Your first year on the Forensic Accounting degree includes financial and management accounting, an introduction to finance, Statistical techniques and data analysis for accounting, the business environment, and business and corporate law. Year two covers the principles of forensic accounting, financial crime investigation and develops your knowledge of financial reporting and management accounting. You will study financial management and undertake a specialist employability module, where you will have the opportunity to gain the CIMA-accredited Sage Accounting Certificate. Sage is the UK’s biggest accounting software provider.

You will specialise further in your final year, with modules on forensic accounting and the expert witness, and fraud examination. You can also choose optional modules from a range of subjects, including advanced financial reporting, business analysis, and cases in auditing and taxation.

Year One – Forensic Accounting degree

Your first year includes the core disciplines of financial accounting, management accounting, an introduction to finance, quantitative techniques for accounting, the business environment, and business and corporate law. Modules studied:

• Financial Accounting
• Introductory Management Accounting
• The Business Environment for Accountants
• Business and Corporate Law
• Statistical Techniques and Data Analysis for Accounting and Finance
• Introduction to Finance

Year Two – Forensic Accounting degree

Year two covers the principles of forensic accounting, and develops your knowledge of financial reporting and management accounting. You’ll study financial management, audit and undertake a specialist employability module where you will develop your Excel spread-sheet skills, work on some of the softer skills that employers require and benefit from an impressive range of guest speakers. You can also gain the CIMA accredited Sage Accounting Certificate. Sage is the UK’s biggest accounting software provider. For students who do not have prior relevant work experience, the employability module incorporates a 70-hour work placement that will allow you to become instantly more employable, learning both profession-specific as well as more general work-related skills.

• Principles of Forensic Accounting
• Management Accounting and Performance Measurement
• Fundamentals of Financial Management
• Financial reporting
• Financial Crime Investigation
• Professional practice and Employability in Accounting & Finance

Year Three – Forensic Accounting degree

You’ll specialise further in your final year, with modules on forensic accounting and the expert witness, and fraud investigation. You can also choose optional modules from a range of subjects, including advanced financial reporting, business analysis, taxation and cases in auditing.

Core modules

• Fraud Examination
• Forensic Accounting and the Expert Witness
• Global Governance, Risk and Ethics
• Auditing and Assurance

You can also choose to undertake a further two modules from the following list:

• Advanced Financial Reporting
• Business Analysis for Accountants
• Taxation
• Cases in Audit
• Theory and Practice of Securities Trading

Option availability will be subject to student demand

Foundation Year

The BA (Hons) Forensic Accounting is also available as a four year course including an integrated Foundation Year, and is designed for students who do not currently meet admissions criteria for direct entry onto the degree.

You will start by completing a foundation year, which provides well structured support, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge before continuing onto the three year degree programme. For more information please email fbsfoundation@southwales.ac.uk 

Our student-focused approach is a great way to engage with the subject, the tutors and your fellow students. You will be taught through workshops, seminars and innovative e-learning techniques. Alongside teaching from qualified accountants with years of industry experience, you will also learn from staff in the Faculty of Advanced Technology. With access to the latest forensic hardware and software in their specially configured labs, you will benefit from our staff who investigate cases for local and national police forces, business, and government.

As well as our links with ACCA, you will benefit from regular presentations from guest lecturers representing many aspects of the profession. Throughout your course you will get practical experience of the accounting, auditing, and general software packages you will use after you graduate – another skill to add to your CV.

Most modules are assessed by a combination of examination and coursework. There is a variety of coursework helping you develop your employability skills through the use of IT, preparing written reports, and giving presentations.