Business Accounting and Finance with work placements BSc Honours

Clearing - How to apply

What is Clearing?

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.

How do I get in touch?

Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised; contacting our friendly advisers is the best way to find out if you’re eligible for a place.

You can get in touch through live chat or our hotlines. Call us on 0800 073 5050, or if you’re an international student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000.

Not available in Clearing

This course is not available in Clearing 2024.

This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2024. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field.

Search our courses in Clearing

Course overview

Get a flying start and accelerate your progress towards being an ICAEW Chartered Accountant with our Business Accounting and Finance with work placement BSc honours degree. Put classroom theory into commercial practice with three integrated paid work placements.

The ‘Flying Start’ degree is a collaboration between Newcastle University, PwC and ICAEW. It is the most established course of its kind. It combines academic study and integrated paid professional work placements in PwC’s Audit practice. You'll progress towards the ICAEW Chartered Accountancy qualification, the ACA

In 2022 we celebrated 20 years of our Flying Start programme. Current students, alumni and staff have shared their views and experiences of the programme since its inception in 2002.

Throughout your journey, a team of dedicated staff from both Newcastle University and PwC will support you. They'll help you:

• develop the business skills you need to gain a degree
• progress towards a professional qualification
• succeed on paid work placements

This will help you towards hopefully receiving a full-time graduate offer with PwC. You could be a fully qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant just over a year after graduation - a truly flying start.

Download information about this course as a PDF

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Featured module

Auditing and Assurance - ACC2064

This core Flying Start module is essential to being an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. It develops the theory of audit, where you will also learn how to use Data Analytics software. You'll practice this in your PwC placements at real audit clients. You'll embrace emerging audit techniques, and work with an experienced ICAEW Chartered Accountant, alongside the ICAEW.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

You will spend the first full academic year at university. This will help you to settle into student life in Newcastle.

In Stage 1, you'll have a comprehensive introduction to key areas of business, accounting and finance. Modules cover:

• financial accounting
• management accounting and finance
• the financial environment - corporate governance, ethics and sustainability
• quantitative methods and principles of taxation
• industry economics
• professional skills
• business law

Please note: All module information is subject to change.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Introduction to Financial Accounting	20
Introduction to Management Accounting and Finance	20
The Financial Environment	20
Introductory Quantitative Methods and Principles of Taxation	20
Introductory Economics	20
Introduction to Business Law	20

In Stage 2, you'll deepen your knowledge. You'll cover areas including:

• audit and assurance
• management and control
• tax compliance
• financial accounting for business

From December to Easter, you'll complete your first paid work placement at PwC. You will work in a professional accountancy practice environment and apply your learning to real-life scenarios.

Please note: All module information is subject to change.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Stage 2 Placement	40
Management and Control	20
Auditing and Assurance	25
Tax Compliance	20
Financial Accounting for Business	15

Stage 3 includes another paid placement at PwC. This will allow you to further develop your professional skills relating to audit, assurance, financial reporting and taxation.

You'll also study modules in:

• business finance
• business planning
• international financial accounting and reporting

From December to Easter, you'll complete your second paid work placement at PwC. You will work in a professional accountancy practice environment and apply your learning to real-life scenarios.

Please note: All module information is subject to change.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Stage 3 Placement	40
Business Planning: Taxation	30
Financial Accounting and Reporting	25
Business Finance	25

In Stage 4, you'll study advanced areas such as:

• contemporary industry issues
• financial analysis
• corporate governance and ethics

From mid-November to Easter, you'll gain even more auditing experience during your final paid placement at PwC.

Please note: All module information is subject to change.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Contemporary Issues in Business, Accounting and Finance	20
Case Studies in Business, Accounting and Finance	20
Financial Analysis	20
Stage 4 Placement	40
Corporate Governance and Ethics	20

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

You'll learn through a combination of:

• lectures 
• seminars
• tutorials
• workshops
• professional placements

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assignments – written or fieldwork

• 

  Case studies

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Reflective report/journal

• 

  Reports

• 

  Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Real business skills

You'll complete over 200 days of paid qualifying technical work experience. You will work with real clients as part of PwC’s Audit Team during the second, third and fourth year of your degree. This placement will allow you to put your knowledge into practice. These days also count towards approximately half of the work experience required to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

You'll also develop valuable skills of time management, self-motivation, teamwork and research, within the professional skills element of this degree.

