Accounting and Financial Management and Economics BA

Core economics modules:

Mathematical Methods for Economics 1

The aims of this module are: 1. To give an insight into the importance of mathematical methods in economic analysis. 2. To introduce a range of mathematical techniques. 3. To give an understanding of how and when to apply the techniques. The module will include revision of basic concepts, algebra, equations, exponential and logarithmic functions, differential calculus, optimisation, geometry

20 credits

Mathematical Methods for Economics 2

The aims of this module are: 1. To give an insight into the importance of mathematical methods in economic analysis. 2. To introduce a range of mathematical techniques. 3. To give an understanding of how and when to apply the techniques. The module will include revision of basic concepts, algebra, equations, exponential and logarithmic functions, differential calculus, optimisation, geometry

20 credits

Economic Analysis and Policy

This is a compulsory module for all single and dual honours students in Economics. The module provides students with an introduction to microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis together with examples of their application in order to develop students' understanding of the roles of both in economic policy making.

40 credits

Core accounting and financial management modules:

Introduction to Management Accounting

The aim of this module is to establish a firm understanding of the basic techniques of management accounting. The selection of accounting techniques is conditional on purpose; the management accountant's role therefore includes attention-directing, score-keeping, and problem-solving.

20 credits

Introduction to Financial Accounting

Financial Accounting is concerned with the ways in which the financial transactions of a business are recorded and summarised in financial statements. This module provides an introduction to the construction of financial statements and an understanding and evaluation of the principles and concepts on which they are underpinned. Once the principles have been established, the module further develops the practical understanding of the preparation of financial statements and focuses on the preparation, interpretation and limitations of company financial statements and the regulatory framework in which they are prepared.

20 credits

Foundations in Financial Management

This module aims to create a foundation of knowledge in the subject area of financial management, creating the required framework of skill and knowledge for financial decision making and to provide a base of knowledge for the related modules in levels 2 and 3. This module will achieve this by introducing the essential principles, theories and calculations within financial management. It will also introduce the contemporary issues and developments in financial markets. The module design and content expects to at least cover the contents of foundation level financial management related module syllabus of professional accounting bodies.

20 credits

Core accounting and financial management modules:

Financial Management

This unit takes the key themes and techniques that were introduced in MGT141, Introduction to Financial Management, and locates them in their institutional and intellectual setting to enable students to reflect critically on understandings of financial institutions and phenomena. The resulting understanding and skills of critique will enhance students' capabilities to reflect on the more specialist bodies of knowledge encountered in financial management and finance units in subsequent semesters. The unit uses a combination of conventional lectures to familiarise students with ideas and tutorials in which students are encouraged to show their understanding of and critically evaluate content of lectures.

20 credits

Intermediate Financial Accounting

This is an intermediate level financial accounting course, building on the level 1 'introductory' module (MGT132). It follows that some of the concepts, techniques and skills acquired during the study of that module remain examinable (revision exercises are provided throughout the module). In addition there is examination of a range of accounting standards and underpinning rationales, a review of the major conceptual debates currently preoccupying both accountants and standard-setters, and an exploration of the practical problems associated with the reporting of the results of limited companies and groups.

20 credits

Intermediate Management Accounting

This unit builds on the basic skills acquired in MGT102, viewing the management accountant as an important internal corporate communicator and provider of information for management decision and control purposes. Particular emphasis is placed on the management accountant's various methods of analysing and presenting different kinds of information, drawn from both internal and external sources. The unit distinguishes between the provision of management accounting services at policy, executive and operational levels. On the basis of this distinction, the management accountant is seen as centrally involved in the evaluation and implementation of alternative courses of action in organisations. The unit also examines the development of management accounting techniques in processes of sustainable organisational performance appraisal, analysis and reporting and considers such as strategic marketing, corporate social responsibility and ethics. Finally, the unit considers the developing contribution to be made by management accountants in the creation, evaluation and control of sustainable organisations.

20 credits

Core economics module:

Statistics and Econometrics

Topics may include collection and presentation of data, descriptive statistics, probability and applications, statistical inference, correlation and an introduction to basic regression analysis. This module also introduces students to econometric analysis, through a consideration of regression models, their properties, what can go wrong, and how those problems are solved. Throughout, the module tries to provide students with an intuitive feel for these issues. Students are also provided with the practical experience of performing their own regression analyses, in supported workshop settings with datasets provided to them.

20 credits

Economics option modules - choose two:

International Economics

International Economics covers core aspects of international trade and international macroeconomics. The first part of the module analyses the patterns and volume of international trade, and its effects on growth and income distribution. The second part covers international capital flows, their causes and their effects on growth and macroeconomic stability.

20 credits

Labour Economics

This module develops theoretical models of the labour market, starting with the competitive model of the labour market through an analysis of supply and demand for labour. A range of issues that can affect outcomes in the labour market will be considered, with an emphasis on the study of empirical evidence concerning these issues.

