Financial Planning & Practice BSc (Hons)
Key Facts
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UCAS Code:
3 years: N390
Foundation: N391 -
Level:
Undergraduate
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Duration:
Full Time: 3 Years
Full Time with Foundation: 4 Years
Part Time: 4 - 6 Years -
Starting:
September
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Fees UK:
Full Time: £9,250
Part Time: £1,465
Integrated Foundation Year: £6,780 -
Fees International:
Full Time: £13,000
Integrated Foundation Year: £13,000 -
Location:
Waterside
Get in touch
For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:
UK/EU Students enquiries
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
International Students enquiries

Overview
If you are seeking a career in the financial sector such as banking, personal financial planning, investments and wealth management, this programme is ideal for you.
This vocationally orientated course helps prepare you for the world of financial planning and banking and provides you with a solid foundation for future employment within this sector or for further academic study.
This course is accredited by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the regulator of the financial services industry.
Updated 25/01/2021
Highlights
- Optional work placement year.
- Shape your course to reflect your areas of expertise and specialisms.
- Progression courses available.
- HP laptop and software included with this course for eligible student. Eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply.
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Course Content
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This course aims to develop key academic and professional skills in banking, finance and financial services. Financial Planning & Practice differs from Accounting and Finance in that the subject is more analytical, requiring you to be investigative in your problem-solving.
Year 1
At Stage one you will develop your skills and will be introduced to the key topics within the subject such as the Principles of Banking. You can also choose to study the law surrounding businesses and companies, or take a work-based learning module based on your chosen career path.
Year 2
At Stage two you will take specialist modules in investment, pensions and retirement planning, personal tax, financial intermediation and financial services law. These are core subjects if you are considering pursuing a career in the retail financial services sector. You will then have the opportunity to select modules in the areas of interest to you, such as pensions, taxation and the role of the services sector.
Year 3
At Stage three, you will be able to study the more strategic and specialist areas of banking and financial planning. As part of your assessment at this stage, you will be expected to write a comprehensive financial plan based on a true to life case study. This financial plan will allow you to put all of the theory you’ve learnt into practice as you will solve real world problems and will need to offer practical advice and give recommendations to help clients achieve their objectives. Through this project you will also develop your client facing skills which will help to prepare you for the workplace.
You can shape your course to reflect your areas of expertise and specialisms at this stage by selecting from a range of optional modules in areas such as sales and marketing, insurance and personal tax planning.
List of modules
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Financial Protection (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC1010Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to deliver the core content in line with FCA accreditation guidelines for Financial Protection. It will build a sound knowledge in all aspects of current financial protection products needs and trends used by financial planners.
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Financial Regulation and Ethics (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC1011Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to build an understanding of financial regulation to include the role of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) the bank regulatory bodies (the PRA & FPC) and the role of prudence market discipline and supervisory review. It also encourages the development of institutional regulatory and ethical perspectives. The module represents a key component in understanding banking and financial services industry supervision and regulation.
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Financial Skills and Numeracy (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC1012Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to develop decision making skills which rely on the proper collection effective presentation and correct analysis and interpretation of numerical data. It introduces the basic concepts of business mathematics and statistical methods and lays the foundation of quantitative techniques.
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Principles of Banking (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC1013Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to introduce the role of banks and other financial institutions (FIs) and how they connect within the financial system. The products and services that banks and other FI?s provide are covered in detail. It builds an understanding of the history the development and evolution of bank products and their significance in financial intermediation and money creation.
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The Economic Environment (20 Credits)
Module code: ECN1006Status: CompulsoryThis module will enable students to understand the operation of markets and the economy and apply economic principles to material in their other courses. It considers both microeconomics - the analysis of choices made by individual decision-making units and macroeconomics - the analysis of the economy as a whole.
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Business and Company Law (20 Credits)
Module code: LAW1015Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to enable students to acquire a sound understanding of certain fundamental aspects of Business and Company Law. This will include the basic principles of contract law which underpins agency employment and company law contracts. Students will understand how the legal rules operate to maintain harmonious relationships between a range of business and companies. .
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Financial Protection (20 Credits)
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Taxation Theory and Practice (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC2009Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to examine how taxation affects the financial strategy of organisations commercial and non-commercial national and international. It develops an appreciation of the effect of taxation on financial decision-making.
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Enterprise Operations (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC2018Status: DesignateThe purpose of this module is to analyse the core functional areas of enterprise to explore the economic social and political context of modern business. The module considers information systems operations management marketing and managing human capital. Major developments such as the role of internal governance information technology and marketing planning in the development of corporate strategy within a global economy are covered.
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Investment Principles and Risk (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC2020Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to deliver the core content in line with FCA accreditation guidelines for Investment Principles & Risk. This module will analyse the suitability of investment products in the context of current financial theory. It covers a review and critical appraisal of investment performance in relation to risk and expected return.
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Pensions and Retirement Planning (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC2021Status: CompulsoryThis module provides a deep insight into the financial services market in general and retirement planning advice in particular. The module will develop knowledge and understanding of regulatory issues the mechanics and purpose of the main retirement products and the process of giving advice to clients.
