Skip to main content

Course Search

Course Search

Course Search

Accounting with Finance and Placement – BA (Hons)

  • CAO Points: 309

  • Campus: Athlone

  • years: 4


Course Overview

The BA (Hons) in Accounting with Finance and Placement provides students with a comprehensive foundation in accounting principles, concepts and practices equipping students with the skills to work in various business contexts where they can to progress to become professional qualified accountants. The programme places a high emphasis on obtaining exemptions from professional accounting exams. This ensures that graduates from this programme have a minimal number of exams to sit after they graduate in order to become a fully qualified professional accountant. The programme also places an emphasis on building students’ professional and digital skills. Preparing graduates for employment, the professional skills theme that runs throughout the programme encompasses a range of skills, practices and activities to build the professional competencies demanded by the modern workplace. To further enhance employability, the digital skills theme within the programme encompasses a range of software skills widely used in the accounting profession.

This programme includes a year-long placement which runs during year 3 of the programme. This allows students to gain real-world experience in the workplace allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. Students will engage with a career-focused module ‘The Evolving Professional’ during year 2 of the programme, in preparation for their placement. The work placement allows students to explore career paths, boosting their self-confidence and enhancing their curricula vitae.

At the Department of Accounting and Business Computing our lecturing staff have extensive industry experience as well as high academic standards. With a strong legacy of accounting within the department, the lecturing team will ensure that graduates are knowledgeable, skilled and well prepared wherever their career takes them.

The BA (Hons) in Accounting won the award for Excellence in Education in Training at the Irish Accountancy Awards in 2022. This award confirms the quality of the programme which is also borne out by the fact that there is a high employment rate among graduates, with many students securing employment while completing the final year of this programme.

The BA (Hons) in Accounting with Finance provides students with the core concepts and principles of Accounting and Finance. A key advantage of the Accounting with Finance degree in Athlone is that it awards generous exemptions from the CPA professional accounting exams. Graduates of this programme are highly regarded within the accounting and financial services profession in Ireland and internationally. Students from this programme have secured first position in 2022 and 2023 at the National Accounting Competition with students from across all the universities in Ireland participating. This is a credit to the students and lecturers of TUS Athlone.

ACCA is proud to endorse the BA (Hons) Accounting with Finance programme offered by TUS Athlone. This programme provides students with a solid foundation in accounting and finance, as well as the skills and competencies required for a successful career in the industry. The programme is aligned with the ACCA qualification and offers maximum (9) exemptions, which means that students can benefit from exemptions and accelerated pathways to becoming a chartered certified accountant. We commend TUS Athlone for delivering a high-quality and relevant programme that meets the needs of the accounting profession and the society.

Additional Information

Other than the year-long placement, all other modules and exemptions are identical.

There are three key reasons why you should do the placement:

  • After graduation, you will have to undertake a three year training contract to become a qualified accountant. By taking this year-long placement, it can be counted towards your training contract, reducing it to two years.
  • It will make you more employable. Most employers give preference to graduates that have completed a placement.
  • The experience you gain while on placement will add to your personal and professional growth.

No! All our year 1 courses assume no prior knowledge of accounting.

After graduation, you will undertake an additional three-year training contract to become a fully qualified accountant.

  • This programme is a 4-year level 8 honours degree.
  • Maximum exemptions from the professional accounting exams.
  • A number of new and contemporary modules that ensure graduates are up to date on current trends in the accounting profession.
  • No need for prior knowledge of accounting or to have studied accounting at leaving certificate level.
  • Professional skills and digital skills modules prepare graduates for the workplace.
  • A one-year work placement which adds to graduate employability.

The introduction of a professional skills theme will develop the student’s soft-skills, with a focus on employability. These skills include how to search for a job, how to develop a professional portfolio and how to find internships and placements

This theme also formalises student contact with industry, with guest lectures, industry events and opportunities to build a professional network prior to graduation.

These skills range from using office applications to embedded certificates from companies such as Sage, which are awarded in addition to the degree, thereby increasing graduate employability. The programme also introduces Data Analytics and Visualisation – an area of increasing importance to the accounting profession.

Contact Details

Bernard Tao Cui

Head of Department

Email: Tao.Cui@tus.ie

What are the entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate

Grade H5 at higher level in two subjects, plus Grade O6 at ordinary level in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish).

Mature Applicants

Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.

International Applicants

International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application. Find out more here.

Course Modules

  • Critical Skills for Learning

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to provide students with the key skills, attitudes and competencies required of an undergraduate to ensure their success during their learning journey. Emphasis is placed on the person and on their personal identity, developing a sense of awareness of what it means to be an undergraduate student and a recognition of the need for life-long learning.

