Accounting and Finance Study Guide 2026/27

What you can study

Accounting and Finance is part of the Bristol Business School. Built on tradition but shaped by the very latest thinking, our courses cover the breadth of both disciplines. You will not only learn accounting and finance but also gain a solid foundation in economics and quantitative analysis. 

You will find units on:

  • the fundamentals, principles, and strategies of finance 
  • behavioural finance and cognitive bias
  • financial markets

Pre-requisites

A strong background in mathematics. Students are expected to have completed an A-Level in Mathematics, or an equivalent, before starting any Accounting and Finance units.

At UK universities, students specialise from their first year and rarely take units outside their degree subject. This means that:

  • Year 1 units are suitable for all students.
  • Year 2 units require some university study in the discipline.
  • Year 3 units require a strong background in the discipline.

Subject Pathway students

If you have been nominated to Bristol on the Study Abroad (Accounting and Finance pathway), you must take the majority of your credits from this study guide. Students on the Study Abroad (Accounting, Economics and Management pathway) can select units from across the Business School and School of Economics.

Important update about class location

The University's Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus opens in September 2026. Some classes from the Business School will be delivered on the new campus, including most Year 3 (finalist level) units. The Timetabling Team advises students allow for a 1 hour gap between classes on Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and the main Clifton Campus. 2026/27 class timetables will be released in September 2026. Students may need to change their units should they choose classes held across both campuses and later find that their combination will not allow for a reasonable travel time.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Year 1

Pre-requisites: suitable for all students with a Maths A-level or equivalent.

Teaching Block 2

  • Accounting and Finance for Managers - ACFI1NEW. The Unit Catalogue entry will become available by late spring.
  • Introduction to Accounting - ACFI10005
  • Risk and Return - ACFI1NEW. The Unit Catalogue entry will become available by late spring.

Teaching Block 4 (full year)

Year 2

Pre-requisites: some university study in the discipline. Accounting and Finance units can involve specific pre-requisites (please see the unit catalogue entry for more information).

Teaching Block 1

Teaching Block 2

  • Banking - ACFI2NEW. The Unit Catalogue entry will become available by late spring.
  • Management Accounting - ACFI20003
  • Strategic Finance - ACFI2NEW. The Unit Catalogue entry will become available by late spring.
  • Taxation - ACFI2NEW. The Unit Catalogue entry will become available by late spring.

Year 3

Pre-requisites: strong background of study in the discipline. Accounting and Finance units often involve specific pre-requisites (please see the unit catalogue entry for more information).

These units are expected to be held on the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, with the exception of Financial Markets and Corporate Finance - ACFI30012. Please see the section 'Important update about class location' for further information. 

Teaching Block 1

Teaching Block 2

Application queries

Contact the Centre for Study Abroad inbound team if you have any queries about the application process for the study abroad programmes:

Phone: +44 117 39 40207
Email: cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk