Program Overview

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Accountancy and Financial Management (Top-up) BA (Hons)

Overview

This two-year top-up degree course allows you to build on your previous higher education studies to gain a full BA (Hons) degree in Accountancy and Financial Management. You must have 120 first-year higher education credits in accountancy to apply for this course.

This degree focuses on modern accountancy skills. You'll learn to understand, visualise and present financial data to inform and persuade businesses to make the right financial decisions. You'll work in small groups that replicate the workplace, with a focus on teamwork, real-world case studies and developing strategy from financial data.

You'll be able to tailor your learning to your area of specialist interest, choosing your modules to focus on:

• Professional modules: take the fastest route to becoming an ACCA chartered accountant
• Finance modules: your best preparation route for working in banking or investment management
• Analytics modules: combine accounting with data analysis, including data cleaning, visualisation and modelling

The course is accredited by two key accounting bodies (ACCA and CIMA), so whichever route you take, you'll have exemptions from professional exams.

Key Information

UCAS Code:

NN34

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

Typical Offer:

Relevant HE study leading to a Level 4 qualification

Study Mode and Duration

• 2 years full-time (top-up)

Start Date

• September 2025

Course Information

Overview

This two-year top-up degree course allows you to build on your previous higher education studies to gain a full BA (Hons) degree in Accountancy and Financial Management. You must have 120 first-year higher education credits in accountancy to apply for this course.

This degree focuses on modern accountancy skills. You'll learn to understand, visualise and present financial data to inform and persuade businesses to make the right financial decisions. You'll work in small groups that replicate the workplace, with a focus on teamwork, real-world case studies and developing strategy from financial data.

You'll be able to tailor your learning to your area of specialist interest, choosing your modules to focus on:

• Professional modules: take the fastest route to becoming an ACCA chartered accountant
• Finance modules: your best preparation route for working in banking or investment management
• Analytics modules: combine accounting with data analysis, including data cleaning, visualisation and modelling

The course is accredited by two key accounting bodies (ACCA and CIMA), so whichever route you take, you'll have exemptions from professional exams.

Course Highlights

• Be taught by professionally qualified accountants who have industry experience with companies such as KPMG, Deloitte and HSBC
• Get on the fast track to becoming a chartered accountant through our accredited exemptions from professional exams with 2 global accounting bodies
• Be employment-ready by using industry-standard software and databases such as Oracle, SAP, Sage, and S&P Capital IQ
• Choose options in business analytics to develop the skills that modern accounting needs
• Benefit from the opportunity to gain additional certifications, for example, the ACCA Data Analytics Certificate
• Gain a Bloomberg Certificate (a trading platform that's used by 250,000 financial service professionals) in our dedicated Bloomberg Suite
• Apply your learning by helping student entrepreneurs and local charities such as Age Concern and The Rowans Hospice with their finances
• Feel supported throughout your studies through our peer mentoring, maths support and our team of friendly staff who'll get to know you well

Accredited by:

The University of Portsmouth has earned business accreditation from the AACSB in recognition of the outstanding quality of its business and management education. Less than six percent of the world's schools offering business degree programs hold AACSB business accreditation.

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). This means that in addition to achieving a degree, you receive exemptions from ACCA, and CIMA professional examinations. This course offers the maximum number of exemptions for ACCA and CIMA (dependent on the modules you choose to take).

Entry Requirements

BA (Hons) Accountancy and Financial Management (Top-up) degree entry requirements

• Typical offer (September 2025 start)
  • Qualifications or experience: Relevant HE study leading to a Level 4 qualification, for example an appropriate HNC, or 120 credits from year 1 of an undergraduate degree (BA/BSc), in a relevant subject
  • English language requirements: English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

Facilities and Clinics

Bloomberg Suite

Access data from the world's global financial markets and gain experience using industry standard software.

Next Generation Lab

Gain practical skills with cloud-based software, such as SAP and S&P Capital IQ, in our dedicated lab.

Maths Café

No problem is too small or too tough for our Maths Café tutors, who are on hand every day during term-time to help you if you get stuck or need something explained.

Accounting Clinic

Volunteer to help solve financial issues for fellow students who are setting up their own businesses.

Professional Accounting Practice

Help local charities with their financial and accounting issues through this practical module.

Business analytics software

Use industry standard business analytics software such as Microsoft BI, Python, and Tableau.

Careers and Opportunities

Accountants are needed in good times and bad and they're needed in every type of business. This means that you can apply your skills in any sector you're passionate about, from sports and entertainment, to manufacturing, charities, or the arts. You'll also be able to work in other parts of the world as your accredited qualification is recognised internationally.

Our graduates go on to work in accounting practice, the finance departments of large corporations, and the finance sector.

Previous graduates of our accounting and finance courses have secured jobs at companies such as:

• Deloitte
• PWC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
• Menzies LLP
• HWB Accountants
• EY Global (Ernst & Young)
• JPP Financial
• Barclays
• Lockheed Martin UK
• Lloyds Register
• J P Morgan
• Grant Thornton
• Royal Bank of Scotland

Graduates of our accounting and finance courses have secured jobs as:

• accountant
• auditor
• finance analyst
• financial consultant
• investment broker
• control analyst
• financial reporting analyst
• tax analyst

Modules

Year 1

• Core modules:
  • Financial Reporting - 20 credits
  • Management Accounting - 20 credits
  • Sustainability and Ethics - 20 credits
  • Financial Management - 20 credits
• Optional modules:
  • Business Law - 20 credits
  • Taxation - 20 credits
  • Accounting Packages and Systems - 20 credits
  • Business Intelligence and Data Visualisation - 20 credits
  • Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Markets - 20 credits
  • Investment Analysis - 20 credits
  • Managerial and Decision Economics - 20 credits

Year 2

• Core modules:
  • Advanced Financial Reporting - 20 credits
  • Strategic Management Accounting - 20 credits
  • Advanced Global Financial Management - 20 credits
• Optional modules:
  • Dissertation - 40 credits
  • Independent Study Project - 20 credits
  • Financial Investment Project - 20 credits
  • Professional Accounting Practice - 20 credits
  • Auditing - 20 credits
  • Advanced Business Analytics - 20 credits
  • Behavioural Finance and the Psychology of Investment - 20 credits
  • Economics and Finance of Sport - 20 credits
  • Strategic Management - 20 credits

Teaching

Portsmouth Business School is ranked 3rd in the UK for teaching power.

We've developed our teaching to maximise skills that employers are looking for. In our classes, you'll engage in activities that both enhance your learning and develop your communication, presentation and team working skills. Where appropriate, you'll use computer packages that are valued within the accounting and finance professions.

Around 20% of your timetabled teaching will be online.

The majority of your timetabled teaching will be face-to-face and will include:

• seminars
• practical workshops
• computer workshops
• group work
• 1-to-1 tutorials
• guest speakers from the profession and industry

How You'll Spend Your Time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A Typical Week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for this degree.

Your total study time will depend on the modules that you take, but in your first year this is what your week may look like:

• timetabled teaching activities (lectures, seminars, tutorials, classes and workshops) = about 15 hours a week
• independent study (research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group) = about 20 hours a week

You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Supporting You

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of Support

• Personal tutor
• Student engagement officers
• Maths and statistics support
• Business study support tutors
• Academic skills support
• Library support
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Disability advice and additional support
• Support with English

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

• September 2025 start
  • UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students – £9,535 per year
  • EU students – £9,535 per year (including Transition Scholarship)
  • International students (non-EU) – £16,200 a year

Funding Your Studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional Course Costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

• Accommodation and living costs
• Recommended reading
• General costs
• Final year project

Apply

Ready to Apply?

To start this course in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

• the UCAS course code – NN34
• our institution code – P80

Apply now through UCAS

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

• Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
• Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
• Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

Applying from Outside the UK

As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things.

You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

Find out what additional information you need in our international students section.

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.