Oxford Brookes degree -Grading & Graduation Questions

@Hafsa Please consider this page : https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-entry-and-administration/oxford-brookes-bsc-hons-in-applied-accounting/oxford-brookes-bsc-celebrating-success.html Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi – OBU BSc. RAP Mentor.

UK GRADUATION CEREMONIES 2016 The above will take place on 22nd June 2016 at 3pm and 5pm at Headington campus ( a short bus or taxi ride from the city centre). All applicable students will be sent details by OBU shortly. As there are usually a number of overseas students who would also like to attend though not resident in the UK, I suggest that you email the ACCA Office asap to see if it is possible for you too to be able to book a place as places may be very limited for such students.

@michael You are right! Please refer to page 16 of info pack https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/ACCA_Global/Students/bsc/IP2015-16.pdf. "The ACCA average mark will be calculated by taking the numerical average of the marks achieved in the Fundamentals Skills papers (F 4–F9) that you have sat and passed. Where the calculated average mark is not a whole number, the calculated average will be rounded up or down accordingly. If you have been given an exemption from any of the three papers F4–F6, no mark is available and so will not be included in the calculation of the ACCA average mark. " Ensure that you exert full efforts for passing RAP as it requires alot of effort. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi

Dear Members, I hope you guys are doing well, I know this question might be questioned a lot of times but as an individual I want to confirm myself. On average of F4-F9 I will be scoring 71% which is First Class degree if I pass my RAP, so is there any student who have applied on OBU degree basis for Post graduation (Masters) in Australia and UK and was accepted without any hurdle? On simple note will I have any disadvantage ?? or I will be seen as a normal degree holder candidate? Regards.

You should have no problem if applying to a UK university. I cannot comment on other countries as arrangements and recognition of academic qualifications varies from country to country. These days many Masters programmes are offered distance learning so I am sure you will be able to find a course that suits your future plans :-D Although many congrats on an eventual 1st class Hons. Degree remember that the RAP requires a slightly different skill set - independent research and application of critical thought for example (not normally required for exams). For a masters degree these skills are incredibly important so use the RAP experience as an opportunity to develop them.

Dear Trephena, Thanks a lot for your reply... I will surely take your advise while doing RAP and contact if I require further assistance. Regards

In what ways would it be recognized or beneficial? really curious since we may not get an average of 60

@ahmed BSc Hons. in Applied Accounting is a strong degree which add significant value to ACCA qualification if you don’t have degree as many employers now require ACCA graduates especially in middle east which i have experienced and they emphasis that you complete your academic study before opting a professional qualification. I completed ACCA at age of 19 years along with high school and then i did not had degree so BSc Hons. helped me in completing my academic studies. Further, Research Analysis Project for this degree is a relaxed version of ICAEW ACA’s Case study exam which develop equal skills required for that exam except for time pressure. With this degree you may apply for masters in those universities which do not recognise professional qualifications. OBU degree also helps you in English language Exemption if you are required English language test for any purpose. Lastly, if you already have one bachelors then getting another with just one project and £200 is not a bad deal and adds significant value to your CV in my opinion. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi – OBU BSc Hons. RAP Mentor

Hello Mr. Hammad I truly appreciate your in depth response I do know that having a bsc would be beneficial But I would like to repeat my question If I got my average of 50 I would be eligible to to attend this bsc? I've heard that people who scored higher average of 70 and passed the RAP Would get the first rate degree And for those of 60 would get second rate degree and this would minimize the papers required to complete the masters degree But for those who've got less than 60 and managed to pass the RAP would get the third rate degree and would this rate degree help in he same way I.e. be recognised and accepted into jobs And also eligible to attend higher certificates courses having completed this And I would like to add that if I get this then this would be my only bsc as I shifted to acca directly after highscool and I'm not taking a bsc at a university I apologise for the inconvenience Thanks in advance

