Accounting PgDip

Program Overview

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The Accounting PgDip at Ulster University is a one-year postgraduate program designed for non-accounting graduates seeking a career in accounting or finance. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to become Chartered/Chartered Certified Accountants, with exemptions from ACCA, CIMA, and CAI examinations. The program combines accounting and accounting-related modules, offering a comprehensive foundation and specialization in specific areas of accounting. Graduates are well-prepared for professional accounting careers in various sectors, such as corporate finance, equity research, fund management, and management consultancy.

Program Outline

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Accounting PgDip at Ulster University 2024/25 Entry

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Degree Overview

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The Accounting PgDip at Ulster University is a full-time, one-year postgraduate program designed for non-accounting graduates aiming for a career in accounting or finance.

It equips students with the knowledge and skills to become Chartered/Chartered Certified Accountants.

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Objectives:

• Equip graduates with the foundational knowledge and understanding of accounting, finance, and business.
• Develop critical, analytical, and problem-solving skills relevant to financial law, business finance, and investment decision-making.
• Prepare students for professional accounting qualifications with exemptions from ACCA, CIMA, and CAI examinations.
• Provide a pathway for further postgraduate studies in accounting and finance at the Master's level.

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Program Description:

The program combines accounting and accounting-related modules, offering a comprehensive foundation and specialization in specific areas of accounting. It features a close collaboration with employers to ensure its relevance and alignment with industry needs.

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Outline

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Content:

• Financial Accounting: Covers the concepts underpinning financial reporting for sole traders and partnerships.
• Management Accounting: Studies the concepts and processes used to determine product and service costs and their application to various costing and accounting systems.
• Audit and Assurance: Introduces the fundamentals of auditing, including practical application and issues encountered in a financial reporting and audit environment.
• Financial Reporting: Broadens the area of financial reporting to include limited companies and the preparation of group financial statements.
• Management Accounting in Practice: Focuses on the role of the management accountant and its contribution to organizational objectives.
• Corporate Financial Reporting: Provides understanding of both accounting theory and practical application of international financial reporting standards.
• Financial Management: Explores the role of finance in managerial decision-making, covering investment appraisal, working capital control, and other relevant topics.
• Applied Taxation: Provides a detailed study of the main aspects of the UK tax system, including Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax, and Value Added Tax.
• Governance, Risk and Ethics: Equips students to effectively respond to corporate governance, risk management, and ethical challenges faced by organizations today.
• Law for Accountants: Develops understanding of the legal system and its application to contract, agency, employment, and company law relevant to accountants in private practice.

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Structure:

• The program is delivered over one academic year (late September - late June).
• It is a full-time course delivered through lectures, workshops, and seminars.
• Students are expected to undertake independent study.

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Course Schedule:

• The program typically runs from late September to late June.

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Assessment

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Assessment Methods:

• Examinations
• Class tests
• Completion of worksheets
• Reflective logs
• Portfolios
• Critiques
• Reports
• Subject-specific essays
• Oral presentations
• Individual and group projects
• Interactive technology

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Assessment Criteria:

• Each module has its own assessment criteria, which are designed to assess students' achievement of the stated learning outcomes.
• Assessments are designed to cover a range of knowledge and skills, including understanding of key concepts, ability to apply concepts to real-world scenarios, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

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Teaching

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Teaching Methods:

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Seminars
• Case studies
• Experiential learning
• Guest speakers
• Practitioner master classes
• Workshops
• Directed and independent study
• Computer assisted learning
• Interactive learning technology

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Faculty:

• Over 85% of the teaching staff hold Fellowship of Advance HE (previously Higher Education Academy).
• The majority of accounting lecturers have professional qualifications and previous experience in professional practice and/or commercial business.

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Unique Teaching Approaches:

• The program emphasizes practical application of knowledge and skills through case studies, guest speakers, and practitioner master classes.
• Students are encouraged to engage in independent study and utilize interactive learning technology.
• The program is continuously reviewed to incorporate new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry, and the professions.

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Careers

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Career Options:

• Graduates can progress onto the MSc Advanced Accounting or MSc Strategic Accounting to gain further professional exemptions.
• They can also directly enter an accounting training contract to become a professionally qualified accountant.
• The program has excellent post-graduation employment rates, and the University's Employability & Careers Service facilitates linkages with prospective employers.

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Professional Recognition:

• Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) for exemptions from professional examinations.

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Career Outcomes:

• The program has a high success rate, with many graduates achieving exemptions from professional accounting examinations.
• It is suitable for students with little or no previous knowledge of accounting and finance who wish to study these subjects further or undertake postgraduate studies in accounting and finance.