Skip to main content

Business Accounting and Finance with work placements BSc Honours

  • UCAS code: NN14
  • Full time
  • 4 years

This four-year Flying Start degree provides an innovative fast-track route into chartered accountancy, with integrated paid work placements at PwC.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2024-25


Next start date:

  • September 2024

Fees (per year)

  • Home: £9250
  • International: £21600

Entry requirements and offers

  • A-Level: AAB
  • IB: 34 points

UCAS Institution name and code:

  • NEWC / N21

Course overview

Get a flying start and accelerate your progress towards being an ICAEW Chartered Accountant with our Business Accounting and Finance with work placement BSc honours degree. Put classroom theory into commercial practice with integrated paid work placements.

The ‘Flying Start’ degree is a collaboration between Newcastle University, PwC and ICAEW. It is the most established course of its kind. It combines academic study and integrated paid professional work placements in PwC’s Audit practice. You'll progress towards the ICAEW Chartered Accountancy qualification, the ACA.

We are celebrating 20 years of our Flying start programme. Current students, alumni and staff have shared their views and experiences of the programme since its inception in 2002.

Throughout your journey, a team of dedicated staff from both Newcastle University and PwC will support you. They'll help you:

  • develop the business skills you need to gain a degree
  • progress towards a professional qualification
  • succeed on paid work placements

This will help you towards hopefully receiving a full-time graduate offer with PwC. You could be a fully qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant just over a year after graduation - a truly flying start.

pwc logo

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

You will spend the first full academic year at university. This will help you to settle into student life in Newcastle.

In Stage 1, you'll have a comprehensive introduction to key areas of business, accounting and finance. Modules cover:

  • financial accounting
  • management accounting and finance
  • the financial environment
  • quantitative methods and principles of taxation
  • industry economics
  • professional skills
  • business law

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Introduction to Financial Accounting 20
Introduction to Management Accounting and Finance 20
The Financial Environment 20
Introductory Quantitative Methods and Principles of Taxation 20
Introductory Economics 20
Introduction to Business Law 20

In Stage 2, you'll deepen your knowledge. You'll cover areas including:

  • audit and assurance
  • management and control
  • tax compliance
  • financial accounting for business

From December to Easter, you'll complete your first paid work placement at PwC. You will work in a professional accountancy practice environment and apply your learning to real-life scenarios.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Stage 2 Placement 40
Management and Control 20
Auditing and Assurance 25
Tax Compliance 20
Financial Accounting for Business 15

Stage 3 includes another paid placement at PwC. This will allow you to further develop your professional skills relating to audit, assurance, financial reporting and taxation.

You'll also study modules in:

  • business finance
  • business planning
  • financial accounting and reporting

From December to Easter, you'll complete your second paid work placement at PwC. You will work in a professional accountancy practice environment and apply your learning to real-life scenarios.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Stage 3 Placement 40
Business Planning: Taxation 30
Financial Accounting and Reporting 25
Business Finance 25

In Stage 4, you'll study advanced areas such as:

  • contemporary industry issues
  • financial analysis
  • corporate governance and ethics

From mid-November to Easter, you'll gain even more auditing experience during your final paid placement at PwC.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

You'll learn through a combination of:

  • lectures 
  • seminars
  • tutorials
  • workshops
  • professional placements

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

  • Assignments – written or fieldwork

  • Case studies

  • Coursework

  • Dissertation or research project

  • Essays

  • Examinations – practical or online

  • Presentations

  • Reports

  • Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Real business skills

You'll complete over 200 days of paid qualifying technical work experience. You will work with real clients as part of PwC’s Audit Team during the second, third and fourth year of your degree. This placement will allow you to put your knowledge into practice. These days also count towards approximately half of the work experience required to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

You'll also develop valuable skills of time management, self-motivation, teamwork and research, within the professional skills element of this degree.

Research skills

Our teaching is informed by the latest research to ensure that your studies are always in line with the most up-to-date industry thinking. 

Opportunities

Work placement

You'll work on real projects for real clients as part of PwC's audit team, you will develop new skills and gain a broad knowledge of business issues. You'll receive an attractive salary with paid holiday during your placement. Paid accommodation on work placement can also be provided, if needed.

There are various opportunities across the UK. PwC will provide practical help and financial relocation assistance, should you need it.

Your placements in stages 2 and 3 run from January to Easter. Before each placement, you'll receive a PwC training programme in December. After each placement, you return to University for the summer term. You have a placement debrief, final tuition and assessment.

In Stage 4, your placement runs from mid-November to Easter. You gain further auditing experience and are likely to be supervising others.

