Program Overview

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Course Overview

The BA (Hons) in Accounting with Finance provides students with a comprehensive foundation in accounting principles, concepts and practices equipping students with the skills to work in various business contexts where they can to progress to become professional qualified accountants. The programme places a high emphasis on obtaining exemptions from professional accounting exams. This ensures that graduates from this programme have a minimal number of exams to sit after they graduate in order to become a fully qualified professional accountant. The programme also places an emphasis on building students’ professional and digital skills. Preparing graduates for employment, the professional skills theme that runs throughout the programme encompasses a range of skills, practices and activities to build the professional competencies demanded by the modern workplace. To further enhance employability, the digital skills theme within the programme encompasses a range of software skills widely used in the accounting profession.

Programme Endorsement

The BA (Hons) in Accounting with Finance provides students with the core concepts and principles of Accounting and Finance. A key advantage of the Accounting with Finance degree in Athlone is that it awards generous exemptions from the CPA professional accounting exams. Graduates of this programme are highly regarded within the accounting and financial services profession in Ireland and internationally. Students from this programme have secured first position in 2022 and 2023 at the National Accounting Competition with students from across all the universities in Ireland participating. This is a credit to the students and lecturers of TUS Athlone.

ACCA is proud to endorse the BA (Hons) Accounting with Finance programme offered by TUS Athlone. This programme provides students with a solid foundation in accounting and finance, as well as the skills and competencies required for a successful career in the industry. The programme is aligned with the ACCA qualification and offers maximum (9) exemptions, which means that students can benefit from exemptions and accelerated pathways to becoming a chartered certified accountant. We commend TUS Athlone for delivering a high-quality and relevant programme that meets the needs of the accounting profession and the society.

Additional Information

What is the difference between this programme and the BA (Hons) in Accounting with Finance and Placement?

Other than the year-long placement, all other modules and exemptions are identical.

Do I need to have studied accounting for the Leaving Certificate?

No! All our year 1 courses assume no prior knowledge of accounting.

How do I become an accountant after graduation?

After graduation, you will undertake an additional three-year training contract to become a fully qualified accountant.

What are the key features of the accounting programme?

• This programme is a 3-year level 8 honours degree.
• Maximum exemptions from professional accounting exams.
• A number of new and contemporary modules that ensure graduates are up to date on current trends in the accounting profession
• No need for prior knowledge of accounting or to have studied accounting at leaving certificate level.
• Professional skills and digital skills modules prepare graduates for the workplace.

Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate

Grade H5 at higher level in two subjects, plus Grade O6 at ordinary level in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish).

Mature Applicants

Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.

International Applicants

International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application. Find out more here.

Course Modules

Year 1 – Semester 1

• Critical Skills for Learning
• Business Law
• Financial Accounting 1A
• Management Accounting 1A
• Business Mathematics 1
• Computer Applications

Year 1 – Semester 2

• Financial Accounting 1B
• Management Accounting 1B
• Corporate Law 1
• Economics for Accountants
• Organisational Management 1
• Taxation 1

Year 2 – Semester 1

• Financial Management 1
• Corporate Law 2
• Organisational Management 2
• Information Systems for Accountants
• Sustainability for Accountants
• Applications for Accountants

Year 2 – Semester 2

• Financial Accounting 2
• Management Accounting 2
• Data Analytics and Visualisation
• The Evolving Professional
• Strategic Management

Year 3 – Semester 1

• Corporate Reporting
• Management Accounting 3
• Taxation 2

Year 3 – Semester 2

• Financial Management 2
• Audit and Systems Review
• Professional Skills & Personal Development
• Strategic Management

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Do you want to be more employable when you graduate? If so, this is the accounting degree for you. In addition to focussing on professional and digital skills, the programme also enjoys a large number of exemptions from professional bodies, such as Chartered Accountants of Ireland, ACCA, CPA and CIMA. These exemptions reduce the number of professional exams you will have to take once you graduate when you start your training contract. Details of the exemptions are as follows:

• ACCA offers graduates exemptions from nine papers out of 14 required for qualification.
• Chartered Accountants Ireland grants exemption from CAP1 for students who pass and achieve at least 50% in year 2 and year 3 modules.
• CIMA awards graduates of the BA (Honours) in Accounting exemptions from eight out of the 14 examinations in their professional course.
• CPA Ireland offers graduates exemptions from 10 out of the 15 examination papers through their FastTrack programme.

Further Study

Successful graduates of this programme, may progress to study for a professional accountancy qualification or you are eligible for Level 9 and 10 postgraduate programmes within TUS or elsewhere. While the MA in Accounting at TUS Athlone is a natural progression route, students also have the option of continuing on to the MSc in Data Analytics.