Our Accounting and Finance BA Honours course gives you the tools to succeed in this dynamic and rewarding profession.
Accounting is at the core of every business. Our BA Accounting and Finance course offers you a range of opportunities in every industry, from banking to fashion and everywhere in between.
You’ll develop your advanced theoretical knowledge as well as a practical understanding of all aspects of accounting and finance. Covering key areas within financial and management accounting, taxation and business law, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the role accounting plays in successful organisations.
We offer paid work placement to enhance your employability prospects and test your technical skills in the real world, including our established relationship with the NHS work placement scheme.
Our course is accredited by 8 of the world's leading global finance organizations which offers many benefits for you on graduation, from exemptions from some parts of further professional courses to international networking opportunities. For full details, please check out the Accreditation section.
Our Accounting and Finance department have won two awards from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), one of our accreditation partners, recently. In 2022 we won the CIMA Campus Culture Excellence Award (Global Champion) for actively promoting employer involvement and engagement between students and industry partners, and the previous year we won the CIMA Employability Award.
We have strong internship and links with local and international businesses which means there are paid placement opportunities, and internships available. You will gain hands-on, valuable experience and earn while you working at your placement.
We work closely with the leading accreditation partners in the industry which means when you graduate you will benefit from many opportunities. For example, you will be eligible for up to eight exemptions from CIMA professional qualifications, as you have will have completed part of your professional qualification as part of your degree. You will also be eligible for direct membership to the Institute of Financial Accountants and to use the letters AFA after your name.
Our graduates have gone on to have highly rewarding careers with many established leading organisations such as KPMG, NHS, Menzies and Haines Watt.
We have over 145 years of experience delivering professional, creative and technical education that prepares our students for success in global careers. Middlesex is a great place to start your career.
Hear from Ridhima, from the UAE, who transferred to Middlesex University from our Dubai campus to complete her BA Accounting and Finance.
Our expert teaching staff will help you develop advanced theoretical knowledge as well as a practical understanding of all aspects of accounting and finance.
We'll cover key areas within financial and management accounting, taxation and business law. You'll develop essential skills such as planning audits, calculating corporation tax, and analysing real-world companies.
Our Accounting and Finance BA will help you in many ways:
Middlesex was the first university in the UK to provide certificated ACCA Sage Cloud Business Accounting training course. As extra-curriculum activity, you have the opportunity to learn to use the new Sage Cloud accounting app and gain an official ACCA Sage user's certificate. In addition, you can also study Sage Payroll course if you intend to specialise in this area. The flexible learning plan offered on Sage courses means you can fit this study into your busy schedule.
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All students who complete our BA Accounting and Finance degree can apply to any one of the accountancy bodies for exemptions.
You will then sit more professional exams upon graduation and work towards becoming a chartered accountant. Starting in a traineeship position, there are various pathways to choose from including audit, taxation, budget analysis, financial accounting and management accounting.
The ICAEW is a world-leading professional membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports over 142,000 chartered accountants worldwide. They provide qualifications and professional development, share knowledge, insight and technical expertise, and protect the quality and integrity of the accountancy and finance profession.
Middlesex University enjoys partner in learning status from the ICAEW, which allows BA Honours Accounting and Finance graduates to be granted up to six exemptions towards ICAEW professional qualifications.
Due to these exemptions our graduates are also eligible to be awarded the ICAEW’s Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) on successful completion of a computer-based assessment in accounting.
The ACCA Qualification will arm you with the skills and experience to build a successful career anywhere in the world. With our strong presence in 181 countries around the world, your skills will be in demand internationally.
Our graduates are granted up to nine exemptions towards their ACCA professional qualifications.
The CIMA is a globally recognised professional qualification in accounting, business and finance. Students are eligible for up to eight exemptions from CIMA professional qualifications, meaning you have will have completed part of your professional qualification as part of your degree.
In addition, CIMA will support your time at Middlesex with employability talks and skill sessions as well as provide internship, placement and graduate opportunities with employer partners across all industries.
CIPFA is the leading professional body for accountants working in the public sector. The public sector offers excellent career opportunities for innovative professionals, keen to make a difference. Our students are granted five exemptions towards their CIPFA qualifications, meaning that they can potentially qualify in eighteen months.
Founded in 1928, the Association of International Accountants (AIA) is a global membership body for professional accountants. Our students are granted twelve exemptions towards AIA professional qualifications.
The IFA is a full member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global accounting standard-setter and regulator.
The Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) is an internationally recognised professional accountancy membership body, whose members work for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), or who run or work in small and medium-sized accounting practices (SMPs) that advise SMEs.
When you graduate from this course, you would be eligible for direct membership to the Institute of Financial Accountants and to use the letters AFA after your name.
