THE first students of a diploma course at Newcastle University Business School have graduated.

The nine-month Graduate Diploma in Finance, Accounting and Business was launched by NUBS and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales last September. It is designed to enhance graduates’ personal and professional skills and help them develop their careers in finance, accounting and business.

Students have built up their technical and academic skills while earning credit for seven of the 15 professional papers required to qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

As a result, successful completion of the programme leads to the award of two related qualifications: Graduate Diploma from Newcastle University and the Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business from ICAEW (CFAB)

The first group has performed very well and already the majority have secured training contracts with a range of firms across the UK.

Shaun Robertson, Head of Learning for ICAEW, said: “I have been privileged to be involved with this programme and its students from the start. Watching them acquire professional skills from this joint Newcastle University and ICAEW CFAB qualification, which has led to employment and ACA training agreements, has been an extremely rewarding experience.