Accounting, Finance and Mathematics

BSc Accounting, Finance and Mathematics is a flexible, career-focused degree 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, consulting and beyond.

Course overview
You will learn from leading academic researchers and expert practitioners in finance, investing, accounting and mathematics. 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 and mathematics 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 course is highly flexible, letting you specialise your studies based on your strengths and interests.

You will study investor decision-making, reporting and market analysis, acquire the skills to build a strong investment portfolio and calculate financial risk.

We will teach you the foundations of economics, accounting and finance. You will use real-world data to develop your financial reporting skills and learn key mathematical elements, such as calculus, probability and statistics.

The second year builds on your mathematical knowledge and introduces you to statistical computer programming. You will study auditing, financial accounting, management accounting and finance.

Third-year students develop their understanding of advanced accounting methods, financial reporting standards and statistics, and may choose to study options including investments, taxation and corporate finance.

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.

Key facts
The degree is accredited by globally-recognised accountancy bodies:
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

These accreditations provide graduates with exemptions from many core professional examinations, depending on your module choices, and mean, on graduation, you will be further along the route to qualifying as an accountant than many of your contemporaries.

The course is also available as a four-year course with a year in industry. It is possible to switch to that programme soon after starting your degree, subject to availability.

As part of the course, there is the option to complete a period of study abroad, subject to availability. You can choose to study one module at one of our partner universities during the summer vacation period at the end of either your first or second year of studies. Alternatively, you can choose to spend one term in your third year studying abroad, learning selected modules in a new environment. Students have previously studied in the USA and Australia, among other countries.

Course outcomes
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. Our graduates have gone on to work for Big Four accounting firms, international consulting firms, blue-chip corporations, and global banks and hedge funds.