The mission of the CFA Institute is served by generating value for core investment management professionals and engaging with the core investment management industry to advance ethics, market integrity, and professional standards of practice, which collectively contribute value to society. Our affiliation with CFA means:
The AAT is an established and well-respected professional body for Accounting Technicians which is widely recognised and valued amongst employers and within the wider accountancy and finance professions. AAT full members can be found in all sectors of the economy from industry to the public services, from commerce to accounting practices.
Graduates can apply to become full members of the AAT, and use the letters MAAT after your name. This membership is contingent on demonstrating five competencies from work experience and passing a comprehensive 40-question professional competence test on accounting principles.
Our three-year degree (four years with the work placement option) covers the key areas of financial accounting, management accounting, finance, taxation and business law. You will also choose from a range of modules that explore the broader business environment, and gain an understanding of the pivotal role of accounting to the success of organisations across the globe.
The course is studied over three years full-time, three years with two shorter placements (thin sandwich) or four years if the option of a 12-month placement is taken in the third year (thick sandwich).
You will study 6 compulsory modules over two semesters. These modules are designed to give you a solid grounding in the subject and bring you to a standard level of competence to pursue further study in the subject.
You will also complete a virtual internship with reputable companies (such as KPMG, Goldman Sachs and HSBC) as part of the assessment, plus study towards the Xero Advisor Equivalency Certificate, a widely recognised qualification in the accounting sector. You will develop data analytical skills by completing problem-based business cases in your assignment.
In the second and third years, you will spent more time on ethics, governance and controversial accounting principles. You'll study accounting rules and apply accounting skills. There is more emphasis on discussion, critical evaluation, reflection and anticipation of likely future developments.
At the end of your second year, you may opt to take a year’s placement before returning to complete your final year of study.
In the final year, you'll study four compulsory modules designed to advance skills and knowledge appropriate to graduate level.
This module is an introduction to bookkeeping and financial accounting.
Its main aim is to provide you with knowledge of the basic techniques and skills required to record transactions by the method known in accounting as “double entry” and then prepare a set of single company financial statements based on those records.
Furthermore, it aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to be able to interpret financial statements prepared by others, including real company financial statements.
This module provides a thorough grounding of the basic statistical methods and computer software for the analysis and presentation of accounting and economic data.
It caters for students with some prior mathematical knowledge.
While you are expected to complete mathematical calculations by hand and using a computer, the emphasis is on the interpretation and communication of quantitative results.
This module aims to provide you with an understanding of economics from a business perspective.
This includes an understanding of how competition, the behaviour of the financial markets, and government economic policy can influence an organisation as well as providing the ability to apply economic theory in both microeconomic and macroeconomic contexts.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to introduce you to the significant role accounting information plays in each fundamental business transaction process. You will learn to analyse and handle information using accounting systems and advanced IT techniques.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to equip you with the basic accounting tools that aid management with its core functions of planning, decision making and control, both in a business or a not-for-profit environment.
Key areas covered are cost classifications for decision making, product costing techniques applicable to different industries, budgeting, short term decision making using cost volume profit analysis, and long term investment appraisal.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
Applied Financial Accounting
This module aims to develop your knowledge of financial accounting techniques and practices by introducing issues which involve more than one possible accounting treatment and examining the impact of international regulatory frameworks. You are encouraged to adopt a critical attitude to the quality of corporate reporting, particularly in areas of non-mandatory narrative disclosures such as corporate social responsibility and governance.
Please note that you will either complete this module OR the Advanced Financial Accounting module depending on your results in the Financial Accounting module of Year 1.
Advanced Financial Accounting
This module enables you to extend your knowledge of the principles and techniques used in financial accounting and reporting. You will develop the ability to understand and critically analyse key techniques and practices within the framework of financial accounting and reporting. You will also develop and refine your transferable skills, including communication, presentation skills, critical analysis, time management and team-working.
This module will examine the laws regulating the conduct of business and business organisations. The first part of the module sets the context and provides essential material on English Business law (English Legal system, Contract, Tort & Employment) whilst the second part covers Company law and Corporate Governance.
Applied Management Accounting
This module examines the application of management accounting information and its influence on management behaviour and decision making. It will provide you with an opportunity to apply, interpret and analyse management accounting techniques and will enable you to consider their wider and strategic uses. The module will explore the impact on organisations of strategic issues of contemporary management accounting.
Please note that you will either complete this module OR the Advanced Management Accounting module depending on your results in the Management Accounting module of Year 1.
Advanced Management Accounting
This module aims to provide a critical understanding of the management accounting techniques and practices available today and the development of recent advances in methods of overhead cost allocation to reflect the changing nature of modern business.
This module aims to introduce students to the techniques and practices in project management.
The first part of the module is designed to examine the conceptual framework and key theories that underpin each phase of project management.
