Course overview

Explore essential accounting competencies which illustrate that the subject incorporates more than just monitoring the 'numbers', it’s also about actively supporting and contributing to a businesses success, developing analytical and communication skills and understanding financial strategy. Studying business management will enhance your knowledge of the management of different types of organisations and expose you to key areas such as organisational behaviour, operations, quality and business strategy.

Our Business Management and Accounting BSc has been designed to give you the opportunity to gain expertise in both subjects so you can graduate with the right portfolio of transferable skills to pursue your career ambitions.

Building your professional skills

Your studies will start with a focus on learning the core aspects of financial and management accounting such as the statement of financial position (balance sheet), the statement of profit or loss (income statement), as well as making sure you have the required level of mathematical knowledge to support financial analysis.

The course will also give you a broad introduction to management, business and organisation, as modern business needs individuals who can think critically about managing and who appreciate what work means for employees.

You will strengthen your abilities in preparing key financial statements and use IT to support and improve your essential quantitative techniques for developing models and presenting data. You will examine business strategy and activities, including a virtual business game simulation that will provide you with the opportunity to put the theory you've been learning on the course into practice.

Optional modules at this stage draw from other areas of business studies including human resource management, marketing, business law, microeconomics and macroeconomics, international business, the UK and global economy and the opportunity to learn more about managing in organisations by working with other students to find a solution to a business problem set by a multinational corporation.

Advanced modules will establish your skills in cost and management accounting considering forecasting, budgeting and costing and enable you to analyse areas like international financial reporting. You will start to explore concepts around human behaviour in organisations including the Taylorist and Human Relations approaches and study the importance of key issues of operations and quality management.

The course will improve your knowledge of financial accounting focusing on international financial reporting standards and we will teach you how to apply management accounting techniques in making business decisions. You will learn to recognise the importance of audit and the regulatory framework and enhance your skills in critically assessing issues in accounting.

Further optional modules will provide the opportunity to tailor your degree course. Current options include UK taxation, international supply chain management, corporate governance and social responsibility, investment management and international finance.

Gain experience using industry software

You will have access to a range of IT platforms during your studies on the Business Management and Accounting BSc. At Keele Business School we have a dedicated Bloomberg Lab that is set up like a trading room. Bloomberg Professional Service, also known as the Terminal is software widely used in the financial industry and gives you access to economic, financial and business information. We use Bloomberg in some of our teaching, and you can also use it in your own time to acquire information to use in your studies.

There is the opportunity to complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts, a free and valuable e-learning course available to Keele Business School students that will show future employers that you’ve enhanced your learning about the financial markets.

Strengthening your employability

Work Placement Year*

In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are seeking to recruit individuals who have high-level knowledge, skills and an understanding of the workplace. Choosing a work placement year between your second and third year, is a fantastic way to gain industry experience. It can provide a valuable insight into what working in a specific area of business is like, gives you the chance to familiarise yourself with the professional working environment and develop professional networks, and provides the opportunity to apply the theory you’ve learnt on your degree course.

*Students who require a visa to study in the UK may be able to add in a work placement depending upon the programme. The ability to add a work placement is dependent upon the UK Immigration rules at the time of the request. It may be that for some programmes students will not have the option to request a placement period to be added to their programme before they arrive in the UK and would need to apply for a new visa. There is no guarantee that a placement will be provided and that students who have a visa are subject to a number of restrictions on the type of work, including placements they can undertake. For more information about visas please click here.

International Year

Between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend a year or a semester studying abroad. This exciting opportunity will enable you to understand your field from different cultural perspectives and establish international networks.

The interntional year demonstrates you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Entrepreneurship Year

Showcase your innovative abilities and ideas to develop your business aspirations. If you’ve ever wanted to establish your own start-up or have been inspired by your studies this entrepreneurship year is an amazing opportunity to develop your own business idea. You will undertake your entrepreneurship year working within Keele’s Smart Innovation Hub.

The Entrepreneurship pathway is available to UK and international students. Yet for international students, the availability of the Entrepreneurship pathway is subject due to the latest visa regulations.

Student Support

We have a robust student support system in place for our students. In addition to your course leader and individual module teaching team you will be allocated an academic mentor at the start of the course who will review your progress, meet regularly with you, and is contactable online and in person. Academics can also provide guidance about specific course modules.

A Student Experience and Support team is based within our Faculty with a member of the team dedicated to Keele Business School. They are part of the University's student services department and work closely with teams across Keele so you can easily access the help you need.

Extra assistance is provided by our School’s Disability Liaison Officer. They provide an additional layer of support for students with disabilities and can advise on matters relating to disability including dyslexia and specific learning difficulties.

You will also have access to a mixture of advice and support services at Keele including;

• Learning Support and Academic Guidance
• Disability Services
• English Language Unit
• Student Advice at Keele (ASK)
• Student Support Services
• Occupational Health Department

Keele Students' Union also offers support through their sabbatical officers.

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies here at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to accounting or business is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for the area and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles. It’s also a great way to make friends and share interests with fellow students.

Related Courses

• Accounting and Finance
• Business Management and Finance
• Business Management and Media
• Business Management with Integrated Masters