  • Business Law

    Credits: 5

    This module introduces students to the sources of law, the structure and practice of the administration of law in Ireland and the essential elements of business law. Furthermore, the module teaches students the manner in which contract law, tort law, data protection laws and employment law are administered in Ireland. This module enables students to apply legal concepts and legal reasoning to a range of issues encountered in business.

  • Financial Accounting 1A

    Credits: 5

    This module develops a knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts relating to maintaining financial records and techniques in the use of double-entry accounting including the preparation of basic financial statements.

  • Management Accounting 1A

    Credits: 5

    This module introduces fundamental management accounting techniques, and aims to enable the student to apply conceptual understanding to practical business planning, control and decision-making.

  • Business Mathematics 1

    Credits: 5

    The objective of this module is to ensure that the student has a firm foundation in the quantitative techniques and spreadsheet
    applications underpinning the work of the professional accountant.

  • Computer Applications

    Credits: 5

    This module will introduce the student to the practical elements of Information Technology and file management.

  • Financial Accounting 1B

    Credits: 5

    This module develops a knowledge and understanding of the underlying principles and concepts relating to financial accounting including the preparation of financial statements for a range of business structures.

  • Management Accounting 1B

    Credits: 5

    The module aims to enable the student to apply conceptual understanding to practical business planning, control and decision-making.

  • Corporate Law 1

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to familiarise students with the sources, content and regulatory framework of Company Law, so that they can apply it in a modern business context.

  • Economics for Accountants

    Credits: 5

    The Economics Discipline is divided into micro and macro components. It is concerned with the balancing of the worlds scarce resources with the needs and wants of society.

  • Organisational Management 1

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to examine the purpose and types of organisations and the external environments that influence them. The module examines the structure and functions of organisations, and supports learners to analyse and apply Organisation Management theory

  • Taxation 1

    Credits: 5

    This module aims to provide participants with an opportunity to develop an understanding, appreciation and application of the principles and practice of Income Tax, Value Added Tax and Capital Acquisitions Tax.

  • Financial Management 1

    Credits: 5

    The module aims to develop the knowledge and skills of participants in relation to financial management decisions.

  • Corporate Law 2

    Credits: 5

    The aim of the module is to familiarise students with the sources, content, regulatory framework, compliance requirements and enforcement machinery of Company Law, so that they can apply the relevant principles to a myriad of issues that arise in a corporate business.

  • Organisational Management 2

    Credits: 5

    This module will support learners to recognise the principles of authority and leadership and how teams and individuals are recruited, managed, motivated and developed. The module will also focus on marketing, innovation and communication theory in organisations.

  • Information Systems for Accountants

    Credits: 5

    The student will learn the practical implementation of data analysis and statistical techniques to support the Management Accounting functions in an organisation. This will include Sampling, Forecasting, Summarising and Analysing data using spreadsheets.

  • Sustainability for Accountants

    Credits: 5

    This module aims to introduce students to the concept of business and environmental sustainability. Approaches taken by organisations to measure and report on environmental, social and governance issues will be discussed. Students will evaluate key elements of sustainability reports and analyse voluntary and emerging frameworks for reporting sustainability impacts, and identify relevant legislation in the area.

  • Applications for Accountants

    Credits: 5

    This module provides a comprehensive introduction to a cloud accounting application in a practical manner. Students will engage directly with a variety of standard accounting practices such as the recording, processing, storing, and maintenance of online accounts using industry standard techniques. Students will gain experience in producing a comprehensive set of financial reports.

  • Financial Accounting 2

    Credits: 10

    To develop learner’s knowledge and skills in understanding and applying accounting standards and the theoretical framework in the preparation of financial statements for non-group and group organisations.

  • Management Accounting 2

    Credits: 10

    On completion of this module, the successful student should develop knowledge and understanding of management accounting techniques to assist management in planning, controlling and monitoring performance in a business environment.

  • Data Analytics and Visualisation

    Credits: 5

    Data analytics is an area of increasing importance and interest to organisations. This module is intended to give the student an understanding of the nature and significance of data analytics while providing mathematical underpinnings and computing skills to equip the student to analyse datasets and interpret the results. The significance of effective visual presentation of data is emphasised alongside the opportunity to practice with some rudimentary visualisation tools.

  • The Evolving Professional

    Credits: 5

    This module provides students with an understanding of the professional skills and behaviours required in an organisational setting. It will assist in preparing the student in applying core discipline theory and knowledge to real life situations. This module will also prepare students to manage their careers, seek out work placement opportunities or internships and build their professional skills to function effectively in a professional environment.

  • Work Placement (September-May, 9 months)

    Credits: 60

    Work placement is the nexus between education and the world of work, it facilitates the student to form their identity both personally and professionally and underpins ability to put academic study and theory into practice. This work placement is the embodiment of the professional strand of the programme and is therefore purposefully placed as a ‘sandwich year’ whereby students are required to gain experiential learning in an accounting related role. The placement will commence in September and run to April the following year incorporating a 30-40 hour working week and/or in line with company hours.

