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Course syllabus - Financial Accounting

Scope

7.5 credits

Course code

FOA189

Valid from

Autumn semester 2026

Education level

First cycle

Progressive Specialisation

G1N (First cycle, has only upper-secondary level entry requirements)

Main area(s)

Business Administration

Organisation

Department of Business and Mathematics

Ratified

2021-01-22

Revised

2025-11-03

Literature lists

Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.

    • Ratified date: 2023-11-06
    • Latest update: 2025-05-27

    Books

    Sangster, Alan; Gordon, Lewis; Wood, Frank; Sangster, Alan

    Frank Wood's business accounting: an introduction to financial accounting

    ISBN: 9781292365435

    LIBRIS-ID: 6l19d6lk4z7j6g8c

    Fifteenth edition., Harlow, England, Pearson, xxiii, 813 pages

    Mandatory

Objectives

The course has the purpose to provide students with understanding of the key financial statements, how they are used in organisations and how they can be analysed to understand an organisation's financial position and strategy.

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course the student should be able to:

  1. Describe how accounting may be used as the language of business.
  2. Describe how the key financial statements are created via double-entry bookkeeping.
  3. Explain how to analyse key financial statements to describe an organisation's financial position and financial strategy
  4. Describe different international general accounting standards and how ethical and sustainability aspects are illustrated in the presentation of financial reports.
  5. Present and argue, both in written and in oral, how the aspects of accounting, financial statements and standards interrelate.

Course content

The course will focus on financial accounting and give students an introduction to read and analyse the key financial statements. The course will cover how organisations use these statements and how they can be analysed to understand the financial position of an organisation and its financial strategy. The course will also give an introduction to the different international general accounting standards and how ethical and sustainability aspects can influence financial reporting.

Requirements

Basic eligibility and English 6 Or: English level 2

Examination

Assignment (INL1) 1,5 credits, marks Pass (G) (Linked to learning outcomes 1 , 2, 4 and 5)
Seminar (SEM1) 1,5 credits, marks Pass (G) (Linked to learning outcome 1, 2, 3 and 5)
Written examination (TEN1) 4,5 credits, grade Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Insufficient (F) (Linked to learning outcome 1, 2, 3 and 4)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding disability study support, can request adaptions for the examination. It is the examiner who takes decisions on any adaptions, based on the certificate and other conditions.

Grade

AF-skala

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course overlaps 7,5 credits with respective courses:
FOA133 Financial and Management Accounting 1
EFO021 Financial Accounting I
EFO009 Introduction to Financial and Management Accounting
FOA146 Financial Accounting
FOA166 Financial Accounting