Banking and Finance with Foundation Year
Entry requirements
Access to HE Diploma
Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent and GCSE Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent.
UCAS Tariff
This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications excluding general studies For example: CC at A Level, MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma, Pass overall from a T level qualification with D or E from core, or a combination of qualifications (which may include AS levels and EPQ).
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.**
**Course summary**
- Develop a solid foundation in banking and finance before exploring specialist areas.
- Study for a degree and a professional qualification in state-of-the-art facilities.
- Develop critical hard and soft financial skills using industry-standard technology.
- Apply your knowledge to real-world situations on placements and live projects.
- Learn from industry experts on a course that’s developed with professional institutes.
Study key banking and finance concepts, from the principles of investment – working with derivatives and managing risk – to cryptocurrency and blockchain. You’ll learn how to apply your learning effectively, gaining experience with our Bloomberg terminals, trading floor facilities and in the real world. You’ll be prepared for a rewarding career in personal banking, wealth management or corporate finance.
If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation course – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.
**How you learn**
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Our BSc (Hons) Banking and Finance course offers a holistic approach that blends theory with hands-on experience – preparing you for a successful and fulfilling career in the sector. Our academics are highly skilled professionals, bringing their cutting-edge knowledge and industry research into the classroom.
**Key Themes**
You’ll gain a comprehensive foundation in banking and finance, equipping you with practical skills essential for investment management. You’ll develop a strong grasp of fundamental finance concepts, such as the time value of money and risk/return, while also enhancing your quantitative skills.
As you progress through your studies, you’ll benefit from a diverse array of teaching methods. These encourage in-depth knowledge acquisition, industry-inspired projects, problem-solving and teamwork. By actively engaging in these learning strategies, you’ll not only excel academically – you’ll also cultivate essential skills for continuous self-development.
In your final year, you’ll complete a consultancy project for a real-world organisation. With the guidance of a dedicated project supervisor, you’ll conduct research and put into practice the knowledge and skills honed throughout the course. This capstone project prepares you to become a proficient finance professional.
**Applied learning**
**Live Projects**
During the first and second years of your course, you'll work on real-world client-based projects. These involve conducting research and analysis to formulate findings and recommendations which address the client's business challenges. You'll present your results both in writing and verbally – gaining valuable experience of professional practice.
Previous students have had the opportunity to work on projects for huge organisations such as Lifetime Investment Management. Many students successfully secure placements and graduate jobs with their host company as a direct result of their outstanding performance in these live projects.
**Work Placements**
During the course, you'll be able to engage in an extended work placement between your third and fourth years.
This hands-on experience not only builds your skill set, but also allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma, a valuable addition to your CV.
In the past, our students have had the opportunity to work for organisations such as Lloyds Bank, Charles Stanley and Jarrovian Group.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
**Year 1**
**Compulsory modules**
Accounting In Context
Economics, Finance And Investments
Going Global
Preparing For Success
**Year 2**
**Compulsory modules**
Business Economics
Data Analytics For Finance And Business
Fundamentals Of Finance
Investment Risk And Taxation
**Year 3**
**Compulsory modules**
Financial Management And Risk
Law, Regulation And Ethics
Payments, Blockchain And Cryptocurrency
**Elective modules**
Banking And Fintech
Cash Management And Treasury
Fraud Analytics
**Year 4**
**Optional modules**
Placement Year
**Final year**
**Compulsory modules**
Consultancy Project
Corporate Finance
Global Financial Markets
International Derivatives And Risk
Risk Management And Investment
Strategic Issues In Banking
Assessment methods
Coursework, Practical, Exam
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
Extra funding
Scholarships, discounts and bursaries may be available to students who study this course.
The Uni
Sheffield Hallam University
College of Business Technology and Engineering
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Finance
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Finance
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Over 2,000 students graduated with a degree in finance in 2015, and a sign of the strength of the finance industry, numbers are on the up. Over half of finance graduates go into the finance industry, with accountancy and financial advice roles particularly popular. It's also quite common for finance graduates to go into jobs which require you to take more training and gain professional qualifications — finance graduates who take further study are more likely to be studying accountancy than finance. About a third of graduates start their careers in London - but Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham are other popular locations for finance graduates to work.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Finance
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£26k
£30k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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