Royal Holloway, University of London Course specification for an ..., Exams of Accounting

Download Royal Holloway, University of London Course specification for an ... and more Exams Accounting in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Royal Holloway, University of London Course specification for an undergraduate award BSc Accounting and Finance Year in Business (NN43) Section 1 – Introduction to your course This course specification is a formal document, which provides a summary of the main features of your course and the learning outcomes that you might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if you take full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. Further information is contained in the College prospectus, and in various handbooks, all of which you will be able to access online. Alternatively, further information on the College’s academic regulations and policies can be found here. Further information on the College’s Admissions Policy can be found here. Your degree course in BSc Accounting and Finance Year in Business is delivered in four stages, with stages one, two and four comprising of one year of full-time study during which you must follow modules to the value of four units (one unit is equivalent to 30 national credits), whilst stage three consists of work experience of between nine and twelve months, either in business or for an organisation in the public or not-for-profit sectors, for which you take one 30 credit unit. Accounting is a broad-based academic subject and a field of study with practical implications, offering the chance to develop related personal and technical skills. The study of accounting involves the consideration of both conceptual and applied aspects of the subject. The degree structure is progressive, allowing you to move from foundation modules to more critical or specialist modules, while maintaining a flexible set of options. A wide range of modules is offered, including those drawn more widely from the School of Management, to ensure that students appreciate the diverse, interdisciplinary nature of accounting, and also gain or reinforce a range of conceptual, technical, intra and interpersonal skills. The course embeds international and ethical considerations widely, with optional modules grounding the study of accounting and finance in a broader understanding of the perspectives that inform accounting theory and practice. Stage one provides a foundation for advanced and independent study through establishing a platform of essential knowledge and skills. This platform includes the core cognate areas of accounting (financial accounting and management accounting) and finance together with quantitative techniques, considerations relevant to international business, and the economic, ethical and social environments in which the accountant, the accounting profession and organisations operate. You are required to attend non-credit bearing academic and professional skills sessions, which focus on key study skills which are critical to success at undergraduate level, together with core knowledge of the accounting profession and professional norms. This stage also provides a foundation for the later stages by introducing the main current technical language and practices of accounting in the core areas of financial accounting, management accounting and finance. You are also prepared for future professional careers in business through the study of professional competencies. In stage two there is a greater emphasis on independent learning, and you build upon your foundation knowledge for the further study of the core accounting areas, including an introduction to some of the alternative technical languages and practices of accounting. In addition, you may choose options that extend their knowledge of accounting and finance theories and practices, or other mainstream areas of business and management. In stage three (stage four for Year in Business students) you study, at an advanced level, the core areas of accounting and finance, and select specialist options which give the opportunity to develop particular skill sets, to deepen understanding of core accounting theories and practice, and to extend their knowledge of literature, theory and case evidence and 2 the associated practical implications for accounting and finance. On the degree course with a year in business you undertake a continuous period of work experience, before stage three studies, during which you are provided with opportunities for integration of theory and practice. While Royal Holloway keeps all the information made available under review, courses and the availability of individual modules, especially optional modules are necessarily subject to change at any time, and you are therefore advised to seek confirmation of any factors which might affect your decision to follow a specific course. In turn, Royal Holloway will inform you as soon as is practicable of any significant changes which might affect your studies. The following is brief description for some of the most important terminology for understanding the content of this document: Degree course – May also be referred to as ‘degree course’ or simply ‘course’, these terms refer to the qualification you will be awarded upon successful completion of your studies. Module – May also be referred to as ‘course’, this refers to the individual units you will study each year to complete your degree course. Undergraduate degrees at Royal Holloway comprise a combination of modules in multiples of 15 credits to the value of 120 credits per year. On some degree courses a certain number of optional modules must be passed for a particular degree title. 