University of Hertfordshire - BA (Hons) Accounting

University of Hertfordshire

BA (Hons) Accounting

In your first year, you’ll learn the principles of accounting and the basic mix of knowledge and skills you would require for a successful career in accounting. You’ll explore financial information within companies and corporations and learn to analyse it. There is a dedicated module focusing on professional skills, such as communication and IT-literacy. You’ll investigate the different sides of business and where your role as an accountant sits within these.   

In your second year, your accounting knowledge and skill will be developed and so will your employability. you’ll focus on financial reporting, management accounting and financial management. You’ll also learn methods of enquiry and problem solving to ensure you are ready to go out into the real world. This will give you an advantage when you start working, as you will have already developed all those essential skills while you were studying.  

Study abroad/work placement option: Between your second and third year, you can do an entire year abroad at one of our partner universities. They’re based in America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. That means plenty of places for you to go and explore. You can also do a year’s work placement abroad or in the UK. Want to go straight to your final year? That’s an option as well.

In your final year, you will build on the foundation you have established in your first and second years but will also challenge the knowledge you have gained in those previous years so that you can influence change in your future career. You’ll take modules on advanced financial reporting and management accounting. You’ll also have the chance to pick options in areas that interest you, such as research methods, taxation, Islamic finance and banking or information systems.  

Entry Requirements

UCAS pointsA LevelBTEC
112 - 120BBC - BBBDMM - DDM

GCSE: Grade 4/C in English Language and Mathematics

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

Career Prospects

86.3% of UH Accounting graduates are in employment or further study 15 months after graduating from their 1st degree (Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018-19). The average salary of our Business and Management students 3 years after graduation is £26,300 (LEO data 2018 - 2019). 

Many of our graduates have found work in the public sector and private sector, in roles such as:  

  • Accounts Assistant  
  • Financial Account Assistant 
  • Auditor (Intern) 
  • Estate Accountant  
  • Trainee Accountant 
  • Accounts Officer 
  • Financial Analyst 
  • Trading Analyst  
  • Junior Auditor 

Our graduates have gone on to work for reputable employers, such as: 

  • Citibank 
  • Amazon 
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers  
  • John Lewis 
  • TUI 
  • The Walt Disney Company  
  • NHS 
  • Hewlett Packard  
  • Hertfordshire County Council 

Our aim is not only to teach you the principles of accounting theory but how to use those theories in practical business environments. This is the reason why so many of our students thrive in industry after graduation.  

Course Details

You will be studying four 15 credit modules in each semester (this may vary between double modules) and your contact time varies between modules, but usually you will have two sessions per week for each module, a one-hour lecture following by a one-hour seminar/tutorial. Typically, a new topic or theory will be introduced in each lecture and will be followed up with class discussion and feedback in the subsequent seminar. In addition, as part of your study time, you will be collaborating with your peers on tasks and group assignments. Module leaders also offer weekly drop in and feedback sessions, usually 2 x 1 hours per module as well as revision sessions.

The University’s ‘online learning environment’ means you can access all your course resources, literature and timetables from anywhere in the world.

Usually, assessment is split between coursework and examinations. The style of coursework can vary from presentations to business reports, essays depending on the taught topics. 

Degree programmes are structured into levels, 4, 5 and 6. These correspond to your first, second and third/final year of study.  Below you can see what modules you’ll be studying in each. 

Year 1

Accounting principles
The accounting professional
Business operations and leadership
Analytical techniques for accountants
Information technology for accountants

Year 2

Professionalism in accounting for direct entry students
Management accounting
Financial reporting
Corporate finance
Financial management
Professional development

Optional modules
Business life cycle
Business analytics
French route A - 5a
French route A - 5b
Spanish route A - 5b
French route B - 5a
French route B - 5b
Spanish route B - 5a
Spanish route B - 5b
German route A - 5b
German route A - 5a
German route B - 5a
German route B - 5b
German route C - 5a
German route C - 5b
Mandarin route A - 5a
Mandarin route A - 5b
French route C - 5a
French route C - 5b
Spanish route C - 5b
Spanish route A - 5a
Spanish route C - 5a
Japanese route A - 5b
Japanese route A - 5a
Japanese route B-5A
Japanese route B-5B

Advanced management accounting
Advanced financial reporting
Emerging issues in accounting and finance
Governance and auditing
HBS placement
Dissertation - accounting
Information systems and knowledge management
Islamic banking and finance
Strategic cost management
Management decision making

Optional modules
Research methods
Financial management in the public sector
Industry practice in accounting and finance
Taxation
Advanced techniques for accounting
French route A - 5a
French route A - 5b
Spanish route A - 5b
French route B - 5a
French route B - 5b
Spanish route B - 5a
Spanish route B - 5b
German route A - 5b
German route A - 5a
German route B - 5a
German route B - 5b
German route C - 5a
German route C - 5b
Mandarin route A - 5a
Mandarin route A - 5b
French route C - 5a
French route C - 5b
Spanish route C - 5b
Spanish route A - 5a
Spanish route C - 5a
Japanese route A - 5b
Japanese route A - 5a
Japanese route B-5A
Japanese route B-5B

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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