Accounting and Finance at Warwick is a professionally-orientated qualification, providing the skills, knowledge and confidence to operate effectively in the fast-paced world of multinational companies and global financial markets. Choosing particular module combinations can lead to exemptions from a number of professional accountancy exams.
This course is designed to provide you with access to our main Accounting and Finance or Accounting and Finance with Placement Year degrees if challenging circumstances mean that you have not been able to meet the standard entry requirements.
We are looking for applicants who have the drive and motivation, and ultimately want to progress to a professionally-orientated qualification that is consistently ranked highly in major UK league tables. We will help you to develop valuable skills such as teamwork, presenting, time management, problem solving, decision making, and also build your confidence.
During the Foundation Year you will be part of a small community working closely together on group projects. The course also involves working with external organisations to give you a better understanding of how business works. You will complete projects in the third term working with organisations to identify an issue or challenge.
If you successfully complete the Foundation Year, you will automatically join our direct entry students following the course structure for Accounting and Finance or Accounting and Finance with Placement Year.
If you choose to study the 5-year course with the integrated placement year you will spend a year working or studying in the UK or overseas. Previous students have completed work placements with companies including Accenture, EY, IBM, Goldman Sachs, Lloyds Bank, Porsche and PwC. Alternatively, if you meet the first-year requirements you can apply for a study placement which is undertaken in English and opportunities are available with a wide range of partners in countries such as Canada, Singapore, France, and Japan.
Benefits of studying BSc Accounting and Finance with Foundation Year at WBS:
Learn from world‑leading academics who bring together cutting‑edge theory and real‑world industry experience
Build a strong foundation in core management and financial principles, learning to think critically, and analyse and interpret real-life business issues
Gain the expertise needed for a career in accountancy or finance, with pathways to professional accreditations
Develop the skills employers want through our PRACTICE framework
To make sure our students are graduate-ready, we created the PRACTICE Framework, which is embedded across our teaching. It is our signature way of bridging the gap between theory and action. Developed with our academics and industry partners, it builds the skills, mindset and adaptability that employers expect today and will rely on tomorrow.
Through PRACTICE you will build key interpersonal strengths - including communication, leadership and teamwork – so you can become more adaptable, confident and resilient.
This course is only available to applicants based in the UK who are eligible for Home Fee Status and meet our Widening Participation criteria. You will normally be in Year 13 at the time of applying or have very recently completed your schooling
This course is designed for students who would otherwise not be able to meet our standard admissions criteria. You will be considered for direct entry instead if your predicted grades meet the contextual offer level for our main WBS degrees.
You must meet one of the Widening Participation criteria below:
Be a care experienced applicant who has been a 'looked after child' for at least 3 months.
Be an 'estranged student' under the age of 25 who is studying without the support and approval of both of their parents due to a breakdown in their relationship - this might be their birth, step or adoptive parents, and sometimes wider family members.
Have been granted refugee status or are under 'humanitarian protection' in the UK. You must have studied A Levels or equivalent qualifications in a UK state school or college.
Live in an area which has a high level of deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation, 0-20%).
Completed your studies at a school/schools where performance of students was below the national average and eligibility for Free School Meals was higher than average.
Were eligible for Free School Meals at some point during the past six years as verified by UCAS.
If you are experiencing (or have experienced) other disadvantaging circumstances you may express this in an Extenuating Circumstances form, however we are only able to consider applicants who also meet the Widening Participation criteria above. This must be sent within two weeks of application (excluding holidays).
A level typical offer
You need to complete and pass three full A level courses. These must include one subject from the following: Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, or Statistics.
You will also need grade 6/B in GCSE English Language, 6/B in GCSE Mathematics and 4/C in five other GCSE subjects. Applicants with grade 4/C in GCSE English Language and grade 6/B in GCSE English Literature will also be considered.
We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.
International Baccalaureate (IB) typical offer
You need to complete the full IB Diploma with three subjects at Higher Level and three subjects at Standard Level. This must include Higher Level Maths or Physics.
You will also need grade B or 6 in GCSE English Language, B or 6 in GCSE Mathematics and C or 4 in five other GCSE subjects. Applicants with grade C or 4 in GCSE English Language and grade B or 6 in GCSE English Literature will also be considered.
We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.
BTEC
You need to complete and pass your BTEC/A level qualifications. We will consider any combination of A level and BTECs equivalent to three A levels, but you must have studied an A Level in the following: Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, or Statistics.
You will also need grade 6/B in GCSE English Language, 6/B in GCSE Mathematics and 4/C in five other GCSE subjects. Applicants with grade 4/C in GCSE English Language and grade 6/B in GCSE English Literature will also be considered.
