USW Accounting Brochure 2026-27

September 2026 - August 2027

WHY STUDY A PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY QUALIFICATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES?

The University of South Wales has a rich history of providing first-class tuition for professional accountancy qualifications. We typically teach 200 professional accountancy students each year. We have 50 years of experience teaching ACCA. September 2018 also saw the launch of our innovative MSc Professional Accounting (with ACCA tuition).

We are very proud to have been placed in the top 20 in the UK for our Accounting and Finance courses, in the 2020-2022 Guardian University League Tables, and to win the 'Public Sector College of the Year' award at the 2023 PQ Magazine Awards.

EXPERIENCED AND FOCUSED TUITION TEAM

Our professional course tuition team consists of qualified accountants and a qualified lawyer who have significant accounting practice and industry experience. Members of the team have a vast amount of experience teaching students how to pass professional exams. We deliver CPD sessions for the local professional bodies and engage in bespoke CPD training for large organisations.

QUALITY ACCREDITATION

We are an ACCA Platinum Approved Learning Partner, in recognition of our excellent pass rates and pastoral support for students.

AWARD-WINNING

We have been named as PQ Magazine 'Public Sector Accountancy College of the Year' in 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2023. We also have awardwinning students. USW ACCA students have won global prizes in Strategic Professional Level papers in four recent exam diets - June 2019, September 2020, June 2021 and June 2022.

TUITION AT A KEY SOUTH WALES LOCATION

Our Professional Tuition Hub is located at our state-of-the-art campus on the banks of the river Usk in Newport city centre. Newport City Campus has excellent teaching rooms, library and on-campus coffee shop. The campus is easily accessible from Newport train station and M4 Junctions 27 and 28 with ample safe, secure parking on the doorstep. Our ACCA and MSc Professional Accounting (with ACCA tuition) courses are taught at this campus.

STUDY AND EMPLOYER RESOURCES

All resources including progress tests and mock examinations* are supplied to our students as part of the tuition fee. Student performance reports for sponsoring employers are available on request. Our tuition includes knowledge, question practice and revision segments, and we charge one overall fee per module for all these elements with no hidden costs or extra purchases required.

PROFESSIONAL BODY RELATIONSHIPS

We work very closely with the professional bodies, locally and nationally. For example, our Head of Subject was ICAEW South Wales Committee President in 2022-23 and we regularly sponsor local professional body events such as the ACCA St David’s Day Breakfast.

INNOVATIVE COURSES

Students studying ACCA Applied Knowledge and Skills Level modules at Newport City Campus can choose between sitting external ACCA exams or internal university assignments and exams under an innovative internally-assessed scheme. The internal scheme, which leads to ACCA exemptions on a module-by-module basis as the University modules are passed, allows students to develop transferable skills valued by employers. ACCA revision courses are also available.

Our MSc Professional Accounting (with ACCA tuition) allows students to combine MSc and ACCA Strategic Professional studies in an innovative and efficient manner.

LEADING THE WORLD FOUR YEARS RUNNING:

USW,S ACCA GLOBAL TOP SCORERS

For four recent consecutive years, the University of South Wales made its mark on the world stage, with our students achieving the highest marks globally in ACCA exams. A testament to our subject experts and strong curriculum, this winning streak showcases the excellence of USW's accountancy programme.

ISABELLE LOWE

In 2022, Isabelle Lowe's outstanding score of 96% in the Advanced Taxation exam added another feather in USW's cap. Isabelle balanced her dedication to study with her role at Hawkins Priday. Gratefully attributing her success to USW, she noted the invaluable emphasis on exam techniques and praised the unwavering support of the course tutors.

THE TUTORS AT USW HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE THROUGHOUT MY ACCA JOURNEY. USW,S EMPHASIS ON EXAM TECHNIQUE WAS INVALUABLE.

ACCA

Location: Newport Campus

Course Delivery: Day Release/Afternoon/Evening (classroom-based with online support)

The tuition and modules below are indicative and may be subject to change as circumstances dictate.

joanna.howell@ southwales.ac.uk

joanna.howell@ southwales.ac.uk (part-time study)

(Or rhian.gosling@ southwales.ac.uk if applying for full-time study)

(FM)

Strategic Professional:

Strategic Business Leader (SBL)

Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)

Advanced Options: (note that Jan module start times may change depending on publication of future ACCA exam timetables):

Advanced Financial Management (AFM)

Advanced Performance Management (APM)

Advanced Taxation (ATX)

Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA)

Thursday: 10 Sept - 26 Nov 2026; 21 Jan - 20 May 2027

Wednesday: 9 Sept - w/c 23 Nov 2026; 6 Jan - w/c 24 May 2027

joanna.howell@ southwales.ac.uk (part-time study)

(Or rhian.gosling@ southwales.ac.uk if applying for full-time study)

September start deliveries (marked ‘Sept’ above) run between Sept-Nov 2026 and prepare students for Dec 2026 exams.

