AF 3rd year subject choice

lavine7

I'm going into third year in A&F and I've started looking at the module choices. I intend choosing the accounting specialism in order to gain the CAP 1 exemptions so that leaves me with 15 credits left to fill.

Has anyone got any advice or comments on the optional modules that are on offer?

So far I'm leaning towards spreadsheets and modelling, fund accounting, audit theory and practice (purely because I'm hoping to get into a Big 4 auditor post-degree!) and/or Data Management.

Any opinions on the above modules or any of the other options would be greatly appreciated.

KenHy

lavine7 wrote: »

I'm going into third year in A&F and I've started looking at the module choices. I intend choosing the accounting specialism in order to gain the CAP 1 exemptions so that leaves me with 15 credits left to fill.

Has anyone got any advice or comments on the optional modules that are on offer?

So far I'm leaning towards spreadsheets and modelling, fund accounting, audit theory and practice (purely because I'm hoping to get into a Big 4 auditor post-degree!) and/or Data Management.

Any opinions on the above modules or any of the other options would be greatly appreciated.

Audit ones are incredibly boring and give no advantage in getting a job so I'd steer clear.

Spreadsheets are easy marks but hard to do really well in cause everyone gets about 60 irregardles of performance.

If you have a maths aptitude I'd defiantly go for the finance type modules. Very interesting and if you can grasp them very possible to get very high marks which would help with your overall degree which would make a difference in getting a job in big 4.

lavine7

Thanks for the reply.

Have you experience of any of the module on offer and if so, what was your take on them and the others in general?

The finance ones would be of interest alright, I'm not sure which would be the best to pick. The module descriptions seem to be not available at the moment so its hard to compare them at the moment.

Tbh, I've done well in previous IS modules so that's why I fancied doing them. Surely you're being a bit general saying everyone gets 60 in them?!

The audit might be boring but the knowledge gained would be relevant for starting auditing in the future and it wouldn't be the most difficult of modules I'm guessing, probably very theory based?

Basically, I just want to avoid picking modules that are more trouble than they're worth so I don't end up taking time away from the key year long modules.
For example, last year we had a HR module called Skills for Success. It was 100% CA and required very little effort to get through. I attended only 2-3 lectures in it but still got a 1st in it and allowed me more time to focus on other modules. On the otherhand, Financial Maths was the other option last year and was supposed to be tough even for the actuaries who were also taking that module.
I'm wondering if any of the options for this year could be classed along similar lines(i.e. you mentioned spreadsheets to be easy marks).

KenHy

lavine7 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

Have you experience of any of the module on offer and if so, what was your take on them and the others in general?

The finance ones would be of interest alright, I'm not sure which would be the best to pick. The module descriptions seem to be not available at the moment so its hard to compare them at the moment.

Tbh, I've done well in previous IS modules so that's why I fancied doing them. Surely you're being a bit general saying everyone gets 60 in them?!

The audit might be boring but the knowledge gained would be relevant for starting auditing in the future and it wouldn't be the most difficult of modules I'm guessing, probably very theory based?

Basically, I just want to avoid picking modules that are more trouble than they're worth so I don't end up taking time away from the key year long modules.
For example, last year we had a HR module called Skills for Success. It was 100% CA and required very little effort to get through. I attended only 2-3 lectures in it but still got a 1st in it and allowed me more time to focus on other modules. On the otherhand, Financial Maths was the other option last year and was supposed to be tough even for the actuaries who were also taking that module.
I'm wondering if any of the options for this year could be classed along similar lines(i.e. you mentioned spreadsheets to be easy marks).

I am kinda exaggerating with everyone getting 60 but it wasn't hard to get a low 2:1 and impossible to get a first. It's not like other IS modules in 1st and 2nd tear, much more technical, using spreadsheets and databases. I did one of these in first semester and didn't in the second as the marking scheme for the assignment was stupid and entirely illogical. Everyone got near 60 irregardles of what they did in it. The assignment didn't make much sense either, my one was to make a exel workbook that would forecast the weather!

Nothing in final year quite as simple as skills for sucess I'm afraid. I'd still recommend maths/finance ones if you've an aptitude. I did them for the rest of my options, personally didn't find them hard, once you get the hang of it they are easy. Some people found it very hard to get the hang of however, but its interesting and consistent so that's what I liked about it.

I wouldn't say there's anything to be gained form doing auditing, its theory based, but incredibly boring and not all that easy either. You'll end up doing it anyway in the near future either as part of a masters or in the CAP 2 as its compulsory in both. It's also not very relevant to what you'd do in work, you'd pick it all up long before you'd be required to think about that stuff yourself. That said it is possible to do well in them with a bit of work.

Have never done fund accounting so don't konw what its like I'm afraid.

Iano_

For AF3 - the modules that are best to pick (based on how easy it is to do well) are:

Introducation to HRM (50% Continuous Assessment)
Management Accounting: Organisation Perspectives (100% CA)
Business Issues in Accounting (100% CA)
Business Ethics (100% CA)

lavine7

Iano_ wrote: »

For AF3 - the modules that are best to pick (based on how easy it is to do well) are:

Introducation to HRM (50% Continuous Assessment)
Management Accounting: Organisation Perspectives (100% CA)
Business Issues in Accounting (100% CA)
Business Ethics (100% CA)

I can only choose a max of two options per semester and these three are group together as Sem 2 options.

Is it possible to narrow it down further? I've always done well in Mgmt Acc so its a case of looking at either Issues or Ethics to go with it.

Thanks

allonboard

I was also unsure what to pick when I was in your shoes 2 years ago. I would advise to do Fund Accounting and Risk Management(if they are both still options). You have a real chance to get high marks in these; 80 is possible in Risk Mgmt, and somewhere in the 90s in Fund(there were a lot of marks in the 90s). These modules can really bring up your average against harder subjects like tax and financial acc. Don't worry about not doing audit; you don't need it for exemptions and it will have no bearing on going into audit. It is also a hard subject and quite boring, a lot of work and if you do really well you'll be getting high 60s. The ethics subject is also good because it requires little work in the year and gives you time elsewhere. I personally did very little and got 67. There was also one called Current Issues in Accounting, heard it wasnt too bad.