20 credits

Public Economics

The module is concerned with the economic aspects of public policy. It employs tools of economic analysis to develop a framework for the study of government decision making.

20 credits

Industrial Organisation

Industrial Organisation is a major branch of microeconomics. It considers the structure, operation and performance of industries and firms using both economic theory and empirical work.

20 credits

Economic Decision-making

In life we are constantly making economic decisions: whether to go to university; whether to leave a tip in a restaurant; whether to buy a house or rent; whether to declare all our income to the tax authority; whether to play the lottery; whether and how much to invest in the stock market. In this module we study economic theory and evidence related to decision-making in these different contexts with a view to understanding human decision-making, how it deviates from standard notions of economic rationality.

20 credits

Macroeconomic Policy

The module will focus on applying macroeconomic theory to a variety of economic policy issues. The module will consider fiscal and monetary policy and will include how policy responds to economic shocks. The course builds on the knowledge of the core first year economics modules.

20 credits

Intermediate Microeconomics

This module builds on Level 1 modules in microeconomics and mathematical economics, using the mathematical training to allow a more rigorous investigation of the principles of microeconomics. It aims to develop an understanding and ability to undertake economic analysis of models of the behaviour and interaction of economic agents (consumers, firms and government) in a market economy, the functioning of different types of industries, decision making under uncertainty and economic welfare.

20 credits

Intermediate Macroeconomics

The aims of this course are to provide firm grounding in the analytical tools of modern macroeconomics; to use these tools to understand critically the conduct of economic policy nationally and internationally. The course builds on level 1 modules in macroeconomics. The main subject areas covered are: Basic macroeconomic models: consumption/leisure choice, closed economy one period-macro models, models of search and unemployment; Savings, investment and government deficits: consumption/savings choice (two-period model), credit market imperfections, real intertemporal model with investment; Money and business cycles: flexible price models, New Keynesian economics (sticky prices), inflation; International macroeconomics: international trade, money in open economy; Economic growth: Malthus and Solow growth models, convergence, endogenous growth model.

20 credits

Economics of Financial Institutions

This module covers introductory monetary, banking and finance theory and issues relating to policy and regulation of the banking and finance system. The module introduces the basic concepts in money and banking while it supports and expands on the material provided in ECN201 and ECN202, the second year micro and macro modules.

20 credits

Core economics module:

Economics in Action

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge of economics to a range of issues and problems drawn from the level 3 applied economics modules.

20 credits

Core accounting and financial management modules:

Advances in Financial Accounting

The module follows on from the financial accounting modules taken at levels one and two. It extends students' technical competency in financial accounting and allows for a deeper analysis of financial reporting issues in a number of key areas. Included on the module is the study of segmental reporting, consolidated balance sheets, consolidated profit and loss accounts, vertical group balance sheets, associated company accounts, joint ventures, the effects of changing prices in accounting, foreign currency translation, capital instruments, financial instruments, related- party transactions and the international harmonisation of accounting standards.

20 credits

Advances in Management Accounting

The module builds on MGT102 and MGT211 and concentrates on the application of techniques using a number of case studies. In addition, the module deals with the changing role of Management Accounting within organisations and new developments reflected by current issues in research.

20 credits

Accounting and financial management option modules - choose one:

Auditing

The aim of this module is to consider how successfully auditing carries out the roles that are assigned to it. An audit is the independent examination of, and expression of an opinion on, the financial statements of an enterprise. Audit has crucial roles to play in the processes of corporate and social governance, relating especially to the transmission of information to financial markets and individual/groups to whom organisations are accountable. In the 'audit society', the meaning of audit has broadened to embrace diverse forms of inspection and non-financial performance reporting. This course is designed to introduce students to the major issues in auditing theory and practice, making reference to current contexts.

20 credits

Case Studies in Accounting and Consultancy

This module is case study based and designed to equip students with the practical research skills needed to understand many contemporary problems faced by managers and accountants in a modern economy. The course locates key accounting and finance issues within a changing organizational and societal context. Each year a company case will be chosen to reflect contemporary themes and issues in the global economy, which in the past have included the shareholder value drivers of restructuring in the pharmaceuticals sector, banking after the financial crises, the social and economic effects of private equity takeovers of retails chains and creative accounting practices at large outsourcing firms. The course therefore concentrates on developing students’ ‘grounded knowledge’ rather than drawing on abstract or overly prescriptive theories. It is designed to encourage students to develop their own initiative and to ‘learn-through-doing’, with guidance and support given on how to use the university’s extensive suite of databases. From this, students should develop highly refined, marketable research skills which will provide a deeper appreciation of key business issues in the real-world.