January start deliveries (marked 'Jan' above) run between Jan-May 2027 and prepare students for June 2027 exams. There is a three-week Easter vacation for the 3 weeks commencing 22 March 2027.

September Applied Skills and Applied Knowledge modules also include 2 additional study days per module outside of the usual timetable above, which will run 9.30am-4.30pm.

September Strategic Professional/Advanced Options modules also include 3 additional study days per module outside of the usual timetable (excluding SBL, which has one additional day).

Modules scheduled for two deliveries a year above will run subject to sufficient student demand. **Additional intensive deliveries of PM and LW will be available in Jan-Feb and March-May 2027 (whole days per week), subject to student demand.

# Modules generally either run in 9.30am-1pm, 1.30pm-5pm or 5.30pm-9pm slots. The exception to this is Strategic Business Leader, which runs in longer slots (September: 1.30pm-9pm; January: 9.30am-5pm). We also run an additional Oct-Feb SBL delivery for full-time students only.

The University of South Wales is an ACCA Platinum Approved Learning Partner, the highest level of accreditation. This means that our pass rates are consistently above global averages.

To apply for our professional and postgraduate accounting courses, visit www.southwales.ac.uk/apply

ACCA STRATEGIC PROFESSIONAL LEVEL REVISION COURSES ALSO AVAILABLE

For selected modules for December 2026 and June 2027 exam sittings at £200 per module.

Please contact joanna.howell@southwales.ac.uk for further details.

For December 2026 exams: SBR, SBL, ATX, AAA; Courses will take place in November 2026.

For June 2027 exams: SBR, SBL, ATX, AAA, AFM, APM; Courses will take place in May 2027.

A student requiring all ACCA modules can complete the qualification in approximately four years studying on a part-time basis. We recommend a maximum of two modules per exam diet when studying part-time.

We offer tuition for all ACCA modules on a part-time basis (Sept or Jan entry) and offer tuition for Applied Skills and Strategic Professional Level modules on a full-time basis too (Sept or Jan entry). A typical full-time Sept study route would be as follows:

Year 1 Applied Skills: FR, AA Sept-Dec; PM Jan-Mar; LW Mar-June; FM, TX Jan-June

Year 2: SBR Sept-Dec; SBL Oct-Mar; Option modules Jan-June

Exams must be taken in the ACCA Level order (see below), however, modules within each Level can be taken in any order.

Applied Knowledge Level (BT, MA, FA)

Applied Skills Level (LW, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM)

Strategic Professional Level (SBL, SBR and two from AFM, APM, ATX and AAA)

Outstanding exams in a current Level must be entered if a student wants to enter exams in the next Level. Students should complete the online Ethics and Professional Skills module before they start the Strategic Professional Level. Students should consult the ACCA exam timetable before embarking on modules to be sat externally. In particular, Advanced Audit and Assurance should be studied after (or alongside) Strategic Business Reporting and the following module combinations may need to be avoided: Strategic Business Leader with Tax, Law with Financial Management / Advanced Financial Management, Advanced Performance Management with Advanced Tax.

Note 1 - Diploma of Higher Education / BSc (Professional Accounting)

Students studying the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills Levels can choose between sitting external ACCA exams or internal university assignments and exams. Those who obtain sufficient internal credits can be awarded a university Diploma of Higher Education or BSc (Professional Accounting) as part of their ACCA studies. Those undertaking the BSc are required to complete an endof-course Business Research Project. The internal scheme leads to ACCA exemptions on a module-bymodule basis as the University modules are passed. Strategic Professional exams are sat externally.

Note 2 – MSc Professional Accounting (with ACCA tuition)

Students can choose to study our MSc Professional Accounting alongside the ACCA Strategic Professional Level modules on a part-time or full-time basis. This is an innovative route that allows students to obtain both an MSc and their Strategic Professional exams at the same time. The syllabus of the MSc is mapped to the ACCA modules. MSc students sit in the ACCA classes noted on the previous page but receive extra Masters workshops to build key academic Masters skills valued by employers. Internal MSc assignments and exams are sat adjacent to the sitting of each external ACCA Strategic Professional exam. See page 8 for further details.

A typical part-time MSc study route would be as follows (full-time, all modules would be studied in one year):

Year 1: SBR Sept-Dec; Option module Jan-June

Year 2: SBL Sept-Dec; Option module Jan-June; Research Methods and Business Research Project June-Sept

2026/2027 TUITION FEES (ACCA)

Applied Knowledge Level (BT, MA, FA): £700 per module (home students only)

Applied Skills Level (LW, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM): £1,300 per module (home students), £1,845 per module (international students)

Strategic Professional Level

Strategic Business Leader: £2,110 (home students) and £2,320 (international students)

All other modules (SBR, AFM, APM, ATX and AAA): £1,700 per module (home students) and £1,870 per module (international students)

BSc Business Research Project: £7,650 (home students), £11,660 (international students).