The second part of the module critically evaluates project optimisation mechanisms and explores ethical issues in project management.
You have the opportunity to manage a simulated project throughout the time of this module.
On completion, you will be able to:
This module will also enable you to:
This module explores the mathematics that underlies financial processes and decision-making and complements the study of these areas in economics and accounting.
Specific areas include probability, extending interest ideas to annuities and bonds, modelling financial data using time series models and Markov chains, applying discrete methods for option pricing, and using a utility to make decisions under challenging environments.
This module aims to broaden and expand your knowledge of the concepts and techniques required for the design, operation and control of business processes. Cases and practical exercises are relevant to a variety of commercial, manufacturing and service organisations. The module builds on the IT and quantitative skills developed in the first year.
The aim of the first part of the module is to introduce you to a variety of personal finance products and issues so as to increase their financial literacy.
The second part of the module aims to provide you with an understanding of personal financial behaviour. This includes an understanding of how market anomalies, financial bubbles, fake news and manipulations in financial markets can influence individual financial decision making as well as providing the ability to apply cognitive and emotional behaviour biases in irrational behaviour contexts.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module examines accounting theory and its influence on accounting. The module aims to provide you with an opportunity to evaluate and apply different strands of accounting theory to research in accounting.
The module is designed to provide an in-depth exploration of philosophical debates connected to the generation of knowledge, whilst connecting such debates to those currently employed in accounting.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to provide you with a conceptual understanding of contemporary corporate finance and the practical tools and techniques for the financial decision-making process.
The module explores the main aspects of financial management, including capital budgeting and investment decision-making, capital structure and finance decision-making, and working capital management.
It will enable you to form a critical appreciation of the link between accounting and finance, and the interaction between financial decision-making and capital market behaviour.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
The aim of this module is to provide participants with the critical tools and mindset to analyse and identify responses to modern ethical business challenges.
You will be sensitised to different ways of thinking, learning from debating, and collaborating with your peers from different cultural backgrounds so as to build your methodological, analytical and communication skills.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to introduce you to UK personal and business taxation. It deals with the fundamental principles of UK tax law and practice, including the computation of tax liabilities.
This leads you to tackle more complex computational problems and to identify tax planning opportunities. You are also introduced to tax software packages, and gain ‘hands on’ experience of their use.
The module seeks to provide you with a better understanding of the ethical dimensions of tax compliance and tax planning.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module explores and applies several quantitative methods and computer software for the retrieval, analysis and presentation of project management accounting data, the emphasis being on the interpretation and communication of quantitative results for project planning, control and decision making.
This module aims to introduce you to the complexities of starting a business.
It draws together a range of theories, concepts, and notions from several sources such as Finance, Marketing, and Strategy.
The module utilises the development of a unique business plan through which you will learn, practice, and apply the necessary academic and practical knowledge and skill sets, including team working, required for the establishment of a new business, as well as an understanding of the complexities relating to the functioning of a small business.
The primary aim of the work placement module is to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a period of work experience (minimum of 30 days) from which they learn about business in general and the organisation, and the sector within, which it operates as well as the critical drivers of business success.
The work placement will provide an insight into the world of work and appropriate conduct at work. The module will therefore facilitate you in becoming and staying employable through assertiveness, continuing development and reflection on their development and the link between theory and practice.
This module aims to critically evaluate theoretical perspectives on leadership, in particular the increasing interest and demand for authentic leadership.
The module will explore the contextual complexity of and challenges to leadership effectiveness in the 21st century.
The module will also provide you with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in order to develop your current practice.
This module aims to equip you with knowledge sufficiently in depth to critically engage with modern investment theory and practice.
It incorporates a study of portfolio theory as the basis for contextualising challenges in investment decision-making, especially those related to asset price determination, understanding risks, asset management practice, the merits of rival investment philosophies, financial market liquidity, and information disclosure.
It investigates how these challenges drive institutional, product, regulatory and technological innovation in financial markets.
This module aims to develop knowledge of the purpose and need for auditing of financial statements, to understand some of the theoretical contexts of auditing and to develop an ability to evaluate the use of modern auditing techniques in a variety of practical situations.
You will learn how to develop and apply audit strategies and learn the practical application of Auditing Standards (ISAs).
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
The module provides you with an understanding of the concepts and key issues in corporate governance and corporate accountability.
Students will also get an overview of the high profile cases of corporate failure and analyse them from a corporate governance perspective.
By extending the traditional corporate governance theoretical framework to address broader corporate social responsibility issues, you will understand the significance of corporate transparency and accountability in modern corporations.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to provide you with appropriate tools for the analysis of financial statements, in particular for the purpose of business valuation.
In doing so, you will become familiar with how investors, lenders and corporate managers evaluate and utilise financial and non-financial information in corporate reports.