Scotland Advanced Highers
Complete and pass your Advanced Highers. This must include one from the following: Mathematics, Physics or Statistics. You will also need grade B in National 5 English and Maths, and grade C in five other National 5 subjects.
Welsh Baccalaureate
AAA in three subjects at A level including Mathematics plus grade C in the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales. You will need grade 6/B in GCSE English Language, or we may be able to consider grade 6/B in GCSE English Literature alongside grade 4/C in GCSE English Language.
We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.
Warwick may make differential offers to students in certain circumstances, such as those who have participated in a Widening Participation programme or who meet the University’s contextual data criteria. These offers are usually one or two grades below Warwick’s standard offer.
Do you offer foundation programmes?
All students who successfully complete the Warwick IFP and apply to Warwick through UCAS will receive a guaranteed conditional offer for a related undergraduate programme, for selected courses only. Further details are available in the standard offer and conditions for the IFP.
Can I take a gap year before starting my course?
Yes, Warwick welcomes applications for deferred (gap year) entry.
What is the selection process for this course?
This is a competitive course and after reviewing your predicted/achieved grades, personal statement, reference and Widening Participation criteria, shortlisted applicants will be invited to a Selection Day. As part of the Selection Day, you will learn more about the course and participate in a group task and interview. This is a compulsory part of the process for those shortlisted and we will use this to make final decisions.
Our Foundation Year prepares you for degree-level study at WBS, giving you the opportunity to develop your knowledge about business, improve key skills we have found to be important to success during the undergraduate degree, and spend a year getting used to the university environment. The eight core modules have been designed to build on numerical skills learnt at school as well as newer topics such as creativity, accounting, finance, marketing and operations management. You will be able to work on academic practices like research, critical thinking, and university level writing.
Personal development is also important for success at university and you will have lots of opportunities for improving presentation, organisational, communication, time management, and teamwork skills.
You will join first year students on one core module in your second term to experience learning with international students from different backgrounds. This will help you to prepare for progression onto BSc Accounting and Finance the following year.
Note that the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry. If optional modules are listed below, these can vary from year to year.
Foundation Year
Throughout the rest of your degree, you’ll study CORE modules - designed to give you essential business knowledge and the skills employers are looking for. Each year builds your confidence, skills and independence:
Year 1: Structured, supportive learning to help you settle in and master the basics building on what you’ve learned in your Foundation Year
Year 2: Start to apply and embed your knowledge to real‑world challenges through case‑based learning
Final Year: Step up as an independent learner, sharpening your expertise and preparing for life after graduation
Alongside your CORE modules, you'll explore key areas such as corporate finance, financial markets, management, and financial accounting. As you progress, you can tailor your studies with specialist finance and accounting options, and in your final year broaden your learning with subjects like marketing, entrepreneurship, or data science.
You will complete your work or study placement in your third year and will return to WBS in your fourth year to complete your final year modules. Your placement year will be assessed by WBS during your year away.
Year 1
Year 2
You will take two electives in Term 1, followed by two electives in Term 2 and the following core modules:
You can then choose one further option from a range of other subject areas including: strategy, marketing, behavioural science, entrepreneurship and innovation, analytics, data science and AI, and organisational topics e.g. human resources.
Final Year
If you choose to take a placement you will complete this in your third year returning to complete your degree in Year 4 (your degree being 5-years in duration). Most students choose to work for the year in a graduate level role but some students do also study with one of our partner institutions. You will complete one core module IB2PY0 Year Away in Context for which you will reflect on your placement year and conduct a critical evaluation of your own personal experiences. You will demonstrate an awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the wider cultural and business-related issues in the relevant countries/industries/sectors in which you have taken your year away.
In your Final Year at Warwick, you will take four electives in Term 1, followed by three electives in Term 2 and the core module below:
Up to three electives can be chosen from a range of other subjects such as marketing, strategy, behavioural science, people management, analytics, data science, operations management, and also from other departments within the University including Economics or a language.
Examples of electives include:
Fees and funding
Tuition fee
£9,790
On 26 November 2025, the UK government announced that the tuition fee cap for UK undergraduate students for the 2026-27 academic year would increase to £9,790 from the 2025-26 rate of at £9,535.
Students who qualify for government-regulated fees are classed as ‘Home’ students for fees purposes. In future years, fees for continuing students may be subject to an increase in fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government (if permitted by law or government policy).
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
You will repay your loan or loans gradually once you are working and earning above a certain amount. For students starting their course after 1 August 2023 (on Student Finance England’s Plan 5), you will repay when your income is over £25,000 a year.
Repayments will be taken directly from your salary if you are an employee. If your income falls below the earnings threshold or you stop working, your repayments will stop until your income goes back up above this figure.
