Intakes
September, January, June
September, January, June
Canterbury Christ Church University
4 years
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds
During your Foundation Year, you will have the opportunity to develop key academic and professional skills required for university study while gaining a foundational understanding of core accounting concepts, financial environments and organisational contexts.
At Level 4 of study, the programme focuses on essential business and accounting concepts. You will learn to record and interpret financial transactions, apply introductory management accounting techniques, evaluate business environments and explore professional ethics and governance principles.
At Level 5, you will extend your knowledge of core financial and business frameworks. You will cover legal contexts, management accounting applications, corporate leadership and financial reporting methods, while developing research skills to analyse complex organisational financial data.
At Level 6, you will focus on advanced accounting principles, contemporary developments and strategic financial management. You will engage with advanced taxation, auditing and assurance practices and demonstrate your expertise through a choice of a comprehensive dissertation or an applied research project alongside business ethics.
All modules you complete are 20 credits, unless otherwise stated.
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Academic Skills for Higher Education | 20 credits |
| Fundamentals for HE Communication & Digital Skills | 20 credits |
| Introduction to Management Accounting | 20 credits |
| Introduction to Financial Accounting & Management | 20 credits |
| Business & Ethical Awareness in the Workplace | 20 credits |
| Foundation Year Project | 20 credits |
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Dynamic Business Environment | 20 credits |
| Introduction to Business Accounting | 20 credits |
| Financial Accounting | 20 credits |
| Management Accounting 1 | 20 credits |
| Fundamentals of Ethics and CSR in AF | 20 credits |
| Professional Accountant and IT Systems | 20 credits |
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Corporate Governance and Leadership | 20 credits |
| Business and Corporate Law | 20 credits |
| Management Accounting 2 | 20 credits |
| Financial Reporting | 20 credits |
| Performance Management | 20 credits |
| Research Methods | 20 credits |
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Contemporary Issues in A&F | 20 credits |
| Financial Management | 20 credits |
| Audit and Assurance | 20 credits |
| UK Taxation | 20 credits |
| Dissertation OR Business Ethics | 40 OR 20 credits |
| Research Project | 20 credits |
Please note: The modules listed are those currently offered and may be subject to change during our ongoing review processes. However, the core learning outcomes and themes will remain largely consistent.
This GBS course will provide you with opportunities to test your knowledge and understanding informally through ‘formative’ assessment. Formative assessment will be completed before your formal ‘summative’ assessment, which will determine your final marks.
Each module normally contains at least one piece of formative assessment from which you will receive feedback from your course team. Formative assessments are purely for developmental purposes and do not count towards your final module mark. They are designed to help you gain more knowledge and confidence in the module material and approaches to formal assessment. Students who do not engage with informal assessments often struggle with Foundation Year progression, as well as with the academic levels above.
Assessment methods at GBS are reviewed annually and may be updated in consultation with students, for example in response to student or External Examiner feedback. An External Examiner is an independent academic expert from another higher education provider and they are appointed by Canterbury Christ Church University to provide external assurance regarding the academic standards of your course.
Applicants Must be Aged 18+ and:
Have a Level 3 qualification (equivalent to either 60 credits or 80 UCAS tariff points)
Have five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above or equivalent.
Be assessed via an interview for listening, speaking, numeracy and writing (more details shown in ‘Next steps’ section).
Applicants Aged 21+:
We welcome applications from students 21+ who do not match the standard entry requirements but who can demonstrate willingness and commitment to studying this subject and who can evidence academic, professional or vocational experience in a related field.
Be assessed via an interview for listening, speaking and writing (more details shown in ‘Next steps’ section).
Next Steps:
Please fill out an application form by clicking the ‘Apply Now’ button on this page.
Send your supporting documents when requested by GBS.
A panel interview takes place to assess listening and speaking skills. You’ll also carry out a numeracy test and be tested on your writing via a personal reflection statement.
GBS make a final decision on your application.
| Course Name | Fees for New and Existing Students from August 2026 |
| BSc (Hons) Accounting & Financial Management |
Foundation Year: £5,760 Years 1 – 3: £9,790 (per year) |
Following the Government’s announcement that Undergraduate tuition fees for UK Undergraduate students will change for students enrolling or re-enrolling after 1 August 2026, GBS has updated the Fees information, as shown above.
Tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the government.
Funding Your Study
You may be able to borrow money from the UK Government to help pay your tuition fees and to help with your living costs while studying.
This could take the form of a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees and/or a Maintenance Loan to support you with living costs whilst studying.
Please visit our Fees & Funding page for more information.
After completing the degree, you will be prepared for a wide spectrum of professional and management roles in accounting, corporate finance and business consultancy. The course addresses essential analytical and financial skills gaps across modern organisations. You could consider diverse career paths in areas such as:
Financial and managerial accounting: Financial accountant, management accountant, public finance accountant and forensic accountant.
Audit and compliance: Auditor, company secretary and compliance officer.
Credit and risk analysis: Credit analyst, credit manager and risk analyst.
Financial advisory and management: Finance manager, financial advisor, data analyst and tax advisor.
Our BSc (Hons) Accounting & Financial Management course with Foundation Year is an outstanding pathway for development, ideally suited for someone interested in a new career in financial management or wanting to start their own business. This degree course delivers a clear understanding of the latest principles with applied practical skills, preparing you for a successful career in accounting or financial management.
This four-year course provides thorough and measured progression in your understanding of the accounting and financial management industry. You will start the course with your foundational year, which introduces you to key concepts and topics, while also preparing you for the demands of undergraduate studies in a wider context. The following three years will gradually build up your knowledge of the industry and your overall skill set with the abilities that industry leaders are searching for.
Your new skills and experiences will enable you to be impactful across various careers within accounting and financial management. The career paths you’ll be able to consider include:
Our BSc (Hons) Accounting & Financial Management course with Foundation Year is available across GBS’s ten campuses in Birmingham, London, Leeds and Manchester. All ten campuses provide a great selection of on-site resources and student support to excel in the classroom, with the opportunity to see and do plenty during your leisure time.
At GBS, we understand that finding a course that fits your lifestyle is essential to getting the most out of your studies. That is why our BSc (Hons) Accounting & Financial Management with Foundation Year offers flexible study options, with classes available on weekdays and in the evenings, helping you maintain a balanced lifestyle both inside and outside the classroom.
Here are the entry requirements for this course:
Applicants must be aged 18+ and:
Applicants aged 21+:
We welcome applications from students 21+ who do not match the standard entry requirements but who can demonstrate willingness and commitment to studying this subject and who can evidence academic, professional or vocational experience in a related field.
Next steps:
This course will give you a balanced understanding of the financial industry, with a balance of theoretical learning and practical development throughout your studies. Your foundational year of studies is designed to prepare you with a fundamental scope of key industry elements, with essential preparation for the beginning of your bachelor’s degree.
Year One of your studies will elevate your understanding of the essential elements in the industry which include an introductory module called management accounting i and learning about the dynamic business environment. Your second year exposes you to more specialised areas of the industry with a more intensive structure to your learning, with topics including management accounting II, business and corporate law, financial reporting and leadership and change. Your final year will combine several mandatory modules with the option to either complete a dissertation or take the business ethics module with a research project.
This course provides you with ample opportunities to test your knowledge and hone your skills through ‘formative’ assessment. A formative assessment will be completed before your formal ‘summative’ assessment, which will determine your final marks.
Each module normally contains at least one piece of formative assessment from which you will receive feedback from your course team. Formative assessments are purely for developmental purposes and do not count towards your final module mark. They are designed to help you gain more knowledge and confidence in the module material and approaches to formal assessment. Students who do not engage with informal assessments often struggle with Foundation Year progression, as well as with the academic levels above.
The formal summative assessment usually occurs towards the end of each module. Assessment methods may include written examinations and a range of coursework, including reports, portfolios, essays and presentations. The marks awarded for summative assessments count towards your final module mark. Assessment methods at GBS are reviewed annually and may be updated in consultation with students AND/OR for example, in response to student or External Examiner feedback. An External Examiner is an independent academic expert from another higher education provider and they are appointed by Canterbury Christ Church University to provide external assurance regarding the academic standards of your course.
All our courses/classes are subject to availability.
All our courses/classes are subject to availability.