(BSc) Bachelor of Science
Finance (Including Placement Year)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Accounting
BSC N304
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.
Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations through the Accredited degree accelerated route.
Admission criteria
GCSE: Mathematics C/4
A-levels: ABB
BTEC: DDD, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided.
IB: 32 points or three Higher Level certificates with 655. Either must include Standard Level Mathematics grade 4, or a minimum of 3 in Higher Level Mathematics. We will accept grade 4 in either Standard Level Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Standard Level Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation.
Maths in the IB is not required if you have already achieved GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above or 4 in IB Middle Years Maths.
We are also happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programme courses (formerly certificates) at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for.
We can also consider combinations with BTECs or other qualifications in the Career-related programme – the acceptability of BTECs and other qualifications depends on the subject studied, advice on acceptability can be provided. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.
Access to HE Diploma: 15 level 3 credits at Distinction and 30 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided.
T-levels: Distinction, depending on subject studied -advice on acceptability can be provided.
What if I don’t achieve the grades I hoped?
If your final grades are not as high as you had hoped, the good news is you may still be able to secure a place with us on a course which includes a foundation year. Visit our undergraduate application information page for more details.
What if I have a non-traditional academic background?
Don’t worry. To gain a deeper knowledge of your course suitability, we will look at your educational and employment history, together with your personal statement and reference.
You may be considered for entry into Year 1 of your chosen course. Alternatively, some UK and EU applicants may be considered for Essex Pathways, an additional year of study (known as a foundation year/year 0) helping students gain the necessary skills and knowledge in order to succeed on their chosen course. You can find a list of Essex Pathways courses and entry requirements here
If you are a mature student, further information is here
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall. Different requirements apply for second year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College here.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
- Applied Quantitative Methods: In order to be eligible for the AQM qualifier, you must successfully complete the following modules: Year Two: BE311 - (15 credits) Corporate Finance BE313 - (15 credits) Portfolio Analysis BE314 - (15 credits) Financial Modelling Students must achieve 2:1 or above in one of the modules listed above and no result (from the list above) can be lower than a 2:2. Final Year: BE332 - (15 credits) Options and Futures BE333 - (15 credits) Empirical Finance (take as option in Accounting & Finance, Banking & Finance and Financial Management) BE631- (15 credits) Risk Management and Financial Institutions or BE331 - (15 credits) The Pricing of Securities in Financial Markets. Students must achieve 2:1 or above in two of the modules listed above and no result (from the list above) can be lower than a 2:2. Students must also have completed and pass one of the following modules (must utilise data gathering/retrieval, econometric estimation and analysis and a result of no lower than 2:2 must be achieved): BE936 – (15 credits) Accounting Project BE937 – (15 credits) Finance Research Project
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
To provide students with a broad foundation in finance relating to financial decision making of companies, institutional investors, and individuals while devoting specific attention to the nature and role of financial markets and with an opportunity to develop expertise in a chosen specialism.
To equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue careers in financial markets or corporate careers that involve financial decision making.
To encourage and facilitate critical, analytical thinking by students as a vital foundation for subsequent academic study, employment, professional and personal development, and participation in society.
To enable students to acquire the personal and key skills they need to develop as autonomous and reflective individuals with the capacity to continue learning.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Fundamental accounting concepts and principles;
A2: The contexts in which accounting is situated, including the business entity, capital markets and the legal framework;
A3: Contemporary theories relating to portfolio analysis, asset allocation and the market efficiency debate;
A4: Contemporary theories relating to issues in corporate finance such as the role of dividend payments and the nature of external finance;
A5: The context, nature and processes of management and the core theoretical frameworks employed in attempts to explore and conceptualise the management process;
A6: The application of economic principles to individual decision making and to the performance of the economy;
A7: The essential consequences of monetary and fiscal policy for the performance of the economy;
Learning methods
Lectures and tutor-led seminars
Directed reading
Individual and group tasks
Assessment methods
Unseen written examinations
Assessed essays
Class tests
Pre-published class assignments
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Bring together data from a variety of relevant sources in order to support an argument;
B2: Critically evaluate contemporary theories and empirical evidence, marshal evidence, develop an argument (in writing) and present ideas in a coherent and effective manner
B3: Manipulate and analyse numerical (including financial) data and appreciate the nature and limitations of basic statistical concepts.
Learning methods
Lectures and tutor-led seminars
Directed reading
Individual and group tasks
Assessment methods
Unseen written examinations
Assessed essays
Class tests
Pre-published class assignments
C: Practical skills
C1: Record and summarise transactions and other economic events.
C2: Analyse and evaluate financial statements.
C3: Undertake investment appraisal analysis using DCF and other techniques
C4: Ability to locate, extract and analyse data from multiple sources, including the acknowledgement and referencing of sources.
C5: Present data in an appropriate format.
Learning methods
Lectures and tutor-led seminars
Directed reading
Individual and group tasks
Assessment methods
Unseen written examinations
Assessed essays
Class tests
Pre-published class assignments
D: Key skills
D1: Present ideas and arguments in a coherent and effective manner.
D2: Use appropriate Information Technology to locate, acquire and analyse data.
D3: Manipulate and analyse numerical (including financial) data and appreciate the nature and limitations of basic statistical concepts.
D4: Identify and analyse problems and apply appropriate knowledge and skills to develop effective solutions
D5: Improving own Learning/Performance.
Learning methods
Lectures and tutor-led seminars
Directed reading
Individual and group tasks
Assessment methods
Unseen written examinations
Assessed essays Class tests
Pre-published class assignments