Access dividends

In regards to “QAA highlights problems with UK accounting degree” (News, 21 March): I felt it was important to address three points.

First, students are deemed as registered on the BSc programme on registration with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. They are not “enrolled” with Oxford Brookes University, and students have a variety of options available to them after completing their Acca “fundamentals” examinations. It is up to students whether they take this optional route while undertaking their professional qualifications.

Second, the phrase “Money well spent?” in the article’s picture caption may give the wrong impression about the programme’s financial implications. There are a range of options available to students and the research and analysis project submission, which costs £160, is the only additional fee paid in order to gain the BSc degree.

Finally, the recognition issues raised are not specific to this course but relate to a variety of degrees, in particular distance-learning programmes, across many jurisdictions.

The principal aim of the BSc in applied accountancy is to widen access to Oxford Brookes and provide Acca students across the world with the opportunity to obtain degrees and study for a better future.

Jane Towers-Clark
Programme lead
BSc in applied accountancy
Oxford Brookes University