Research skills

Our teaching is informed by the latest research to ensure that your studies are always in line with the most up-to-date industry thinking. 

Opportunities

Work placement

You'll work on real projects for real clients as part of PwC's audit team, you will develop new skills and gain a broad knowledge of business issues. You'll receive an attractive salary with paid holiday during your placement. Paid accommodation on work placement can also be provided, if needed.

There are various opportunities across the UK. PwC will provide practical help and financial relocation assistance, should you need it.

Your placements in stages 2 and 3 run from January to Easter. Before each placement, you'll receive a PwC training programme in December. After each placement, you return to University for the summer term. You have a placement debrief, final tuition and assessment.

In Stage 4, your placement runs from mid-November to Easter. You gain further auditing experience and are likely to be supervising others.

Find out more about work placements

Facilities and environment

Facilities

Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University. We have over 3,500 students representing over 80 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:

• regional, national and international leaders
• over 34,000 alumni in our network, spanning over 150 countries
• leading professionals and practitioners from industry

The Business School is the gateway to Newcastle Helix - an innovation hub and community that brings together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers.

Our facilities include:

• flexible conference room with panoramic views across the city
• Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing over 120 PCs
• four large lecture theatres and over 25 seminar and teaching spaces, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
• dedicated Student Hub and Quiet Space, providing a balanced mix of study space for group work or quiet, individual study
• contemporary café
• employability hub to support your career aspirations
• Bloomberg Room to give you a real feel for the trading room floor
• Experimental and Behavioural Economics Lab, a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting studies in experimental economics and economic psychology

This is in addition to our Frederick Douglass Centre at Newcastle Helix, which offers further study and learning spaces including a 750 seat auditorium – the largest in the University.

Find out more about Newcastle University Business School

Support

Each degree offers you a stimulating curriculum and a supportive teaching and learning environment.

You will have an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have.

Your future

This course will equip you with the skills, experience, and qualifications needed to become a part-qualified, professional chartered accountant.

Our graduates went into roles such as chartered accountant, financial accountant, senior associate in assurance, and auditor.

Since 2002, 100% of our graduates secured positions with PwC, but were under no obligation to join PwC when they left university.

If you are offered a position with PwC, you'll join the company on a graduate programme and complete the ICAEW ACA Advanced Level and the remaining technical work experience required.

Just over a year after you graduate, you could become a fully qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

Industry links

We deliver this degree in partnership with PwC and ICAEW, meaning you'll have regular interaction with the profession.

You'll learn from qualified chartered accountants and be able to gain sector insight with regular guest lectures from PwC and ICAEW professionals.

Make a difference

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Careers support

You'll have access to a wealth of resources and support to enhance your employability, including:

• the annual Future Focus: Careers Conference, tailored to different industry areas
• interwoven employability provision
• access to a dedicated placement officer within the Business School who can help you find a work placement in your area of interest
• specialist careers and business start-up support from the University's award-winning Careers Service and the Business School's careers consultants
• career management sessions with a careers consultant
• work experience opportunities while studying with us
• Business School summer internship scheme

We're also one of 140 business schools worldwide to be accredited by the EQUIS scheme for our managerial and entrepreneurial skills development.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).

Qualification: BSc Honours
Home students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) Not set
International students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 24400

Home Fee Students

Home students starting in 2024 entry
£9,250 is the maximum fee that we are currently permitted to charge for home fee-paying students. This is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Home students starting in 2025 entry
The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed. In November 2024 the government increased the maximum fee level to £9,535 for 2025/26. We expect to confirm our Undergraduate Home fees for 2025/26 in December 2024.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Bursary

We also offer a Flying Start financial bursary, aimed at supporting students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds with the day-to-day costs of university life, to support our students to be the best they can be.

Find out more about our Flying Start financial bursary.

Fee reduction

You will spend part of your degree in stages 2, 3 and 4 on placement with PwC. Your tuition fee for each year will be reduced to reflect this.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages