Economics and Accounting BSc

About the Course

The distinctive feature of this programme is that it allows students to develop the fundamental analytical techniques of micro- and macroeconomics, while also developing knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and issues in financial and management accounting.

Aims

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a strong intellectual and practical grounding in both economics and accounting. The course aims to produce high quality graduates with the core skills and attributes that will enable them to understand and analyse economic and accounting issues in a variety of contexts.

Enquiries

Dr Brian Mase
Admissions Tutor

Helen Stevenson
Admissions and Marketing Administrator
School of Social Sciences
Tel: +44 (0)1895 265952
Email: helen.stevenson@brunel.ac.uk

Related Courses

• Economics and Business Finance BSc
• Economics and Business Finance with Professional Development BSc
• Economics and Management BSc
• Economics and Management with Professional Development BSc

Special Features

• The combination of theory with the practical skills necessary to apply your knowledge to a work environment, together with a strong background in accounting, distinguishes our course from other economics degree programmes.
  
  
• As a graduate of this course, you will be exempt from some professional accountancy exams. Not only is this a fast-track way to professional qualifications, but it is also a symbol of the quality of the programme.
  
  
• We have good links with business. This means:

• High-quality work placements;
  
• Up-to-date course content;
• Opportunities for finding a good job after you graduate.

Facts and Figures

Economics plays a crucial role in the operation, management and regulation of financial institutions, industry and government agencies. As a senior manager in public and private enterprise, a knowledge of economics significantly enhances strategic decision making. Further, such knowledge is crucial in a world of integrating global markets and the information superhighway.

The courses at Brunel combine an understanding of theory with the practical skills necessary to apply your knowledge to a business, industrial, financial or government environment. It is this combination together with a strong background in finance that distinguishes the Brunel courses from other degrees in economics.

The use of computers is an integral part of all our courses. You will make extensive use of computers attached to a powerful network. You will then be linked to other UK and international information sources. You will also become familiar with the analytical packages widely used by business and financial institutions.

In your final year you will undertake a dissertation which is linked to your degree. This is a piece of personal research which is often seen by prospective employers and which may stem directly from a work placement. Otherwise the subject will be stimulated by topical issues such as directors' pay, regulation of utilities or European monetary union. Our staff have extensive research expertise in these and other areas, leading to a Research Assessment of 4 in the last Government exercise.

Our degrees are available in either the traditional three-year format or as a four-year degree with integrated professional placements.

Course Content

Emphasis is on both theory and practical applications. At Levels 1 and 2, you will take modules in economics, financial accounting, management accounting, company law and regulation, and financial markets. At Level 3, you will take additional modules in economics and accounting, while having a choice of optional modules in applied economics and accounting related topics. At Level 3 you will also complete a dissertation on an appropriate topic of interest.

Typical Modules

• Microeconomic Principles
• Macroeconomic Principles
• Financial Markets
• Mathematics for Economics and Finance
• Statistical Research Methods
• Introduction to Financial Accounting

• Introduction to Economic Modelling
• Microeconomic Principles II
• Macroeconomic Principles II
• Management Accounting and Decision-making
• Financial Accounting and Statement Analysis
• Company and Law Regulations
• Work Placement (four-year programme only)

• Project/Dissertation
• Financial Accounting
• Advanced Topics in Economic Theory

• Auditing
• Managerial and Industrial Economics
• International Money and Finance
• The Economics of the Labour Market
• Development Economics
• Behavioural Economics and Finance
• Econometric Methods and Applications

Teaching and Learning

Hours

You will have about 12 to14 hours of directed study a week in Level 1. This number decreases in Levels 2 and 3. Students are also expected to undertake substantial independent study.

How will I be taught?

Lectures – These provide a broad overview of key concepts and ideas relating to your course and provide you a framework from which to carry out more in depth study.

Workshops – These are generally used for modules in finance or quantitative subjects. They often take the form of working through answers to a previously distributed assignment sheet of exercise questions.

Seminars – These relatively small groups are used to examine the lecture material in more detail, and to analyse and apply theoretical concepts in specific contexts.

One-to-one – You will have one-to-one supervision for your final year dissertation, and at all levels you will have a personal tutor who is available to discuss personal and academic problems. If you go on placement, you will also be allocated a work placement tutor who will monitor your progress and provide further support if you need it.

Other – This may include guest speakers from prominent organisations, research seminars and external site visits.

Assessment

Each subject is assessed in the term when it is studied. The proportion of exam to coursework is approximately 75% to 25%, but some courses have a higher proportion of continuous assessment. Level 1 does not count towards your final degree mark. Level 2 is worth a third, and Level 3 is worth the rest. The final year dissertation is worth a third of Level 3 marks.

Employability

This course seeks to equip graduates with the core theoretical and practical skills necessary to understand and analyse economic and accounting issues that arise in the business world, and to prepare them for a variety of potential careers after graduation, including management consultancy, accountancy and banking. Depending on the modules selected, students will also be able to earn exemptions from several ACCA exams.

Careers

Our students have excellent career prospects. Graduates have gone on to work for prestigious companies including Merrill Lynch, NatWest, Morgan Stanley, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, JP Morgan, HSBC, Ernst & Young, the London Stock Exchange and UBS.

Placements

You can choose to study either a traditional three-year course, or the prestigious four-year sandwich course. Sandwich course students have the chance to undertake paid, professional work experience in industry, the public sector and commerce in the UK or overseas, as well as in the heart of the UK’s financial sector. // The positive impact of a sandwich placement on graduate employment outcomes across Brunel is considerable. Those who have done placements are also much more likely to be in employment for which their degree was a formal requirement or where they believe their degree gave them a competitive advantage in recruitment.

Placement leavers from Economics and Finance experienced the following outcomes:

• 87.2% progressed into employment or further study
• 76.5% were engaged in a graduate-level activity (employment or further study)
• 75.8% employed leavers were working in the top three categories of graduate level employment
• The average starting salary was £24,800.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £9,000 full-time

International students: £12,000 full-time

We are introducing over 700 scholarships for 2013, meaning that one in five applicants who join Brunel next year will receive financial support from the University. See our fees and funding page for full details

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements for 2013 Entry

• GCE A-level Typical offer AAB, with a Grade C in AS-level Maths or Statistics (if A level Maths is taken, grade B will be required), (General Studies/Critical Thinking not accepted). Applicants who have already achieved at least ABB at A-level and have Personal Statements showing a strong interest in the course and transferable skills will also be considered. Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants within this range.
• Irish Leaving Certificate AAABB, including Maths or Statistics.
• Scottish Advanced Highers AAB, including Maths or Statistics.
• Advanced Diploma Progression Diploma Grade A in Business, Administration and Finance or Public Services, plus A-level Maths/Statistics at Grade B for Additional and Specialist Learning.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma D*D*D in a related subject, plus Grade C in AS-level Maths or Statistics.
• IBDP 35 points, including 5 in Standard Maths or 4 in Higher Maths.
• Access Complete and pass a related subject Access course with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher, plus grade C in AS-level Mathematics or Statistics.
  

For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English and Maths at grade B (please note that these must have been gained by the time you submit your UCAS application).

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.