BETTER
QUALIFIED
EQUALS
BETTER
PROSPECTS
BA ACCOUNTING
(WITH CIMA ADVANCED DIPLOMA)
Our new online accounting degree plus a CIMA
Advanced Diploma equals the essential accounting skills
for business success plus better career opportunities too.
A UNIQUE PROPOSITION
BA Accounting (with CIMA Advanced Diploma) is the new online
supported distance learning degree from Aberdeen Business School
at Robert Gordon University (RGU). It gives you the opportunity to
gain a degree and a professional body award whilst also progressing
your career and achieving your personal goals.
This innovative course provides you with a unique opportunity. It can help you to
develop a range of appropriate technical and non-technical skills which will lay the
foundations for a successful career in the increasingly competitive business world.
How is this achieved? What study options are there?
With tuition support at all stages, students We anticipate that students will be able
study and sit exams for all of the CIMA to combine this student activity with their
papers from certificate to management working career and maximum flexibility
level, leading to the award of the CIMA has been built into the design. Fast-track
Advanced Diploma in Management students will study over a three year
Accounting. At the same time various period. Students can, however, spread the
RGU modules are studied and assessed activity over a longer time frame – up to six
and the combination leads to the award years – in order to accommodate a greater
of the BA in Accounting. work commitment or indeed other outside
interests. The top-up option follows the
For students who already hold the CIMA
same ethos – and is available over either
Advanced Diploma in Management
one or two years.
Accounting – and have at least six months
of relevant work experience – we offer a
top-up option in order to achieve the BA
Accounting award.
Why Robert Gordon University?
Robert Gordon University is based in Our experience in online Distance Learning
Aberdeen – the oil capital of Europe. We is long standing and we currently successfully
pride ourselves on being ‘The Professional deliver several courses to a global audience
University’ and we have an outstanding including our increasingly popular and
international reputation for producing highly regarded AMBA accredited
confident, highly employable graduates MBA programme.
who progress to successful professional
Academic members of staff are ably
careers. Our recent accolades include:
supported by Educational Technicians
– ‘The Times’ Scottish University who are constantly exploring new ways to
of the Year 2011 harness the ever improving technology to
– ‘The Times’ Top Modern University enhance our online distance provision.
in the UK 2009-2011
What is the CIMA Advanced Diploma
– ‘The Guardian’ Best Modern in Management Accounting?
University 2010
The CIMA Advanced Diploma in
– ‘The Independent’ 20 May 2010 Management Accounting is a recognition
articulates our philosophy: award awarded to students reaching the
“Consistently one of the best UK appropriate stage on the path to membership
universities for graduate employment of the highly – and globally – regarded
due to…single-minded focus on professional body, The Chartered Institute
professional education” of Management Accountants.
How and what will I study?
For all stages of the degree course, STAGE ONE
material is housed through our The first stage of the degree incorporates
extremely interactive student the five CIMA certificate level papers,
portal, and we utilise the highly assessed by Computer Based Assessment.
acclaimed CIMAstudy.com material You will study the full range of subjects,
alongside material developed within from financial accounting to ethics, giving
the University. We supplement the you a strong introduction to the accounting
material with interactive tuition and business knowledge that you will build
support from our experienced on through your degree course.
team who utilise synchronous and
asynchronous online tools such as In addition you will study a module
discussion forums, group exercises, focussing on academic and professional
web seminars, virtual tutorials, pod skills, developing generic skills, writing
casts and quizzes to provide a fully skills, presentation skills and team-working
supported learning environment. skills. These skills are developed further
as the degree progresses – and as skills
Despite our supported distance learning desired by every employer, are vital to your
students studying remotely from all future success.
over the world we aim to provide an
experience similar to our on campus
students. We actively promote group
learning and business skills with a view to
developing valuable communication and
networking opportunities. At the same
time we encourage students to become
independent open learners and therefore,
irrespective of their location, students
experience a high quality, well supported
learning experience.
Students will sit the relevant CIMA
examinations at their local CIMA exam
centre and submit all their coursework
based RGU assessments through the
University’s student portal.
STAGE TWO STAGE THREE
The second stage of the degree progresses The final stage of the degree course gives
your skills training further with a focus on you the opportunity to extend your skill
business and presentation writing, whilst set further through two contemporary
developing your analytical and research modules – Academic Literature Review
skills through relevant coursework. and Corporate and Social Responsibility
(CSR) and Sustainability – where you will
You will study the three CIMA operational
demonstrate your ability to study a subject
level papers – assessed by CIMA
to a deeper level.
examination – covering management
accounting (performance) and financial You will also complete the three CIMA
accounting, whilst the enterprise pillar examinations required to achieve the
enables you to study business and CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management
enterprise theory. In addition you will have Accounting – and extend this knowledge
the opportunity to develop and apply this to assessments set by the University.
theory further by submitting coursework to
the University. Your Accounting skills will be
enhanced by the study of both the Theory
and Practice of Auditing.
TOP UP OPTION
The top up option allows students already holding the CIMA Advanced Diploma
in Management Accounting to enter the degree course at Stage Three to achieve
the BA Accounting degree.
Our aim is to ensure you graduate with the skills that you would have gained had you
studied the full degree course and the module selection for this route reflects that.
All of the modules require strong business and academic skills and we give you the
opportunity to develop these with focussed supported learning.
What is the detailed structure of the course?
STAGE ONE: TOP UP OPTION FOR STAGE THREE:
Semester One Semester One
– Fundamentals of Financial Accounting – Auditing Theory
– Fundamentals of Business Mathematics – Performance Concepts
– Fundamentals of Business Economics – Financial Concepts
Semester Two – Enterprise Concepts
– Professional and Academic Skills – Corporate and Social
for Accountants Responsibility and Sustainability
– Fundamentals of Management Semester Two
Accounting – Auditing Practice
– Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate – Practical Management Accounting
Governance and Business Law
– Academic Literature Review
STAGE TWO:
Semester One
– Enterprise Operations
– Financial Operations
Semester Two
– Performance Operations
– Auditing Theory
– Auditing Practice
STAGE THREE:
Semester One
– Academic Literature Review
– Corporate and Social Responsibility
and Sustainability
– Financial Management
Semester Two
– Enterprise Management
– Performance Management
How can I find out more?
Detailed information about the course structure, fees and the application process can
be found on our website: www.rgu.ac.uk/baaccountingcima
You can also contact the course leader directly by email to BaAccCIMA@rgu.ac.uk
or use the other contact details found on our website.
A final word from Professor Elizabeth Gammie, Head of Department
“Within the department our focus is on delivering high-quality theoretical
and applied accounting and finance education. Our students benefit from the
opportunity to develop the appropriate skills to become effective practitioners
and researchers in their chosen area of accounting and finance.
“Our department has a good reputation for providing high quality education and
this is underpinned and informed by research and corporate engagement.
“The vision for our portfolio of courses, is to ensure we equip our graduates for
career progression and central to this is a mutual understanding that they must
be ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of a changing economic and
business environment. Our courses are continuously developing and we are
dedicated to providing our students with the best possible learning experience.
We look forward to welcoming you onto our course and wish you every success
in the future.”
Aberdeen Business School Talk to us.
Robert Gordon University We can answer any questions or queries you may have.
Garthdee Road Simply call us on 01224 263208, email BaAccCima@rgu.ac.uk
Aberdeen AB10 7QE or visit us at www.rgu.ac.uk/baaccountingcima