Accounting, Finance and Economics BSc(Hons) with foundation year

What is a foundation year? 

A degree with an integrated foundation is designed for students who do not have the entry requirements needed to start a degree with us. This could be because you don't have the grades or subjects that we need, or you could be changing career or returning to study. Upon successful completion of the foundation year, you can progress to one of our BSc(Hons) courses, depending on which foundation year pathway you choose.

This means that your course will take four years instead of three (or five with a placement year). Our foundation is a great introduction to your chosen subject area, and the opportunity to develop valuable study and self-management skills, communication, teamwork and problem-solving techniques which help to build your confidence and prepare you for the rest of your course.

At the School of Business and Law we offer three integrated foundation year courses. If you successfully pass the foundation year, you can progress directly onto your choice of degree from those listed below without having to reapply through UCAS. UK students will also be able to apply for student funding for their whole course – foundation year plus either a three-year degree, or a four-year degree with placement year.

Our integrated foundation courses

• Business Management BSc(Hons) with integrated foundation year
• Accounting, Finance and Economics BSc(Hons) with integrated foundation year
• Law LLB(Hons) with integrated foundation year

COVID-19 continues to disrupt exams and English language testing in some parts of the world. For 2022 entry, we have expanded the number of qualifications we are able to accept. If you have, or are sitting, one of the qualifications listed here and it meets our validity policy then you do not need to take an IELTS test, even if we asked you to do so in your offer. Please let us know and send a copy of your results so we can check your qualification.

• English language, English literature, or English language and literature A-levels at grade D or above.
• English courses from other UK universities, subject to subject to being awarded from an accredited institution and at the CEFR B2 minimum levels required and meeting all four components.
• A bachelors or masters degree from an accredited university in the UK or a Home Office majority English-speaking country.
• TOEFL iBT At Home test – check the TOEFL website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• IELTS Indicator home-based test – check the IELTS Indicator website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) - an easy to access online English Language test from Kaplan online that can be taken from home.
• LanguageCert International ESOL (IESOL) Exam.
• Occupational English Test (OET) – accepted for Medicine and a range of allied health profession courses, including Pharmacy, which have vocational training elements.

If you need additional English language training we have pre-sessional courses available.

All qualifications are subject to our normal admissions checks and the above is only a summary and not a guarantee that your qualification will definitely be accepted. If you are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, contact the enquiries and admissions team for more support and guidance. If you are applying for a postgraduate research degree, get in touch with the doctoral college team.

We will also continue accept the standard English language qualifications detailed below.

Career prospects 

Successful completion of the foundation year means that you can progress to one of our degree courses.

Many of our graduates go on to complete professional exams with the major accountancy bodies and, in time, to be chartered accountants. Others pursue careers as bankers, corporate treasurers, financial advisers, traders, investment analysts and stockbrokers.

Our courses also open up career options in non-financial organisations that rely on experts in accounting and finance. The skills learned on your degree can be used to move into roles such as general management, banking and insurance, where financial expertise will give you an advantage.

Graduate careers 

Recent graduates have joined companies in roles such as:

• Client Relationship Manager, Union Bank of Switzerland

• Tax Accountant, Grant Thornton
• 
Financial Analyst, Experian

• Business Analyst, American Express

• Auditing Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers

• Payroll Assistant, Swandean Hospital

• Accounts Assistant, Aegis

• Operations Manager, IVS.