BSc Accounting & Finance

Programme structure

2023/2024 academic year

The structure for this course depends on which modules you take throughout the three years, giving you the option to focus your studies around accounting, finance, or a mixture of both.  If you choose to study BSc Accounting & Finance with Placement Year you will complete your work placement during your third year.

Term one

You will study 4 core modules introducing you to the fundamentals of accounting, finance and statistics.

  Term two

You will study 3 core modules and choose between 2 electives. Some exams are taken in January before Term two classes begin.


Term three

Revision and exams.


How you will be assessed

Throughout the course you will be assessed by a range of different methods including examinations, class tests, essays, reports, presentations and group work.

CORE: Foundations, Skills and Debates

Foundations, Skills and Debates is a pivotal module for all first year students which supports the transition from formal education to the business school environment.

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Introduction to Financial Accounting

Explore the basic concepts, theories and context that underpin and influence accounting and its development.

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Financial Management

This module introduces you to the key concepts of Financial Management and prepares you for more advanced study of Finance by encouraging you to develop a critical understanding of the main theories and models.

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Foundations of Management Accounting

Develop an understanding of the sources and uses of accounting information within organisations.

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Economics for Business

Apply analytical techniques to real world problems.

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Business Law 1

Explore the importance of contract law in the world of business.

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Introduction to Statistics

Introduction to Statistics provides you with a basic knowledge of probability and statistical concepts, including the ability to be critical of reported quantitative information - skills that are essential for other modules and careers in business.

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Management, Organisations and Society or Business Analytics

You will choose to study Management, Organisations and Society, or Business Analytics in your first year.

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Terms one and two

You will study 5 core modules and 3 accounting or finance electives where you can focus your studies around finance or accounting, or a combination of the two.


Term three

Revision and exams.


How you will be assessed

Throughout the course you will be assessed by a range of different methods including examinations, class tests, essays, reports, presentations and group work.

CORE: Entrepreneurial Mindset

This module will facilitate students in developing an entrepreneurial mindset, attitude and skills through a combination of lectures, case study and creativity exercise sessions.

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CORE: Global Business Strategy and Sustainability

Understand the business responses of global firms to the features and influences of the business environment.

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Financial Reporting 1

Providing you with an understanding of some of the major theories of accounting, the regulatory environment for financial reporting, the techniques underlying current reporting practice.

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Financial Reporting 2

Building on Financial Reporting 1, this module aims to develop your understanding of the theories of accounting.

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Finance 1: Financial Markets

You will learn how to use quantitative tools for pricing stocks, bonds and derivatives, and for measuring risk and return.

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Accounting & Finance Elective Modules x 3

In your second year, you will begin to shape your degree by choosing three accounting or finance elective modules, allowing you to continue to focus your studies around accounting or finance or a mixture of both.

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Terms one and two

You will study one core module, and you will choose 7 electives, of which 4 must be from an accounting or finance discipline. The remaining 3 electives can be taken from a wider range of subject areas such as marketing, strategy, law, organisational behaviour or entrepreneurship.


Term three

Revision and exams.


How you will be assessed

Throughout the course you will be assessed by a range of different methods including examinations, class tests, essays, reports, presentations and group work.

CORE: Critical Issues in Management

This module will present you with a range of contemporary business-related issues and problems in the management of modern organisations.

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Accounting & Finance Elective Modules x 4

In your final year you can really shape your degree by choosing four accounting or finance elective modules, allowing you to continue to focus your studies around accounting or finance or a mixture of both.

Full details
Electives Modules x 3

In your final year you will choose three elective modules from a range of subject areas.

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Elective modules

These are indicative elective modules that may vary year-on-year.

Year 2

  • Accounting in Context
  • Business Law 2
  • Finance 2: Corporate Finance
  • Financial Econometrics
  • Economics of Strategy
  • Management Accounting for Decision Making and Control.

Final Year

  • Advances in Management Accounting 
  • Accounting for Sustainability, People, Planet
  • Alternative and Responsible Investments
  • Auditing and Accountability
  • Banks and Financial Systems
  • Business Taxation
  • Company Law
  • Derivatives and Risk Management
  • Venture Capital
  • Financial Markets: Organisation and Technology
  • Fintech
  • Law for Entrepreneurs
  • Investment Management
  • Mergers and Acquisitions.

Teaching methods

We will introduce you to Warwick with an induction programme to familiarise you with our teaching methods, and with WBS and the University. Throughout your first year you will attend modules with other WBS students from across our other degree courses to widen your social and academic network. You will usually take two hours of lectures per module per week. Smaller seminars, usually one hour per module per week, are designed to allow you to discuss related topics in more detail in a supportive environment.

You will be expected to prepare work in advance for your seminars and carry out around 15-20 hours of independent learning per week. Some of our more creative modules will include interactive workshops and online videos, podcasts or reflective journals that you will need to complete.

Online platform my.wbs

Our unique online learning platform my.wbs houses all of our teaching materials, spaces for interactive quizzes and forums and online classroom: wbsLive. Easy to use, my.wbs enables interaction in live lectures, discussions and syndicate groups. It also allows students to track their progress, test themselves, submit assignments and to connect with other students and academics. 

Collaborative learning 

Some of our modules are assessed by group work. You will work in small groups with students from different backgrounds typically producing a report, or creating and delivering an assessed presentation. Collaborating with students from across the world will help you to prepare for working in teams within a global environment, this can also be beneficial if you decide to complete a work placement or year abroad as a part of your undergraduate studies.  

Year abroad

Give yourself a head start in today's global job market by taking a placement year abroad as part of your studies.

You will have the opportunity to experience a different culture, improve your employability skills and build your global network in preparation for your future career.

Find out more.

Your support network

We take the wellbeing of our students very seriously. You will be allocated a personal tutor to support you throughout your degree with both academic and pastoral concerns. All faculty have student support and feedback hours when they can be approached to help if you wish to understand a topic better, or just want to discuss what you have learned. 

You could also get involved in the Student Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC). The SSLC are forums in which students can voice their opinions about their time at the University of Warwick and WBS, make suggestions for improvement in areas such as teaching and feedback, and work with WBS to enhance the experiences for the whole student body. Each course elects Course Representatives at the beginning of the academic year. You will be informed via my.wbs of how to get involved in the SSLC. You can find out more about the SSLC by reading our student blog