The module aims to synthesise information contained in financial statements and narrative reports to enable you to interpret company performance and gain an insight into the business.
You will thereby develop an awareness of the risks faced by companies and how these can be mitigated.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
To find out more about this highly-regarded course, please download the Accounting and Finance BA specification(PDF).
We review our courses regularly to improve your experience and graduate prospects so modules may be subject to change.
We offer a range of industry-standard software and the training required to master accounting and finance, including Xero, Sage, Bloomberg, OneSource and Excel.
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.
We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.
An Accounting and Finance degree opens the doors to a range of careers, many with excellent progression and competitive salaries such as Trainee Accountant, Audit Trainee, Financial Risk Analyst, Finance Assistant and Credit Controller. Previous graduates have progressed into careers with a wide range of prestigious organisations including:
You can pursue accounting and finance career or you can go on to further study on courses such as MSc Investment and Finance, and MSc Banking and Finance.
Our Careers and Employability Service, MDXworks, will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.
Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognized with the following awards:
Our location in London helps us connect you with over 1,000 industry partners to develop your future employment prospects.
And we have unique work and study opportunities at our campuses in Dubai and Mauritius. You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.
We encourage you to undertake a paid work placement during your studies either as a year-long assignment between years two and three, or as two shorter placements during years one and two, and between years two and three.
The paid, year-long work placement exempts you from paying tuition fees for the full academic year ensuring you gain the necessary practical skills to embark on your chosen career.
A 12-month placement is offered at the end of year two (Thick Sandwich mode).
Alternatively, you can opt for two smaller placements over the two first years of the programme (Thin Sandwich Mode).
A dedicated Employability Advisor helps in the search for an employer who will provide you with an appropriate placement. S/he will also provide you with guidance and support in preparation for, as well as during and after the placement.
The placement forms the basis for an assessed report based on the organisation.
At the start of the placement, you'll be allocated an individual supervisor who will provide support and advice for the duration of the project. All projects are double-marked.
We have developed a strong relationship with NHS London, offering candidates finance work placements for a 12-month period. This is only open to second-year students.
The placement offers:
The fees below refer to the 2024/25 academic year:
Full-time: £9,250
Part-time: £77 per taught credit
Full-time students: £16,600
Part-time students: £138 per taught credit
The following course-related costs are included in the fees:
To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
Teaching interests: Financial Accounting; Managerial Finance
Research interests: Financial Reporting; Audit Quality; Corporate Governance
Kooi See Yeap has extensive accounting experience in public accounting firm prior to joining the teaching profession. She has taught in Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
Teaching interests: Taxation; Corporate Responsibility and Ethics
Research interests: International Taxation and Risk Analytics for Financial Institutions
Richard is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He specialises in taxation and has been leading the teaching of Taxation at Middlesex for many years. Richard’s professional focus has been on communicating the implications of changes in tax law and practice to small practitioners and their clients. He is also involved in the design, implementation and delivery of Risk Analytics training for one of the world’s largest banks.
Teaching Interests: Financial Accounting, Audit, Entrepreneurial Finance
Research Interests: Accounting Education, Technology in Education, Accounting History
Ellie is a Middlesex University alumna. She trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte gaining experience of a diverse range of clients in the banking and finance industry. She is heavily involved with the activities of the British Accounting and Finance Association – Accounting Education Special Interest Group.
Teaching interests: Corporate Reporting, Financial Reporting and Accounting, Taxation
Research Interests: Corporate Reporting
Jo graduated from the University of Exeter with a BSc in Mathematics & Mathematical Statistics. She trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte gaining experience of a diverse range of clients. On leaving practice she worked for Rexam plc as Group Accountant, then swapped industry for education and joined Middlesex. Currently Jo is Director of Accounting Programmes, specialising in corporate reporting.
Teaching interests: Management Accounting
Research interests: Education and use of learning technologies
Alison is a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) and has connections with professional accounting bodies and employability. Prior to joining Middlesex University, Alison worked at HSBC, Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corporation and Lendlease. She is interested in the development of online technologies and applying these into Higher Education.
Teaching interests: Financial reporting (International Financial Reporting Standards)
Nick is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He is a financial reporting specialist and is an expert in IFRS, UK GAAP and UK Company Law (as it relates to financial reporting). Nick previously spent 32 years at KPMG in the UK, the last 15 years of which as a Partner building and leading the firm’s Accounting Advisory Practice. In that role, Nick advised many of the UK’s largest organisations on complex accounting issues. He brings a wealth of practice experience to the classroom.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: September 2024
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, 6 years part-time
Code: N390
Start: September 2024
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, 6 years part-time
Code: N491
Start: September 2024
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, Usually 5 years part-time
Code: N302