Accounting - Cert HE

The Certificate in Higher Education (Cert HE) in Accounting is a new type of qualification available for students wishing to start a Higher Education Accounting qualification.

You will be able to complete this qualification in just one year of full-time study which makes it ideal if you are looking to start a new career sooner. If, at the end of your year of full-time study, you wish to continue your Higher Education journey with us, you will be able to join the second year of our Foundation Degree in Accounting. This will enable you to achieve a Foundation Degree in two years of full-time study.

This is a new flexible type of qualification for students who may not be able to commit to three years of full-time academic study.

This course will equip you for a successful career in accounting, finance and business. It will give you a good understanding of both accounting and finance and their importance within different organisations.

The course is aimed at individuals who wish to develop the skills, expertise, knowledge and understanding of accounting and accounting-related issues to enhance their employment.

This course should appeal to you if you need to fit studying around other commitments or if you are looking to take your first step into Higher Education after a gap of study.

You will study key accounting concepts as well as introducing other business related topics, such as Business Law.

You will develop the practical accounting skills demanded by employers such as the ability to draft financial statements and produce costing and budgeting reports, as well as analysis and decision making in appropriate contexts.

This will allow you a thorough appreciation of the interrelation these topics have within a business context.

The Certificate in Higher Education (Cert HE) in Accounting comprises 6 modules.

All of these modules are mandatory and you will need to successfully complete all of these modules in order to achieve the qualification.

Modules

• Business Accounting
• Management Accounting
• Personal Taxation
• Business Law
• Career Planning and Development
• Introduction to Research

The minimum entry requirements for Accounting Certificate in Higher Education is 48 UCAS Tariff points.

In addition, for this programme, you will be required to have a GCSE (or equivalent qualification) at Grade 4 (C) or above in Mathematics and English, or an equivalent Level 2 qualification in Mathematics and English.

Applicants without GCSE Grade 4 (C) Mathematics or equivalent will be required to undertake numeracy aptitude test, consisting of up to two attempts. Any offer for a place on the course is subject to successfully completing this assessment.

All applicants must show that they have a good level of spoken or written English, and if English is not your first language you’ll need to demonstrate the ability to study in English.

This qualification is a higher education qualification in its own right and it may be appropriate that some students take this 1+1+1 route to achieving their honours. Even if an application to a foundation degree is made, you may be advised that this route is better for you and subsequently made an offer of the Cert HE.

Care Leavers or Young Carers

We want students from all backgrounds to have the opportunity to go to University. If you have spent three months or more in local authority care OR are a young carer, you will be eligible for a contextual offer. This is a grade reduction of 1-A Level grade below our standard entry requirements. For example, a standard offer of CCC, would become CCD. MMM at Level 3 Extended Diploma would become MMP. To apply we advise that you tick the box on your UCAS application which identifies you have spent time in care and to help identify you as eligible for our contextual offer.

Assessment will be undertaken through a range of established methodologies at various stages throughout the student learning experience. This incorporates standard practices through initial, diagnostic, formative and summative stages. Examples of assessment activity includes:

• Essays
• Computer based
• Examinations
• Dissertations
• Reports
• Group presentations
• Projects and mini-dissertations

This formal assessment will count towards your module mark and feedback is usually given within 3 weeks following the submission of your formal submission of work.

Additionally, some lecturers will provide informal feedback, for example, following an examination they may choose to work through the exam paper in a tutorial. It should be noted that feedback is part of the ongoing learning cycle which is not limited to written feedback. Other forms of feedback include one-to-one meetings with a personal tutor, dissertation and project supervision meetings, a lecturer responding to learner questions or responses during topic or situation discussions. 

Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.

The Certificate in Higher Education (Cert HE) Accounting is a valuable qualification in its own right preparing the students for employment within a range of roles within the Accounting, such as junior management/supervisory positions, marketing and sales roles and operational opportunities.

There are plentiful job opportunities across the finance sector, some of the major employers are:

• accountancy firms
• building societies
• high street banks
• insurance companies
• investment banks
• management consultancies
• public sector employers.

For those wishing to continue with their studies at University Centre at Blackburn College, you must have successfully completed the Certificate of Higher Education Accounting to gain entry onto Year 2 of Foundation Degree in Accounting, which is delivered for one academic year, full-time.

Going to University is not as expensive as you think. There are no upfront fees to pay if you take out a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England. Don't forget to apply as early as possible to secure your fees before you start your course.