PROGRAMMESPECIFICATION

FOR TAUGHT PROGRAMMES ATALLLEVELS

Name ofProgramme:AccountingandFinance3 Years(IFP)

Final award(BSc, MAetc.):BSc(Hons) AccountingandFinance

Awardinginstitution/body:

TheUniversity ofBuckingham

Teachinginstitution:TheUniversity of

Buckingham

SchoolofStudy:BusinessSchoolLink Department:Foundation/

BusinessSchool

Length oftheprogramme:

3 yearsMethodof study:Full-Time

FrameworkforHigherEducationQualifications(FHEQ) LevelProfessionalbodyaccreditation

(if applicable):

Level 6Relevantsubject

benchmarkstatement(SBS)

ACCA,CIMA,CPA,ACA

Accounting 2007

Criteriaforadmissiontotheprogramme:

UCAS Code

completed12yearsofschoolingandaminimumEnglishlevelofIELTS5.5.GCSEEnglishandMathsatGradeC/Grade4,orabove(orequivalent).

Cohort(s) towhichthisprogrammespecificationisapplicable:

Autumn2017onwards

Summaryof Programme
ThethreeyearBScinAccounting andFinanceisdesignedfor students whoneedadditionalpreparationprior toundergraduatelevel study. Thefirstyear oftheprogrammeisintendedtoprovide afoundationinboth knowledge andacademicskillsforthemorespecialistsubjectsinyearstwo and three.Themain body ofthe programmeisdesignedtobuildessentialknowledge andskills. Theprogrammealsoprovidesan opportunityfor students tostudyawiderangeof general businessandaccountingsubject areas. Inaddition, completionofthedegreeprovidesstudentswitheligibilityfora numberofprofessional exemptionsenablingfuturecontinuationoftheirstudiestobecome afullyqualifiedaccountant.
EducationalAimsof theProgramme
Yearone
Theprogrammeaimsto:

Todevelopstudents’languageproficiencyinordertomeet thedemands ofundergraduatestudies.

  • Toequipstudentstobecomeindependent learners, facilitating the successful continuationoftheirstudies inyearstwo and three.
  • Todevelopstudents’abilityto construct andcommunicatelogical argumentsclearly;
  • Tohelpstudents acquireandpractisestrategiesforeffectivereadingandforacademicvocabulary development;
  • Toprovideopportunitiesfor studentstodevelopacademicskills;
  • totrainstudents inlanguageawareness;
  • toencouragestudentstodevelop generalstudyskills,particularlyincluding theabilitytolearnindependentlyusing a variety ofsourcematerials;

  • Tostimulateengagementandparticipationinthe learningprocess;
  • Toencouragestudentsto becomeautonomouslearners.

Years2 and3

Theprogrammeaimsto:

  • Provide a comprehensivefoundationfor studentsintending topursue afurtherprofessional accountancyqualification ongraduation.
  • Provide a comprehensiveintroduction tothe worldsofaccountancypractice,commerce,industryandfinance.
  • Develop the knowledgeandskillsessentialfor employmentinthemodernbusinessenvironment

