Bachelor in Finance and Accounting
- Grados
- Bachelor's Degrees
- Bachelor in Finance and Accounting
- Duration
- 4 years (240 ECTS credits)
- Centre
- Language
- Spanish, English
Presentation
The goal of the Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Accounting is to train professionals specialized in analysis and management of investments, banking, auditing, consulting, financial management and capital management for small and large investors. Graduates from this program will acquire the knowledge necessary to assess companies and manage the many financial risks they are subject to because of their activity.
This degree program is taught in a bilingual mode and provides students with the knowledge necessary to understand the financial situation of companies through information extracted from accounting. It offers a solid education in areas such as economics, computer science, business administration and law, all of which increases job placement opportunities for its graduates.
Furthermore, it has the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) certification, which aids UC3M graduates in Finance and Accounting to obtain the title of Certified Public Accountant (CPA). This title qualifies them as professional accountants in many countries.
Employability and profesional internships
UC3M has agreements with over 3000 companies and institutions in which students can undertake internships and access job openings.
A total of 93.4 % of graduates from this University enter the job market the first year after finishing their studies, according to the 2019 XXIV Estudio de Inserción Profesional (Professional Placement Study).
International Excellence
Program
- Actual program
Current Program
- Program modified in 2018. In 2020/21 only 1st., 2nd. and 3rd. years will be implemented. You can see other years in "previous program".
- Language requirement: a B2 level of English language must be accredited before finishing the studies. More information.
Course 1 - Semester 1
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Financial Mathematics 6 BC Introduction to business administration 6 BC Introduction to patrimonial law 6 BC Mathematics for Economics I 6 C Principles of Economics 6 BC Course 1 - Semester 2
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Accounting Introduction 6 BC Economic History 6 BC Mathematics for Economics II 6 C Microeconomics 6 C Statistics I 6 BC Course 2 - Semester 1
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Commercial Law 6 C Financial Accounting I 6 C Financial Economics 6 C Management and Organization 6 C Statistics II 6 C Course 2 - Semester 2
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Financial Accounting II 6 C Financial Management 6 C Fixed income and derivatives 6 C Information Skills 3 BC Skills: Humanities 6 BC Writing and communication skills 3 BC Course 3 - Semester 1
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Advanced knowledge of Spreadsheets 3 BC Advanced professional skills II 3 BC Cost Management 6 C Financial systems and institutions 6 C Macroeconomics 6 C Quantitative methods for management 6 C Course 3 - Semester 2
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Analysis of dynamic data 6 C Corporate financial strategy 6 C Financial risk management 6 C Financial statement analysis 6 C Management Control 6 C Course 4 - Semester 1
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Auditing financial statements 6 C Corporative governance and social responsibility 6 C Electives: Recommended 18 credits Electives to choose in 4th year - First semester Subjects ECTS TYPE Language At the end of your studies you must have obtained a total of 42 credits of electivity. Advanced Financial Derivatives 6 E Analysis of financial data 6 E Asset valuation and selection 6 E Bank Management 6 E Development of IT applications for business 6 E Financial market law 6 E International Accounting 6 E Introduction to Data Mining for Business Intelligence 6 E Legislation on labour costs and social security 6 E Managerial Accounting 6 E Professional Internships 18 E Course 4 - Semester 2
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Bachelor Thesis 6 BT Electives: Recommended 24 credits Electives to choose in 4th year - Second semester Subjects ECTS TYPE Language At the end of your studies you must have obtained a total of 42 credits of electivity. Accounting for financial instruments 6 E Big Data for Business Intelligence 6 E Business finance law 6 E Business Taxes 6 E Computer applications in finance 6 E Country report and risk assessment 6 E Digital Finance 6 E International Finances 6 E Monetary and financial economics 6 E Positive accounting theory 6 E Professional Internships 18 E Any of elective courses could not be offered in a specific year. You can check it in schedules page.
