BSc (Hons) in

Applied Accounting
John Woodley

ACCA Undergraduate
Programme Director

August 2007
ACCA and Oxford Brookes University working together
BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting
 Oxford Brookes / ACCA Partnership
 BSc degree activity 2007
 BSc degree review 2006 / 2007
 Current and revised BSc degree requirements
 BSc degree scheme changes
 Regulations
 Research and Analysis Project and Assessment
 Degree classification
 Questions
Oxford Brookes / ACCA Partnership
 ACCA / Oxford Brookes Partnership - opportunity for
ACCA members and students to gain recognition for
further skills development:
 Accelerated MBA programme for ACCA Members
 BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting

 BSc only available to individuals studying or completed

ACCA professional accountancy examinations – ACCA
students, affiliates and members.

 Why work towards the Oxford Brookes BSc (Hons) in

Applied Accounting degree?
 BSc degree activity 2007
 Two BSc Examination Boards
 January 2007 978 RAPs, 716 graduates, 73% pass
 July 2007 1,048 RAPs, 792 graduates, 76% pass

 At August 2007
 5,849 BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting graduates
 Major markets Singapore, UK, Malaysia.

 August and September 2007 – BSc Academic Awards

Ceremonies in Malaysia, Singapore and UK.
Presentation of 5,000th BSc graduate award.
 BSc degree review 2006 / 2007
 Review and development of BSc (Hons) in Applied
Accounting.

 Collaborative process with ACCA staff and Oxford

Brookes University staff / external examiners.

 BSc Periodic Review - Oxford Brookes University

requirement. Evaluation of BSc degree scheme 2000-
2006. What have we learned? What should we change?

 Impact of ACCA2007 syllabus changes on learning

outcomes, degree structure, ACCA student progression.
 BSc degree review 2006 / 2007
KEY DECISIONS - 1

 A revised BSc degree scheme to be introduced for ACCA

students who registered after 1 January 2007.

 First degree award under revised scheme after 1 August

2008. (January 2009).

 Changes to structure of BSc degree scheme and to

assessment of Research and Analysis Project.
 BSc degree review 2006 / 2007
KEY DECISIONS – 2

 Current BSc degree scheme to run until July 2008 (final

project submission deadline 4 April 2008).

 Revised BSc degree scheme to be effective after 1 August

2008 for all ACCA students regardless of initial registration
date.

 Conversion arrangements for students who registered with

ACCA before 1 January 2007 but will not complete BSc
before July 2008.
BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting - 1
 UK BSc Honours degree requirements:
 demonstrate technical understanding and skills
 demonstrate personal / transferable skills

 ACCA Part 1 and Part 2 professional examinations fulfil

the technical requirements, but not all of the personal /
transferable skills.

 Oxford Brookes Research and Analysis Project –

opportunity to demonstrate these additional skills,
through a Project Report and Key Skills Statement.

 BSc (Hons) = “ACCA And Oxford Brookes”

BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting - 2
 For the award of the CURRENT BSc, students must

 complete the degree within ten years of initial registration for the
ACCA professional examinations.

 “opt in” before sitting any of the Papers 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6. After
ACCA Part 2 is too late! Check myACCA.

 successfully complete ACCA Parts 1 and 2. Must sit and pass all
three Papers 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6.

 fulfil the requirements of the Oxford Brookes Research and

Analysis Project in either of last two submission periods of current
degree scheme.
BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting - 3
 For the award of the REVISED BSc, students must

 complete the degree within ten years of initial registration for the
ACCA professional examinations.

 “opt in” before sitting any of the Papers F7, F8 and F9 After
Fundamentals level is too late! Check myACCA.

 successfully complete ACCA Fundamentals papers. Must sit and

pass all three papers F7, F8 and F9.

 complete the ACCA Professional Ethics Module

 fulfil the requirements of the Oxford Brookes Research and

Analysis Project in place after 1 August 2008.
 Revised BSc degree scheme
NO CHANGE - 1

 Fulfils UK QAA Accounting Benchmark requirements and

Honours level descriptors.

 Oxford Brookes quality assurance processes with respect

to specified ACCA professional examinations (F1-F9).

 Student must complete within 10 years of initial

registration for ACCA professional examinations.

NO INCREASE IN TEN YEAR PERIOD BECAUSE OF

CHANGE IN DEGREE SCHEME
 Revised BSc degree scheme
NO CHANGE – 2

 Degree entry requirements, including an appropriate

English Language qualification (Paper F4).

 Student must opt-in before passing any of certain ACCA

professional examinations (F7, F8, F9).

 Credit to be given for exemptions awarded by ACCA. Not

used in determination of class of degree.

 Project Mentor requirement and Project submission fee

(increase to £75 after 1 August 2008).
 Revised BSc degree scheme
CHANGE - 1
 BSc achieved through success in specified ACCA examinations (F1-
F9), AND completion of Professional Ethics module, before
passing revised RAP.

 Increase in credit rating of RAP from 15 credits to 30 credits.

Reduction in ACCA examinations from 345 credits to 330 credits
(reduction in F1-F3). RAP to be graded PASS (A, B, C) or FAIL.

 Revised Research and Analysis Project to consist of a Research

Project and a Skills and Learning Statement. Both must be passed
separately to pass overall.

 A student only allowed THREE attempts to pass RAP after 1 August

2008. Any attempts under current scheme before then not counted.
Restriction on grade awarded for resubmitted projects.
 Research Project
 Similar to current Project Report. Word length increased to
6,500. Focus of project is a single organisation.

 Student to demonstrate understanding and application of

accounting and business knowledge and techniques.

 Student to demonstrate ability to analyse and / or evaluate

financial and non-financial information.

 Student to demonstrate certain graduate “academic” skills

including referencing.
 Research Project Assessment
 Technical and Professional Skills Grade A, B, C or F
4. Understanding of accountancy / business models
5. Application of accountancy / business models
6. Evaluation of information, analysis and conclusions
7. Presentation of project findings

 Graduate Skills Competence

11. Communication
12. Information gathering and referencing
13. Information technology

 Research Project assessment Grade A, B, C or F

 Skills and Learning Statement
 Key Skills Statement replaced by “Skills and Learning Statement”.
Word limit increased to 2,000 words.

 SLS to be reflection by student of impact of RAP on their own skills

development, further ACCA studies, workplace experiences.

5. What did you learn from the meetings with your project mentor,
including the presentation that you gave to your project mentor?

7. How well do you think that you have answered your research
questions?

9. How have you demonstrated your interpersonal and communication

skills during the project work?

11. How has undertaking the RAP helped you in your accountancy
studies and / or current employment role?
 SLS Assessment

 Graduate Skills Competence

 Self Reflection
 Communication Skills (Including Presentation)

 Skills and Learning Statement assessment

Satisfactory /
Unsatisfactory
 Overall RAP assessment

Research SLS grade Overall Grade on

Project grade RAP successful RP
grade resubmission
A Satisfactory A Not applicable
B Satisfactory B Not applicable
C Satisfactory C Not applicable
F Satisfactory F C
 Overall RAP assessment
Research SLS grade Overall Grade on Grade on
Project RAP successful successful RP
grade grade SLS and
resubmission successful
SLS
A Unsatisfactory F A resubmissions
Not applicable
B Unsatisfactory F B Not applicable
C Unsatisfactory F C Not applicable
F Unsatisfactory F Not C
applicable
 Revised BSc degree scheme
CHANGE – 2
Classification of BSc degree
 Degree classification based on ACCA average mark AND
RAP Pass Grade (A or B or C). ACCA average mark is
still primary determinant of degree class. Many students
will not be affected by RAP Pass Grade.

 ACCA average mark determined from marks in Papers

F4-F9 only (excluding exemptions). After 1 August 2008
Part 1 marks and F1-F3 marks will not count towards
ACCA average mark.
Revised BSc degree classification
BSc in Applied Accounting degree class
ACCA Average Upper Lower
Mark First Second Second Third
68 or more A, B, C - - -
67 A, B C - -
66 A B, C - -
60 - 65 - A, B, C - -
59 - A, B C -
58 - A B, C -
54 - 57 - - A, B, C -
53 - - A, B C
50 - 52 - - - A, B, C
 Summary
 Current BSc scheme effective for two more RAP
submission periods. Only for ACCA students who
registered before 1 January 2007.

 Conversion arrangements allow any ACCA registered

student to complete degree after 1 August 2008.

 After 1 August 2008 all ACCA students will be subject to

the same regulations. Some guidance to be finalised

 Changes to structure of degree, assessment of Research

and Analysis Project, and determination of class of
degree.
 Information Sources
ACCA website
www.accaglobal.com/students/study_exams/qualifications/degree

Oxford Brookes University

acca@brookes.ac.uk

Research and Analysis Study Texts

BPP
Kaplan Publishing Foulks Lynch

ACCA Student Accountant magazine

Any Questions

???