Our Accounting and Banking course (with Foundation Year) is a four-year course with an integrated foundation year which leads to the same qualification as our three-year honours degree. It has been specifically designed for those wanting to undertake degree-level study but who may not meet the entry requirements or have traditional qualifications.

The Foundation Year (Year 0) offers you the chance to expand and strengthen your confidence, skills and knowledge – ensuring that you are well-prepared and qualified to progress into Year 1 of the undergraduate degree.

Accounting has been defined as the measurement and disclosure of financial information that is used by managers, investors and others to make decisions about the allocation of resources within organisations. Our accounting and banking degree provides you with all the skills you need to ensure a sound foundation for your professional career in a wide range of fields of accounting and banking.

A degree in Banking offers you the opportunity to study the theory and practice of financial services and financial markets, and to analyse the broader role of the financial sector in the national and global economies. Banking and financial services is a highly competitive and rapidly changing sector in every modern economy. In recent years, forces such as globalisation, technological change, deregulation and international integration have transformed the banking and financial services sector.

Our Accounting and Banking degree is a professionally oriented qualification and accredited by all the major accountancy bodies including the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia. It will provide graduates with substantial exemptions* from many of these bodies’ core examinations. This is a huge advantage, as you will take fewer exams allowing you to focus on developing your career.

*ACCA: the number of examination exemptions will depend on choice of optional modules, but could be up to a maximum of five; CIMA - students could be entitled to claim exemptions for up to eight of their professional examinations (students aiming for a career as Accountants are recommended to select the BSc in Accounting and Finance which provides five guaranteed exemptions).

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• You will study within a multidisciplinary School that employs specialists across a broad range of business subjects, including accounting, banking, finance, economics, management, marketing and entrepreneurship.
• Our students take part in national competitions such as the IBM Business Challenge.
• A Careers and Employability Fair is held every year and provides an opportunity for students to meet recruiters and learn more about post-graduation employment options.
• We arrange a varied programme of guest lectures. Recent speakers have included the Chief Executive of the Scottish Premier League, the Chief Operating Officer of No. 10 & 11 Downing Street, and the Head of IT Security at HSBC.
• Our staff are active researchers in their subject areas and we enjoy an international reputation.
• We have excellent computing facilities and you will have the chance to develop your skills in data analysis and report preparation.
• Bangor offers an attractive range of postgraduate degrees (MA, MSc and MBA) in business and finance subjects, if you wish to study for an extra year after completion of your accounting and banking degree.
• Depending on the modules you study, you will be able to gain exemptions from parts of the professional examinations of the major accounting bodies.

You will spend up to 15 hours per week in lectures, seminars and tutorials. There is a mixture of continuous assessment and written examinations. You will complete assignments such as collecting and analysing information from commercial databases or the internet, preparing business case studies, writing essays and completing problem-solving exercises.

What will you study on this course?

In Year 0 you will take modules intended to familiarise you with core themes, principles and topics that you will study in greater depth later in the degree: Business Functions, Business Law, Management Studies, Introduction to Financial Accounting, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics

You will also follow take modules in IT and Communication Skills, Computing, UK government and Society, Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences, Academic Skills.

Year 1 of all our Single Honours degree courses will provide you with a strong foundation in the disciplines offered in Bangor Business School – Accounting, Banking, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing – together with in-depth study of core topics in the field of Accounting and Banking. You will also benefit from a comprehensive introduction to key analytical skills.

In Years 2 and 3, you will progressively specialise in your course’s core field of study. In addition to further developing your skills, you will also be introduced to more specialist approaches, theories and concepts.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Accounting and Banking (with Foundation Year) Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Many graduates from Bangor Business School pursue careers in areas such as accountancy, banking, investment, insurance, risk management, marketing, human resource management and retail management.

Our degree programmes in Accounting, Banking and Finance address a wide range of high-profile issues affecting consumers, companies, financial institutions and the public sector. They provide highly valued knowledge and transferable skills which prepare our graduates for a wide range of potential careers.