Why you should study this course
The Banking and Finance course offers an insight into the financial world. By studying this course you will have the opportunity to:
- Develop your skills in our Trading Floor, which features 42 dual screen Bloomberg terminals – we are also currently a Bloomberg Experiential Learning partner, which recognises our commitment to integrating our terminals into our courses.
- Opportunity to gain the Bloomberg Market Concepts Certificate, on successful completion of a short course (subject to availability).
- Learn in a Business School that was ranked ‘excellent’ in 2020 by Eduniversal, an annual ranking of business schools in over 150 countries.
- Have the opportunity to select from a range of optional modules in your final year, allowing you to tailor your studies to a particular area of interest.
- Gain professional accreditation from some of the UK’s leading professional accounting bodies, whose representatives have visited our previous students in the past to speak about the professions and give advice and guidance on how to potentially secure a job (subject to availability). Please refer to the Accreditation and Professional Recognition and Exemptions section.
- A course that has a practical focus, preparing and analysing financial statements, as well as studying the impact of finance on real businesses through case studies of a diverse range of organisations, including easyJet, Ryanair, Apple and Ben & Jerry’s.
- Access to the university’s sigma centre, which provides maths and statistics support through drop-in sessions with experienced tutors.
- Support from our employability team, The Talent Team, throughout your course. Many of our employment team have previously worked in industry and have experience of being a recruiter; they understand the labour market, the skills employers look for and the processes used by employers to select candidates. Please note that staff may be subject to change.
- Opportunity to apply for an internship or sandwich placement* typically as a trainee accountant or in management accounting role, with previous students working at large firms in retail, healthcare and professional services, as well as a large number of small to medium-sized accountancy firms and business organisations.
What you'll study
Year one
In your first year you will have the opportunity to develop core skills and knowledge within finance, as well as studying an overview of the banking sector.
You will need 120 credits to pass the year.
Modules
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Mathematical Techniques for Finance - 20 credits
This module aims to develop students’ ability to apply appropriate mathematical techniques to financial problems. It starts by applying basic mathematical methods, and then introduces students to other techniques in the context of financial applications. It will also offer students with A-level mathematics the opportunity to apply their mathematical skills to more complex applications.
Compulsory
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Financial Accounting Foundation - 20 credits
The principal aim of this module is to introduce students to the main financial statements produced by businesses worldwide. The systems and techniques required by businesses to produce these statements, and the core concepts underpinning these statements are also addressed. Students will also learn how to use accounting ratios to critically evaluate financial statements and business performance.
Compulsory
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Fundamentals of Finance - 20 credits
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the importance of personal finance and the process for and factors affecting effective personal financial planning.
Compulsory
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Academic and Professional Skills in - 10 credits
This module aims to provide students with a range of discipline specific and professional skills enabling them to become effective and autonomous learners, with particular emphasis on personal development planning. It will develop a range of transferable capabilities such as research, writing and presentation skills, as well as training on the use of financial databases and spreadsheets. The module thus integrates academic and practical skills to enhance learning and ultimately employability.
Compulsory
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Introduction to Banking - 20 credits
The overall aim of this module is to provide students with an introductory knowledge of how banks operate to achieve financial intermediation objective. Starting from the core functions of banks, this module will present a basic understanding of financial statements of banks and financial management of banks in addition various types of risks in banking business. Students will be introduced to the central banking system informed of how central banks play a pivotal role in the industry.
Compulsory
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Statistical Analysis for Finance - 20 credits
This module aims to provide students to acquire statistical reasoning and thinking skills and to relate those skills to financial problem solving and conducting business research.
Compulsory
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Add+vantage Module - 10 credits
You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.
Compulsory
Assessment: coursework, exam
Year two
In your second year you will have the opportunity to enhance your skills in finance topics, and the chance to gain an understanding of financial markets and learn about specific topics within banking.
You will need 120 credits to pass the year.
Modules
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Banking Regulation - 20 credits
The overall aim of this module is to assess the need for and nature of financial regulation in general and banking regulation in particular. It will consider the justification for regulation as well as alternative structures of regulation and their advantages and disadvantages. It will discuss recent developments in global banking regulation and assess objectives and the likelihood that they will achieve these objectives. The module will also discuss the changing nature of banks and the implications of this for the regulatory environment.
Compulsory
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Principles of Banking - 20 credits
This module aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and practical underpinnings of modern day banking. It will cover a broad range of topics to provide an understanding of the structure, operation and functions of banking institutions in financial market.
