3.5-Term Pathway - Foundation Certificate in Social Sciences - Continue to Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Accounting and Finance (Placement Year)

Program Description For students who've finished high school but don’t meet the entry requirements for university, a Foundation Certificate can help them gain entry to an undergraduate degree. After completing this pathway option students qualify for progression to the 1st year of an undergraduate degree at the University of Essex.

A student’s course length is determined mainly by their English language level (UKVI IELTS score). Students on all course lengths take a set of common or similar modules to gain a solid base of skills for university. Students taking a course longer than 2 terms, will take additional modules designed to improve one or more of their English language level, academic skills, and basic knowledge of particular subjects.

Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Accounting and Finance

The BSc Accounting and Finance degree provides access to the virtual trading floor, where students make use of real-world Bloomberg Market Data Feed (B-PIPE), information and analytics to practice trading stocks and securities in the type of environment found in City finance firms.

Students study a wide range of topics and develop their quantitative skills, giving them the flexibility to pursue a career in finance, accounting or business management after graduation.

Students explore areas such as:

• the preparation of financial statements and budgets • accounting standards and corporate governance • financial theory • portfolio management • options and futures markets • risk management

BSc Accounting and Finance includes an introductory first year to familiarize students with wider business topics, such as management, marketing and economics.

In their final year, students have the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice by completing an in-depth, independent research project or dissertation. This will give them the chance to further develop vital employability skills in areas of research, time management and critical thinking.

Essex is one of just three UK universities to have received Q-Step Affiliate status, including for its BSc Accounting and Finance course, to support the way they develop the quantitative skills of their graduates.