New degree will get aspiring accountants off to a Flying Start

01 June 2013

A prestigious new degree programme that offers undergraduates a sought-after accountancy qualification and an accelerated route into employment is being launched at Nottingham University Business School.

The BSc Accountancy Flying Start programme, which begins recruiting later this year, is being offered as part of an exciting new collaboration involving Nottingham University Business School, multinational professional services firm PwC (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
In addition to offering a qualification from a leading, EQUIS-accredited business school, the degree will give aspiring accountants a competitive edge by providing paid work placements with PwC’s Assurance practice — with the chance of being offered a full-time position by the firm at the end.

Professor Martin Binks, Dean of Nottingham University Business School, said: “This collaboration between Nottingham University Business School, PwC and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is an important and exciting new programme.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with other prestigious organisations to offer a truly integrated learning experience, which is enhanced by our unique global presence and perspective. Students will benefit from world-leading academic insights from the Business School, as well as leading-edge professional practice from time on placement with PwC and the endorsement of the ICAEW.”

The benefits

Students signing up to the Flying Start programme will qualify more quickly as a Chartered Accountant and will get both the traditional university experience as a full-time student and exposure to world-class clients through the paid work placements at PwC, one of the Big 4 accountancy firms.

Provided graduates have successfully completed the programme and have achieved a 2:1 or above, they may be offered a full-time position with PwC at Senior Associate level.

Graduates who take up this offer can look forward to entering PwC employment one year ahead of traditional graduate entry level employees and becoming a fully qualified Chartered Accountant just over a year after graduation (after successfully completing the Advanced Stage papers of the ACA qualification).

There will also be the possibility of secondment to overseas offices and other parts of PwC’s business as well as the opportunity to support and mentor new students on placement at the firm.

Gaenor Bagley, PwC Head of People, said: “We have long believed that employer-led degrees have a critical role in building the skills, knowledge and learning discipline of students who know what they want out of a career. The Flying Start programme is a degree designed around a career, targeting high performing, motivated students, who want to work in accountancy and business. The unique mix of theory and practice means that when they join PwC, graduates from this programme will be one year ahead of their peers.”

Shaun Robertson, Head of Learning at ICAEW, added: “We’ve worked in partnership with PwC and Nottingham University Business School in designing this new integrated strategic degree programme. The endeavours of all three partners will ensure that students will have the opportunity to obtain an excellent degree, to complete 80% of the ICAEW Chartered Accountancy modules and to undertake relevant practical experience.

“Applying theory in the workplace is core to qualifying as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. We look forward to a long successful partnership and seeing many inspirational students on the course graduate from the programme and go on to rewarding and fulfilling careers.”
Recruitment for the four-year degree programme is competitive and starts with applications to UCAS in September this year for 2014 entry. 

More information about the programme is available from:

Professor Jim Devlin
Deputy Dean of Nottingham University Business School
e: james.devlin@nottingham.ac.uk