20 credits

Company Analysis and Valuation

This module is aimed at those students wanting to move into fund management / trading within global equity markets and who are targeting leading investment banks and fund managers as a career destination. The module will develop skills and understanding of a Bloomberg terminal and how to analyse and value companies using a range of techniques. The module will focus on using predominantly numerical techniques however these will be blended with other considerations which impact the value and performance of global listed companies. A wide range of global case studies will be used to demonstrate advanced valuation techniques and investment principles, thus giving students a sound grounding to take future professional qualifications with bodies such as the CFA. Tutorials will be based in a trading room enabling students to utilise a wide range of practical data sources and trading platforms, such as Bloomberg within the setting of a small and supportive class.

20 credits

Taxation in Theory and Practice

The theory of taxation examines the principal concepts, which are used to analyse the impact and incidence of direct and indirect taxation on (groups of) individuals and the economy as a whole. Practical taxation requires an understanding of basic tax law and the procedures for calculating the tax liabilities of individuals and companies.

20 credits

Economics option modules - choose two:

Education Economics

The amount of education possessed by individuals will influence their decisions in future. Education relates to issues such as health and labour market decisions. This module examines the demand for and provision of education, incorporating a mixture of economic theory such as human capital; rates of return to further and higher education and course type all of which directly relate to the labour market. Macroeconomic new growth theories are considered using empirical evidence. The graduate labour market is analysed, incorporating changes in the provision of higher education and an understanding of the rationale for the introduction of top-up fees. A final section considers schools, analysing and evaluating issues such as class size reduction, competition and selection, the performance of teachers, and the importance of pupils' family backgrounds, all in terms of their effect on pupil performance.

20 credits

Political Economy

Important economic processes cannot be fully understood without taking into account political and institutional factors and governments' political motivations. This module introduces insights from politics into the study of public policy and economic performance. In particular, it aims to give students: 1. an opportunity for interdisciplinary study within the undergraduate economics degree; 2. familiarity with the modern literature in theoretical and applied political economy, including topics such as redistributive politics, comparative politics, and electoral/partisan cycles; 3. an opportunity to develop their research and team-working skills through research-oriented group assignments.

20 credits

International Trade

The first part of the course will cover neoclassical trade theories in which countries trade following their comparative advantage. The second part of the course deals with more recent trade theories based on economies of scale and/or imperfect competition that helps us to explain some recent patterns observed in the data. The third part of the course is an introduction to trade policy and the political economy of trade policy.

20 credits

Monetary Economics

This module covers monetary theory and monetary policy. It presents several economic models and discusses what monetary policy can and cannot do, as well as an introduction to the New Keynesian model. The module aims to enable students to apply the skills of economic analysis to the conduct of central banks and to the mechanisms underlying the monetary transmission mechanism.

20 credits

Development Economics

It takes the average worker in the UK less than ten days to produce the same amount of output as the average worker in the Democratic Republic of Congo produces over the course of an entire year. Earning the minimum wage in the UK easily puts you in the top 10% of earners worldwide. This module uses a mix of theory and empirics to seek to understand where these enormous gaps in standards of living between countries come from and how they evolve over time.

20 credits

Health Economics

Economics is the study of how society allocates its scarce resources across competing alternatives. This notion of scarcity is as relevant in the health care sector as it is elsewhere and, thus, it is important that the resources available to health and health care are used in the best possible ways. This course will: look at how best should be defined in the context of health care; consider the roles that market forces and governments might play in achieving the sector's objectives; and discuss what information is needed so that resources can be deployed where they will do the most good. The aims of the module are: 1. To enable students to develop a critical understanding of the basis of health economics. 2. To introduce students to the health economists' toolkit, the ways in which it can be used in to inform health care resource allocation, and its limitations.

20 credits

Economic Analysis of Inequality and Poverty

This module will cover the economic theories used for the analysis of inequality and poverty. The theories will be backed by evidence from both the developed and the developing countries. The module starts off by a discussion of issues around measurement of inequality and poverty; the different measures that are used and the inherent assumptions behind these measures. We then move on to explain the existing global trends in inequality and poverty. Different theories are used to explain these trends; for example: role of human capital, poverty traps etc. Finally we discuss the policy response of different countries to address the issues of inequality and poverty, drawing on the specific examples of welfare programmes in the developed countries and the conditional cash transfers in the developing countries.

20 credits

Economics of Race and Gender

The Economics of Race and Gender will present economic theories as to why discrimination by race and gender occurs, in labour markets and other settings. Empirical evidence will be presented and used to test for such discrimination, as well as to test and evaluate the economic theories put forward to explain its existence.

20 credits

Behavioural Economics

Standard economic models can successfully model human behaviour. However, the strong assumptions required of economic actors in those models will make systematic mispredictions in some contexts. Behavioural economics tries to overcome the systematic mispredictions by adopting non-standard assumptions, often inspired by insights from other disciplines. The module will discuss empirical evidence that underpins these non-standard assumptions, and will reflect on how insights from behavioural economics can be relevant in real life.

20 credits