Accounting and Finance DipHE

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars, practical activities etc. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures and practical sessions are focused on developing subject specific skills. In addition, meetings (both individual and group) with personal tutors are scheduled throughout the academic year.

If you are accepted for progression onto the BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance course there is a possible opportunity to undertake a year-long placement, which would be supervised by a work-based mentor and a university tutor. If progressing to the BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance, there may be an alternative opportunity to study abroad at one of our exchange partner universities for a year.

BMet College and the University of Worcester place emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip them for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.

Contact time

In a typical week there will be at least 12 hours of timetabled teaching in lectures, seminars and small-group work.

Typically, class contact time will be structured around:

• Information giving, facilitated discussions, small group work, presentations
• Practical skills - the opportunity to practice group facilitation, presentation, communication and listening skills
• Visiting speakers and opportunities to visit other settings are regular features of the course. 

Independent self-study

In addition to the contact time, full-time students are expected to undertake around 24 hours of personal self-study per week, plus additional preparation for assessments and examinations. Typically, this will involve meeting with individual tutors to discuss progress and feedback, completing online activities, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and online. In addition to this, students will spend time sharing ideas with fellow students, taking part in extra-curricular learning activities and engaging with external employers.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, both at BMet, where there are library and learning resource centre facilities, and at the University of Worcester at the Hive, where there are library resources and study spaces. In addition, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources as well as our network of employers and entrepreneurs will support students

Duration

• 2 years full-time
• 3 years part-time

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience, demonstrators and technical officers.

Teaching is informed by research and consultancy, and many lecturers are members of the Accounting professional bodies. Teaching is informed by research and consultancy work carried out by staff both at BMet and at the University of Worcester. 

Assessment

The assessment strategy has been designed so that:

• All modules have both formative and summative assessment elements. Formative assessment allows tutors and students to recognise strengths and weaknesses in learning and to address those issues immediately. Summative assessments are graded and count towards the final module grade, and they are assessed against the specific module learning outcomes.
• Typically, 30 credit (two semester) modules will have two or three assessments.
• Across each individual year and cumulatively across the two years the concept of continuous assessment and/or building up expertise in different assessment types applies. A variety of assessment types (reports, portfolios, presentations and essays) are designed to suit different learning styles
• Exams are more common in Accounting and Finance modules because the professional bodies prefer this method of assessment for exemption/ accreditation purposes and many of our modules are aligned to those bodies to allow further study and if approved, accreditation.
• Different types of employability skills are embedded in all modules.

Feedback

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate.

We will provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.

Programme Specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and how these are achieved through learning, teaching, and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.