Accounting and Finance with Integrated Foundation Year BSc
About This Programme
The BSc Accounting and Finance with Integrated Foundation Year adds a foundation year in Dubai to the University of Birmingham Dubai's three-year accounting and finance degree, for students who need a foundation year before first-year university entry. The degree builds expertise in financial reporting, financial analysis and decision-making, with core modules, employability events and advanced courses aimed at managerial roles in accounting and finance. The programme pairs the University of Birmingham's academic standards with Dubai's business environment. Its curriculum is aligned with UAE Ministry of Education guidelines and combines employability activities, advanced management courses and specialist electives, with an emphasis on practical skills and research.
Course Highlights
- A grounding in accounting and finance as a shared business language, useful for working across countries and in international organisations.
- A small student-to-staff ratio, with individual support and guidance from experienced tutors throughout the degree.
- Taught within a business school holding triple-crown accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, a status held by the top 1% of business schools.
- Possible exemptions from professional exams set by ACCA, ICAEW and CIMA.
What You'll Study
Teaching is built around small-group seminars and practical workshops, supported by an active Accounting and Finance Society, flexible teaching methods and a close-knit community. Students have 30 hours of contact time a week, plus independent study set by the degree and each module. Seminars are for discussion and working with peers; workshops apply theory to real-world problems. Progress is assessed through coursework and exams, including reports, essays, presentations and computer-based assignments. Satisfactory performance is needed to progress, and the final degree is calculated from marks and credits across all years, with the emphasis on the third and fourth years of study. An international exchange at one of the University's partner institutions is available during the degree.
Foundation Year
A supported first year in Dubai that prepares students for undergraduate study, covering academic skills, quantitative methods for business and economics and more. Students who complete it with at least 100 credits are guaranteed progression.
- Introduction to Business and Management20 credits
- Business and the Market20 credits
- Introduction to Global Environmental Issues20 credits
- Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics20 credits
Students are also enrolled on one of these English modules, depending on their IELTS score.
- Academic English and Study Skills40 credits
- Advanced Academic English and Study Skills40 credits
- Advanced Academic Skills (SSBL)40 credits
Year 1
The second year of study: six core modules plus four compulsory Ministry of Education modules, developing academic and business communication and decision-making, with foundations in economics, accounting and statistical analysis.
- Economics for Business20 credits
- Financial Accounting and Accountability20 credits
- Decision Making and Control20 credits
- Numeracy, Statistical Analysis and Financial Literacy20 credits
- Discover: Academic and Professional Development in Accounting and Finance20 credits
- Widening Accounting Horizons20 credits
Year 2
The third year of study focuses on employability, through career-oriented modules and events, and students can take an international exchange at a partner institution. Up to 10% of the cohort (a maximum of 10 students) can spend this year in Birmingham, UK. Eligibility requires a weighted mean mark of 60% in Year 1 and the right to study in the UK (through a visa if needed). Students in Birmingham are temporarily transferred to, and follow the requirements of, the Birmingham-based version of the programme.
- Business Law20 credits
- Corporate Finance20 credits
- Management Accounting20 credits
- Audit20 credits
- Financial Reporting20 credits
- Taxation: Principles and Planning20 credits
Year 3
The final year: specialised study in corporate finance, financial accounting and management accounting, with electives in areas such as financial statement analysis, professional development and business analytics.
- Advanced Finance20 credits
- Advanced Financial Accounting Practice and Theory20 credits
- Accounting and Finance Research Project40 credits
Professional accounting options. Students who want the maximum ACCA exemptions are advised to take 40 credits from these modules. Optional modules are indicative and can vary from year to year.
- Advanced Management Accounting and Control20 credits
- Professional Development20 credits
- Business Analytics and Decision-making20 credits
- Special Topics in Finance20 credits
Entry Requirements
The foundation pathway suits students who finished high school to a high standard but would normally need a foundation year before first-year undergraduate entry to UK universities.
Careers
The Careers Network Dubai gives students information, advice and guidance to identify their options, develop their skills and reach opportunities, so that they are ready for work before graduating into a competitive global market.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation register as the Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance. Birmingham Business School holds triple-crown accreditation (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS). Depending on the modules taken and the results achieved, graduates may gain exemptions from ACCA exams (needed to qualify as a chartered certified accountant), CIMA exams (chartered management accountant status) and ICAEW professional exams (Chartered Accountant). CPA Australia status also requires meeting CPA Australia's required knowledge areas and completing the CPA Program exams and its practical experience requirement.
Professional exemptions
Programme Details
Award
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Start Date
September 2026 (applications closed; September 2027 details to follow)
Typical Offer
BBC - BCC (A level)
Duration
4 years (including the foundation year)
Qualification
Bachelors
Subject Area
Business & Finance
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Single honours, Integrated foundation year
Study Pattern
Full time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 123,506/yr
AED 123,506 for the foundation year, full-time, as published for September 2026 and January 2027 entry; each later year costs AED 141,842. The fee covers tuition, examinations and graduation, is charged for each year of study, and can be paid in full or in three instalments a year. Applications for September 2026 entry to this programme are closed, and details for September 2027 entry will be published later. Applications are made directly through the University of Birmingham Dubai Admissions portal (not UCAS), with no application fee, and are usually decided within 10 working days of all documents arriving. A non-returnable AED 5,000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is paid on accepting an offer.