Accounting and Finance with Foundation Year

Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.

Course summary

• Experience practical accounting in our renowned Sheffield Business School.

• Explore topics from legal and ethical to economic and capital market environments.

• Learn from professionally qualified experts who are active in research.

• Gain work-ready experience with real-life projects and placements.

On our BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance course you’ll gain a thorough understanding of financial and management accounting, auditing, tax, corporate reporting, governance, financial management and professional ethics. You'll learn the creation, analysis and critical evaluation of financial information – enabling you to make sound decisions and communicate complex data effectively.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation course – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

Key Themes

You’ll start by gaining a solid foundation in accounting and finance, along with practical skills for collecting and using accounting data to communicate with stakeholders. You’ll simultaneously enhance your understanding of the processes, tools, technologies and project management practices you’ll need to be successful.

As you progress, you’ll further refine these fundamentals through real-world projects – collaborating in teams to create reports, presentations and recommendations inspired by real industry challenges. This hands-on approach prepares you for careers in professional accountancy, business and finance, within a supportive learning environment.

In your final year, you'll undertake a consultancy project for a real organisation, guided by a dedicated project supervisor. In this capstone project, you'll conduct research and apply the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired throughout your studies.

We promote flexibility, aiming to empower you to customise your course to align with your interests and aspirations. Previous students have chosen elective pathways including forensic accounting, sustainable accounting/environmental accounting, sports finance and other traditional routes.

Applied learning

Live Projects

In the first and second years of your course, you’ll have opportunities to work for real client-based projects. Students have often found placements with their host company as a result of the excellent work they’ve done on these live projects.

You’ll carry out research and analysis to generate findings and recommendations that address clients’ business problems – which in the past have included product development for Marks and Spencer and Costa Coffee. You’ll present your findings to your clients, gaining valuable experience in professional practice.

Throughout all modules you study, we incorporate work-relevant content – including simulations, case studies, guest speakers and experiential activities. These not only help you seek potential career opportunities, but also feel confident in pursuing them.

Work Placements

You’ll have the opportunity to take part in an extended work placement between the third and fourth years of the course. This gives you hands-on work experience to prepare you for your future career – as well as an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.

Previous students have worked at organisations such as AstraZeneca, BHP, GE Capital, IBM, Jaguar Land Rover, Mitchell’s Chartered Accountants, Morrisons, Nestlé, the Metropolitan Police, the NHS and the Royal Mail.

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Accounting In Context
Economics, Finance And Investments
Going Global
Preparing For Success

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Business Economics
Financial Accounting
Law, Corporate Governance And Ethics
Management Accounting And Financial Management

Year 3

Compulsory modules

Audit And Assurance
Financial Accounting And Reporting
Management Accounting Applications

Elective modules

Cyber Crime
Fraud Analytics
Global Climate Emergency
Principles Of Tax
The Sport Business Industry

Year 4

Optional modules

Placement Year

Final year

Compulsory modules

Consultancy Project (Accounting)
Corporate Reporting And Governance

Elective modules

Accounting For Sustainable Development
Advanced Financial Accounting And Reporting
Corporate Finance
Forensic Accounting Techniques
Forensic And Fraud Examination
Professional Team Sport Finance 
Social And Environmental Accounting
Sport Governance, Ownership Structure & Regulation

Coursework, Exam, Practical

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• AACSB International