Finance BSc (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  Our BSc Finance degree programme is ideal for those who intend to work in the investment management profession and obtain a professional financial designation with well-known investment credentials. This specialist university finance course will equip you with the strong theoretical and technical skills required for the highlighted career paths and professional finance accreditations.

  In addition, teaching on this programme will be enriched by the latest research in finance that is linked strongly with practitioner application of concepts, including corporate responsibility, regulation, and policy-guiding practice.

  BSc Finance provides you with the rigorous and essential financial, quantitative and analytical skills necessary for professional careers in banking, asset management and financial research.  You will examine core concepts in economics, financial analysis, security valuation, portfolio theory and risk management.  There is a strong focus on decision-making in line with regulatory, ethical and sustainability standards.

  Throughout this finance degree, Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters terminals will be used to enhance your learning experience by implementing theories into practice with real-world scenarios.

  Industry Placement

  If you meet the entry criteria, and choose to take an accounting and finance placement year, you will find it an invaluable experience that helps you to apply your learning in your final year and prepares you for your career in finance. We offer support in helping you to find a placement, which can be in the UK or overseas.

  The Faculty of Business and Law have a dedicated Placements team who will support you through the process of taking a placement year. You can follow the Faculty of Business and Law Placements Team to hear more about their services.

  List of modules

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 23/24. The modules relating to the academic year 24/25 will be available from June 2024.

  • Stage 1

    In the first year, you will be allocated a personal tutor, a member of the academic staff, who provides academic guidance and support through the course. During the first year of study, you will complete six compulsory introductory Finance BSc modules, that provide an essential foundation in accounting, finance and economics as well as necessary numerical and academic skills.

    • Introduction to Finance (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC1017

      Status: Compulsory
      This module introduces the key principles in financial markets and corporate finance. Students use a range of analytical tools to analyse the main sources of finance, associated risk and alignment with organisational goals.
    • Contemporary Issues in Finance (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC1018

      Status: Compulsory
      This module introduces students to contemporary issues in finance including fintech, ethical issues in finance, regulations, and financial crises.. Students develop academic and professional skills to collect, present, analyse and evaluate information relating to these issues in a reflective and critical manner.
    • Statistics and Data Analysis (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC1019

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop students? understanding and use of essential numerical and statistical techniques required to analyse real life financial data.Students summarise and analyse case studies data to provide appropriate estimations and information necessary for decision making.
    • Introduction to Accounting (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC1020

      Status: Compulsory
      This module enables students to develop knowledge and understanding of the underlying principles and concepts involved in financial accounting. Students develop technical proficiency in the use of double-entry accounting techniques, and the preparation and analysis of financial statements.
    • Financial Mathematics and Quantitative Methods (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC1021

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop students? understanding and knowledge in data analysis and quantitative methods to support decision making. Students select and collect quantitative data, and then apply appropriate numerical techniques to solve hypothetical and practical financial problems.
    • Introduction to Economics (20 Credits)
      Module code: ECN1020

      Status: Compulsory
      This module provides students with an overview of key micro and macro economics concepts and how market participants are affected by market forces. This module enables students to understand the operation of markets and the wider economy and apply economic principles to a variety of situations.
  • Stage 2

    In the second year, you will build your knowledge on the foundation of the previous year by taking six compulsory specialist modules. At this stage, you will be introduced to a range of finance subfields, including investment, ethical and professional standards, and risk management.

    • Financial Economics (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC2031

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide indepth understanding of financial management theories and their application to finance. The main focus is on developing and applying techniques to facilitate investment, finance and distribution decision making.
    • Financial Markets, Institutions and Instruments (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC2032

      Status: Compulsory
      The module develops understanding of the roles and functions of financial markets within which the financial institutions/intermediaries operate. Students examine the main theories and models for valuing financial market instruments and consider financial regulation and ethical conduct and their implications for the wider economy.
    • Ethical and Professional Standards in Finance (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC2033

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide a detailed understanding of the importance of ethical behaviour in the investment industry. The module combines professional Code of Ethics and international best practice in examining ethical issues within the investment profession.
    • Fundamentals of Investment (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC2034

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to focus on the application of financial theory to investment management. Students review a variety of theories, and approaches and their use in investment decision making. Students will apply the theoretical constructs of investments to current industry practice.
    • Financial Reporting and Analysis (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC2035