TYPES OF SUBJECTS
BC: Basic Core
C: Compulsory
E: Electives
BT: Bachelor Thesis - Previous Program
Previous Program
Study plan for students who started in the academic year 2017/18 or earlier.
- In 2020/21 only 4th. year will be offered.
Course 1 - Semester 1
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Economic History 6 BC Introduction to business administration 6 BC Introduction to patrimonial law 6 BC Mathematics for Economics 6 C Principles of Economics 6 BC Course 1 - Semester 2
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Financial Mathematics 6 C Information Skills 3 BC Introduction of Accounting 6 BC Microeconomics 6 BC Statistics I 6 BC Writing and communication skills 3 BC Course 2 - Semester 1
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Commercial Law 6 C Financial Economics 6 C Organization and Management 6 C Skills: English 6 BC Statistics II 6 C Course 2 - Semester 2
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Econometrics I 6 C Financial Accounting I 6 C Financial Management 6 C Fixed income and derivatives 6 C Skills: Humanities 6 BC Course 3 - Semester 1
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Cost Management 6 C Econometrics II 6 C Financial Accounting II 6 C Financial institution systems 6 C Electives: Recommended 6 credits Course 3 - Semester 2
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Financial risk management 6 C Financial statement analysis 6 C Management Control 6 C Electives: Recommended 12 credits Course 4 - Semester 1
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Auditing financial statements 6 C Corporative governance and social responsibility 6 C Electives: Recommended 18 credits Electives to choose in 3rd and 4th year Subjects ECTS TYPE Language At the end of your stufdies you must have obtained a total of 72 credits of electivity Advanced financial accounting 6 E Asset valuation and selection 6 E Banking 6 E Development of IT applications for business 6 E Financial Derivatives 6 E Financial Econometrics 6 E Financial market law 6 E International Accounting 6 E International Finance 6 E Introduction to Data Mining for Business Intelligence 6 E Introduction to Data Mining for Business Intelligence 6 E Legislation on labour costs and social security 6 E Managerial Accounting 6 E Spanish fiscal system 6 E Course 4 - Semester 2
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Bachelor Thesis 12 BT Electives: Recommended 18 credits Electives to choose in 3rd and 4th year Subjects ECTS TYPE Language At the end of your stufdies you must have obtained a total of 72 credits of electivity Accounting for financial instruments 6 E Big Data for Business Intelligence 6 P Business finance law 6 E Business Taxes 6 E Computer applications in finance 6 E Corporate financial strategy 6 E Country report and risk assessment 6 P Digital Finance 6 P Financial accounting theory 6 E Financial and service marketing 6 E Introduction to actuarial assessment 6 E IT Management 6 E Monetary and financial economics 6 E Optimization and simulation in business 6 E Positive accounting theory 6 P Professional Internships 18 E Quantitative Microeconomics 6 E Stochastic models in finance and insurance 6 E Technological opportunities analysis 6 E Any of elective courses could not be offered in a specific year. You can check it in schedules page.
TYPES OF SUBJECTS
BC: Basic Core
C: Compulsory
E: Electives
BT: Bachelor Thesis
Mobility
- Exchange programs
Exchange programs
The Erasmus programme permits UC3M first degree and post graduate students to spend one or several terms at one of the European universities with which UC3M has special agreements or take up an Erasmus Placement, that is a work placement or internship at an EU company. These exchanges are funded with Erasmus Grants which are provided by the EU and the Spanish Ministry of Education.
The non-european mobility program enables UC3M degree students to study one or several terms in one of the international universities with which the university has special agreements. It also has funding from the Banco Santander and the UC3M.
These places are offered in a public competition and are awarded to students with the best academic record and who have passed the language threshold (English, French, German etc..) requested by the university of destination.
- European mobility
European mobility
- Non european mobility
Non european mobility
Student profile
- Entry profile
Entry profile
New students should be interested in understanding the financial and business world and be capable of abstract reasoning. Also valued are the capacity to analyse, the ability to separate causes from consequences and to extract the most relevant points when facing a problem and its solution.