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Financial Intermediation (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC2022Status: CompulsoryThis module focuses on the role of commercial banks in the financial system. It also covers the role of the central bank in monetary policy and how banks assess and manage credit operational and market risks. Industry key performance indicators and bank performance is evaluated.
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Financial Regulation (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC2023Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to provide the necessary knowledge of financial services and regulation within UK and in a global context. This module builds an understanding of financial services regulation and compliance from a consumer institution and regulator perspective .
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Project Management: Planning and Control (20 Credits)
Module code: BSO2016Status: DesignateThe purpose of this module is to address underlying principles for planning, scheduling and control of projects that may consist of numerous separate tasks or jobs performed.
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Learning Through Work (WBL) (20 Credits)
Module code: HRM2042Status: DesignateThe purpose of this module is to provide the learner with the opportunity to examine and analyse the specific characteristics or behaviours employability and job-related skills and knowledge required to be a successful and effective employee in their particular business sector/type of organisation.
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Services Marketing (20 Credits)
Module code: MKT2007Status: DesignateThe purpose of this module is to provide an overview of Marketing techniques that are being developed and applied within the global service sector. The distinctive challenges faced by service marketers will be studied and this module looks at customer relationship management and personal selling within a service marketing context.
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Taxation Theory and Practice (20 Credits)
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International Money and Finance (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC3007Status: CompulsoryThis 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.
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Principles of Insurance (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC3012Status: CompulsoryThis module will introduce the core aspects of general insurance with particular emphasis on the UK market but recognising the place of multi-national insurance programmes. It also covers the role of insurance within the consumer and commercial environments related to distribution underwriting claims and management. Application of theoretical knowledge to practical situations is part of the module.
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Corporate Governance (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC3017Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to examine the practice and key issues of governance within organisations in the national and multinational context. The module combines theories codes and regulations corporate social responsibility and ethics in addressing how modern corporations could adopt effective governance to manage their role and place in the society.
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Advanced Personal Tax Planning (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC3018Status: CompulsoryThis module develops advanced technical knowledge and understanding in the key advisory areas of personal tax. It concentrates on the technical aspects of investment product taxation.
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Global Banking (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC3019Status: CompulsoryThis module explains the place and importance of banking in the context of the global Financial Services industry and covers the practical aspects of international banking and financial markets. The focus is on the evolving structure and regulation of international financial markets their role and importance to the world economies.
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Financial Planning Practice (20 Credits)
Module code: ACC4006Status: CompulsoryThe purpose of this module is to deliver the core content in line with FCA accreditation guidelines. It brings together all the knowledge and skills gained on the programme and applies these to real life client scenarios. The focus is on real interaction between advisers and clients. It looks in detail at the advice process and achieving best outcomes for clients within the regulatory framework.
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International Money and Finance (20 Credits)
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A typical offer would be BCC at A Level or DMM at BTEC. In addition to standard entry requirements Mathematics GCSE at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent, is required for entry to this subject.
Integrated Foundation Year Entry Requirements
The standard entry requirements for the Integrated Foundation Year are DEE at A level or MPP at BTEC.
For more information on how to make an application please visit our How to Apply pages for Home and EU, and International students.
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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21/22 Tuition Fees
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- UK Full Time: £9,250
- UK Part Time: £1,465 per 20 credit module
- UK Integrated Foundation Year: £6,780 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
- International Full Time: £13,000
- International Integrated Foundation Year: £13,000 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
- Optional Work Placement Year: £1,000
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 2021. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.
20/21 Tuition Fees
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- Home/EU Full Time: £9,250
- Home/EU Part Time: £1,450 per 20 credit module
- Home/EU Integrated Foundation Year: £6,750 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
- International Full Time: £12,900
- International Integrated Foundation Year: £12,900 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
- Optional Work Placement Year: £1000
Additional costs
There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2020. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.
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This course is accredited by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the regulator of the financial services industry.
You will be encouraged to pursue further qualifications and engage in continuous professional development throughout your course so that you can enhance your future employment opportunities. You can opt to gain chartered status through membership of professional bodies such as the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).
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Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on postgraduate fees to give you a CV that will catch the eye of employers.
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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 this full time 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.
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You are encouraged to undertake a year-long placement in between Stages Two and Three of study. If you meet the entry criteria, and choose to take up a 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. We offer a lot of support in helping you to find a placement, which can be in the UK or overseas.
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The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.
If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements for Banking and Financial Planning we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year Banking and Financial Planning programme which includes a Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.
Featuring a reduced tuition fee in the first year, our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.
Please see our Integrated Foundation Year page for more details.
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How will I be assessed?
This course uses a variety of assessment methods including reports, essays, financial plans, presentations, student-led seminars, workshops, e-based assessments and examinations.
Upcoming Opendays
Open Days give you the best experience and insight to courses, people and facilities that interest you. Make your choice easier and come meet us.
Staff
Robin Bone
Senior Lecturer in Financial Services
Careers and Employability
The UK is the centre for financial services and the largest sector for employment.
Those with knowledge in the field of financial services will find employment in the banks and other financial institutions including investment analysts and stockbrokers.
You may typically look at financial adviser/manager roles, investment banker/analyst and roles within the sphere of financial planning (tax, wealth management, investment) as well as compliance roles.
Please see the National Careers Service website for a job description and earnings bands for financial advisers.