Why do some companies soar and others go bust? How can profits go up while the share price comes down?

Accountancy gets to the heart of these questions. If you love numbers and variety, and want a sound technical knowledge and understanding of the business world, accountancy and finance could be your ideal degree.

Our BSc Accounting and Finance is a flexible, career-focused degree programme that lets you take control of your studies as your interests change over the course of your time at Lancaster University. Our students leave prepared to take on challenging roles in Big-Four accounting firms, investment banks and beyond.

This degree was ranked 15th by the the Guardian University Guide (2023). The same curriculum is delivered in the Lancaster University Leipzig campus.

Did you know? Lancaster University Management School (UK) is quadruple-accredited by AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA and the Small Business Charter. 

Programme Overview: 

You will learn from leading academic researchers and expert practitioners in finance, investing and accounting. The degree provides the perfect blend of theory and practice, taking you to the heart of key questions around the nature of business performance, price/earnings ratios, accountancy skills, investment strategies and case studies.

Throughout your degree, we encourage you to pursue your interests, develop your strengths, and move towards your ideal career. To enable that, this degree programme is highly flexible, letting you specialise your studies based on your strengths and interests.

In your first year, you’ll study accounting and finance using real-world data from actual companies. You will also discover more about economic issues such as inflation, costs and pricing. You will also get advice on how to build your CV.

Second year core subjects include auditing, financial accounting, risk, corporate finance and management accounting for business decisions. You can also select from courses such as management decision making and advanced finance topics like hedging.

Your third year builds on this knowledge while offering specialist options such as ethics, investments and taxation.

At the end of your time with us, you will be equipped to work in the fields of finance and accounting, and be ready to progress your studies with further, required professional examinations. Lancaster University graduates have gone on to work for Big Four accounting firms, international consulting firms, blue-chip corporations, and global banks and hedge funds.

Course structure: Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Careers: 

Our Accounting and Finance degrees prepares you for a wide variety of careers in business, with many of our graduates working with professional firms and financial institutions, as well as large commercial and local government organisations. Roles include trainee accountants, finance managers and banking advisors.

Your degree will also equip you with highly desirable transferable skills which have helped recent graduates find work in the fields of financial customer service, IT support and marketing and communications. Many of our graduates also continue their academic studies and embark on Master's Degrees.

Our Finance, Accounting and International careers coaches are experts in their fields. They help students gain access to employers and help prepare them for success in their future careers.

Whether it’s a tech start-up or a multinational industrialist, every company needs an accountant. Your studies can also be a route into corporate finance and business. Many Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) began their careers as accountants.

A degree in Accounting and Finance can open up a range of exciting career avenues, including the following roles:

• Chartered accountant
• Chartered certified accountant
• Chartered management accountant
• Chartered public finance accountant
• Company secretary
• External auditor
• Forensic accountant
• Stockbroker