The BSc degree aims to enhance and extend the knowledge and skills gained by you in your professional studies, and to improve your effectiveness as a professional accountancy student and future finance professional.

To be awarded the BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting you must:

• be registered with Oxford Brookes University ie opted-in to the BSc degree scheme before passing any of the three ACCA Fundamentals papers, F7, F8 and F9
• pass the three ACCA Fundamentals papers F7, F8 and F9 and pass other papers as required to successfully complete all nine Fundamentals level papers
• complete the ACCA Professional Ethics module
• complete and pass the Oxford Brookes University Research and Analysis Project
• complete the BSc degree scheme within 10 years of your initial registration onto the ACCA’s professional qualification.

Please note that you must successfully complete the Fundamentals level exam papers, F1–F9, and complete the Professional Ethics module before submitting a Research and Analysis Project to Oxford Brookes University.

Oxford Brookes University – like other UK universities – has degree awarding power, granted by Royal Charter. But what does this mean? Well, these powers are granted on the basis of Oxford Brookes University having appropriate procedures for assuring the quality and standards of its awards in both design and operation, and being subject to the scrutiny of the QAA, the body responsible to the UK Government’s Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills for assuring the quality of UK Higher Education in the public interest. So although you don’t physically attend Oxford Brookes University to gain the BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Accounting, the degree programme is of the same rigorous standard as other degrees offered by Oxford Brookes University and meets standards set by QAA.

In November 2000, QAA conducted a subject review of the quality of education in business and management provided by Oxford Brookes University. The quality of the education provided was “approved” and the University scored a maximum 24/24 for its provision (an outcome matched only by one other Business School in the UK). QAA conducted an audit of Oxford Brookes University as recently as April 2005, and concluded that it has ‘broad confidence’ (the highest category available) in the quality and standards of its awards.

So by gaining the BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting, awarded by Oxford Brookes University, you will not only demonstrate to potential or existing employers that you possess all the relevant graduate skills to equip you for a brilliant career in accounting and finance, but that it is from a university that has a reputation for excellence.

Start your project by getting your BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting and Research and Analysis Project INFORMATION PACK now.

In the meanwhile, do tell us whether will you start your OBU project or not. Tell us why you would like to start this project or you do not want it also. Your comments are mostly welcome by leaving a reply below.

Pilot Paper - Questions & Answer

Examiner’s Approach Interview: F1 - Accountant in Business

Pilot Paper - Questions & Answer

Examiner’s Approach Interview: F2 - Management Accounting

Pilot Papers - Questions & Answers

Examiner’s Approach Interview: F3 - Financial Accounting

BPP Tips:

The areas that we would expect to see most regularly in the exam are:
English Legal System
o Court Hierarchy and the operation of judicial precedent. (BPP Study Text Q1 & Q2)
o How statute is created, delegated legislation - types, advantages, disadvantages and control.
o Impact of the Human Rights Act. (BPP Study Text Q3)

Law of Obligations
o Types of contractual terms - warranties, conditions and innominate terms. (BPP Study Text Q8)
o The rules governing offer, acceptance, consideration and intention in contract formation. (BPP Study Text Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7)
o Breach of contract including common law and equitable remedies. (BPP Study Text Q10 & Q11)
o Exclusion clauses, including the common law and statutory restrictions. (BPP Study Text Q9)
o The law of tort - knowledge questions will focus on definitions of the 3 stages in a tort, plus the defences. Application questions may ask you to advise on whether a tort has been committed and what the likely outcome will be. (BPP Study Text Q12 & Q13)

Employment Law
o The distinction between Employees and Self-employed workers, how this is made, and why it is important.
o The rights and duties of employees and employers. (BPP Study Text Q14)
o Workers rights upon dismissal including redundancy, unfair, wrongful and constructive dismissal. (BPP Study Text Q15)

Business Formation and Constitution
o The law of agency and partnerships - types and duties of partners. (BPP Study Text Q16 & Q17)
o How a company is formed and the role of agents. (BPP Study Text Q18 &Q19)
o The advantages of trading via a company, how the veil of incorporation can be lifted under common law and statute.
o The contents and impact of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. (BPP Study Text Q20 & Q21)
Capital Financing
o The different classifications of share capital and the rules for issuing and paying for new share capital. (BPP Study Text Q22 & Q24)
o Fixed and Floating charges. (BPP Study Text Q23)

Management and Administration of Companies
o Defining/describing the different types of meetings and resolutions. (BPP Study Text Q26)
o The statutory general and specific duties of directors. (BPP Study Text Q25)
o Appointment, removal, powers and duties of directors, secretaries and auditors.

