The Ernst & Young Degree

The ICAS qualification is internationally recognised and highly regarded as an accounting qualification.

ICAS is the only professional body in the UK that both trains and sets the exams for all its students.  Therefore, employers around the world, including Ernst & Young, know that the CA qualification stands for consistency and high standards.  This is reflected in the fact that ICAS members can be found working in every type of business around the world. 

Because this is a very popular degree, we need to ensure that we have as much information as possible available before making a decision to invite a candidate to the selection workshop. 

The selection process for the degree has been designed to ensure that it is fair to all applicants who apply via UCAS.  In addition, if you have any special requirements, please do indicate these on the supplementary application form.

If applicants have any problems in completing the supplementary application form and/or online test, please contact the Department directly.

All applications for BSc (Hons) Accounting, Auditing and Finance (the Ernst & Young Degree) must be made via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). 

The UCAS code for the new degree is NN43 (short name is BSc/AccE&Y) and the Institution code is L14.

Any offer for the BSc (Hons) Accounting, Auditing and Finance degree will only be made after successful attendance at a selection workshop organised by Ernst & Young.

Applications for entry in 2010 should be made via UCAS from September 2009 onwards.

We believe that, to succeed during your study and placements, it is important that we consider more about our applicants than a UCAS application can convey. 

The selection process for the degree has been designed to ensure that it is fair to all applicants who may apply via UCAS.  In addition, if you have any special requirements, please do indicate these on the supplementary application form.

Because this is a very popular degree, we need to ensure that we have as much information as possible available before making a decision to invite a candidate to the selection workshop. 

The supplementary application form and online testing are administered by Ernst & Young, although Lancaster University is responsible for the admission of its students and retains UCAS application details for this purpose.

You can find out more about the selection process here.

In addition, we believe that the workshop is an opportunity for applicants to find out more about the degree.  The workshop includes an individual interview as well as various tasks such as a group exercise and written report.  Workshops will run over the course of a full day.  For candidates required to travel a significant distance from inside or outside the UK, arrangement for accommodation the night before the workshop will be made by Ernst & Young.  Also, for those required to travel, EY will re-imburse up to £150 for standard-class travel costs.

If, after completing the selection workshop, we would like to make you an offer, this will be confirmed via UCAS. 

This offer is usually conditional upon your academic examinations (unless these have been completed beforehand) and may also include requirements for an English language test score for overseas students.

In addition, you will receive more information from the University and from Ernst & Young.

You must accept an offer of a place via UCAS.

The fees system in the UK, for UK and EU students, have changed.  For more information on all fees (including for International students) please check out our University website on fees and finance. 

Also, as this is a four year sandwich degree scheme, this means that 20% fees will be payable for the sandwich year (Year 3), as well as the standard fees payable for an undergraduate degree in the UK, according to residency (i.e. Home/UK or International students).

Ernst & Young will pay a bursary directly to students of the BSc (Hons) Accounting, Auditing and Finance, of £1,000.00, during the first year.  This is intended to help students with university set-up costs and is considered separately from fees payable to the University.

In addition, please check out the University website on bursaries and other funding support available for new UK students.

Placements with Ernst & Young are paid, and include holiday entitlement and other benefits.  Pay will vary according to the region in which a student is placed, but will be at a competitive rate.

Because our students sign a 40-week contract for their accommodation in College halls on campus, it will be necessary to pay rent due during the two terms when students will be on short placement with Ernst & Young.  However, Ernst & Young will make a contribution to cover campus costs (as appropriate) during the short placements in Years 2 and 4. 

Of course, during the whole year away in Year 3, students do not need to pay any rent on campus.

Applicants may find out more about accommodation by visiting our accommodation webpages at http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/cro/.

Students will be responsible for finding their own accommodation.  However, the EY office at which you will be based will be able to offer advice on rental agencies available in their area, upon request.

You will spend the periods of paid placement with Ernst & Young, working within a team for one or more of a variety of different projects for different clients.  Typical placements you may be involved with will be described by Ernst & Young during the selection workshop.

Any offer for the BSc (Hons) Accounting, Auditing and Finance degree will only be made after successful attendance at a selection workshop organised by Ernst & Young, in collaboration with the University.

Admissions criteria are as follows, depending upon the qualifications you offer:-

• A/AS-level: AAA/AAB 
• Key skills: Not included in offer  
• Preference: Two or more A-levels  
• GCSE: Maths (minimum grade B), and English Language (minimum grade B)  
• Scottish Highers: ABBBB  - AAABB  
• Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects  
• International Bacc: 35 -36  points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects  
• IELTS: 6.5 or an English Language qualification, depending on past study, equivalent to IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all elements).  
• BTEC: DDD

Note: Offers will only be made after successful completion of the selection workshop

The UCAS code for the degree is NN43 (short name is BSc/AccE&Y) and the Institution code is L14.

We cannot guarantee an eventual job offer with Ernst & Young.  Ernst & Young make their final employment decision based upon a wide profile of information reviewed for all candidates.

However, we should add that Ernst & Young aim to identify potential future leaders via this degree scheme and we expect that the initial selection process, and support from Ernst & Young during placement, will help you prepare for successful graduate employment. 

However, we can never guarantee a job offer from Ernst & Young upon graduation.

When a UCAS application is received for the 'Ernst & Young degree'/BSc (Hons)Accounting, Auditing & Finance (UCAS code: NN43), then the Management School makes an initial academic judgement. 

This is not a decision to make an offer for that degree - rather, if we consider an application suitable, then the candidate will be invited to enter the full selection process

Should a candidate not make it through the full selection process, then it would be common practice for us to consider making an alternative offer for a related degree.  BA/BSc (hons) Accounting & Finance is our major degree programme and may be an interesting alternative for a candidates, as may other major and joint major programmes.  Please contact the School direct for more advice.

During the placement year (Year 3) of the Ernst & Young degree, students study for two ICAS examinations, forming part of the overall CA qualification.  These two modules are also incorporated into a student's Part 2 study credits and recorded on the overall transcript for each student.

As well as the two modules studied in the placement year (Year 3), most other modules studied during the Ernst & Young degree count towards gaining exemptions from certain other ICAS subjects.    Therefore, it is a requirement of ICAS that these modules be passed in order to gain the exemptions.

Students are subject to the same rules and regulations of the University regarding resits and failed modules, be they in Year 2 or Years 3/4.  For more information, please click here to link to the current year's undergraduate handbook.  Please note that University and Programme regulations may change from time to time.

When an offer is accepted by an applicant, they will also receive details of a current student with whom they can get in touch, to ask any further questions they may have.  This is known as the 'buddy' system and is co-ordinated by Ernst & Young with students and applicants.