Finance and Business with Foundation Year Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

2nd in the UK for Student Satisfaction on our Accounting & Finance courses - Complete University Guide 2025
* No. 1 Students' Union in the UK ** *based on responses from registered students (NSS 2024)

This programme gives you the grounding you need if you are interested in the world of business and finance. We’ll help prepare you for a career in business and its operations, as well as develop your entrepreneurial capabilities to run your own business. In the Foundation Year of this four-year course, you’ll build essential academic study skills. This year will help you gain confidence in your abilities. You’ll also identify your strengths and areas for development. Together, these will prepare you for progression to the undergraduate degree.

Why study this course at BNU?
• Professional accreditations: this course is recognised by a number of professional bodies, including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).



• Learn to use industry-standard software: you'll get lots of practical experience using software, including Sage. In addition to the time spent on them in class, you'll have 24/7 access to them to practice in your own time.



• Taught by experts: the degree is led by a dedicated and experienced course team who include accountants and consultants who have worked for some of the most well-known financial organisations in the world. You can learn more about the teaching team on our course webpage.



• Cutting-edge topics: our curriculum is continuously updated to stay relevant to updates in the finance and business industries. You'll learn about the issues which are driving change, such as blockchain in accounting and the use of AI in accounting. You'll also get to hear from guest speakers from professional bodies on specialist subjects. All of this means you can be confident that you'll graduate ready to step into a role; many of our finance graduates go straight into executive level positions rather than assistant level.



• Choose your specialism: your first year modules will all be taken alongside students on BSc (Hons) Finance and Accounting, allowing for wider collaboration and networking with your fellow students. Buckinghamshire New University gives you the opportunity to choose your specialism for your future career after your experience of the core curriculum in year one. Rather than having to make your big decision before you join us, you can choose to transfer from BA (Hons) Finance and Business to BSc (Hons) Finance and Accounting after the first year if you wish.



What will I study
We are focused on providing you with all the building blocks you need to create a solid understanding of the business environment. You may have the opportunity to take part in trips to enhance your classroom learning; previous visits have included the Bank of England Museum in London. You will also hear from guest speakers from professional bodies.

During your second year you will study topics in more detail, as well as advance management accounting, business law and practice. We’ll also introduce you to financial reporting and how to apply accounting standards and the theoretical framework in the preparation of financial statements of entities.

In your final year, you will learn about subject including international finance, corporate governance and ethics.

In addition to your studies, the BNU School of Business and Law regularly holds events to enrich your university experience and enhance your employability, such as a management fair, recruitment events, and alumni networking social meetings.

What are my career prospects?
There has always been a big demand for qualified specialists in finance and business, and you can seek out jobs in any sector. You will also be equipped to develop and manage your own business.