Find out more about work placements

Facilities and environment

Facilities

Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University. We have over 3,500 students representing over 80 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:

  • regional, national and international leaders
  • over 34,000 alumni in our network, spanning over 150 countries
  • leading professionals and practitioners from industry

The Business School is the gateway to Newcastle Helix - an innovation hub and community that brings together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers.

Our facilities include:

  • flexible conference room with panoramic views across the city
  • Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing over 120 PCs
  • four large lecture theatres and over 25 seminar and teaching spaces, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
  • dedicated Student Hub and Quiet Space, providing a balanced mix of study space for group work or quiet, individual study
  • contemporary café
  • employability hub to support your career aspirations
  • Bloomberg Room to give you a real feel for the trading room floor
  • Experimental and Behavioural Economics Lab, a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting studies in experimental economics and economic psychology

This is in addition to our Frederick Douglass Centre at Newcastle Helix, which offers further study and learning spaces including a 750 seat auditorium – the largest in the University.

Find out more about Newcastle University Business School

Support

Each degree offers you a stimulating curriculum and a supportive teaching and learning environment.

You will have an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have.

Your future

This course will equip you with the skills, experience, and qualifications needed to become a part-qualified, professional chartered accountant.

Our graduates went into roles such as chartered accountant, financial accountant, senior associate in assurance, and auditor.

In 2021, 100% of our graduates secured positions with PwC, but were under no obligation to join PwC when they left university.

If you are offered a position with PwC, you'll join the company on a graduate programme and complete the ICAEW ACA Advanced Level and the remaining technical work experience required.

Just over a year after you graduate, you could become a fully qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

Industry links

We deliver this degree in partnership with PwC and ICAEW, meaning you'll have regular interaction with the profession.

You'll learn from qualified chartered accountants and be able to gain sector insight with regular guest lectures from PwC and ICAEW professionals.

Make a difference

Sorry, you need JavaScript to view this video

Careers support

You'll have access to a wealth of resources and support to enhance your employability, including:

  • the annual Future Focus: Careers Conference, tailored to different industry areas
  • interwoven employability provision
  • access to a dedicated placement officer within the Business School who can help you find a work placement in your area of interest
  • specialist careers and business start-up support from the University's award-winning Careers Service and the Business School's careers consultants
  • career management sessions with a careers consultant
  • work experience opportunities while studying with us
  • Business School summer internship scheme

We're also one of 140 business schools worldwide to be accredited by the EQUIS scheme for our managerial and entrepreneurial skills development.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2024 entry.

A-Level
International Baccalaureate

Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications

Contextual Offers

Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.

What is a contextual offer? Find out more and if you’re eligible for this or our PARTNERS Programme supported entry route.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Entrance courses (INTO)

International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO. 

Find out more about International Pathway Courses

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.

Additional application information

If you require immigration permission to study in the UK, but will not be applying for a student visa as you already hold another type of immigration permission, please contact naomi.challans@pwc.com for more information. Due to certain visa restrictions, we need to check your eligibility for the programme and any subsequent Graduate offer that could be made to you, before we can progress your application.

After you apply

Your UCAS form will be reviewed by a member of staff. Following this review, we may also invite you to complete some online assessments which will include an online interview and attending an online group assessment.

Online interview

The online interview is run by PwC. This can be taken at a time and place to suit you, as long as there is sufficient time before the online group assessment (we’ll advise you of the deadlines).

You will have the opportunity to practice questions and find out more about PwC by completing this exercise. Your interview will be reviewed by both PwC and Newcastle University staff.

Online Group Assessment

The online group assessments are held in March, either online or at one of PwC’s offices.

The online group assessment is conducted by PwC. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions. This will allow you to get a good feel for what the programme is about.

We will consider the results of your online assessments and group assessment exercise.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Qualification: BSc Honours

Home students

full time 4 years

Tuition fees (per year)

9250

International students

full time 4 years

Tuition fees (per year)

21600

Bursary

We also offer a Flying Start financial bursary, aimed at supporting students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds with the day-to-day costs of university life, to support our students to be the best they can be.

Find out more about our Flying Start financial bursary.

Fee reduction

You will spend part of your degree in stages 2, 3 and 4 on placement with PwC. Your tuition fee for each year will be reduced to reflect this.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

Scholarships

Find out more about:

Open days and events

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

  • the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
  • the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
  • the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages

Get in touch

By phone

Call us on +44 (0) 191 208 3333 and press option 1. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am until 4pm.

Live chat

Our NCL chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our NCL chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

Online

Fill in our enquiry form

Keep updated

We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.

Social Media

You may be interested in