Accounting and Finance

Accounting and finance are the disciplines through which organisations understand, control, and communicate their economic activity. Accounting concerns itself with recording and reporting financial information accurately and transparently; finance addresses how capital is raised, allocated, and managed over time, and how risk is evaluated and priced. Together they form the analytical backbone of business, and professionals who are fluent in both are among the most versatile in the economy.

At the University of Leicester, this three-year full-time degree gives you a thorough grounding in both disciplines. You will study the principles and practice of financial and management accounting, the workings of capital markets, corporate finance, investment theory, and financial reporting. The programme is structured to give you both the technical skills and the broader analytical perspective that employers in professional accountancy firms, investment banks, and financial management functions look for.

A placement year is built into the course, giving you the opportunity to gain substantive professional experience before you graduate. A year abroad is also available, broadening your perspective and adding an international dimension to your studies.

You will develop proficiency in financial analysis, the ability to interpret and construct accounts, and an understanding of the regulatory and economic contexts in which financial decisions are made. These skills are reinforced by practical application, and the combination of work placement experience and academic study means you are well prepared to move into professional training from the outset.

Graduates typically pursue professional accountancy qualifications with bodies such as the ICAEW, ACCA, or CIMA, often with partial exemptions earned through the degree. Others move into investment banking, financial analysis, treasury management, audit, consultancy, or corporate finance. The breadth of the degree means that career paths are varied, and the analytical foundation it provides is relevant well beyond the finance sector.