Compulsory
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Employability Skills in Finance 1 - 10 credits
This module aims to ensure students have a clear understanding of the expectations internships and placements employers have and how to best prepare to face the job market at this level. The module begins with an opportunity for self-evaluation where students complete a skills audit in order to identify strengths and weaknesses relative to the applications for relevant internships and placements. Once this reflective exercise is completed, students will address and enhance the areas of weaknesses identified and also be supported and mentored towards job opportunities that would best utilise their strengths.
Compulsory
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Principles of Finance - 20 credits
This module aims to introduce students to relevant concepts in finance. Students will learn about the workings of the equity and bond markets, gain quantitative skills to price stocks and bonds, acquire techniques to exploit the trade-off between risk and return to an optimal effect, develop critical understanding of theories and empirics of asset pricing models and market efficiency hypothesis, and become aware of key financial decisions taken by firms. The module elucidates the basics of the financial theory and how they are applied in the real world. It also provides students with structured opportunities to develop quantitative and analytical skills for more advanced undergraduate studies in finance.
Compulsory
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Financial Markets and Institutions - 20 credits
This module aims to introduce students to various types of financial markets and institutions through a unique analysis of the risks faced by investors and savers interacting through financial institutions and financial markets, as well as strategies that can be adopted for controlling and managing risks. Students will also learn to understand and to be able to critically evaluate some new areas of operations in financial markets and institutions such as asset securitisation, off-balance-sheet activities, and globalisation of financial services.
Compulsory
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Introduction to Econometrics - 20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of statistical techniques.
Compulsory
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Add+vantage Module - 10 credits
You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.
Compulsory
Assessment: coursework, exam
Final year
In your second year you will have the opportunity to enhance your skills in finance topics, and the chance to gain an understanding of financial markets and learn about specific topics within banking.
You will need 120 credits to pass the year.
Modules
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Risk Management in Banking - 20 credits
This module enables students to understand how banks are impacted by risk, and what measures banks can take to measure and mitigate risks they encounter. Bank risk is explored within the traditional spectrum of risk types, including liquidity, credit, market risk, and operational risk. But importantly, bank risk is also explored at enterprise (balance sheet) level, and also at whole financial sector (systemic) level, in order to reflect the emergence and increasing recognition of systemic risk management as a risk discipline.
Compulsory
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Employability Skills in Finance 2 - 10 credits
This module aims to ensure students have a clear understanding of the expectations graduate employers have and how to best prepare to face the graduate market. The module begins with an opportunity for personal evaluation, where students complete a skills audit in order to identify strengths and weaknesses. Once the self-evaluation is completed, students will have the opportunity to develop and enhance areas of weakness and also be guided towards schemes that would best utilise or match their strengths.
Compulsory
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Project - 20 credits
This module aims to provide students with an opportunity to apply and develop their research skills and to extend their knowledge, understanding and ability to critically analyse in a specialist area of interest. The student will chose an academic area related to their programme of study and apply their independent learning skills to research this area in depth. Students will receive academic support through a series of group supervisions and will be allocated a project supervisor.
Compulsory
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International Financial Market - 20 credits
The aims of this module are to enable students to understand the characteristics and organisation of the international financial markets and to identify their potential uses in business situations. The module will include the role and functioning of the markets within which the financial institutions operate, such as the money market, the equity market and the bond market. The module also aims to enable students to identify the potential risks and dangers in the use of these markets and evaluate recent global and domestic financial crisis.
Compulsory
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Applied Banking Case Studies - 20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop students' ability to apply theories and concepts, learned earlier in the course, to actual situations faced by the banking industry. Students will undertake a case study of an issue in contemporary banking that will require them to utilise skills acquired during the course. The case studies will be based on issues that will be of interest to the industry at the time of module delivery.
Compulsory
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Add+vantage Module
Compulsory
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Optional Modules
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Choose one from the following modules:
Applied Econometrics - 20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop students' understanding of econometric techniques and economics modelling relevant to various Macro and Microeconomic applications. The empirical work covered in the lectures and seminars will be supplemented by students undertaking applied studies (using real and simulated data) using the econometrics packages for example E-views, PC-Give.
Corporate Governance and Business Ethics - 20 credits
Investment Analysis - 20 credits
The module focuses on the bond and equity markets. Students are introduced to discounted cash flow related bond pricing techniques along with bond portfolio managements and the associated risk immunisation methodologies. In respect to equity valuation, students will compare and contrast discounted cash flow methods with fundamental valuation approaches associated with approaches such as value investing and growth investing. Market timing is also explored through the application of technical analysis.
Portfolio Management - 20 credits
This module examines how portfolios are structured, monitored and managed for maximum effectiveness. It develops students understanding and ability to apply asset allocation, portfolio strategies, international diversification and performance evaluation techniques.
Optional