@ahmed Please read carefully. Q1 Is the BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting recognised in the country in which Ilive? The BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting is equivalent to any undergraduate Honours degree undertaken at a UK university and is recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). You will have to ask your own higher education authority if the BSc is recognised in your own country. Q2) Can you provide me with my Grade Point Average? The BSc in Applied Accounting programme does not currently operate a GPA system. The programme is considering implementing the GPA system alongside the current UK degree classification, subject to agreement with ACCA. The University has launched its GPA system for on-campus programmes starting in 2013. Q3) How many credits is the degree worth? 360 credits or 180 European Credit Transfer System credits. Q4) Can you provide me with a personal or academic reference? As the programme is a distance learning course, we are unable to provide academic or personal references. However, we are able to provide award confirmation letters and /or transcripts. Addition, Most of the Universities in the USA and Canada recognized BSC Hons but it goes through an evaluation process. If you are planning to study in the USA for Master program or any professional qualification such as CPA USA and CPA CGA. You can prepare yourself to eligible. There is many success stories of students who made their career in Europe, USA and Canada. Students should select right mentor to give them right direction. If you are asking about value of BSc degree in the Middle East Job Market. I spent two years in Dubai. Employers are just happy to see your Graduate degree whatever you have either from Pakistan or UK. Actually you are getting BSC degree on the basis of ACCA by submitting thesis only. you are not eligible to get personal or academic reference. You should focus to achieve good average marks in ACCA ultimately it will be helpful to get higher class in BSC degree. Grade will be varied on your quality of the project. If you saved average 60 marks then you will get upper second class otherwise lower second. Regards, Ali Farooq OBU Registered Mentor

@ahmed With average of 50, you are eligible for this program if you meet eligibility criteria in OBU info pack 2016 https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/ACCA_Global/Students/bsc/IP2015-16.pdf. Info pack also tells how grading of your RAP is done. You are correct in terms of grading but for you, if you have percentage above 52% and you get A or B grade in RAP then you can get Lower Second Class Degree and if you have 58% or above and you get A grade in RAP then you will get Upper Second Class Degree. Even if you get third class, it is accepted and recognised in Universities & jobs. You will write in your CV that you own BSc Hons rather class. You will be eligible for higher certifications but again it depend on institution and organisation. You are same case as i was, so BSc Hons. is necessary for you. Make decision on the basis that you will have degree if you do it otherwise you will not have. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi - OBU Registered Mentor.

@ali farooq and @hammad Thank you very much for clearing this doubt i had for quite some time I truly appreciate both of your advices, I will take it with priority and shall strive hard to do my best to get this degree Thanks for lending me both your time

Hello Mr. Hammad, I am confused about whether should I do the Bsc or not. My average mark is 56 and if I do the bsc, I will be awarded with a lower second class degree. After high school I enrolled to study ACCA and I did not go to university. My concern is that, is it worth having a 2.2 degree.

@Michael Hope you are doing well. What I say Its better to have BSC degree. It will be helpful for you to get job on the basis of graduation. you can avail good opportunities to take further qualification such as CPA USA, CPA CGA, or any Master program. you will get 180 European Credit Transfer. what else you need ? everything will be in your hand. Just make perfect thesis by getting proper mentoring from competent Mentor and achieve high Grade. forget about class. My friend he is living in Maryland USA, He got admission for Master program from top USA university on the basis of BSC and ACCA affiliation. Hope for the best. Hope the answer of the question. Regards, Bsc Registered Mentor and ACCA Member

@bbbdung02 In my opinion, if you pass at 2nd or 3rd attempt, this indicate that you had ability to pass and you failed in first attempt just because you did not research and worked hard. Also as OBU tell your weaknesses and where you need to focus more for passing in 2nd attempt and further, so they may have made policy of giving C grade after failing first attempt as through markers comments, you now know what to do for passing. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi - OBU Registered Mentor.

@michael Degree and a professional accounting qualification are a powerful combination of qualifications to have, putting you in demand with employers and increasing your career prospects. It is perfect opportunity to gain a relevant degree-level qualification to your chosen career path, develop skills that are not necessarily developed from taking the ACCA examinations alone, such as presentation and report writing skills, as well as being able to achieve a class of degree which reflect your previous efforts, time and studies towards the ACCA qualification. You will find the recognition for your ACCA examination results. After successful completion of degree, you can study for Masters degree or other professional qualifications such as CIMA, ACA, etc. According to recent research, graduate salaries for those working in the banking and finance sector are among the highest paying at an average of €35,000 per year. BSc Hons. in Applied Accounting is a strong degree which add significant value to ACCA qualification if you don’t have degree as many employers now require ACCA graduates especially in middle east which i have experienced and they emphasis that you complete your academic study before opting a professional qualification. I completed ACCA at age of 19 years along with high school and then i did not had degree so BSc Hons. helped me in completing my academic studies. Further, Research Analysis Project for this degree is a relaxed version of ICAEW ACA’s Case study exam which develop equal skills required for that exam except for time pressure. With this degree you may apply for masters in those universities which do not recognise professional qualifications. OBU degree also helps you in English language Exemption if you are required English language test for any purpose. Lastly, if you already have one bachelors then getting another with just one project and £200 is not a bad deal and adds significant value to your CV in my opinion. On CV you will extending your relevant qualification section relating to finance & accounting and also first class Hons. is anything that university students dream of. As an employer, i will always prefer a student who qualified ACCA and also hold an Hons. Degree because its just not you have the degree but also the research and analysis skills you posses after doing RAP. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi – OBU BSc Hons. RAP Mentor