Our tuition includes all the key elements that you need, for one price per module - there are no hidden costs or extra tuition purchases required. We impart the required knowledge (syllabus content), engage you in question practice and undertake revision sessions close to exam time. Progress tests are included for all modules; mock examinations are included for externally examined modules. Our tuition fees exclude any fees payable directly to ACCA. Please also note that the tuition fees quoted above relate to ACCA and/or Dip HE / BSc Professional Accounting tuition only. Students who are enrolled on the MSc Professional Accounting (with ACCA tuition) course will be charged one set of MSc fees covering all tuition required. See page 8 for further details.

For the latest information on student fees payable to ACCA (including student membership, exemption and exam entry fees), visit: www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student.html. Students who are sitting external exams are responsible for entering those exams directly with ACCA. Students sitting internal USW assessments are then required to pay ACCA for exemptions awarded.

STYLE OF TUITION DELIVERY

Our tuition model offers students face-to-face classes week-on-week in the first instance and any students studying on a Tier 4 visa must attend all classes on campus. For part-time students, all classes are also broadcast live and recorded, so students not able to attend campus are able to access the sessions virtually (either live or on catch-up). This model gives part-time students flexibility in accessing resources at a time that’s right for them, in line with their needs, learning styles and preferences.

COURSE APPLICATIONS

Students applying to join the full-time version of the course should ensure that they do not change modules post-application as this might cause study visa issues.

MSC PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING (WITH ACCA TUITION)

Location: Newport Campus (full-time and part-time)

The tuition times and modules below are indicative and may be subject to change as circumstances dictate.

Our innovative MSc Professional Accounting (with ACCA tuition) course combines advanced academic study with a professional Accounting qualification.

This course is aimed at students who have completed the Applied Knowledge and Skills modules of the ACCA professional qualification (BT - FM), or those who are exempted from these ACCA modules by virtue of studying an Accounting degree, recognised and accredited by ACCA.

Taught by award-winning tutors from our platinum-accredited ACCA programme, modules on this Accounting Masters course are aligned with the final Strategic Professional Level of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification. Students are prepared to sit the four ACCA Strategic Professional external exams# around the completion of internal Masters assessments. The course therefore offers a study regime that is highly efficient in terms of both cost and time, with professional and academic Masters study occurring concurrently. On the full-time course, students can obtain a Masters qualification and sit all ACCA exams in one year.

For further information on this course, please contact Rhian Gosling, Course Leader on: rhian.gosling@southwales.ac.uk

For current tuition fees and information about USW bursaries and postgraduate student loans, please visit USW course pages.

Tuition fees exclude any fees payable to the ACCA professional body. For the latest information on fees payable to ACCA (including student membership, exemption and exam entry fees), visit: www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student.html

# Please note that it is the responsibility of students to enter external ACCA exams. Visit www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student.html for further details.

WILLIAM

DOUGLAS

William Douglas, from Cardiff, achieved the joint second-highest global mark for ACCA’s Strategic Professional Level June 2021 exams with an average of 85.75%. William transitioned from HND Business Studies to a BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance degree, and ultimately the MSc Professional Accounting with ACCA tuition. Will also achieved a remarkable 96% in his Advanced Financial Management paper.

THE LECTURERS BROKE DOWN TOPICS INTO MANAGEABLE CHUNKS, EMPOWERING US TO APPLY THEM IN REALWORLD SCENARIOS.

WITH EACH PASSING YEAR, OUR ACCA CANDIDATES CONTINUE TO OUTSHINE THEIR PEERS GLOBALLY, SOLIDIFYING USW,S STANDING AS A POWERHOUSE IN ACCOUNTANCY EDUCATION. AS WE CELEBRATE OUR CHAMPIONS, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GLOBAL LEADERS.

Bryony Lewis, from Raglan, Monmouthshire, scored the joint highest mark worldwide in her ACCA Advanced Taxation exam, recording a score of 91%. Now employed by Azets, Bryony’s journey wasn’t easy, as lockdown interfered with her studies and saw exams postponed. Despite these challenges, out of 5,200 students who sat the paper that year, Bryony came out on top.

MY ADVANCED TAX LECTURER WOULD ALWAYS ANSWER MY QUERIES, BIG OR SMALL, IT WAS ALWAYS NICE KNOWING THAT KIND OF SUPPORT WAS THERE.

THE GUARDIAN UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2026

COURSES

Newport Campus

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

• MSc Professional Accounting (with ACCA tuition)

Pontypridd Campus

• BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance

• MSc Finance and Investment

• MSc Forensic Audit and Accounting

Information in this booklet is correct at the time of print (April 2025), but may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, call or check our website: www.southwales.ac.uk

As part of its commitment to the Welsh language, the University provides information through the medium of Welsh. To find out more, visit: www.decymru.ac.uk or e-mail: cymraeg@decymru.ac.uk

Fel rhan o’i ymrwymiad at yr iaith Gymraeg, y mae’r Brifysgol yn darparu gwybodaeth drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. I wybod mwy, ewch i: www.decymru.ac.uk neu e-bostiwch: cymraeg@decymru.ac.uk