LSBF launches ‘debt-free degree’ and professional qualification for school leavers

Package aims to prepare students for working world, offering alternative to student debt, work placements and a professional qualification seen by 85% of employers as an asset

In the face of the high costs and the low value for money of many traditional university degrees, London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) today launched an exclusive package set to revolutionise the way students get ready for a career in the financial industry. The package, which includes a professional financial qualification, soft and technical skills, combined with a top-up bachelor’s degree, will be offered for a fraction of the price of a traditional degree course in the UK. As well as avoiding potentially more than £20,000 in tuition fee debt, students may also have the opportunity to work for – and have their education sponsored by – an accountancy firm during the programme.

As one of the leading tuition providers for the ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) qualification, the school has created a package tailored exclusively to school-leavers looking to start a career in the financial sector without going to university. The offer will combine practical skills and workplace experience to ensure students are ready for professional life, and get the jobs they deserve. The innovative programme, which brings together the widely respected ACCA qualification, also sees the college’s careers service endeavour to find students a training contract with a top-100 accountancy firm as early as the first year of their studies.

After the four-year course, students will be awarded a full bachelor’s degree in applied accounting, as well as a coveted ACCA qualification, the industry-wide pre-requisite for professional accountants.

The launch of this four-year course follows research which found that 85% of employers considered professional qualifications such as ACCA as an “advantage”, “important” or “extremely important” asset when making hiring decisions.

The course’s focus on teaching workplace skills, such as presenting, financial modelling, ethics and teamwork is at the crux of the programme. This follows 91% of the survey respondents saying that the aptitude and motivation of candidates was either “important” or “extremely important.”

Rob Sowerby, Director of Professional Courses at LSBF said: “While the usual route to accountancy qualifications for students involves three years at a traditional university, accumulating a huge burden of often crippling debt in excess of £30,000, and then several years training for the ACCA, we are offering students something that is too often missing from the further education market – choice.

“Our survey found that, at the same time as the demand for professional qualifications grows, recruiters are increasingly giving preference to work experience and placing greater emphasis on personality traits such as motivation and communication skills.”

“Our students may gain the BSc in Applied Accounting that they want for their CV, the ACCA qualification that is the gold standard in the accountancy business, as well as key skills in presentation, people management, communication and research, meaning that they are better equipped for their first job straight after their studies.”

“We understand that accountancy might not be for everyone. But if you intend to study accounting or business studies, we are offering a highly sought-after qualification and excellent employability prospects for the increasing number of students seeking an alternative to large debts and a degree which sometimes can have relatively little intrinsic worth in the job market.”