Access thousands of part-time opportunities through our agency UnitempsLink opens in a new window (such as office work, retail jobs or helping at events)
Choose to apply for a job as one of our Student Ambassadors to share your own experience at events like Open Days
There are many different funding routes available, including a number of bursaries and scholarships for full-time undergraduates. If you struggle to meet your essential living costs, our Student Funding team will be on hand to offer advice and support.
Provides additional financial support for qualifying Home students from lower income families of up to £2,500 for eligible students
This bursary is paid directly into your bank account in three equal termly instalments to help with the costs of studying
There is no application for this bursary as your details will be provided directly from the student support awarding bodies (Student Finance England, Student Finance Northern Ireland, and Student Awards Agency Scotland)
A number of scholarship opportunities are open to full-time undergraduate students. These include sporting and musical bursaries, and scholarships offered by commercial organisations.
If you experience financial difficulties during your studies, you may be eligible for Hardship Funding from the University, in the form of an Emergency Loan and/or a non-repayable award
There are no Departmental scholarships available for our Undergraduate courses, however there are other scholarships which you may be eligible for. Please see our scholarships web pages for more information.
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2025/26 year of study). Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Are there any course specific costs?
For departmental specific costs, please see the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue, where module-related costs are detailed.
Teaching and learning
You will learn in a variety of ways including:
In-person and online lectures (using our groundbreaking SmartStage)
Seminar and Workshops for more interactive learning
Online (asynchronous) structured learning using a range of materials including videos, blogs, and quizzes
During the Foundation Year you will mainly work in seminar-style classes with up to 25 students for at least 12 hours per week, equipping you with the skills, knowledge and depth of understanding that you will need to continue learning independently between sessions. After successfully completing the Foundation Year you will progress to Year One where class sizes vary by module. Lectures typically include all students on a module whereas seminars and workshops are smaller groups to allow for interaction in groups and individual support.
This varies by year but you will have approximately 12 to 15 hours per week of:
Class time
Online activities such as quizzes and group work
Student support and feedback hours
During your feedback hours, you can meet the Module Leader or seminar tutors to ask questions.
You will be assessed mainly through examinations, but also through a combination of other assessments such as:
Individual assignments
Case study analysis
Online quizzes
In-class tests
Groupwork
Presentations
You must pass all core Foundation Year modules to progress. Your Foundation and First year marks are not used to calculate your final degree classification. This is calculated with marks from year 2 and 3 with 50% each, or years 2, 3 and 4 if you take a placement year (40, 10 and 50% respectively).
Careers
Graduates from Warwick Business School have gone on to work for employers including:
Our CareersPlus and Employer Relations team provides specialised careers services solely for Warwick Business School students including:
1-2-1 careers coaching
Career planning and preparation workshops
Employer events and networking opportunities
Work placements and internships
Bespoke employer events organised specifically for our students have seen the likes of Deloitte, EY, JLR, L’Oreal, J.P.Morgan, Barclays, IBM, Google visit Warwick Business School, providing students with great networking opportunities and links to top local, national and international brands.
Events and group workshops
You can also attend group workshops and employer events throughout the year. Our workshops cover all aspects of the job application process, from creating your CV to preparing for interviews and assessment centres. Tailored sessions, such as ‘What job is right for you?’ can help you to plan your future career and actions.
Past examples include:
Writing an effective CV
How to network with employers skills workshop
Internship and Placement Year events with employers
Careers Fairs and informal networking opportunities with employers
Sector events with industry speakers, for students who want to pursue a career in a specific sector such as Marketing, Audit, Consulting, Technology, Consumer Goods and Retail, Finance and Banking
Whether you're certain of your career path or still exploring your options, our dedicated Careers Plus and Employer Relations teams are here to support you at every stage. From CV writing and interview workshops to helping you find exciting roles and connect with top employers, they'll equip you with the tools and experiences to develop versatile, in-demand skills that will help you stand out globally.
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live in a campus residence or in partnership accommodation off campus, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
74th
Warwick is ranked 74th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
If you’re interested in the bigger picture, comfortable challenging assumptions and want a degree that will open doors, then WBS is the place for you. We will give you the foundation for change and prepare you for your future career. Are you ready to make your mark in the world of business?
Warwick Business School (WBS) offers students a dedicated and supportive learning environment within the University of Warwick campus. Its facilities include state-of-the-art lecture theatres, group study areas, and digital resources designed to enhance the academic experience. Students benefit from WBS-specific computing and support services, ensuring access to the tools needed for coursework and research.
For tailored support, WBS provides dedicated careers guidance, wellbeing services, and student support networks, helping students balance academic, professional, and personal growth.
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Experience campus at an Open Day. Can't visit? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
