A guide

to studying these subjects at

university and your opportunities

afterwards

Looking Ahead

Subjects inside include: accounting, economics and finance01

Accounting, Economics and Finance

There are many courses on offer around the country. Here are some examples of accounting, economics and finance courses at the University of Portsmouth:

AccountingAccounting and BusinessAccounting with Finance

Economics and FinanceBusiness EconomicsEconomics and ManagementEconomicsEconomics, Finance and BankingFinancial Management for Business

Please check www.ucas.com for courses available across the UK and www.port.ac.uk/courses for up-to-date information on Portsmouth courses.

Subject overviewAccounting and finance subjects involve the study of financial situations, legal aspects and our economy and society generally. Economics is the study of how we make choices regarding the use of scarce resources – both in terms of individuals and of collective groups such as companies, industries, governments and societies. We live in an ever changing and competitive world and the work of financial professionals is vital to our success.

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Choosing an accounting, economics or finance courseLook out for:

• Course accreditation with organisations such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants or the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

• Additional features of the course such as work placements, study abroad options, optional units, extended projects and enterprise opportunities.

• University facilities. At the University of Portsmouth, for example, our students have access to the Bloomberg Suite which provides students with the same data, analytics and software used by city traders.

• National Student Survey (NSS) statistics show whether graduating students from their course have been happy with the course, facilities and support provided during their studies. This can be found through your chosen university’s website.

• Employment statistics for graduates, which can be found on your chosen university’s website, via their careers service or at www.unistats.com.

• European and international links on courses, which will allow you the opportunity to gain a much broader, more global understanding of your subject.

• Subjects covered on the course – every university will be different, so it’s vital you find the right combination of topics for you.

The courseWhat will you study?

During your time at university, you will study your chosen subject in depth. Universities usually run a number of compulsory or ‘core’ topics for each course, which everyone studies in order to gain understanding of the key areas. There will also be ‘optional’ topics from which you select according to your interests and how you want to specialise within your course.

Units vary depending on the university. Below are a few examples of core and optional units for accounting, economics and finance courses at the University of Portsmouth:

Core units• Accounting with Finance: business

law for accountants, accounting for strategic management and control, toolbox for accounting professionals, economics for accountancy, and advanced financial accounting.

• Economics: macroeconomics, microeconomics, quantitative economics, economic issues and international economics.

Optional units• Accounting with Finance: auditing,

social financial practitioner, and international accounting.

• Economics: development economics, economics of crime and social issues, financial statement and data analysis, public sector economics, and international banking and financial management.

How will you study?

Lesson typeTeaching and learning for accounting, economics and finance courses are usually undertaken in lectures supported by smaller group seminars, workshops, tutorials, practical sessions and work-based learning.

Contact timeThis will vary depending on the course but you can expect to spend about 22 per cent of your week in lectures, seminars and workshops. On top of this you are expected to put in a similar amount of self-directed learning in your free time.

Assessment methodsLearning is usually assessed by a combination of exams, coursework, presentations, group-based projects, formative tests and occasionally IT-based work. Depending on the course you choose you might also undertake case study work, which may include ‘live’ case studies based in relevant organisations.

Further information for the universities you are considering can be found via the university websites, Unistats at www.unistats.com or Which? University at www.university.which.co.uk.

Accounting, Economics and Finance • Looking Ahead • University of Portsmouth • 3

Key skills and qualities required for these subjects

SkillsFor these subjects the key skills required are problem solving, teamwork and leadership. You must also have a good understanding of maths and statistics. Above all you must be able to impart complex ideas clearly and simply, using excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

QualitiesYou will need the ability to:• use your initiative and think on your feet• be organised and able to multi-task• understand and analyse information• take a methodical approach to work

QualificationsAs for all degree courses, you will usually need at least five GCSEs grade A*–C including English and maths. You will also need Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels, International Baccalaureate (IB) or BTEC. For these courses, A Levels in business studies, applied business, economics or mathematics are useful, but are by no means essential. Another option is to take vocational qualifications in business, administration and finance, travel and tourism or other areas of business.

Getting a place

Top tips for a successful application

• Show your active and genuine interest in business and finance, above and beyond any studies at sixth form or college – refer to your knowledge of world affairs, politics and business issues.

• Refer to work experience or volunteering you have undertaken and explain what you have gained from the experiences.

• If you have completed a relevant extended project during your A Levels, discuss this in your application. Explain what you have learnt and gained from the project, and how it has sparked your interest for university.

• If you are particularly enterprising and have set up a small business with friends or are part of an Enterprise Society at school/college, discuss this in your application.

• For the universities you are applying to, read the entry information included within the course information on the UCAS and university websites carefully. This will often show what sort of person they are looking for.

