BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance (Top Up)

Our one year, full-time BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance (Top Up) allows students who have successfully completed the Accounting and Finance FdSc at the University Centre Blackburn College to top up their foundation degree to honours level by studying for an additional year. 

The course will produce honours-level graduates with higher level skills and knowledge within a financial, accountancy and management environment.

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

You will study 6 main modules in order to complete your Top Up year. All modules build on the skills that you have already acquired as part of the Accounting and Finance FdSc. You’ll have to analyse problems, apply theory to practice and challenge theoretical models.

Throughout all the stages of the course you’ll be encouraged to develop your own leadership and management style as well as the development of professional skills. You’ll look at the rules surrounding corporate governance, law and practice within a national context, as well as taxation, financial systems and the role of UK Auditing.

All students take a total of 120 credits per level.

Level 6 Modules (all modules are mandatory) include:

• Financial Reporting and Auditing
• Business Taxation
• Corporate Finance
• Strategic Managerial Accounting
• Business Strategy and Sustainability
• Research Project

In order to join this programme you will need to have successfully completed the Accounting and Finance FdSc 

If you have received less than a Merit grade overall in your Foundation Degree you will be invited to attend a guidance interview first to ensure you are fully prepared for the Top Up programme.

Additional preparation for study at the Top Up programme may be required.

Throughout the course a full range of assessment techniques will be used. You will be assessed by:

• Computer based examinations
• Presentations
• Research Project
• Essays
• Case study reports
• Professional dialogues

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 learning environment and facilities could include lecture theatres, classrooms, technology suites, laboratories and workshops, library and skills labs, art and photography studios, small group and quiet zones. Learning methods will vary according to the programme of study but will include lectures and group tutorials. In addition, seminars, field trips, work placements, role play or scenario activities, laboratory and workshop practical, demonstrations, guest lectures, discussions and debates all contribute to the learning experience to support the acquisition of subject-specific skills and knowledge and the development of transferable and employment related skills.

In addition to your Guided Learning contact hours (see Study Hours section below), you will also have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor.  

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team could include senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience, demonstrators and technical officers. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Timetables

We endeavour to make timetables available one month before you start your course. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week. 

Overall Workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours (Guided Learning), Independent Study, and assessment activity and any field trips which may take place.

Academic Support

We have a dedicated Academic Coaches who will be able to provide support in the following areas;

• Study Skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
• Written English
• Academic Writing (including referencing)
• Research Skills

You’ll graduate from the course able to apply for a range of careers both locally and nationally. You may choose to apply for a graduate role and a graduate trainee scheme in a financial or accountancy capacity. Such schemes exist with major UK employers including accountants and auditors. Postgraduate study is actively encouraged.

Many of our graduates choose to progress on to a professional qualification upon successful completion of the course. You can continue your study of professional qualifications at the University Centre at Blackburn College.

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.  

Fees

Studying for a degree is not as expensive as you think – especially if you stay local. There are no upfront fees to pay if you take out a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England. 

Financial support

There is a range of financial support available to you, including generous support from the College.

Additional costs 

There may be additional costs to consider that are not included in the tuition fees. These costs can vary based on your course and personal choices. 

There are some general additional course costs to consider that can apply to all courses:

This is a full-time course so you will undertake both Guided Learning and Independent Study.

• Guided Learning may take the form of lectures, seminars, workshops, field trips and visits, or 1-to-1 supervision/tutorial.
• Independent Study will take place in your own time, either on or off campus, and will be used for reading, research, and the completion of coursework.

Studies per module

In each academic year, for each module, you will receive approximately*:

• Level 4 (per module) – 60 hours Guided Learning, supported by 140 hours of Independent Study
• Level 5 (per module) – 50 hours Guided Learning, supported by 150 hours of Independent Study
• Level 6 (per module) – 45 hours Guided Learning, supported by 155 hours of Independent Study

Modules may take place in a semesterised design or a linear fashion:

• Semesterised design means they will run September until December (15 weeks), or January to May (15 weeks)
• Linear fashion means they will run the full year (30 weeks).
  On rare occasions modules may have a different weighting of credits, duration through the year, or both.

*Based on a 20-credit weighting. Please refer to module specifications for variations in this weighting.

Weekly study

Each week you will normally study for approximately:

• Level 4 (per week) – 12 hours of Guided Learning, up to 2 hours of tutorial (based on group size), and 28 hours of Independent Study
• Level 5 (per week)  – 10 hours of Guided Learning, up to 2 hours of tutorial (based on group size), and 30 hours of Independent Study
• Level 6 (per week)  – 9 hours of Guided Learning, up to 2 hours of tutorial (based on group size), and 31 hours of Independent Study

Further details

The amount of Guided Study, and how it is distributed per week, will be shown in your Timetables and Subject Outlines. You can determine the schedule of Independent Study yourself around your lessons.

The overall design of your modules and study hours is detailed within Module Specifications. These are available upon request.