Finance, BSc (Hons), with industry placement

Course summary

As financial markets across the world grow more closely connected, this specialist degree develops the necessary quantitative and analytical skills you’ll need to pursue a career in the financial services industry. The course combines academic excellence, insightful research and exceptional global business connections, equipping you with the tools to become an innovative business thinker in your career and beyond. This four-year degree includes a placement year to give you a real-world taste of work. The placement is a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand industry experience and start building a network of business contacts in preparation for graduation.Our flexible study programme puts you in control. The curriculum links academic theory with practical experience through a combination of core and optional modules that offer plenty of opportunities to tailor your studies as your interests evolve. As an alternative to the placement route, you have the option to complete the degree in three years or spend a year abroad. In the first year, you study compulsory modules that provide the key fundamentals to examine and evaluate modern financial markets.The second year is made up of finance modules which will give you the skills to examine financial issues and institutions, markets and securities across global markets. You’ll also learn to interpret financial data and price financial securities.The final year offers more flexibility. You can choose modules tailored to your interests and career aspirations. The dissertation, on a finance topic of your choice, makes up a third of your final year marks.

Year 1 Core modules: Foundations of Finance explores the key principles of corporate finance and their importance to firms. From bonds and stocks to capital structure and dividend policy, it provides you with a solid grounding in issues of finance as they relate to the business and financial markets. Financial Accounting covers the basic concepts and techniques involved in financial accounting reports, including the preparation of basic financial statements. Quantitative Methods 1 provides you with a rigorous introduction to the fundamental mathematical techniques you will need throughout your degree. Quantitative Methods 2 introduces the analytical and statistical techniques widely used in finance and business. Introduction to Financial Economics examines the basic principles of economics of microeconomics and macroeconmics in a financial context. The study of subjects like market structure, fiscal policy, stock market and economic growth will provide a solid foundation for modules in micro- and macroeconomics. Global Financial Systems and Markets develops the knowledge of the operations of financial institutions within the global financial system and the products and services these institutions provide; the markets in which financial institutions operate and that facilitate the process of intermediation; and the purpose and scope of financial oversight and regulation. In recent years, optional modules have included: Ethics and Finance Principles of Taxation