5 This table sets out the most important information for the mandatory modules on your degree course. These modules are central to achieving your learning outcomes, so they are compulsory, and all students on your degree course will be required to take them. You will be automatically registered for these modules each year. Mandatory modules fall into two categories; ‘condonable’ or ‘non-condonable’. In the case of mandatory ‘non-condonable’ (MNC) modules, you must pass the module before you can proceed to the next year of your course, or to successfully graduate with a particular degree title. In the case of mandatory ‘condonable’ (MC) modules, these must be taken but you can still progress or graduate even if you do not pass them. Please note that although Royal Holloway will keep changes to a minimum, changes to your degree course may be made where reasonable and necessary due to unexpected events. For example; where requirements of relevant Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Bodies have changed and course requirements must change accordingly, or where changes are deemed necessary on the basis of student feedback and/or the advice of external advisors, to enhance academic provision. *Contact hours come in various different forms, and may take the form of time spent with a member of staff in a lecture or seminar with other students. Contact hours may also be laboratory or, studio-based sessions, project supervision with a member of staff, or discussion through a virtual learning environment (VLE). These contact hours may be with a lecturer or teaching assistant, but they may also be with a technician, or specialist support staff. It is intended that these contact hours will face-to-face as far as possible, but in certain unavoidable situations, these may take place virtually. **The way in which each module on your degree course is assessed will also vary, however, the assessments listed above are all ‘summative’, which means you will receive a mark for it which will count towards your overall mark for the module, and potentially your degree classification, depending on your year of study. On successful completion of the module you will gain the credits listed. ‘Coursework’ might typically include a written assignment, like an essay. Coursework might also include a report, dissertation or portfolio. ‘Practical assessments’ might include an oral assessment or presentation, or a demonstration of practical skills required for the particular module. 3.2 Optional modules In addition to mandatory modules, there will be a number of optional modules available during your degree. The following table lists a selection of optional module units that are likely to be available. However, not all may be available every year. Although Royal Holloway will keep changes to a minimum, new options may be offered or existing ones may be withdrawn. For example; where reasonable and necessary due to unexpected events, where requirements of relevant Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) have 3 MN3511 Year in Business 100% 30 6 MNC 4 AF3401 Advanced Financial Reporting 38 112 50% 0 50% 15 6 MC 4 AF3402 Management Accounting for Strategic Analysis 38 112 0 0 100% 15 6 MC 4 AF3403 Investment Management 38 112 0 0 100% 15 6 MC 4 AF3409 Ethics for Accounting and Finance 29 121 50% 0 50% 15 6 MC 6 changed and course requirements must change accordingly, or where changes are deemed necessary on the basis of student feedback and/or the advice of External Advisors, to enhance academic provision.There may be additional requirements around option selection, so it is important that this specification is read alongside your department’s Student Handbook, which you can access via their webpage. Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 AF1404 Business Law AF2404 Audit and Assurance Year in Business (see Section 4) AF3405 Communication and Impression Management in Accounting MN1125 Economic and Social Foundations of Sustainable Organisations AF2406 Principles of UK Taxation AF3406 Taxation: Economics, Policy and Practice MN1305 Markets and Consumption MN2305 Marketing Strategy in Context MN3045 International Financial Accounting AF1408 Financial Literacy and Personal Financial Planning MN2325 Digital Marketing AF3410 Contemporary issues in Accounting and Finance MN2225 Multinational Enterprise AF3411 International Financial Market MN2165 The Global Economy MN3311 Dissertation MN2615 Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship MN3325 Global Marketing MN2815 Business, Politics and Society MN3455 Advertising and Promotions MN3545 Project Management MN3515 Business Data Analytics MN3205 Emerging Markets MN3215 Asia Pacific Business MN3225 European Business MN3725 Corporate Governance 3.3 Optional module requirements In stage one you must choose one optional 15 credit module from Business Law (AF1404), from Management (MN) modules, or from another department. During stage two, you must choose modules to the value of 30 credits from Audit and Assurance (AF2404), Principles of UK Taxation (AF2406), or from a list of Stage Two Management (MN) modules. During stage four, you choose modules to the value of 60 credits of which at least 30 credits must be from AF3405, AF3406, MN3045, AF3410 and AF3411. If you do not choose 60 credits from above (AF3405, AF3406, MN3045, AF3410 and AF3411) then you must choose modules to the sum of 120 credits in total for the year from a list of Stage Three Management (MN) modules. 