Banking And Finance - BSc (Hons) Degree

The BSc Banking and Finance degree at Cardiff Met covers the key concepts of banking and finance and provides students with an understanding of the importance of this area in a practical and theoretical context. 

The course will equip students with the tools and analytical capabilities to identify and resolve complex problems in a dynamic and strategic way. In addition, this programme will provide students with highly transferable skills as well as a deep knowledge of a broad range of financial software. 

Banking and finance is fundamental to the world economy as it ensures that new and existing companies can raise the funds needed to undertake profitable investment ideas. This course is ideal if you have no previous experience in banking and finance but want to learn more about this industry. 

In the first year you will gain an insight into how financial institutions fit into the world economy, along with key quantitative methods techniques needed for a career in this industry. 

The second year will involve expanding your knowledge by studying the impact of different types of risk on both companies and countries. The final year will enhance your understanding of the importance of remaining informed on contemporary issues in the wider business context by undertaking independent research. 

The teaching will involve lecturers, workshops and seminars which will have both academic knowledge and practical experience. The practical experience will include the use of financial software, to teach you the skills you need for the workplace after graduation.

This degree will undergo a periodic review in 2023/4 to ensure the course content is and remains current. Should any changes to course content be made as a result of the review, all applicants will be informed once changes are confirmed.

Course Content??:

• Degree:
• This degree in Banking and Finance is comprised of a number of core modules, with a range of options, totalling 360 credits across all years to develop your specific interests and expertise:
• Year 1
• Students will take 100 credits of compulsory modules and will be able to select 20 credits of optional modules. 
• Compulsory modules:
• Quantitative Methods I (20 credits)
• Global Financial Services (20 credits)
• The Economy: Microeconomics (20 credits)
• The Economy: Macroeconomics (20 credits)
• Financial & Digital Accounting (20 credits)
• Management Accounting (20 credits)
• Year 2
• Student will take 100 credits of compulsory modules and will be able to select 20 credits from the range of available optional modules.
• Compulsory modules:
• Quantitative Methods II (20 credits)
• Money Banking and Risk (20 credits)
• Investment Markets and Principles (20 credits)
• Bank Management (20 credits)
• Work Experience OR Volunteering Project (20 credits)
• Optional modules:
• Corporate and Business Law (20 credits)
• Financial Reporting (20 credits)
• Intermediate Macroeconomics (20 credits)
• Intermediate Microeconomics (20 credits)
• Year 3
• Students will take 60 credits of compulsory modules and will be able to select 60 credits from the range of available optional modules.
• Compulsory modules:
• International Banking Regulation (20 credits)
• Investment Management (20 credits)
• Capital Markets and Derivatives (20 credits)
• Contemporary Finance (20 credits)
• Optional modules*:
• Dissertation (40 credits)
• Econometrics (20 credits)
• Contemporary Business and Consumer Protection (20 credits)
• Advanced Financial Reporting (20 credits)
• Financial Management for Managers (20 credits)
• Economic Tools for Government (20 credits)
• Applied Microeconomics (20 credits)
• Macroeconomics: Theory and Application (20 credits)
• Advanced Games and Applications (20 credits)
• Industrial Work Experience (20 credits)

Please note optional modules are delivered subject to demand and availability

Learning & Teaching:

• 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.

Entry Requirements? & How to Apply:

• 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 Baccalaureate – Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate 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.