ProgrammeLearningOutcomes
Knowledgeandunderstanding:
Onsuccessfulcompletionoftheprogramme,studentsshouldbeableto:
Year1
1.UseEnglisheffectivelyforacademicstudy
2.Demonstratetheuseofsourcesofinformation
3.Demonstrateaknowledgeofthestructures,functions,processesandculturespertainingtoarangeofsocialorganisations,
4.Demonstrateaknowledgeoftheexternalenvironmentwithinwhichorganizationsoperate,includingthepolitical,social,economicandtechnologicalcontextsatbothnationalandinternationallevels
5.Obtainabasicfoundationoftheknowledgerequiredtoundertakestudyatahigherlevelintheirchosenacademicspecialisation.
Years2&3
1.Criticallyevaluatesomeofthecontextsinwhichaccountingoperates(includethelegal,ethical,socialandnaturalenvironment;theaccountancyprofession;thebusinessentity;thecapitalmarkets;thepublicsector)
2.Appropriatelyandcorrectlyusethemaincurrenttechnicallanguageandpracticesofaccounting(forexample,recognition,measurementanddisclosureinfinancialstatements;managerialaccounting;auditing;taxation)inaspecifiedsocio- / → / Teaching/LearningStrategy
Year1
Studentsaretaughtinacombinationoflectures,seminarsandsmallgrouptutorialswithpracticalclassesasappropriate.Teachingissupportedbytheuseofmoduletexts,andjournalarticles.TheuseofITisembeddedinthecurriculumUnderstandingisreinforcedbysupportfromtutorsintheformofcommentsbasedontheirassignmentanswers.(ILO:1-5)
Years23
Students gain knowledge and develop skillsthrough:
  • Lectures,traditionalandinteractive.
  • Discussionsinsmallgrouptutorialsandthroughpreparationforthem.
  • Solvingproblems,takingquestionnaires,usingcasestudiesandparticipationinquestionandanswersessions
  • Preparationofassignments,literaturereviewsandpresentationsduringcourses.
  • Preparationforallformsofassessment(includingexaminations)bothsummativeandformative
  • Independentstudy,readingtextbooks,journals,newspapersandotheronlinematerial.
  • Participationinworkshops,computerpracticalsandupgradesessions
  • Watchingvideomaterial
  • Attendinglecturesbyvisitingspeakers
  • UsingMoodleandtextbookwebsites

economicdomain
3.Demonstrateknowledgeandunderstandingofsomeofthealternativetechnicallanguagesandpracticesofaccounting
4.Recordandsummarisetransactionsandothereconomicevents;preparefinancialstatements;analysetheoperationsofbusiness(forexample,decisionanalysis,performancemeasurementandmanagementcontrol);completefinancialanalysisandprojections(forexample,analysisoffinancialratios,discountedcashflowanalysis,budgeting,financialrisks)
5.Criticallyevaluatecontemporarytheoriesandempiricalevidenceconcerningaccountinginatleastoneofitscontexts(forexample,accountingandcapitalmarkets;accountingandthefirm;accountingandthepublicsector;accountingandsociety;accountingandsustainability)
6.Articulatetheoriesandempiricalevidenceconcerningfinancialmanagement,riskandtheoperationofcapitalmarkets / → / AssessmentStrategy:
Year1:(1-5)
Studentsareformallyassessedonwhatistaughtbycompletingindividualtutormarkedassignments,presentationsindividualprojectsandagroupproject.Knowledgeandunderstandingisalsotestedthroughunseenwrittenexaminationsineachcourse
Years2and3
Students’knowledgeandunderstandingwillbeformallyassessedby:
  • Examinations
  • Classtests,includingshortanswer/multiplechoicetests
  • Practicalexercises
  • Timedessays
  • Writtenreports,groupandindividual
  • Literaturereviews
  • GroupandindividualPresentations
  • Groupandindividualassignmentsorprojects
  • Seminarperformance

Cognitive(thinking)skills:
Onsuccessfulcompletionoftheprogramme,studentsshouldbeableto:
Year1:
1.Analyseproblems,siftingtheirrelevantfromtherelevant,andexpressingtheresultsinbothwrittenandoralforms
2.Evaluateproposedsolutionsusingappropriatemethods
3.Integrateknowledgeandskillsfromvarioussourcesintoacoherentwhole,makingappropriateabstractions
4.Synthesiseargumentsfromunderlyingpremisestoproduceoverallconclusions
5.Heightenedawarenessofdifferencesinculture,historicalcontext,valuesandpoliticalstructures
Years2and3
1.Criticallyevaluateargumentsandevidence
2.Solveavarietyofproblems(structured/unstructuredproblems,whengivencomplete/incompleteinformation).
3.Locate,extractandanalysedatafrommultiplesources,includingtheacknowledgementandreferencingofsourcesandapplysuchdatainproblemsolvingexercises.
4.Demonstratetheabilitytolearnindependentlyandself-managelearning / → / Teaching/LearningStrategy:
Year1:
Theprinciplesarediscussedinthemoduletexts,lecturesandseminars,withmanyexamplesgiventoaidunderstandingoftheprocessesinvolved.Thestudentsarealsoprovidedwithpracticalactivitiestodevelopcognitiveskills,utilisingcasestudymaterialsandcomputersoftware.Assignmentsaredesignedtodemonstratetheskillsofanalysis,evaluationandintegration.
Theessaysandprojectsareextendedopportunitiesforstudentstofurtherdevelopandbeassessedontheseskills (CS:1-5)
Years2and3(CS:1-5)
  • Preparationofassignments,suchasessays,presentationsandliteraturereviews
  • Preparationoftutorialassignmentsandresultingdiscussions
  • Completionofproblemsolvingexercises
  • Encouragingreadingandreflectiononsettextsandadditionalmaterial,onlinejournals,newspapersetc.
  • Makinguseoftextbookwebsitesandotheronlineresources.Upgradesessionswillhelptodevelopstudyskills
  • Studentswillbegiventheopportunitytoapplyknowledgetosolvepracticalproblems.