The degree does not require knowledge of social sciences as the first semesters are devoted mainly to providing general education in these areas (especially in economics and business administration). Students should have a solid grounding in maths and feel confident with analytical and deductive reasoning. Finally, it is important that students be flexible and prepared to face non-structured problems for which there are no “recipes” to be immediately applied. They should also have the intellectual curiosity necessary for assessing the impact and consequences of decisions.
- Graduate profile
Graduate profile
It is very likely that after finishing your studies you would like to work in a Bank, Stock Exchange, Financial or Account Department of a company become part of the existing supervising institutions, such as the Bank of Spain, Central European Bank or the Stock Market National Commission. If this is the case, the degree in Finance and Accounting provides the ideal training.
The degree in Finance and Accounting aims to train professionals who will follow a career in the areas of investment analysis and management, banking, auditing, management and financial consulting and also provide a base for those wishing to do postgraduate studies in this field. It is a general qualification in the area of finance and accounting, with a clear professional focus, providing specific training in finance and accounting, together with a solid grounding in related areas, such as economics, business economics, quantitative methods, computing and law.
The labor market needs professionals with strong specialization in financial areas. This specialization requires or will require in the near future a professional certification. Among the best known professional certifications we find:
- The (Financial Risk Manager) FRM® certification is the most recognized internationally for professionals in the field of financial risk management
- The American certification CFA, is the best known among financial analysts professional certification.
- The Directive on Markets and Financial Instruments (MiFID II) forces individuals to make advice or selling financial products to have the necessary knowledge to perform these activities.
Professionals who want to acquire these certifications must demonstrate their knowledge in economics, financial accounting, quantitative methods, corporate and asset finance and financial instruments and ethical and professional standards. The degree in Finance and Accounting will provide the necessary certifications to further achieve these skills.
General skills in Finance and Accounting
The general skills of the degree course in Finance and Accounting include:
- Knowledge and comprehension of the way in which financial markets operate and the characteristics of the various financial instruments used by the company to attract capital. More specifically knowledge of the theoretical and technical bases of the valuation of financial assets, risk assessment and management and the possibilities of adopting conduct which will maximum value for businesses and homes.
- Familiarity with and knowledge of how to provide and analyse information for a set of questions relating to corporate management (planning, control and performance assessment), decision making processes, assignment of resources and compliance with legal requirements.
Specific skills in finance and accounting include:
- Basic knowledge of the nature of the context and institutional framework of finance and accounting.
- Knowledge of the main theoretical tools and their relevance and application to theoretical and practical problems.
- Content, concept, structure and significance of accounting reporting for business operations, for both internal and external use, including information required for financial decision making and a critical assessment of the role of accounting information in satisfying those needs.
- Integration in the various accounting and financial elements in order to make investment decisions which will generate value.
- Concepts, methods and control process which provide accuracy and integrity of financial data and protection of company assets.
- Approach to the evaluation of businesses and typical and atypical projects through accounting (internal) and financial (external in financial markets) information.
- Internal and external business risk measures and presentation of various financial instruments in order to reduce those risks.
- National and international standards of accounting and auditing. Accounting regulation.
- Study of various forms of corporate governance, advantages and disadvantages depending on the international context in which the company is required to compete.
- Accounting management, including planning and budgeting, cost management quality control and benchmarking.
- Taxation and its impact on financial decisions and management. In turn, effect on the assessment of asset portfolios.
- The nature of auditing and other control services and conceptual bases and procedures for carrying them out.
- Ethical and professional responsibilities in relation to the professional and general environment.
Use of the financial structure for resolving conflicts between various stakeholders within the company.
