BSc Accounting (with placement year)
About this course
BSc (Hons) in Accounting (with placement year), a four-year undergraduate degree in accounting within the wider accounting and finance field. Core topics include accounting, financial analysis, data analysis, statistics and research methods. The placement year carries an academic tutor who visits the student and liaises with the employer. The degree offers exemptions from some ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS and CIMA exams, subject to module choice and marks obtained, and closes with a dissertation on a chosen accounting topic. The first year builds the foundations through Financial Accounting, Quantitative Methods, Fundamentals of Management Accounting and Ethics and Sustainability in Accounting, alongside Foundations of Finance and Introduction to Financial Economics. Quantitative Methods covers the mathematical techniques needed later, including statistical tools used in finance and business. The second year moves into Financial Management, Management Accounting, Intermediate Financial Reporting and Accounting Dissertation Preparation, which examines accounting research methods for the later dissertation. Optional modules in this year span areas such as Accounting Information Systems and Analytics, Assurance, Business Law and Personal Taxation. The third year is the full-time placement with an academic tutor. The final year centres on the Dissertation in Accounting, with options including Big Data Analytics, Corporate Governance, Audit and Assurance and Advanced Financial Reporting.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: AAB and a grade B/6 or above in GCSE Mathematics (if Mathematics is not studied at A-Level). IB: 35 to include 665 in higher-level subjects. If Mathematics is not taken at a higher level, then it is required at standard level 5.
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 100%: 30 offers from 30 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 15 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 96%
- Assessment and feedback: 94%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 98%
- Learning resources: 95%
- Student voice: 97%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 45 students who started
- Continued on course: 80%
- Left higher education: 15%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 28 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 47%
- Working and studying: 37%
- Further study: 4%
- Unemployed: 6%
Most common jobs
- Finance Professionals: 60%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 5%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 60%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 90%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 80%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 165 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 9%
- North West: 16%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 11%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 12%
- London: 27%
- South East: 9%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
- Accredited by the EFMD Quality Improvement System.
- Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Financial Accounting
- Quantitative Methods
- Fundamentals of Management Accounting
- Ethics and Sustainability in Accounting
- Introduction to Financial Economics
- Foundations of Finance
- Financial Management
- Management Accounting
- Intermediate Financial Reporting
- Accounting Dissertation Preparation
- Example optional modules
- Placement
- Dissertation in Accounting
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Accounting (with placement year) at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £35,000 after 15 months, £44,000 after 3 years, £55,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £39,000 and £71,500. The £55,000 median after five years is £21,500 more than the UK median for Accounting.
What do graduates of BSc Accounting (with placement year) at Durham University do next?
88% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Accounting (with placement year) at Durham University?
98% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Accounting (with placement year) at Durham University?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 125 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BSc Accounting (with placement year) at Durham University?
100% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 30 offers from 30 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Is BSc Accounting (with placement year) at Durham University accredited?
Yes. Accredited by the EFMD Quality Improvement System. Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Does BSc Accounting (with placement year) at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BSc Accounting (with placement year) at Durham University?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 15% left higher education.