Companies in Difficulty
o The difference between compulsory and voluntary (creditor’s and member’s) liquidation. (BPP Study Text Q27)
o The process and advantages of administration.

Ethics
o Questions could be either knowledge or application. The focus is likely to be on the roles and responsibilities of directors. A detailed knowledge of the Combined Code is NOT required. (BPP Study Text Q28)
o The law of Insider Dealing or Money Laundering will feature on most papers. (BPP Study Text Q29)

Examiner’s Approach Interview: F4 - Corporate & Business Law

BPP Tips:

The areas that we would expect to see most regularly in the exam are:

o Performance Measurement - questions are likely to include interpretation of given data and also a discussion of the value of or suggested non financial measures (a typical question from the April 2007 BPP Study Text is pilot paper Q4) The discussion elements of such a question could be practiced by looking at appropriate questions such as (question 18 Springfrom the April 2007 BPP Study Text)

o Budgeting - questions may focus on implications of differing budget approaches and their impacts on motivation. The conflict between ZBB and incremental budgeting is also likely to be explored (see April 2007 BPP Study Text question 13 ZeroBased Budgeting)

o Modern cost management techniques - are likely to feature frequently involving both calculation and discussion requirements (see April 2007 BPP Study Text question 3 Abkaber)

o Decision making techniques - particularly involving relevant costs, scarce resources and pricing decisions (see April 2007BPP Study Text question 8 RAB Consulting and question 9 Plastic Tools)

o Variance analysis - particularly mix and yield along with interpretation of variances

Examiner’s Approach Interview: F5 - Performance Management

BPP Tips:

The areas that we would expect to see most regularly in the exam are:

Question 1
1. Income from employment, in particular assessable income, allowable deductions and benefits (a typical question from theAugust 2007 BPP Study Text is question 5)
2. Income from self-employment, in particular basis of assessment, allowable expenditure, assessable profits on commencement and cessation, capital allowances and relief for trading losses (see August 2007 BPP Study Text questions 9,10,11)
3. Property and investment income, in particular property business profits, savings income and dividend income (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question
4. The computation of taxable income and the income tax liability (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 3)
5. The self-assessment system
6. The time limits for the submission of information, claims and payment of tax (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 26)

Question 2
1. Computing profits chargeable to corporation tax, in particular allowable expenditure, capital allowances, property business profits and relief for trading losses (see August 2007 BPP Study Text questions 33)
2. Computation of corporation tax liability (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 31)
3. Groups and overseas aspects of corporation tax (see August 2007 BPP Study Text questions 34 and 36)

If VAT is included within Question 1 or 2 or on its own the following are the most regularly examined areas:
1. Circumstances in which a person must register for VAT (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 38)
2. The computation of VAT liabilities, in particular the tax point, the valuation of supplies, non deductible input VAT, the relief for impairment losses on trade debts (see August 2007 BPP Study Text questions 39 and 40)
3. Cash accounting, annual accounting and flat rate schemes

Question 3
1. Computation of capital gains for an individual or company
2. Part disposals
3. Chattels (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 21)
4. Principal private residence relief (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 22)
5. Share identification rules for individuals and companies (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 25)
6. Computation of capital gains tax payable for individuals in particular computing taper relief (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 20)
7. Rollover and holdover reliefs (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 23)

Other areas that we would expect to see in questions 4 and 5 are:

1. Partnerships (see August 2007 BPP Study Text questions 16 and 17)
2. Trading losses for individuals and companies (see August 2007 BPP Study Text question 15)
3. Commencement and cessation rules for self employed individuals (see August 2007 BPP Study Text questions 12)

Examiner’s Approach Interview: F6 - Taxation

Relevant Articles:

Joint and Separate Assessment - relevant to ACCA Qualification Papers F6 and P6 (MYS)

BPP Tips:

The areas that we would expect to see most regularly in the exam in the compulsory section of the paper are:

o Group accounting - Preparation of a consolidated statement of financial position (balance sheet) and/or statement of comprehensive income (profit and loss account), often with an associate (Study Text Q13 Panther Group, Q14 Hever) .The question will often contain a related written part, such as the importance of fair values, reasons for eliminating unrealised profit, effect of group relationships on the financial statements, etc (Study Text Q11(a) War)