• Refer to hobbies and interests you hope to continue at university through the clubs and societies offered via the Students’ Union; this will show how you hope to become a member of the university community.

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What to do next

• Unlike at school and college, university courses do not always have a set curriculum and can therefore vary widely in their content. Look carefully at the course content of the universities you are considering to make sure they cover the topics you are most interested in.

• Compare universities on a range of factors including employability, student satisfaction, assessment methods and lecturer contact time using the Key Information Sets (KIS) which can be found on each university’s website or via www.unistats.com.

• Research hot topics in the industry – find recent publications and journals in your library or online and keep up-to-date with current affairs using financial websites, newspapers and programmes such as BBC News 24.

• Aim to take on additional responsibility in activities you are involved in.

• Participate in award schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award to show you have teamwork, commitment and leadership qualities.

• Gain work experience in a range of accounting and finance-related careers to show you understand the industry you hope to enter.

Where to find out more

Inside Careers: career guides at www.insidecareers.co.uk.

Why Study Economics?: a website promoting a better understanding of economics at www.whystudyeconomics.ac.uk.

Biz/ed: a website for students of business studies, economics and accounting at www.bized.co.uk.

Do-it: volunteering opportunities at www.do-it.org.uk.

Uni info: a site where students share academic and social knowledge at www.thestudentroom.co.uk and a website that provides university and course reviews at www.whatuni.com.

UCAS: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for information about university courses and the application process at www.ucas.com.

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6 • University of Portsmouth • Looking Ahead • Accounting, Economics and Finance

Accounting and finance graduates may join an accounting firm or other professional service company to complete their accounting training, while others work in financial services or in more general management roles. Specific jobs open to you include financial analyst, auditor, account manager, trader, hedge fund manager, insurance risk surveyor, revenues officer or debt counsellor.

Economists apply their theoretical knowledge in a range of settings including banks, accountancy and financial firms as well as wider businesses. Many work for government departments such as the Government Economics Service or HM Treasury, the European Union or even the Bank of England. If you have an interest in

combining your skills with journalistic work, there may be opportunities with larger newspapers and financial journals.

Transferable skillsThese courses are highly vocational, but will also give you many transferable skills. You will develop your teamwork, communication, problem solving, self-motivation and time management skills, making you highly employable in a wide range of careers outside of the finance sector. Possibilities include the civil service, transport, manufacturing or retail. In fact, it is estimated that 60 per cent of employers looking to recruit graduates (someone with a degree qualification) do not mind what your degree is in, just that you have that level of qualification.

Where could you work?The range of jobs within the finance world is vast and includes those in accounting, personal and commercial banking, share trading, financial planning and advice, insurance, mortgages and pensions.

What do our accounting, economics and finance students go on to do? Each year we gather statistics to identify what our students are doing six months after graduating. Many find work, continue studying or even take time out to travel. Here are the statistics for our accounting, economics and finance students who graduated in 2013:

Here are a few examples of careers followed by our students:BA (Hons) Accounting with Finance• Accounts Manager• Business Analyst

BSc (Econ) (Hons) Economics• Fund Management Assistant• Business Intelligence Executive

BSc (Econ) (Hons) Economics, Finance and Banking• Assistant Web Trading Manager• Credit Risk Analyst

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Destination

75.3% Employed

11.6% Further study

6.3% Unemployed

6.8% Other

Please note, these statistics (in line with national requirements) are gathered just six months after students graduate; employment prospects often change and improve greatly over the following few years. Find out more through the What do graduates do? publication at www.hecsu.ac.uk.

Titles in the series01. Accounting, Economics and Finance

02. Architecture, Property and Surveying

03. Art and Design

04. Biological Sciences

05. Business and Management

06. Computing and Creative Technologies

07. Engineering

08. English, Film, Journalism and Media

09. Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

10. Health Sciences and Social Work

11. History, Politics and Social Studies

12. Law and Criminology

13. Mathematics and Physics

14. Modern Languages and Area Studies

15. Psychology

16. Sports Science

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Education Liaison and Outreach TeamUniversity of Portsmouth T: 023 9284 6214St Andrew’s Court E: elot@port.ac.ukSt Michael’s Road W: www.port.ac.uk/elotPortsmouth PO1 2PR www.facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

DisclaimerPlease be aware, this is not a course leaflet, it is a guide for university. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press (April 2015). However, you are advised that this information could be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to www.ucas.com and for University of Portsmouth courses, please refer to our website www.port.ac.uk.

AccessibilityIf this document is in a format inaccessible to you, contact us and we will provide the information in a more suitable format. Please email corporate.communications@port.ac.uk.

PDF versions of this leaflet and others in the series are also available on our website at www.port.ac.uk/lookingahead.

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