      Status: Compulsory
      This module provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the procedures and standards that govern financial disclosures and associated risks. Students select and apply a range of tools and techniques to analyse individual and group financial statements and make informed judgements about company performance.
    • Fundamentals of Risk Management (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC2036

      Status: Compulsory
      Understanding risk is fundamental to successful financial management. This modules explores the concepts and principals underpinning risk management. Starting with discussion on fundamentals of risk and reward, students learn identification and assessment of different categories of risk and build a foundation knowledge of tools and techniques of risk management.
  • Stage 3

    In the final year, you will gain in-depth knowledge by studying the more specialist areas of investment. You will take four compulsory modules and up to two designated modules. You can tailor your studies to reflect your areas of expertise and specialisms at this stage by selecting from a range of designated modules in areas such as economics, international finance, and risk management.

    • International Money and Finance (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC3007

      Status: Designate
      This module appraises the increasingly important aspect of multinational financial management in dynamic international business. It critically analyses the attractions and limitations of doing business in a global market, identifying the additional inherent risks that global market exposure produces and strategies in managing the global firm.
    • Contemporary Issues in International Banking (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC3026

      Status: Designate
      The purpose of this module is to develop students' understanding of the complexity of the international financial systems and the issues multinational banks face in different jurisdictions. The module will cover historical and current developments towards the development of the `new? financial systems architecture and the challenge for harmonisation.
    • Corporate Financial Management (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC3032

      Status: Compulsory
      This module examines corporate finance theory in relation to investment, financing and distribution decisions and its application to real world scenarios. It also explores the connection between strategic corporate finance decisions, corporate governance mechanisms and the conflicting demands of stakeholders.
    • Alternative Investments (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC3033

      Status: Compulsory
      This module looks beyond traditional investments to explore various alternative investment vehicles, methods and industries, including hedge funds, commodities, real estate and private equity. The module focuses on the workings of the industries classified under alternative investments and examing their incentives and subsequent transactions.
    • Asset Allocation and Investment Strategies (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC3034

      Status: Compulsory
      This module examines key issues in asset allocation and modern portfolio management techniques. Students plan, construct and evaluate potential asset allocation for different types of investors to achieve the desired investment performance.
    • Risk Management and Modelling (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC3035

      Status: Designate
      This module provides strong understanding of tools and technigques used in risk management in relation to securities valuation. Students build and apply risk modelling in markets characterised by increasing complexity and intensive use of technology.
    • Finance Project (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACC4009

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to support the development of independent learning throught the conceptualisation of a piece of research. Students will develop an ability to present fundamental and technical analysis of listed companies in a critical manner.
    • Economics for Decision Making (20 Credits)
      Module code: ECN3018

      Status: Designate
      The module provides students with the opportunity to explore contemporary tools for making economic and business decisions at both micro and macro levels. Students develop analytical skills through exploration of key topics in moder micro and macro economic theory, macroeconomic behaviour and stabilisation, and their application to business decision making.

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• Entry Requirements

  Standard entry requirements apply to this Finance course. A typical offer is around:

  • BCC at A Level or
  • DMM at BTEC or
  • Pass (C and above) at T Level.

  You will also require a GCSE in Maths at grade C / 4 or above.

  For information on how to apply to study with us, please see our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at undergraduate level

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  23/24 Tuition Fees
  

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £9,250
  • UK Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
  • International Full Time: £14,750

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

  Additional costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2023. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  22/23 Tuition Fees
  

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £9,250
  • UK Part Time: £1,500 per 20 credit module
  • International Full Time: £14,000

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join our full-time BSc Finance degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

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• FAQs

  How will I be assessed on the BSc Finance degree?

  Assessment will be a mix of case-based reports, essays, examinations, group activities, presentations, and a research project. The programme combines the rigour and validity of the examination process with the opportunity for you to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes by conducting in-depth research. You will prepare and submit a final year project.

  Who are the Student Support Team?

  The Student Experience Support Team are a team of previous graduates of the University of Northampton, they are here to support all Faculty of Business and Law students by offering a friendly listening ear and ensuring students are aware of the numerous support systems that the University has to offer. The team provide confidential 1-1 meetings in person and online where they will signpost the students to the relevant support teams to ensure they are aware of the support available for them throughout their studies. You can follow the Student Experience Support Team to see the services they offer.

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