Other areas that we will expect to see, particularly in the optional part of the paper are:
o Financial statement preparation (Study Text Q5 Winger)
o Discontinued operations (Study Text Chapter 7)
o Performance appraisal (Study Text Q25 Biggerbuys, Q26 Webster)
o Statements of cash flows (cash flow statements) (Study Text Q27 Dundee)
o Conceptual framework (Study Text Q1 Conceptual framework, Q18 Alpha)
o Earnings per share (Study Text Q24 Pilum)
o Accounting policies (Study Text Q7 Gains)
o Non-current (fixed) assets and impairments (Study Text Q8 Multiplex)
o Provisions (Study Text Q17 Provisions)
o Revenue and substance over form (Study Text Q19 Jenson)
o Construction (long-term) contracts (Study Text Q16 C Co)
o Leases (Study Text Q22 Lis)
o Aims and objectives of not-for-profit organisations (Study Text Q3 Standard Setters)

Examiner’s Approach Interview: F7 - Financial Reporting

BPP Tips:

The examiner has indicated the general format of the paper but remember that each question is likely to include several requirements and will range over a number of syllabus areas:

o Question 1 - a 30-mark scenario based on a particular area of the financial statements,such as revenue/receivables or purchases/payables. Some of the requirements are likely to be based on how the area would be audited. This could include requirements relating to tests of controls and/or substantive procedures. These questions could also include the identification of control weakness and issues relating to internal audit. (Study Text Q11 Knits, Q13 Fenton Distributors, Q14 Cheque Payments and Petty Cash, Q20 Understatement)
o Question 2 - a 10-mark question broken down into two or three factual requirements. This is likely to test your knowledge of the key principles of the ISAs. Any area of the syllabus could appear here. (Study Text Q9 Audit planning and Documentation, Q10 Audit Evidence, Q25 Audit Review and Finalisation)
o Question 3 - a 20-mark question that is likely to include risk and audit approach. (Study Text Q22 Boston Manufacturing, Q23 Tap)

o Question 4 - a 20 mark question that is likely to feature a more specialised audit area (Study Text Q3 Corporate Governance, Q5 Objectivity, Q7 Role of Internal Audit, Q8 Glo, Q15 Using the Work of an Expert)

o Question 5 - a 20 mark question that is likely to include topics relating to collection of audit evidence at the end of the audit, audit closedown or reporting (Study Text Q19 Sitting Pretty, Q24 Going Concern, Q26 Wiseguys National Bakeries, Q27 Builders Merchants)

Examiner’s Approach Interview: F8 - Audit and Assurance

BPP Tips:

All questions in this exam are compulsory, and all areas of the syllabus are of equal importance. Within each area of the syllabus the themes that we would expect to see most regularly in the exam are:

o Financial management function - questions are likely to test understanding of objectives and will use ratio analysis to test the candidate’s ability to evaluate business performance.

o Financial management environment- this area is most likely to be tested as a part of an exam question; questions are likely to require an understanding of the practical implications of government economic policy or the practical importance of key financial markets such as the stock market (a typical question from the April 2007 BPP study text is question 2a).

o Working capital management - questions are likely to test candidates’ understanding of practical issues in the management of more than one type element of working capital with a requirement to evaluate a proposed change in working capital management (a typical question from the April 2007 BPP study text is question 6).

o Investment appraisal - questions in this area will expect candidates to be competent at the basic techniques for evaluating the return on a project (NPV, IRR, ROCE) and the risk of a project (payback, adjusted payback and sensitivity analysis). A typical question from the April 2007 BPP study text is question 12.

o Business finance - questions are likely to test understanding of the types of short and long-term finance that are available to a business and the appropriate balance between debt and equity. The examiner will often test the test the candidate’s ability to evaluate the effect of a source of finance on the balance sheet of a business using ratio analysis. A typical question from the April 2007 BPP study text is question 20.

o Cost of capital - this will test the calculation of the weighted average cost of capital (possibly involving more than two types of capital) or a project specific cost of capital. Make sure you can discuss the limitations of the weighted average cost of capital, and the use and limitations of Modigliani and Miller theory. A typical question from the April 2007 BPP study text is question 23.

o Business valuations - questions will require you to use a number of different valuation techniques to value a company.
Discussion areas are likely to include the limitations of the techniques that have been used and the relevance of the efficient markets hypothesis to business valuations (a typical question from the April 2007 BPP study text is question 25).

o Risk management - this will normally focus on currency hedging (a typical question from the April 2007 BPP study text is question 27).

Examiner’s Approach Interview: F9 - Financial Management