Accounting with Placement Year

Course details
Accounting is the ideal choice if you have an analytical mind and like solving problems – contrary to popular opinion, you don’t have to be a maths expert to study accounting - communication in both written and verbal form is just as important as crunching numbers. Accountants are trusted business advisors and work in many areas of business.
This single honours degree will immerse you in the study of accounting and business from day one. Offering maximum professional accreditation from some ICAEW, ACCA and CIMA examinations, on successful completion you can graduate as a partly exam-qualified accountant, with only work experience and a few final exams to complete to be fully-qualified (subject to optional module choices and to achieving specific grades in certain papers).

Why Durham University?
The Departments of Accounting and Finance are two specialist departments within Durham University’s Business School; one of the UK's longest established business schools.
Our reputation is down to the expertise of our staff. Their global experience, outstanding research insight, professional experience and real business connections keep us at the leading edge.
We offer a wide selection of courses in both accounting and in finance, including specialist routes that are designed to provide maximum accreditation from professional accountancy qualifications.
You won’t just learn the technical side of accounting, but you’ll also have the opportunity to think critically about how accounting impacts on the global world of business.

Facilities
You’ll have access to the Business Schools modern, spacious meeting rooms and study areas.
Resources include up-to-date financial information and online databases. In addition, you’ll have access to Durham University’s prestigious libraries and archives.

Rankings
3rd in the UK Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
5th in the Guardian University Guide 2026
5th in the UK Complete University Guide 2026
Top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2026

Career Opportunities
Our students graduate with specialist knowledge in areas of accounting and of finance, as well as the analytical, IT and problem-solving skills that are highly valued by employers in the UK and internationally.
This combination of academic knowledge and transferable skills will open up a range of career opportunities in the financial world and beyond.
Previous graduates have gone on to work within the accountancy profession and for businesses as accountants, specialising as auditors, financial accountants, tax specialists, management consultants etc.
Graduates have also specialise in areas of finance such as financial analysis, risk management and investment banking. For employers such as PWC, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton, National Audit Office, Capita, Deutsche Bank and Sage Plc.

Course Modules

For current information please scroll to the bottom of the page for Provider Information and select Visit our Course Page under Course Contact Details.

Modules are assessed via a combination of examinations, written assignments and reports, projects and presentations.

The range of assessment methods is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the material, test your capacity to solve problems, enhance your written and oral communication skills, and assess your ability to relate your learning to real-world issues.

The 10,000-word dissertation in an area of accounting of your choice is worth one-third of your final-year credits.

In addition to the help provided by your subject lecturers, you can also access extensive support for your assessments through ASC, the Academic Skills Centre. See below for details: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/centres/academic-skills-centre/