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Southampton Solent University logo

BSc (Hons)Accountancy and Finance

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Starting in2025
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UCAS code: AAF2
Institution code: S30
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps

Why study accountancy and finance with a placement year

Enter the fast-paced world of international finance with this professionally accredited degree, working with global companies to gain the skills and real-world work experience you’ll need for success.

  • 0st
    in the UK for assessment and feedback in finance studies, out of 91 institutions (NSS 2024)
  • 0th
    in the UK for teaching in finance studies, out of 91 institutions (NSS 2024)
  • Top0
    in the UK for academic support for finance studies, out of 91 institutions (NSS 2024)
  • Gain valuable first-hand work experience with a year-long full-time work placement between the second and third years of your degree.
  • An exam and overall pass in a professionally accredited module on this course could lead to exemption from the requirements of professional bodies such as ACCA, CIMA, IFA, AIA and ICAEW.
  • We are the only UK university to be part of International Marketing Week, a fantastic opportunity to spend up to a week on a real-world business project with one of our 10 partner universities in Europe, working on a live client brief from companies such as Mercedes Benz or Lucas-Bols amongst a range of other national brands.
  • Great employment opportunities: recent graduates have found roles such as accountants, auditors, tax specialists, financial analysts, fund managers and more, at companies such as Deloitte, Smith and Williamson and John Lewis.
  • Opportunity to attend guest lectures by industry-led speakers from PwC.
  • Small Business Charter holder, one of only 62 business schools to have this acknowledgement of excellence in working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • Shortlisted for the Target Jobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards (2021), the National Undergraduate Awards (2021) and the Small Business Charter Excellence Awards for Outstanding Support for Student Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (2023).
Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.

Course overview

Throughout this industry-focused degree you'll engage with specific areas of finance that interest you and explore both national and international markets to gain a firm understanding of the global economy. You'll also have access to our Bloomberg suite, which delivers real-time business and market news, data, and analysis to the world's leading industries and companies to support critical financial and strategic decision making. Use of the Bloomberg suite is embedded into the curriculum, meaning you'll be at the cutting edge of financial analysis and skills development to help further boost your employability prospects.

You'll also be encouraged to put theory into practice by working on real-life business scenarios, with opportunities to co-design and project-manage a series of business events to build networking skills, meet employers, and discuss key business topics, such as diversity and inclusion, digital transformation and the future of the business landscape, and leadership.

Solent's accountancy and finance degree has strong connections with industry and is accredited by a number of professional bodies. The course content is designed and reviewed in collaboration with industry experts. Our Business Advisory Board, chaired by Pete Markey, Chief Marketing Officer at Boots, is made up of senior leaders across a variety of industries who help to inform our curriculum development, student success, and business development.

The degree is also part of Solent's Business School, which won the Outstanding Higher Education Provider of the Year at the 2022 CMI Awards in recognition of our outstanding positive impact on student employability, enriched experience, and professional development.

Solent University is a place of study for students from all over the world. Learning with students from different backgrounds, you'll explore new points of view in contemporary discussions and debates, and get a feel for the international workplace.

The placement year will allow you to put what what you've learned in your first and second years into practice in the workplace, while gaining valuable real-world work experience before you graduate.

Accredited by

  • Accredited by and with exemptions available:

    ACCA
  • Accredited by and with exemptions available:

    CIMA logo
  • Accredited by and with exemptions available:

    ICAEW logo
  • Accredited by and with exemptions available:

    Institute of Financial Accountants logo
  • Accredited by and with exemptions available:

    Association of International Accountants (AIA) logo
  • Solent Business School is a holder of:

    Small Business Charter logo

Any questions?

Contact UK admissions

Email: admissions@solent.ac.ukCall: 023 8201 5066

Contact international admissions

Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066

Course features

  • Additional qualification

    This course offers additional qualifications for you to obtain with your degree

  • Foundation year available

    If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years

  • Further studies

    After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent

  • Placement year

    If you apply for this course with a placement year, you have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry between your second and third years

  • Top-up option

    If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year

  • Study abroad

    You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course

Who is this course for?

This course is ideal for anyone who is hoping to pursue a career in the wide range of jobs related to accountancy and finance sector which is a huge industry area.

If you're looking to gain a year's worth of industry experience as part of your studies, this course is for you. Our course and placements teams will help you find the perfect industry placement in your chosen field.

What does this course lead to?

Our graduates go on to become accountants, auditors, tax specialists, financial analysts, fund managers, business advisers and entrepreneurs. Recent graduates have found roles at Deloitte, Smith and Williamson, Estee Lauder and John Lewis, among others.

Graduate stories

Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.

Read more stories
The support on offer from the Solent staff (particularly the High Performance Academy team) was a big incentive.

Portrait image of Matt Davis

Matt Davis

Group Accountant

Meet the team

Teaching staff for the BSc (Hons) Accountancy and Finance degree have experience of working in accountancy and finance in practice or in industry as practitioners and/or are actively engaged with current research within accountancy, finance and economics.

The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.

Facilities

Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces.

Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.

    International opportunities

    Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.

    Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.

    For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.

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