In addition, general skills are included in the areas relating to organisation and management, economics and information technologies. Those working in the areas of finance and accounting should be capable of identifying (through analysis and research) the economic environment in which companies are active. The identification of opportunities and risks in the sector of activity in which the company operates include both specific aspects of company, and the sector of activity in which it carries out its activities. The general subjects of corporate economics and economics will assist in providing these skills.In turn, graduate students should be sufficiently competent to describe and understand the legal framework as well as analysing the impact of changes in the regulation. Complementary legal training is concerned in particular with transmitting values of equal opportunities and gender equality within the scope of labour law. Students will also need to gain marketing skills which will enable them to anticipate changes in markets, in general and financial markets, in particular addressing the needs of clients, their employees and markets. Finally, technology significantly influences the way in which organisations operate. A finance and accounting professional needs to understand and appreciate the effects of technology in the business environment and how to use it to increase organisational skills and ensure increased efficacy of the financial planning decisions made.
Financial and accounting professionals are required to successfully manage a wide range of projects throughout their career. As a result, they should know how to carry out their work in a professional manner, making use of the technical knowledge acquired. These skills are not acquired through any particular course or subject but are developed over the course of the programme, however especially in the final year through work placements and their final dissertation. Particularly important among these basic skills is the ability to obtain and process information, in order to analyse and study in a critical manner, identifying and resolving unstructured problems unfamiliar areas. They should also be able to develop sufficient flexibility to enable them to approach the decision making process in a positive way, adjusting their perspectives as new information becomes available. They should also develop oral and written skills in order to defend and detail their arguments. Special emphasis will be placed on oral presentation during the degree course, which will permit development of skills in communicating ideas and defending arguments.
The qualification will promote attitudes which will help students to develop their ability to use the knowledge and skills that they have acquired. In this regard the following are particularly important.
- A critical and constructive attitude which will in particular, encourage flexibility.
- Students will work mainly in groups and therefore we consider that it is essential for them to keep an open mind in respect of other perspectives and opinions, while at the same time retaining the ability to adequately defend their own points of view.
- Enthusiasm for learning, which is a particularly important attitude in professions subject to constant innovation and change.
- The skills acquired by students will be evaluated through a system which balances and groups together various assessment activities. These assessments both permit and require students to demonstrate that they have understood the conceptual and applied aspects of finance and accounting and they have also acquired cognitive skills and abilities which are not directly linked to any specific subjects (communication skills for example). This is achieved through a combination of activities, resolving cases and doing exercises, oral presentation, teamwork etc. with theory and practical examinations in a continuous assessment procedure.
Study in english
Studies with English option
This bachelor's degree is taught in spanish and english. Once you have been admitted, you will choose, at the time of enrollment, the language in which you will study in accordance with the following conditions:
- In groups in English, all works (classes, drills, exercises, tests, etc.) will be conducted in English.
- Along the first year, it must be established an English B2 level, performing a test, providing one of the supported official certificates or any way determined by the university. In the first weeks of the course will inform students how they can prove their level.
- The courses offered in English are in the studies program.
- In case there are more applications than places available in English, interested persons will be ranked according to their admission grade.
- If you are enrolled in English and exceed at least 50% of the credits offered at the UC3M, in the DS appear a mention of bilingual studies.
Schedules
Quality
Facts about this bachelor's degree
Year of implementation: 2008
Places offered:
- Getafe Campus: 100
Bachelor's Degree Quality indicators
Link to publication in Official universities, centres and degrees registry
Evaluation and monitoring
Memoria de verificación del Grado en Finanzas y Contabilidad(UC3M)
Informe de verificación del Grado en Finanzas y Contabilidad
Report of modifications and accreditations of the Bachelor in Finance and Accounting
System of Internal Quality Assurance
Departments involved in teaching
In the Bachelor's Degree in Finance and Accounting teach courses the following University departments:
Departamento de Derecho Social e Internacional Privado
Departamento de Economía de la Empresa
Departamento de Ciencias Sociales
Departamento de Biblioteconomía y Documentación
Departamento de Humanidades: Filosofía, Lenguaje y Literatura
Departamento de Derecho Social e Internacional Privado
Departamento de Derecho Público del Estado