Accounting & Economics - BA (Hons) Degree

​This degree can be studied as a three-year full-time degree or a four-year degree that includes a year of foundational study. Our foundation year is intended to prepare you for your subsequent years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence.

The foundation year will be relevant to:

1. Students who have not achieved the required A-level points (or equivalent) score to enter the first year of the degree programme.
2. Mature students who have been out of the formal education system for some time.

Find out more about the foundation year.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation. Please refer to Key Course Information at the bottom of this page.

Year One (Level 4)

In your first year, all six modules (120 credits) are compulsory and designed to give you a solid introduction to Accounting and Economics.

You will be introduced to financial and digital accounting and both microeconomics and macroeconomics, as well as being equipped with quantitative and academic skills to succeed in your studies and future career.

All modules are taught in English and there is provision for the Welsh language equivalent in a number of modules in Levels 4 and 5. These are indicated below with an asterisk (*).

Compulsory modules (20 credits each)

• Financial and Digital Accounting
• Management Accounting
• The Economy – Microeconomics
• The Economy – Macroeconomics
• Quantitative Methods for Data Analysis
• Global Financial Services*

Year Two (Level 5)

In your second year, five modules (100 credits) are compulsory, and you select one optional module (20 credits).

You will advance your study of microeconomics and macroeconomics. You will also build on your knowledge and skills within the world of Accounting and Economics and undertake an Experiential Work or Volunteering Opportunities module.

Compulsory modules (20 credits each)

• Performance Management
• Financial Management
• Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
• Intermediate Macroeconomics
• Experiential Work or Volunteering Opportunities*

Select ONE Optional module (20 credits each)

• Taxation
• Intermediate Quantitative Methods
• Games and Information Theory

Year in industry

You have the option to spend a year in industry on a work placement after successfully completing your second year of study. We have a dedicated work placement team to support you in securing a placement. A year-long placement can boost your career prospects and give you an advantage when applying for jobs after graduation.

Year Three (Level 6)

In your third year, five modules (100 credits) are compulsory, and you select one optional module (20 credits).

You will advance your finance-related knowledge and skills to prepare for professional qualifications but also explore further important areas of economics.

Compulsory modules (20 credits each)

• Advanced Performance Management
• Advanced Financial Management
• Behavioural Economics
• Macroeconomics: Theory and Application
• Labour Economics and Health Economics

Select ONE Optional module (20 credits each)

• Advanced Taxation
• Econometrics
• Forensic Accounting
• Industrial Work Experience^

Optional modules are delivered subject to demand and availability.

^ If you’re taking a year-long industry work placement between year two and three, you have the option to select ‘Industrial Work Experience’ as your optional module. If not, select another optional module.

In most modules teaching consists of a series of short lectures each week, accompanied by two hours of seminars per week.  Seminars are practically based and are usually run as workshops where students have an opportunity to practise the material covered in the lectures.  All modules are fully supported by the university's VLE for a blended learning approach and students may also make appointments with module tutors and personal tutors at any mutually convenient time.

Students are encouraged to engage with extra-curricular activities including short courses in various computer applications and entrepreneurship.

The teaching team consists of enthusiastic professionals with both industry experience as qualified accountants and relevant research activity.

Coursework is generally of a very practical nature to reflect the skills and techniques required by a professional accountant. Assessment for professionally accredited modules includes closed book examinations in order to satisfy exemption requirements.

There is a considerable demand from UK employers for accounting graduates and past experience suggests that a significant proportion of graduates will obtain graduate training places in finance sections of businesses, high street practices and the public sector.

The course is accredited by the main UK accounting bodies and you will be able to obtain exemptions from the ACCA, ICAEW and CIMA examinations. This is therefore a demanding course, which combines academic content with the development of the knowledge and skills required to pass the accounting bodies' final examinations.

Economists are in demand in both the private and public sector. They can be skilled managers, researchers, analysts and strategists.  Research shows that Economics students have higher average earnings than most other graduates, including those studying a general business degree. Figures published by the Complete University Guide in 2016 , show an average starting salary of £28,000 for Economics graduates.

Work Placements:
The provision of work-placements as an assessed part of your academic programme of learning is so important that we provide you with the opportunity to undertake placement as part of your second year studies. We have strong links with the business community and the work-placement programme is designed to enhance your future employability prospects.

Progression to postgraduate study within the Cardiff School of Management is also an option. ​

Typical Offers

​The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion.​

• Tariff points: 112
  
• Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
  
• GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
  
• English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
  
• A level subjects: Minimum three A levels to include Grades CCC. No specific subjects required. Welsh Baccalaureate – Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate considered as a third subject.
  
• BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM
  
• T Level: Merit.
  
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.
  
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 2 x H5. No specific subjects required.
  
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 2 x H2 grades. No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
  
• Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades DD. No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.
  

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.

How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

For general enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For course specific enquiries, please contact the programme leader Judi Stockford: 
Email: JStockford@cardiffmet.ac.uk