→ / AssessmentStrategy:
(CS:1-5)
  • TimedEssays
  • WrittenReports
  • Examinations
  • LiteratureReviews
  • CaseStudies

Practicalskills(subjectspecific):
1.Numeracyskills,includingtheabilitytomanipulatefinancialandothernumericaldataandtoappreciatestatisticalconceptsatanappropriatelevel
2.Skillsintheuseofcommunicationsandinformationtechnologyinacquiring,analysingandcommunicatinginformation(currentlytheseskillsincludetheuseofspreadsheets,wordprocessingsoftware,onlinedatabases)
3.Communicationskillsincludingtheabilitytopresentquantitativeandqualitativeinformation,togetherwithanalysis,argumentandcommentary,inaformappropriatetotheintendedaudience
4.Anabilitytowork ingroups,andotherinterpersonalskills,includingoralaswellaswrittenpresentationskills / → / Teaching/LearningStrategy:(1-4)
  • StudentswillbeexposedtoavarietyofworkshopsandpracticalexerciseshelpingtodevelopnumeracyandITskills.
  • Upgradesessionswillhelptodevelopstudyskills
  • StudentswillbeencouragedtouseMoodleandotheronlineresourcestoaidlearninganddevelopITskills.
  • Studentswillberequiredtowriteandandpresentassignmentsbothasindividualsandingroups
  • Studentswillberequiredtopreparespreadsheetsandworksheets,useWordandExcelandlearnthebasicsoffilemanagement.Othercomputersoftwarepackageswillalsobeintroduced.
  • Studentswillbegiventheopportunitytoapplyknowledgetosolvepracticalproblems.

→ / AssessmentStrategy:
(PS:1-4)
Practicalskillsinareas1-4areassessedbycoursework,examinations,projectsandpresentations.
Transferableskills(generic):
Onsuccessfulcompletionoftheprogramme,studentsshouldbeabletodemonstrate:
1.Datamanagementskills
2.Communicationskills:includingpresentationskills
3.Leadershipandteam-buildingskills
4.Timemanagementskills
5.Decision-makingandproblem-solvingskills
6.Life-longlearningskills
7.Numeracyskills,
8.SkillsintheuseofCIT
9.Teamworkingskills
10.Interpersonalskills
11.Adaptability/Flexibility / → / Teaching/LearningStrategy:
Year1
Datamanagementskillsarefullyintegratedthroughouttheprogramme.Role-playexercises,casestudies,debatesandindividualandgrouppresentationsfacilitatethedevelopmentofcommunication,interpersonalskills,timemanagementandteamworking.
Years2and3:
StudentswillbeexposedtoavarietyofworkshopsandpracticalexerciseshelpingtodevelopnumeracyandITskills,inQMextraseminarswillbeprovidedforthosewithweaknumeracyskills
  • StudentswillbeencouragedtouseMoodleandotheronlineresourcestoaidlearninganddevelopCITskills.
  • Studentswillberequiredtowriteandpresentassignmentsbothasindividualsandingroups

  • Studentswillberequiredtopreparespreadsheetsandworksheets,useWordandExcelandlearnthebasicsoffilemanagement.Othercomputersoftwarepackageswillalsobeintroduced.
  • Tutorialexercisesandassignmentswilldevelopproblemsolvingskills

