What are the determinants of student performance on an undergraduate accounting and finance degree?

The objective of this study is to identify the factors which have a significant impact on the performance of students on an undergraduate accounting and finance degree in the UK. Previous research in this area has taken place over many years and has considered a number of factors which might influence performance, including prior academic achievement, gender, age and numeracy. The findings of these studies have been quite mixed, perhaps reflecting differences in the institutions being considered, the courses analysed and the research methods adopted. This study extends the existing literature on the significant factors impacting on student performance on accounting courses by looking at the issue in a new context, after the change in tuition fee funding in the UK in 2012. It is the also the first study to consider ethnicity as a potential significant influencing factor on the performance of accounting students in the UK. This study follows a cohort of students who commenced an undergraduate accounting and finance degree course at a post-1992 UK University in 2012 through to their graduation in 2016. The variables potentially impacting on this performance were chosen after consideration of the previous research mentioned above. Statistical analysis was carried out to determine the degree to which these variables impacted on performance. Findings indicate that students' previous academic achievement on admission to university is a significant determinant of performance. Of particular interest is the significance of GCSE mathematics. The most significant determinant of final year performance is student achievement in the first and second years at university. Going on placement is also a significant determinant although it is clear from the data that this is partly due to the positive correlation between prior achievement and going on placement. No significant relationship was found between either Gender or Ethnicity and overall performance. The results can inform universities in terms of their policies on admissions, teaching and retention and also inform students in deciding whether to apply for or continue with an accounting course. The results will also be of interest to academics delivering accounting courses and those with an interest in accounting education.