BSc Accounting & Finance
In 2014, 84% of our BSc Accounting & Finance students gained first or upper second class degrees
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 either one of the single honours degrees or a joint degree to widen your social and academic network.
In Year 1 you take ten core modules, all of which are compulsory.
During the Integrative Project module you work in a group to prepare and present a business plan for a new business. This enables you to use the skills and knowledge gained from the other modules.
In Year 2, you study the main components of accounting and finance in depth through nine core modules and one elective module of your choice. Some Year 2 modules are pre-requisites for certain Year 3 modules.
In your Year 3, you have the opportunity to choose eight modules, of which four must be from an accounting or finance discipline.
Throughout, you will be assessed by a mixture of formal examinations, essays, reports, case study analysis and group work.
See module information
Introduction to Financial Accounting
Explore the basic concepts, theories and context that underpin and influence accounting and its development. Learn to record and summarise accounting transactions and events, to integrate and understand the impact of accounting adjustments into the accounting records, and prepare and present financial statements.
Economics for Business
Apply analytical techniques to real world problems, especially in the business context, gain an understanding of fundamental concepts in micro and macroeconomics; and develop a range of appropriate analytical skills, including descriptive, graphical and elementary mathematical methods.
Explore the importance of contract law in the world of business. Consider the ways in which legal systems work. Develop an understanding of the main sources of law and the procedures involved in creating law. Learn to analyse legal problems.
Try your hand as an entrepreneur in a group exercise. Gain an understanding of the problems and opportunities inherent in establishing a new business and learn how all the things you have learnt so far fit together. Reflect on the entrepreneurial process, team dynamics, and your own personal development.
Foundations of Management Accounting
Develop an understanding of the sources and uses of accounting information within organisations. Explore the design of accounting control systems and decision-making techniques both for manufacturing and service organisations, and for profit or non-profit, public or private sector. Consider how accounting interacts with the human side of organisations.
Introduces you to the key concepts of Financial Management and prepare the foundations for more advanced study of Finance by encouraging you to develop a critical understanding of the main theories and models. Encourages you to reflect on, and engage in critical discussion of, what you are reading in the financial press and to make links with what you are learning in the classroom.
Quantitative Analysis for Management I
Examine basic probability and statistical concepts, and explore realistic problems using case material and making use of Excel to analyse data sets. Apply the concepts and techniques to fully understand how they are used in practice.
Understanding Organisational Behaviour
Explore the principles, theories, and research underlying the academic discipline of organisational behaviour at four levels of analysis: individual, group, organisation and society. Develop a critical appreciation of the behavioural and social sciences as they relate to the study of behaviour in organisations, and to the practice of management.
New for 2014, CORE (Creative, Organised, Reflective, Enterprising) Practice is core for all Year 1 students. It has been designed to complement, challenge and enhance students’ subject pathways though exposure to real world and interdisciplinary perspectives, and at the same time, developing the necessary skills for creative and innovative approaches in 21st century business practice.
Quantitative Analysis for Management II
Extend your understanding of probability and statistical concepts and further develop your competence in the use of a variety of quantitative tools and techniques. Apply these tools and techniques to solve real-life problems using case study material.
Accounting in Context
Understand some of the theoretical assumptions that underlie accounting regulation, practices and research. Critically examine the nature of accounting through discussing accounting theory and practice and understand the role played by accounting in the globalisation of certain management ideas and practices. Contextualise financial statements as part of the process of understanding an organisation's performance.
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. It will also enable you to prepare, read, critically evaluate and interpret financial statements, assess profit performance and understand the information requirements of investors.
Financial Reporting 2
This module aims to develop your understanding of the theories of accounting, the regulatory environment for financial reporting, corporate governance, the structure of group accounts and models of asset valuation; and to develop your ability to prepare, read, critically evaluate and interpret published annual reports in the light of the information requirements of the various stakeholder groups in the business.
Economics of Strategy
Understand fundamental concepts in micro and macroeconomics, as relevant for the study of strategic decisions of firms. Develop a range of appropriate analytical skills, including descriptive, graphical and elementary mathematical methods used in the economic analysis of strategy. Develop your capacity to apply analytical techniques to real world business problems and strategy choices.
Learn about equity, bond and derivatives markets, how they function, and their importance to both individual investors and corporate decision-makers. Understand how these markets determine the prices of stocks, bonds and derivatives. Define the different forms of market efficiency, and discuss the findings of empirical tests of the Efficient Markets Hypothesis.
Critically assess the factors that determine the optimal investment, financing and payout decisions of a firm. Compute the cost of capital of a firm under alternative assumptions. Use alternative methods for valuing firms to gain important insights into value drivers. Discuss the main motives for mergers and acquisitions. Identify the reasons why firms raise capital. Solve structured numerical problems and write informed critiques of important topics in Corporate Finance theory.
Global Environment of Business
Understand the business responses of global firms to the features and influences of the business environment. Appreciate the importance and impact of political, economic, social and cultural factors. Read, analyse, and compare different theoretical perspectives on globalisation, convergence and varieties of capitalism, strategic management, and the role and influence of multinational corporations in both the developed world and in developing countries.
Issues in Management Accounting
The module builds on core concepts introduced in Year 1 and will further your understanding of how accounting is used within organisations for the planning, control and evaluation of activity with a special focus on the manager's role. The module covers technical issues in cost management and performance measurement systems, and wider issues concerning the role of management accounting in shaping management structures and decisions in manufacturing and service contexts.
Global Integrative Project
Develop a critical understanding of major trends and issues in Global business. Increase your understanding of how global firms analyse their business environment. Experience and develop an understanding of multi-disciplinary management. Using an international issue based assignment/project develop project management, decision making, teamworking, and business research skills.
In Year 2 you will choose one elective module from a range of subject areas such as: marketing, strategy, entrepreneurship, human resources, customer service management, industrial relations, law as well as accounting and finance. Alternatively you can choose from modules offered through other University departments such as Economics or a language.
Elective modules in Accounting or Finance x4
In Year 3 you will choose four elective modules in the field of accounting and finance.
Elective modules x4
In Year 3 you will choose four elective modules from a range of subject areas such as: marketing, strategy, entrepreneurship, human resources, customer service management, industrial relations, law as well as accounting and finance. Alternatively you can choose from modules offered through other University departments such as Economics or a language.
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 with a particular focus on situations which are relatively unstructured and where there is no "one right answer". You will work in syndicate groups to deliver presentations or critically discuss the presentations of other groups.