→ / AssessmentStrategy:
Year1(TS1-10)
Assessmentofkeyskillsisviawrittencoursework,individualandgrouppresentationsandexaminations
Years2and3(TS1-10)
  • Examinations
  • Multiplechoicetests,shortanswerbasedtests.
  • Individualgroupassignments,projectsandpresentations
  • TutorialPerformance

ExternalReferencePoints
Thefollowingreferencepointswereusedindesigningtheprogramme
  • FrameworkforHigherEducationQualifications(
  • SubjectBenchmarkstatementforAccounting( Accounting.aspx)
  • HowtoUseLearningOutcomesandAssessmentCriteriabyDavidGoslingandJennyMoon.PublishedbySEEC.( assessment-criteria).

Pleasenote:Thisspecificationprovidesaconcisesummaryofthemainfeaturesoftheprogrammeandthelearningoutcomesthatatypicalstudentmightreasonablybeexpectedtoachieveanddemonstrate ifhe/shetakesfulladvantageofthelearningopportunitiesthatareprovided.Moredetailedinformationonthelearningoutcomes,contentandteaching,learningandassessmentmethodsofeachcourseunit/modulecanbefoundinthedepartmentalorprogrammehandbook.TheaccuracyoftheinformationcontainedinthisdocumentisreviewedannuallybytheUniversityofBuckinghamandmaybecheckedbytheQualityAssuranceAgency.
ProgrammeDirector(s)Name(s): / Foundation:JoannaLeach
Business:KatieBalaam
DateofProduction: / 17August2017
DateapprovedbySchoolLearningandTeachingCommittee
DateapprovedbySchoolBoardofStudy
DateapprovedbyUniversityLearningandTeachingCommittee
DateofAnnualReview: / September2018

Accounting and Finance3 Years (IFP)JanuaryEntry2018

Allcoursesare15units,exceptwherespecifiedas30units.

TermYear1

English

1

Winter

KeyFoundationSkills

[3]

CommunicationSkills[3]

LifeandInstitutions[3]Understandingthe

WorldofBusiness[3]

2

Spring

3

Summer

EnglishandStudySkills[3]

EnglishforAcademicStudies[3]

EnglishforBusiness1[3]

DecisionMakingforBusiness[3]

EssentialMathematics[3]

EnglishforBusiness2[3]

EXAMINATION

TheEconomicEnvironmentofBusiness[3]

EXAMINATION

IntroductiontoFinancialStudies[3]

EXAMINATION

Years2and3

Allcoursesare15 units, exceptwherespecifiedas 30 units.

4

Autumn

5

UnderstandingBusinessandManagementwithEmbeddedAcademicSkills[4](30units)

PRELIMINARYEXAMINATION

PersonalEffectiveness-1[4]

(5units)

WinterIntroduction toFinancialAccounting[4]Information-basedDecisionMaking[4]

6

Spring

7

IntroductiontoManagement

Accounting[4]EconomicsforBusiness[4]MarketingFundamentals[4]

EXAMINATION(PRELIM)

SummerManagementAccounting[5]

8

AutumnFinancialAccounting[5]

CorporateandBusinessLaw[5]30units

MarketingManagement[5]

ONEof:

GlobalisationandInternationalBusiness[5]

ProcessandOperationsManagement[5]

9

WinterFinancialManagement[5]

THEPART1 EXAMINATION

ONEof:

ConsumerBehaviour[6]PsychologyofWork[6]

(30units)FinancialReporting[6]

(30units)

10

Creativity,InnovationandEntrepreneurship[6]

SpringTaxationA[6]

THEPART2 STAGE 1 EXAMINATION

11

SummerTaxationB[6]

12

AutumnAuditing[6]

ONEof:

BusinessSimulation[6]ResearchSkillsforBusiness[6]

FinancialRiskManagement[6]

ONEof:

BusinessSimulation[6]Money,BankingandFinancialMarkets[6]

ALanguageModule[5]

ONEof:

StatisticsforBusinessandEconomics[6]

CriticalPerspectivesinBusinessandManagement[6]

ALanguageModule[5]

THEPART2 STAGE 2 EXAMINATION