  • Corporate Reporting

    Credits: 10

    This module is a senior intermediate financial accounting module incorporating individual entity and group accounting, senior intermediate accounting topics, analysis of accounting information, and business ethics.

  • Management Accounting 3

    Credits: 10

    On successful completion of this module, students should be able to apply techniques and judgement in the analysis of relevant data in order to provide management with information for decision-making, control and strategic planning.

  • Taxation 2

    Credits: 10

    The aim is to develop knowledge and skills and professional values in the core areas of Irish taxation which impact on individuals and limited liability companies including groups of companies.
    On completion of the module students will be able to compute tax liabilities, explain the basis of their calculations, apply tax planning techniques for individuals and companies and identify the compliance issues for each major tax through a variety of business and personal scenarios and situations.

  • Financial Management 2

    Credits: 10

    This module aims to develop the ability to critically evaluate financial theory and recommend appropriate financial management techniques.

  • Audit and Systems Review

    Credits: 10

    This module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the audit process from the viewpoint of the external auditor in assessing planning an audit, evaluating internal controls, conducting substantive testing and giving an audit opinion. Key areas looked at include Audit Framework & Regulation, Internal Audit and Corporate Governance, Professional Ethics, Planning & Risk Assessment, Internal Control Testing, Substantive Testing and the Audit Report. The module is closely aligned with the professional accountancy bodies’ examinations and exemptions are awarded by CPA and ACCA.

  • Professional Skills & Personal Development

    Credits: 5

    This module will give the student an understanding of how to identify a career path, affording them the opportunity to reflect on their strengths and career aspirations and how to pro-actively manage their future career. The module also supports the student to develop professional behaviours and capabilities that underpin lifelong learning to prepare them for a lifetime of employability.

  • Strategic Management

    Credits: 5

    This module is designed to enhance the student’s understanding and the capacity to evaluate critically the theory of strategic management and the challenges facing senior management in formulating strategy. The nature and complexity of the business environment will provide the framework for the development of skills and competencies to facilitate an analysis of resources and strategic capability across the organisation. Through case studies, group discussions and evaluative exercises, participants will learn how to appraise and select strategic options in relation to an organisation’s vision, structure and goals. The module also provides coverage of particular problems inherent in strategy implementation, change management, and management across cultures.

What can you do after this programme?

Do you want to be more employable when you graduate? If so, this is the accounting degree for you.The work placement which forms part of this programme offers students an opportunity to gain real-world practical experience which will enhance their ability to gain full-time employment on completion of this programme.

In addition to focussing on professional and digital skills, the programme also enjoys a large number of exemptions from professional bodies, such as Chartered Accountants of Ireland, ACCA, CPA and CIMA. These exemptions reduce the number of professional exams you will have to take once you graduate when you start your training contract. Details of the exemptions are as follows:

  • ACCA offers graduates exemptions from nine papers out of 14 required for qualification.
  • Chartered Accountants Ireland grants exemption from CAP1 for students who pass and achieve at least 50% in year 2 and year 3 modules.
  • CIMA awards graduates of the BA (Honours) in Accounting exemptions from eight out of the 14 examinations in their professional course.
  • CPA Ireland offers graduates exemptions from 10 out of the 15 examination papers through their FastTrack programme.

Successful graduates of this programme, may progress to study for a professional accountancy qualification or you  are eligible for Level 9 and 10 postgraduate programmes within TUS or elsewhere. While the MA in Accounting at TUS Athlone is a natural progression route, students also have the option of continuing on to the MSc in Data Analytics.

Similar Courses

TUS Athlone Business Studies Students

Course Type: Undergraduate – CAO

Business – BBus (Hons)

Study Mode: Full Time

Level 8

Years 4

CAO points 297

Course Code US840

TUS Athlone Digital Marketing Students

Course Type: Undergraduate – CAO

Digital Marketing – BBus (Hons)

Study Mode: Full Time

Level 8

Years 4

CAO points 292

Course Code US844

TUS Athlone Law Students

Course Type: Undergraduate – CAO

Law – LL.B. (Hons)

Study Mode: Full Time

Level 8

Years 4

CAO points 328

Course Code US850

TUS Athlone Business and Law Student

Course Type: Undergraduate – CAO

Business & Law – BBs (Hons)

Study Mode: Full Time

Level 8

Years 4

CAO points 291

Course Code US848

TUS Athlone International Business Students

Course Type: Undergraduate – CAO

International Business – BBus (Hons)

Study Mode: Full Time

Level 8

Years 4

CAO points 282

Course Code US853

TUS Athlone Accounting and Finance Students

Course Type: Undergraduate – CAO

Accounting with Finance – BA (Hons)

Study Mode: Full Time

Level 8

Years 3

CAO points 336

Course Code US846