Accounting and Finance

BSc Hons

  • UCAS code N400
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements AAB
  • Duration Full time 3 years

We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 4

    4th for graduate prospects: Accounting & Finance

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • 7

    7th for Accounting and Finance

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • QS 5 Star rating for Accounting and Finance

Introduction

Our BSc Accounting and Finance is a flexible, career-focused degree course 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, and beyond.

Course overview

You will learn from leading academic researchers and expert practitioners in finance, investing and accounting. The degree provides the perfect blend of theory and practice, taking you to the heart of key questions around the nature of business performance, financial analysis, accountancy skills, investment strategies and financial markets.

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.

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)
  • Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA)

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

As part of the course, there is the option to complete a period of study abroad, subject to availability. You can study one module at one of our partner universities during the summer vacation period at the end of 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.

Course accreditation

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants logo

This programme is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Some modules also provide exemptions from ACCA examinations to fast-track your progression.

Learn more about the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants accreditation
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants logo

Depending on the modules taken as part of your course, you could gain exemptions from CIMA Operational and Certificate level examinations.

Learn more about the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants accreditation
Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) logo

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy is the only body globally dedicated to public financial management. Depending on the modules taken, you can gain exemptions from CIPFA assessments.

Learn more about the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) accreditation
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales logo

Depending on the specific modules taken, you can gain exemptions from all certificate level examinations and Financial Management at professional level with ICAEW.

Learn more about the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales accreditation
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland logo

This course is accredited by ICAS, and will help you gain exemptions from the Tests of Competence, depending on the modules you choose.

Learn more about the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland accreditation

Careers

All our Accounting and Finance degrees prepare you for a wide variety of careers in business, with many of our graduates working with professional firms and financial institutions, as well as large commercial and local government organisations. Roles include trainee accountants, finance managers and banking advisors.

Your degree will also equip you with highly desirable transferable skills which have helped recent graduates find work in the fields of financial customer service, IT support and marketing and communications. Many of our graduates also continue their academic studies and embark on Master's degrees.

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but you also graduate with relevant life and work-based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award, which allows you to complete key activities such as work experience, employability awareness, career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Lancaster Management School has an award-winning careers team to provide a dedicated careers and placement service offering a range of innovative services for management school students. Our high reputation means we attract a wide range of leading global employers to campus offering you the opportunity to interact with graduate recruiters from day one of your degree.

Entry requirements

Grade requirements

A level AAB

GCSE Mathematics grade B or 6 (Applicants with a GCSE Maths grade 5 considered on a case-by-case basis), English Language grade C or 4

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements web pages.

Other qualifications

International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Distinction

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions web pages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Optional

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2025/26 home undergraduate entry fees have not yet been set.

Home International
TBC £25,450

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Alumni profiles

Link: click to see Panagiotis Kleanthous
portrait photograph of Panagiotis Kleanthous

Panagiotis Kleanthous

BSc Accounting and Finance, 2022

The best thing about living in Lancaster is the feeling of belonging and the sense of community you are exposed to from the very first moments of arriving.
Link: click to see Oliver Kay
portrait photograph of Oliver Kay

Oliver Kay

BSc Accounting and Finance (Industry), 2020

I can almost certainly say I would not have found my career path without the Lancaster experience.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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