BA (Hons) Finance and Business
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2026
We’ll help prepare you for a career in business and its operations, as well as develop your entrepreneurial capabilities in preparation for running your own business. With modules on finance as well as business management you will be able to see what it could be like to manage the finance department, take on accounting, start your own business and gain key knowledge in entrepreneurship.
As well as the technical skills you need for the day to day job, we will impart with you knowledge you can't gain from books and demonstrations: communication, teamwork, and the experience needed to respond to unexpected situations. With BNU you gain the knowledge of real people who have dealt with real business finance, on your side.
Our Finance and Business course is recognised by a number of professional bodies, and you can also obtain a number of exemptions when applying for further certification. The course provides an opportunity to gain exemptions from up to 7 modules from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) papers at the Fundamentals level. In addition, you can also obtain exemptions from up to 8 modules from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and up to 5 from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). You will also be able to get exemptions for some of the modules to be eligible to obtain membership with the IFA.
You'll get lots of practical experience using accountancy software, including Sage. In addition to the time spent using these software programmes in class, you'll have 24/7 access to them to practice in your own time.
Our BA (Hons) Finance and Business degree is led by a dedicated and experienced course team. Benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. Many of our guest lecturers are industry-experts and alongside your lecturers, they’ll nurture your learning and professional development.
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.
These specialisms are also offered as four-year programmes, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.
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.
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. In your first year, you will learn alongside students on the BSc (Hons) Finance and Accounting course, allowing you to collaborate with a wider group of fellow students and even switch degree to a related subject if you find your interests more closely align with the BSc (Hons) Finance and Accounting. 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. You'll begin to use Microsoft Excel in financial and business reporting, and get to grips with Sage software.
During your second year you will study topics in more detail, as well as advanced management accounting, business law and practice. We’ll also introduce you to financial reporting. Our course will teach you how to apply accounting standards and theoretical frameworks in the preparation of financial statements of entities. You’ll learn to apply, analyse and evaluate the principles you have learned and be able to reference and apply them to real world situations. By putting your knowledge into practice, you’ll feel confident and well-equipped for your future career.
The focus in your final year is to prepare you for life after BNU. Modules such as international finance, corporate governance and ethics, advanced financial reporting, combined with your previous years knowledge as well as an independent research dissertation will enhance your employability within the finance and business industry. In addition to your studies, the College of Leadership and Innovation regularly holds events to enrich your university experience and enhance your employability, such as a management fair, recruitment events, and alumni networking social meetings.
I had the opportunity to work with a local business and aid them in improving the way they ran. This was brilliant in helping me prepare for the outside world as it gave me a real-life insight into how businesses operated - it also allowed for me to improve my network and prepare for life after university.Harrison Gilkes
How will I be taught and assessed?
At BNU we like to foster an interactive and student-focused teaching style. We blend lectures, seminars, one-to-one workshops, tutorial sessions, independent study and guest speakers to enhance the learning experience.
Our lecturers work hard to ensure that you learn the latest industry standard practices and knowledge. To support in the delivery of this we also welcome industry experts and professionals to deliver guest lectures who share their experience of the latest trends and what companies are looking for.
A range of assessment methods will be employed during your studies, including:
- essays
- reports
- exams
- presentations (individual and group)
- dissertation
One of the enjoyable things about studying at BNU is that even though I’m doing Accounting & Finance, there’s still the opportunity to work on group projects. Not only do we come together to solve the problem, it’s also a chance to get to know and make friends with different peers.Yam Kandel
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Those with no previous study, work experience, or who do not meet the specified entry requirements, including demonstrating the necessary knowledge and understanding, are welcome to apply for the 3-year BA (Hons) degree, however may be offered the four-year programme which includes a Foundation Year.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home Foundation Year, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £5,760 *
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Home, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £9,790 per year *
International
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Overseas/International Foundation Year, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £15,910 *
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £15,910 per year *
Please note all of the 2026/27 fees stated are subject to parliamentary procedure. Tuition fees are expected to increase each academic year in line with the maximum permitted value set by the Government for that academic year. The expected rise for Home undergraduate students (including those on a foundation year course), may impact both new and continuing students.
Additional costs
Your tuition fees cover most course costs, but you may need to budget for additional expenses. These can include specialist equipment, project materials, professional memberships, field trips or placements, as well as everyday student costs like printing, books and stationery.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our enquiries team by completing this form.
What are my career prospects?
You will graduate with an industry accredited degree from the ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW which means that you start one step closer to becoming a fully qualified accountant.
Recent graduates from this course have gone onto jobs such as:
- Accounting Assistant
- Personal Banker
- Financial Analyst
- Graduate Accountant
You will also be equipped to develop and manage your own businesses, be this sole proprietorships, partnerships or companies.
Course leader