed and demonstrated.
It is a continuation module from financial accounting 2. Students will be exposed to more advanced knowledge of accounting such as consolidated group financial statements, financial instruments and share based payment.
This module introduces students to more contemporary and advanced developments in management accounting covering relevant practices and leading research in the field. The module builds on MANG1002 Management Accounting (1) and MANG2005 Management Accou...
You must also choose from the following modules in year 3:
The advanced taxation module will expand Auditing and Taxation module (Year Two) which is offered an understanding of the principles underlying the design of an effective taxation system and how operate for different taxes (income, wealth and corporation)...
The module will focus on the role of the external auditor, the procedures adopted and some of the current issues facing the profession.
This module covers the development of the concept and the meaning of the term corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable business (SB); how CSR and SB models are being implemented in today’s corporations, its impact and likely future directions...
In the last 30 years derivatives have become increasingly important in finance and many different types of derivatives are actively traded on exchanges throughout the world. This module explores the pricing and use forwards, futures and options with a par...
• The process of globalisation and international competition looking at the role of companies and markets in the United States, Germany, Japan, the Tiger economies and China. This provides context for developing an analysis of the response from British in...
Banks are at the heart of the global financial system. This module strives to link the theory and practice of banking in a real-world setting. Considerable attention is given to the vast array of risks that banks face and this is achieved by learning abou...
As organisations have become more knowledge intensive, the ability to manage knowledge has become a matter of competitive survival. This module is intended to provide students with a blend of theory and current practice in knowledge management in organisa...
Students will be equipped with both knowledge and understanding of definition and characteristics of project, objectives, stakeholders and definitions of project success/failure, scope management, matrix organisations, the project life-cycle, project plan...
Strategic management is central to the operation of a variety of businesses in different sectors and environments. The creation of a strategy and the management of its implementation are important in developing businesses that can create and sustain a com...
Learning and assessment
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Course time
How you'll spend your course time:
Year 1
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
How we'll assess you
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 1:
Year 2
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
How we'll assess you
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 2:
Year 3
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 3:
How we'll assess you
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 3:
Academic support
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Course leader
Fatimah Zainudin is the course leader.
Careers
Most of our graduates go straight into professional roles within the finance and accounting sector. You'll graduate with the analytical and problem-solving skills needed for a wide range of careers with accounting and finance degree. You could choose to become:
-
an auditor
-
a tax specialist
-
a management accountant
-
a consultant
Southampton Business School graduates have secured roles in financial organisations including:
-
Bank of China
-
Deloitte
-
Development Bank of Singapore
-
Deutsche Bank
-
Ernst & Young (EY)
-
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Like all our business school courses, this degree is also a good foundation for further study at postgraduate level. It also will help you answer how to become a financial manager and how to become a financial investment manager.
The Business School and Southampton Law School run the Small Business Clinic which offers advice to those interested in starting their own venture. With input from local companies, it offers you training and the opportunity to work with a mentor from industry to test out your ideas and receive expert feedback.
Careers services at Southampton
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:
work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK students pay £9,250.
- EU and international students pay £18,520.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.
Find out how to:
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:
Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
Scholarships and grants
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Support during your course
The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
Funding for EU and international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
How to apply
When you apply use:
- UCAS course code: N400
- UCAS institution code: S27
What happens after you apply?
We will assess your application on the strength of your:
- predicted grades
- academic achievements
- personal statement
- academic reference
We aim to respond to you within 2 to 6 weeks with a decision about your application.
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Related courses










- Courses
-
Student life
- Accommodation
- Halls Filter
- Our campuses
- Our cities
- Student community
- Sports and gyms
- Support and money
- Research
- Business
- Global
- Open days and visits
- About
- Visit
- Alumni
- Departments
- News
- Events
- Contact