BA (Hons) Degree in Accounting and Finance

A four-year (or an eight-semester) full-time course of study leading to the award of BA with Honours in Accounting and Finance.

The course aims to provide:

• quality education at first degree level in accounting, finance and related disciplines;
• an opportunity to obtain knowledge and expertise in accounting and finance which will underwrite a student’s professional progress;
• an understanding of the concepts and analytical skills needed to study, report and analyse business activities effectively;
• a capacity for clear thought, critical appraisal and sound judgement in evaluating accounting situations and problems.

Underlying Philosophy

The course aims to provide education and training in the functional disciplines of accounting and finance to first honours degree level. The following consideration guided the development of the program:

The Graduate Nature of the Profession

Of late, the accountancy profession has become more and more graduate-orientated. No discrimination exists currently between graduates of different disciplines entering the profession except with regards to the number of exemptions granted from their examinations by the Chartered Accountancy Bodies. The number of exemptions a particular degree attracts depends on:

• the subject content;
• the quality of the degree; and
• the exemption policies of the particular exempting body.

The Concept and Character of the Program

The program views accountants as persons who are central to the planning, reporting and controlling of activities within companies. As communicators, they generate and disseminate financial information which is pertinent to these activities. As managers, they are called upon to use an array of skills, knowledge and expertise of a high level. These attributes can be developed effectively in an educational environment, and applied through the route of work experience.

The intellectual and personal development of students is of at least equal importance to the acquisition of the relevant knowledge and skills. This enables students to advance their careers in a rapidly changing economic, technological and social environment.

The program provides the means through which acquisition of knowledge and skills can be combined with the ability to relate theory to practice, to adopt an enquiring and creative approach, and to exercise self-judgement and critical awareness. These are the characteristics of an Honours degree course, which makes substantial demands on everyone concerned. The means to achieve these objectives permeate throughout the program and are facilitated by its structure and mode of operation.

Coursework takes a variety of forms, including the presentation of seminar papers and case studies. Communication and presentation skills are developed through assignments, in particular the project report in Year 3 which requires the preparation of a significant piece of individual work. Inter-personal skills are developed through group work and assignments.

Analytical and problem-solving skills are central to subjects such as Management Accounting and Business Finance, where rigorous analysis is required to construct and appraise theoretical models. Fundamental issues in financial reporting are reviewed in Accounting Theory, which provides a link between theoretical knowledge and practical applications. The enhancement of the ability to conceptualise problems and to evaluate alternative models are particular features of the program.

All subjects emphasise development, understanding and perception, in addition to the acquisition of relevant technical knowledge and skills.

Structure of the BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance

The period of study for full-time students is four academic years (eight semesters) covering both core and elective subjects.

Each subject carries a fixed number of study credits. Fifteen lecture periods of fifty-five minutes each plus all the prescribed course work normally constitute one credit hour.

The normal load in each semester is 15 credits taught over 15 weeks. This means that there are at least 15 lecture hours per week.

Students studying towards the BA (Honours) Degree in Accounting and Finance are required to take a minimum of 250 ECTS .