BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance with Foundation Year

About your course

The BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance at Liverpool John Moores University offers you the chance to secure professional accreditation from the four main accountancy bodies in England and Wales.

It also gives you a head start on the path to gaining a professional accountancy qualification, as it allows a number of exemptions from UK professional accountancy exams.

One of the benefits of the course is the option of taking a year out to complete a salaried placement in industry in the UK or overseas. However, if you prefer not to take a whole year out from your studies, you will have other opportunities for work-related learning.

Students on this programme also have the opportunity to spend one or two semesters in their second year on the identical LJMU degree programme at our partner college in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, keeping the professional body recognition of their studies at LJMU.

Liverpool Business School also has partnerships with business schools at universities and colleges across Europe, in the USA and in China. Students can choose to spend an additional year of study at one of our partner universities between the second and third years. All study abroad opportunities are in English. There are also many supported opportunities to study at partner universities during summer vacations and Liverpool Business School provides places on language skills courses.

Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Accounting and Finance honours degree programme yet.

Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:

• Key Skills Level 2 in English/ Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/ English
• Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/ English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

• Minimum number of A Levels required: 2
• Is general studies acceptable? Yes
• Average A Level offer: DDD
• Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20

• National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• National Extended Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• National Diploma subjects / grades required: DM if studied on its own or to the total of 72 UCAS points if combined with other qualifications
• National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: MMP if studied on its own or to the total of 72 UCAS points if combined with other qualifications

• Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Further information: At least 24 Merits and 21 Passes, or any other combination that equates to 72 UCAS Tariff points in a relevant subject

• International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Additional information: 24 IB Diploma Points

• Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Grades / subjects required: 72 UCAS Tariff points with a maximum 20 UCAS Tariff points from Ordinary Level

• Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications

• T Level requirements: 72 UCAS points in a related subject

​Applicants with Accountancy qualifications will be considered as follows:

Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT): Holders of AAT NVQ/SVQ Level 3 Intermediate/ 'Advanced Certificate in Accounting' will be eligible for entry to Level 4 of the programme.

Holders of AAT NVQ/SVQ Level 4 Technician/'Diploma in Accounting' will be considered for 40 RPL credits against relevant Level 4 Accounting modules on the BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance programme.

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA): Holders of the CIMA Advanced Diploma (Managerial level complete; comprising 11 of the 15 CIMA professional exam papers (as of 2010-2011)) will be considered for direct entry to level 6 of the programme.

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA):Applicants who have successfully completed the 'Skills' level (comprising 9 of the total of 14 ACCA professional exam papers (as of 2008-9)) will be considered for direct entry to level 6 of the programme. Applications are welcomed from mature and non-standard applicants, who will be considered on an individual basis. These applicants may be required to submit an essay and/or attend an interview, and should demonstrate potential and motivation and/or have relevant experience.

International applications will be considered in line with UK qualifications.

Employability

A degree in Accounting and Finance opens up a huge range of potential careers because the success or failure of an organisation is ultimately determined by its financial performance.

Liverpool Business School has historically had an excellent employment record with graduates securing graduate-level positions with leading employers in public and private sectors. These include Everton Football Club, Kellogg company, Santander and Deloitte.

Most of our Accounting and Finance graduates complete three-year training contracts with professional accountancy firms or private/public sector organisations while studying part time for their remaining professional accountancy exams. Many contracts enable you to specialise in areas such as audit/assurance, tax, corporate finance, and business advice/consulting.

Outside accountancy, graduates have forged successful careers within retail and investment banks, financial services, finance companies, building societies and so on. However, if you do want to work in investment analysis and financial services, we advise you to qualify as a professional accountant first. This respected qualification gives you a solid platform from which to build your career, and once you qualify, there will be plenty of opportunities to move between different roles and industries in the UK and abroad. Recent graduates have found roles within organisations such as Lloyds TSB, Barclays, MBNA, The Bank of New York, Ulster Bank and WGZ Bank.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.

One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.

A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.