@michael Yes, you will only need to pass RAP but working hard will give you satisfaction over your research and analysis skill if you achieve an A grade. I will always recommend to aim for best. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi – OBU BSc Hons. RAP Mentor

@GT0707 In addition to my reply to @michael (please read them above), reasons for doing BSc Hons. even if you get 2.2 or 3rd class are that you will write BSc Hons. with your name, your CV will include a new relevant qualification to accounts and finance, you will not write Hons. classification on CV. Further, 2.1 and 2.2 are the most common classes of degree that students posses who study in a university and become graduates. It is not always everyone get first class or upper second class degree. You will be having a degree after submitting just one project which if you offer to any university student, he/she will definitely go for it even if it gives him/her below 3rd class degree because they know how you spend 3 years of your life in university, struggle and hard-work for getting a Degree. Research Analysis Project (RAP) is an ultimate analysis for which you have to do alot of research. It develop strong skills of presentation, report writing, structuring, self management of learning, confidence building, organising and self reflection of your strengths and weaknesses. So, as an ACCA you may lack some of graduate skills which may become obstacle in your career or you will have to work on them later if you get managerial role at your employer. So, i will always recommend to do BSc Hons. not just to get degree but also to improve and learn some new skills. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi – OBU BSc Hons. RAP Mentor

Hello Mr. Hammad, Thank you for the reply. I have more query. I am yet to complete the professional ethics module, after which I will get an Advanced Diploma. Is it possible for me to carry on with the professional papers and later on,i,e, after completing the prof papers, I do the report and submit it to OBU.

@bbbdung02 In my opinion, if you pass at 2nd or 3rd attempt, this indicate that you had ability to pass and you failed in first attempt just because you did not research and worked hard. Also as OBU tell your weaknesses and where you need to focus more for passing in 2nd attempt and further, so they may have made policy of giving C grade after failing first attempt as through markers comments, you now know what to do for passing. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi – OBU Registered Mentor.

@GT0707 Yes, this is totally fine. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi – OBU BSc Hons. RAP Mentor

@Jahnvi Thank you Jahnvi, Best of Luck. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi – OBU Registered Mentor.

Is it true that there wont be any more regional graduation ceremonies after the UK ceremony? So does that mean period 31 graduates will have to wait until next year february.

@brilliantmufa93 Currently, i have no knowledge of this but you can look at https://www.accaglobal.com/pk/en/student/exam-entry-and-administration/oxford-brookes-bsc-hons-in-applied-accounting/oxford-brookes-bsc-celebrating-success.html Also confirm this from [email protected]. Regards, Hammad Ahmed Qureshi – OBU Registered Mentor.

HI, HAS ANYONE RECEIVED THEIR DEGREE CERTIFICATE AND TRANSCRIPTS FROM OBU? GRADUATION CEREMONY IS SCHEDULED FOR THE LAST WEEK IN JUNE, HAS OBU SENT OUT LETTERS OF INVITATION TO ANYONE?

Please is it still possible for me to get 2:1 if my mark is 2 short to average 60.Is there approximation.

Hello, my mark average 59.6, I want to know if the mark can be approximated to 60 by OBU grading system. Thanks.

Marks are always rounded up, so your average would be 60. Your degree grade will be in accordance with the table set out in the Information Pack and will depend to a certain extent on your RAP grade but mainly your average exam mark. The RAP is graded A, B, C or F (fail) it is not give a number score like exams. It is not possible therefore to pick up any 'extra' marks from the project to change the degree classification - the table is 'fixed' in that sense .

Thanks a lot.

TRANSCRIPTS - HI ALL, Please does OBU Send transcripts to passed students that are different from transcripts we obtain from ACCA?