7 Section 4 - Progressing through each year of your degree course For further information on the progression and award requirements for your degree, please refer to Royal Holloway’s Academic Regulations. As part of your degree course you may also be required to complete a module to develop your academic writing skills. This module does not carry credit but passing it is a requirement to progress to the next year of study. Year in Business - The third year of this degree course will be spent on a work placement. You are supported by your academic department and the Royal Holloway Careers Service to find a suitable placement. However, Royal Holloway cannot guarantee that all students who are accepted onto this degree course will secure a placement, and the ultimate responsibility lies with you. You will need to achieve an agreed level of academic performance to proceed onto, or remain on, a placement. On the BSc Accounting and Finance with a Year in Business you must take and pass the mandatory non-condonable modules in Years 1 and 2. This year forms an integral part of the degree course and you will be asked to complete assessed work. The mark for this work will count towards the degree. You must pass the Year in Business module to qualify for the degree title “Year in Business”. Section 5 – Educational aims of the course The aims of this course are:  to provide an intellectually challenging and relevant education which will equip students with the analytical competence, knowledge base, critical capabilities, and personal and technical skills required for future roles in business, the public sector, and society and for further study and doctoral research;  to combine academic and practical insights into the subject of accounting within an international and comparative context;  to reflect the dynamic nature of the business world and specifically accounting in the international environment;  to provide a learning environment informed by the research expertise of academic staff;  to develop students’ lifelong learning skills, and instil and improve a broad range of transferable personal and technical skills;  to provide for integration between theory and practice by a variety of means including, for example, work-based experience or placement, or input from external business-related visitors;  to provide students with knowledge and understanding of accounting theory and practice sufficient to meet some of the accreditation requirements of the professional accounting bodies. 10 Section 9 – Indicators of quality and standards QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) Level 4-6 Your course is designed in accordance with the FHEQ to ensure your qualification is awarded on the basis of nationally established standards of achievement, for both outcomes and attainment. The qualification descriptors within the FHEQ set out the generic outcomes and attributes expected for the award of individual qualifications. The qualification descriptors contained in the FHEQ exemplify the outcomes and attributes expected of learning that results in the award of higher education qualifications. These outcomes represent the integration of various learning experiences resulting from designated and coherent courses of study. QAA Subject benchmark statement(s) http://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements Subject benchmark statements provide a means for the academic community to describe the nature and characteristics of courses in a specific subject or subject area. They also represent general expectations about standards for the award of qualifications at a given level in terms of the attributes and capabilities that those possessing qualifications should have demonstrated. 11 Section 11 – Intermediate exit awards (where available) You may be eligible for an intermediate exit award if you complete part of the course as detailed in this document. Any additional criteria (e.g. mandatory modules, credit requirements) for intermediate awards is outlined in the sections below. Award Criteria Awarding body Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) Pass in 210 credits of which at least 90 must be at or above FHEQ Level 4 and at least 120 of which must be at or above FHEQ Level 5 Royal Holloway and Bedford New College Certificate in Higher Education (CertHE) Pass in 120 credits of which at least 90 must be at or above FHEQ Level 4 Royal Holloway and Bedford New College Section 10 – Further information This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the course and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate when taking full advantage of the learning opportunities that are available. More detailed information on module units, including teaching and learning methods, and methods of assessment, can be found via the online Module Catalogue. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed regularly by the university, and may also be checked routinely by external agencies, such as the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Your course will be reviewed regularly, both by the university as part of its cyclical quality enhancement processes, and/or by your department or school, who may wish to make improvements to the curriculum, or in response to resource planning. As such, your course may be revised during the course of your study at Royal Holloway. However, your department or school will take reasonable steps to consult with students via appropriate channels when considering changes. All continuing students will be routinely informed of any significant changes. 12 Section 12 - Associated award(s) BSc Accounting and Finance (NN34) BSc Accounting and Finance (year in business) (NN43) BA Accounting Studies BA Accounting Studies (year in business)