Business Accounting and Finance, BA Honours

Students by The Arches on campus
  • UCAS Code: NN14
  • Course Duration: 4 years

The prestigious Flying Start programme is designed to allow you to develop your understanding of business and accounting, both in the classroom and on the guaranteed paid placement. The integrated nature of the programme allows you to put into practice the theory taught at university.

Year 1 is designed to be accessible and relevant to all students, irrespective of whether you have studied business or business related subjects before.   In this year we concentrate on the basics, building the foundations upon which future modules are based.

Years 2 and 3 concentrate specifically on the technical and professional aspects of accounting and finance covering the ICAEW Professional Stage exams.  The custom-designed modules are taught in a dedicated classroom by a team of tutors, many of whom are themselves qualified accountants, able to give you individual support and guidance.

Year 4 develops your ability to discuss and analyse contemporary business issues and includes study of real-life case studies. For example, you might be asked to compare the business models of low-cost air carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet with those of traditional carriers such as British Airways. We look at how businesses are valued and how they are financed, using real-life examples.

The table below lists the key topic areas of the modules you will be studying on this programme. By the end of the third year you will have completed modules that satisfy all the learning outcomes of the ICAEW Professional Stage examinations, with many modules mapping directly on to the equivalent ICAEW paper.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Accounting* Principles of Tax* Audit and Assurance* Dissertation
Introduction to Professional Practice* Business Finance* Tax* Case Studies
Core Skills for Accounting Management and Control* Financial Reporting* Financial Analysis
Management and Organisations Financial Accounting* Placement with PwC** Strategy
Business Maths Placement with PwC**   Placement with PwC**
Law*      
Economics      

* These modules are directly linked to the ICAEW Professional Stage syllabus
** The placement modules count towards the approved technical work experience requirements of the ICAEW.

Three Work Placements

Guaranteed paid work placements with PwC take place in years 2, 3 and 4. They give you the opportunity to apply the theory you learn about in class, and also the opportunity to sample life in a different city. The placements take place across the UK and enable you to work with a team of professionals on assignments for PwC’s prestigious list of clients. The placements will also give you a broader perspective on business and contribute to the development of your personal and professional skills. In addition, the work experience gained counts towards your ICAEW training contract requirements.

In order to accommodate the various elements of the programme, the academic year will follow a slightly different format from usual during years 2, 3 and 4. The academic year will start in mid-September and will finish a little later than usual in late June/early July, after which you will be free to enjoy a well-earned summer break!

Andy Holden ACA, Degree Programme Director, Newcastle University

“I joined the University in 2003, specifically to be a part of this ground breaking programme. Since then I have seen the first three cohorts graduate and the course go from strength to strength. Despite the challenging nature of the programme over 85% of our graduates obtain a first or upper second class degree. The vast majority of our graduates go on to make careers with PwC, becoming fully qualified Chartered Accountants, and enjoying the benefits of working for a leading global professional service provider, such as the opportunity of secondments to places such as New Zealand, Canada and the Cayman Islands. This degree really is a Flying Start!”