Banking & Finance - BSc (Hons) Degree

​This degree can be studied as a three-year full-time degree or a four-year degree that includes a year of foundational study. Our foundation year is intended to prepare you for your subsequent years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence.

The foundation year will be relevant to:

1. Students who have not achieved the required A-level points (or equivalent) score to enter the first year of the degree programme.
2. Mature students who have been out of the formal education system for some time.

Find out more about the foundation year.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation. Please refer to Key Course Information at the bottom of this page.

Year One (Level 4)

In your first year, all six modules (120 credits) are compulsory and designed to give you a solid introduction to Banking and Finance.

You will be introduced to global financial services and both microeconomics and macroeconomics, as well as being equipped with quantitative and academic skills to succeed in your studies and future career.

All modules are taught in English and there is provision for the Welsh language equivalent in a number of modules in Levels 4, 5 and 6. These are indicated below with an asterisk (*).

Compulsory modules (20 credits each)

• Quantitative Methods for Data Analysis
• Global Financial Services*
• The Economy: Microeconomics
• The Economy: Macroeconomics
• Financial & Digital Accounting
• Sustainable Money Management*

Year Two (Level 5)

In your second year, five modules (100 credits) are compulsory, and you select one optional module (20 credits).

You will advance your study of quantitative methods and learn the principles of banking. You will also develop an awareness of the recent development in the banking and financial industry world and undertake an experiential work or volunteering opportunities module.

Compulsory modules (20 credits each)

• Intermediate Quantitative Methods
• Money and Markets
• Accounting for Responsible Management*
• Principles of Banking
• Experiential Work or Volunteering Opportunities*

Select ONE Optional module (20 credits each)

• Intermediate Macroeconomics
• Public Finance
• Taxation

Year in industry

You have the option to spend a year in industry on a work placement after successfully completing your second year of study. We have a dedicated work placement team to support you in securing a placement. A year-long placement can boost your career prospects and give you an advantage when applying for jobs after graduation.

Year Three (Level 6)

In your third year, five modules (100 credits) are compulsory, and you select one optional module (20 credits).

The final year builds on your finance related knowledge and skills and explores important areas of Banking and Finance.

Compulsory modules (20 credits each)

• Investment Management
• Capital Markets and Derivatives
• Contemporary Finance*
• Personal Financial Planning
• Financial Services Regulation

Select ONE Optional module (20 credits each)

• Macroeconomics: Theory and Application
• Industrial Work Experience^
• Public Policy Economics
• Advanced Taxation

Optional modules are delivered subject to demand and availability.

^ If you’re taking a year-long industry work placement between year two and three, you have the option to select ‘Industrial Work Experience’ as your optional module. If not, select another optional module.

A student-centred approach to learning and teaching will be encouraged through the use of specific teaching strategies, case studies, projects, tutorials, practical exercises, supplemented by the use of appropriate support materials, lectures from business experts, videos and computer software. Active engagement with the subject material enhances learning and many of the learning strategies used attempt to promote this.

Lectures
Lectures are a major part of the teaching strategy for the programme. Lectures are an effective way of delivering core material and establishing a framework for a module against which other material can be set.

Seminars
Seminars involve a student or students presenting previously prepared work to peers and a lecturer. This strategy is used to extend specific theoretical or practical concepts as well as introducing problem solving exercises. Seminars are used in most modules and provide students with valuable experience in presentational skills as well as providing staff with a method or assessing student-centred learning.

Practical Workshops
Practical workshops are used extensively in a number of modules throughout the programme. In these classes students are able to practise and refine their skills in a supportive environment where they can get feedback from a member of academic staff. Practical workshops represent a valuable transition between theory and practice.

Case Studies
Case studies are a teaching and learning strategy, which are employed in a range of modules; they also are a useful assessment tool. Students are presented with or asked to develop real or simulated complex problems which they are required to analyse in detail and then synthesise/present their own solution in writing or orally.

Business Experts
A key component of the learning experience is the intention to invite business experts, academic and in practice, to provide insights into their research work or business activity. A network of such experts will help provide specialist knowledge as well as bolster and promote the credentials of the programme. Such experts might be invited as guest speakers or requested to provide a more interactive workshop experience where appropriate.

Modular Subject Tutorials
Tutorials are meetings of a student or group of students with a lecturer or lecturers and are used in two ways within the programme:

• Expanding upon material covered in lectures through an enquiry-driven problem solving approach
• To offer extra support to improve background knowledge.

The assessment strategy for the programme varies to ensure the most appropriate method for each specific module and subject area. This will be a combination of formal examinations, practical assignments, written assignments, technical reports, presentations, in-class tests, peer assessments and work-based placements. Thus, in addition to formal examinations and assessments at the end of the academic year, you will be continuously assessed and given feedback on your progress and development throughout the year i.e. through both formative and summative assessment. Many modules are assessed through a combination of practical coursework assignments and unseen written exams at the end of the term or year.​

The primary aim of this degree programme is to develop theoretical understanding of the key concepts of banking and finance. It will showcase the wider impact and importance of the banking sector the world economy.

Graduates will find a wide variety of career opportunities within the banking and finance sector, as well as the majority of the other industrial sectors (both public and private), including the credit analysis sector, financial and professional services, risk analysis, and institutional investment opportunities.

​As well as valuable experiential work opportunities through a compulsory module in the second year, we also offer a year in industry between year two and the final year to boost your employability​.

Real world experience is obtained as part of your study by compulsory work experience, as well as optional sandwich year placements and industrial internships.

On successful completion of this degree programme, there are also further taught postgraduate study options across Accounting, Banking, Economics and Finance here at Cardiff Met, as well as research and PhD programmes.

Typical Offers

​The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion.​

• Tariff points: 112
• Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
• GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
• English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
• A level subjects: Minimum three A levels to include Grades CCC. No specific subjects required. Welsh Advanced Skills Baccalaureate considered as a third subject.
• BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM
• T Level: Merit.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 2 x H5. No specific subjects required.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 2 x H2 grades. No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
• Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades DD. No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.

How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

For general enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For course specific enquiries, please contact the programme leader Dr Surraya Rowe:

• Email: srowe@cardiffmet.ac.uk
• Telephone: 029 20 205705