Course details
This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.
- You’ll start Stage 1 with an introduction to business and management, learn the fundamentals of accounting and business data analytics and decision making.
- Next, in Stage 2, you'll study financial and management accounting, financial management and related modules such as law for accounting and finance.
- Finally, in Stage 3, you’ll study accounting and finance in greater depth as well as specialist subjects that includes auditing and taxation.
You’ll learn essential and fundamental knowledge relating to understanding accounting, business management, and data analytics and decision making. These modules will lay the foundations of your studies and will prepare you for the Stage 2 and Stage 3 of this degree.
Please note you will only be able to study this stage over two years due to the availability of a new module. We recommend you study B100 in October 2022, B124 in October 2023 and B126 in April 2024.
This stage develops the knowledge and skills you gained at Stage 1 and delves deeper into the theoretical and practical elements of financial and management accounting and finance/financial management. You’ll also be introduced to the main legal principles within the context of accounting and finance.
| Modules | Credits |
|---|
| You'll study the following: |
|---|
| Intermediate financial accounting (B250) – planned for October 2024 | 30 |
| Law for accounting and finance (B251) – planned for October 2024 | 30 |
| Financial management (B252) – planned for April 2025 | 30 |
| Intermediate management accounting (B253) – planned for April 2025 | 30 |
You’ll study a range of specialist modules which are designed to extend your technical and analytical skills. They will also help you critically analyse and develop arguments and communication skills that are vital for accounting and finance related roles.
| Modules | Credits |
|---|
| You'll study the following: |
|---|
| Advanced financial accounting (B350) – planned for October 2025 | 30 |
| Governance, audit and assurance (B351) – planned for October 2025 | 30 |
| Advanced management accounting and financial management (B352) – planned for April 2026 | 30 |
| Taxation (B353) – planned for April 2026 | 30 |
We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 15 March 2022.
Accessibility
We make all our qualifications as accessible as possible and have a comprehensive range of services to support all our students. The BSc (Honours) Accounting and Finance uses a variety of study materials and has the following elements:
- studying a mixture of printed and online material – online learning resources may include websites, audio/video media clips, and interactive activities such as online quizzes
- face-to-face tutorials/day schools/workshops and/or online tutorials
- working in a group with other students
- continuous and end-of-module assessment in the form of essays, short answer questions, and examinations
- using and producing diagrams or screenshots
- finding external/third party material online
- engagement with learning and assessment within a pre-determined schedule or timetable – time management will be needed during your studies and the University will help you to develop these skills throughout your degree
- using specialist software
- using technology for research purposes involving access to catalogues and databases online.
For more detailed information, see the Accessibility Statements on individual module descriptions. If you feel you may need additional support, visit Disability support to find more about what we offer.
Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment
This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:
- Knowledge and understanding.
- Cognitive skills.
- Practical and professional skills.
- Key skills.
The level and depth of your learning gradually increases as you work through the qualification. You’ll be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment – which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top quality course texts; elearning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups and community forums.
Read the detailed learning outcomes here
Credit transfer
If you’ve already completed some university-level study somewhere else, you may be able to count it towards this qualification – which could save you time and money by reducing the number of modules you need to study. At the OU we call this credit transfer. It’s not just university study that can be considered, you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications such as HNCs and HNDs.
Credit transfer is not available for October 2022 registrations as some of the curriculum is currently in development. If you would like to begin your studies in October 2023, we will start accepting credit transfer applications from February 2023.
You should apply for credit transfer before you register, at least 4 weeks before the registration closing date. For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
Classification of your degree
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our BSc (Honours) Accounting and Finance.
The class of honours (first, upper-second, lower-second or third) will depend on your grades at Stages 2 and 3.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
International recognition
If you intend to use your Open University qualifications to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Find out more about international recognition of Open University qualifications.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.
However, a basic understanding of mathematical operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division would be helpful.
Preparing for study with an Access module
Students who start their study with an Access module are more likely to be successful when they advance to Stage 1 of their qualification. They’re specially designed to give you a gentle introduction to OU study, boost confidence in your study skills, and help you gain a broad overview of your chosen subject area.
You’ll also benefit from:
- feedback from your tutor through regular one-to-one phone tutorials
- support from a dedicated team throughout your study
- detailed written feedback on your work.
The Access module we’d recommend studying in preparation for this qualification is our:
People, work and society Access module
What you will study
This multidisciplinary module provides an excellent introduction to studying with The Open University; you'll get to cover a wide range of subject areas, including childhood and youth studies, social science, psychology, health, business and law.
View full details of People, work and society Access module
Y032
Science, technology and maths Access module
What you will study
This multidisciplinary module is an ideal starting point if you have little or no previous knowledge of the sciences, technology and mathematics. It’ll help develop your study skills in advance of your OU qualification, and you get to explore a number of STEM subjects including science, engineering and design, environment, mathematics, and computing and IT.
View full details of Science, technology and maths Access module
Y033
Skills for career development
The ability to analyse, report and manage financial information is a much sought-after skill in organisations. By completing this degree you’ll be equipped with transferrable skills and knowledge that can be applied in many areas of an organisation. Here are some of the skills which this degree will help you acquire.
- Understanding the contexts within which an accounting and finance professional operates including wider organisational, ethical and governance issues
- Understanding, applying and assessing a range of qualitative and quantitative concepts, methods, tools and techniques
- Interpreting financial and accounting information.
- Communicating and presenting accounting and finance information clearly and succinctly.
- Constructing logical and coherent arguments and applying critical thinking.
Career relevance
The skills and knowledge you’ll develop by studying this degree will equip you to follow a number of career paths, and are recognised by employers as having great value for work in accounting, finance and business management areas. A qualification in accounting and finance can lead to opportunities in a wide range of areas such as auditing, taxation, management and financial reporting. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree such as becoming a Chartered Accountant or a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Accreditation
After successfully completing this degree, you’ll be eligible for exemptions from the following Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) professional examinations.
At Certificate level:
- Fundamentals of Business Economics (BA1)
- Fundamentals of Management Accounting (BA2)
- Fundamentals of Financial Accounting (BA3)
- Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law (BA4)
At Operational level:
- Managing Finance in a Digital World (E1)
- Management Accounting (P1)
- Financial Reporting (F1)
- Operational Case Study Exam
The Open University Business School is one of the few institutions worldwide that are triple-accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), and Association of MBAs (AMBA). These are internationally recognised quality standards which independently validate the quality of the School’s teaching, research and operations. The School undergoes regular reviews to ensure that standards are maintained and has successfully retained its triple accredited status since 2004. This qualification is accredited through inclusion in these reviews.
Other careers
Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, accounting, finance, management consultancy and the public sector.
Exploring your options
Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.
In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.
- accountant
- management accountant
- financial accountant
- business analyst
- financial analyst
- budgetary advisor
- fund manager
- risk analyst
- management consultant
- investment analyst
- tax advisor/analyst
- auditor
- project manager
- finance manager
- financial controller.