BSc (Hons) Applied Accounting

This Bachelors Honours Degree is an exclusive degree offered to ACCA students through a unique and innovative collaboration between ACCA and Oxford Brookes University Business School.

BSc (Hons) Applied Accounting graduate Saad talks about his experience studying at Oxford Brookes University Business School.

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants, supporting 140,000 members and 404,000 students throughout their careers, and providing services through a network of 83 offices and centres. ACCA aims to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. ACCA's reputation is grounded in over 100 years of providing world-class accounting and finance qualifications, championing opportunity, diversity and integrity, and its long traditions are complemented by modern thinking, backed by a diverse, global membership.

This degree has been jointly designed by the University and ACCA to meet the requirements of a degree and also those of a professional qualification. Students of ACCA are now automatically registered for the Oxford Brookes University degree when they enrol with ACCA. As soon as they have completed the Fundamental Skills papers F1 to F9 of the ACCA's professional examinations, and the Professional Ethics module, they may submit a "Research and Analysis Project" to Oxford Brookes University which will be assessed by the University Business School staff.

This collaboration offers ACCA's students the opportunity to:

gain a further prestigious award
gain recognition of achievement within a professional development scheme/career path
establish a 'firmer foundation' to further professional development.

To find out more, visit the ACCA BSc (Hons) Applied Accounting website.

Entry Requirements +

For entry requirements, please refer to the ACCA website.
Status of the ACCA +

The ACCA offers examinations globally under the terms of its Royal Charter - see in particular Section 4 (l) and 4 (m).

The qualification is recognised by the UK Government and incorporated into the UK's Company Acts. Click on the links for a letter from the Department of Trade and Industry and section 389 of the Companies Act 1985.

In addition, the ACCA is recognised by the UN.

ACCA's syllabus formed the basis of the United Nations' global accountancy curriculum titled Guideline on National Requirements for the Qualification of Professional Accountants published in 1999. ACCA was a participant in the consultative group, which devised this global Benchmark, and reference to ACCA's role is included throughout the publication.
Additional Information +
- Guide to assist in the accreditation of the BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting Awarded by Oxford Brookes University in partnership with the ACCA. (PDF file)
The ACCA
- ACCA Royal Charter (PDF file)
- Recognition of Professional Qualification letter (PDF file)
- Companies Act 1985 extract (PDF file)
Oxford Brookes University
- Statutory Authority for Oxford Brookes University to award degrees (PDF file)
The Course
- Summary of Quality Assurance Procedures specifically for this degree (PDF file)
Evaluation of BSc (Hons) Applied Accounting in relation to Accounting Benchmarking Statements and national Qualification Framework Descriptors
- Summary of Benchmark Statements (PDF file)
- Summary of national Qualification Framework Descriptors (PDF file)
- Details of Business School review of the above (PDF file)
Programme Specification
- Programme Specification (PDF file)
Frequently Asked Questions +
Am I eligible for the degree?

Check on myACCA and, if still in difficulties, see the Section on Eligibility. The Oxford Brookes University ACCA office are not able to give you any answers on this issue directly.

How do I get help in preparing for the project?

Many ACCA providers also offer tuition for this project. There are also project guides to the Research and Analysis project, published by BPP and Kaplan.

When do I submit the project?

There are two opportunities each year to submit the project, the months of May and November, the next opportunity being November 2009.

What is included in the word count?

Appendices, contents pages, bibliography and the list of references do not form part of the word count.

How important is the IT requirement?

Extremely important: If you do not show evidence of using a spreadsheet you are almost certain to fail.

How important is it to reference properly?

Along with IT, failure to reference properly is the most common reason for failing the project. The references must be both in the text, in the correct format and in the List of References. One reason for this is to avoid plagiarism. See "A guide to citing and referencing for Business School students"

If I want to do a different topic what do I do?

We strongly recommend that you use one of the approved topics. If you feel you are a special case then you must apply in writing to the ACCA Office at Oxford Brookes giving a one page outline of what you propose to do and the title of your project. You will only be successful in getting your title approved if it can be demonstrated that the project is applied to a particular organisation.

What happens after I submit the project?

You will receive an acknowledgment either by email or letter, normally within 1 month of submitting the project. The timetables for project submissions and despatch of results are given on the ACCA website.

What happens if I have passed?

You will receive a certificate, normally within 3 months of the results letter and you will be invited to a graduation ceremony either at Oxford Brookes University in Oxford or at a regional centre near you - currently offered at Hong Kong, Malaysia or Singapore and Kenya. Your marksheet will not be returned to you.

Do I get feedback if I don't pass?

You will get a limited amount of feedback on your marksheet, which will indicate which areas you passed and which areas you failed.

What are the most common reasons for not passing?
- IT - in particular not including reasonable evidence that a spreadsheet has been used
- not referencing the work properly
- not including copies of the PowerPoint/overhead slides etc used in the presentation to the project mentor.
- insufficient analysis of the information that the student researches.
If I fail do I have to start with a completely new topic?

Not necessarily - it may be that you just have to remedy the deficiencies indicated in your mark sheet. In that case you may resubmit an amended report. However please note that if you fail and resubmit the same topic but with an attempt to rectify the deficiencies, you will often have to hold three mentor meetings again. However these meetings may well take an abbreviated form.

However if your fail was purely for failing to include the presentation, then three further mentor meetings will not be necessary.

The Research and Analysis Project is in 2 parts - the RR and the SLS. If you pass one of these you do not have to resubmit that part.

How many times can I submit the project?

You may submit the project a maximum of 3 times. The standard fee must accompany every submission.

If I analyse some published financial statements, do I have to include them with my project?

No, not the complete publication but you should, include a copy of the key statements as an Appendix. Note that the Appendices do not form part of the word count.

I intend to analyse some questionnaires - do I have to include them all in my project?

No, but you must include a copy of the questionnaire and a summary of the responses as an Appendix.