UDBIFACE - BSc (Hons) Banking and Finance (Top-Up)

The BSc Banking and Finance programme aims to foster life-long learning among students and to provide a springboard into employment in the graduate labour market. The course is designed to prepare students for a career in the banking and finance industry in London, Europe or further afield.

The course provides students with the broad range of skills they need to secure and retain employment in the highly competitive labour market. The academic depth and breadth of this undergraduate programme provide highly relevant subject specific knowledge and transferable skills. Students also develop their cognitive skills, problem solving, quantitative and IT competence, and effective oral and written communication skills.

This course provides students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of theory, methods and application in Banking and Finance and develops their ability to use critical reasoning in a variety of contexts.

Students’ learning is initiated and directed through formal contact time with the teaching team in lectures, seminars and workshops. Students are encouraged to develop their learning through small-group activity in class and through reading, writing, problem-solving and other learning activity outside class. Students learn both individually and in groups and use case studies, presentations and problem-based learning exercises to develop and demonstrate their understanding. Critical thinking is developed throughout the course.

Students learn how to obtain, manipulate and interpret key financial data and they are able to extend quantitative and research skills at level 6 in the project module and through option choice.

Practical skills are developed through the use of student presentations in seminars/tutorials, and through independent activities undertaken by students who reflect on, develop and present work for informal assessment by the tutor. Initiative and independence are developed so that students learn to take greater responsibility for their work, culminating in their level 6 project.

With respect to blended learning: all modules make use of virtual learning environment platforms (Weblearn) in which module lecture material, course handbooks and other material are made available. Other ICT resources include links to key web resources, on-line learning games, test questions and previous examples of assessments with feedback.

An inclusive learning environment anticipates the varied requirements of learners, while raising aspirations and supporting achievement for people with diverse requirements, entitlements and backgrounds.

The BSc Banking and Finance degree aims to:

1. Provide knowledge and understanding of methods, theory and application in Banking and Finance;
2. Provide a range of cognitive and transferable skills which promote employability and/or further study;
3. Develop students’ abilities to use and evaluate forms of analysis in a variety of contexts relevant to the banking and finance industry;
4. Engage students in a rich and challenging course which promotes personal and academic development and life-long learning.

Upon successful completion of the BSc Banking and Finance degree, students will be able to:
1. articulate core banking and finance concepts, theories and models and use these tools to analyse banking and finance problems and policy questions in a business, government, or social context;

2. understand and apply mathematical and econometric methods and computing techniques in a variety of banking- and finance-related contexts, elaborate the range of ideas and differing methods of analysis used in Banking and Finance; and explain verbal, graphical and mathematical representations of economic and financial ideas and analyses, including the relationship between them, drawing appropriate inferences;

3. apply intellectual skills and critical reasoning with particular emphasis on the development of the higher order skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation of concepts, ideas and theories in banking and finance; and carry out independent scholarly research and use acquired knowledge to analyse and evaluate specific issues and problems in banking, business and finance.

4. produce reports and give oral presentations to a professional level; and work effectively in groups and demonstrate team-working, planning, communication and other “soft” skills; and link theoretical and quantitative knowledge and analytical skills to practice in business, finance, government and other organisations; and communicate complex ideas and analysis in banking and finance through written and oral expositions;

5. marshal evidence and assimilate, structure and analyse qualitative and quantitative data; interpret and present effectively economic and financial information from Bloomberg and elsewhere, using up-to-date statistical and modelling tools and appropriate software

6. apply and evaluate research techniques used in Banking and Finance; and design, plan, organise and deliver an individual research project reflecting professional standards adopted in economics and finance

LEVEL SIX

Professional Experience Year placement MN6W04 LO4 LO6
Economics of Multinational Business FE6051 LO1 LO3 LO4 LO6
Empirical Research in Global banking, Finance and Economics FE6P01 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Development Economics and Emerging markets FE6002 LO1 LO3 LO4 LO6
Economics of Human Resources FE6003 LO1 LO3 LO4 LO6
Financial Instruments and Financial Engineering FE6004 LO1 LO2 LO3
International Corporate Social Responsibility AC6063 LO3 LO4
Personal Finance FE6052 LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
International Finance FE6005 LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Learning Through Work 2 MN6W55 LO4 LO6
Extension of Knowledge Module XK0000 LO1 LO4
Open Language Programme OL0000 LO1 LO6
Creating a Winning Business MN6W50 LO4 LO6

Finance (2016)

A range of assessment methods are used across each level of the course, reflecting the range of learning outcomes at each level and the diversity of learning styles amongst students. In each module the assessments methods chosen are those best-suited to measuring the achievement of that particular module’s learning outcomes.

For instance essays are used in modules where learning outcomes include the development of writing skills, referencing, synthesis and critical evaluation. Group work is used in modules where co-operative skills are being developed. Case studies are employed where students are learning how to apply economic analysis to particular scenarios or organisations. Other methods or assessment include: individual presentations, coursework problem sets and mini-projects, group reports, in-class tests, seen and unseen exams.

Priority is given to methods of assessment consistent with timely formative feedback, either in the development stage of the work or as soon as possible after the assessment has been completed.
On some modules formative feedback on drafts of essays may be provided before essays are handed in. The University aims to provide feedback on the first assessment component within a week of submission, and for subsequent assessment components within two weeks of submission.

Unseen and seen examinations are also seen as an important tool for assessing the achievement of learning outcomes and the maintenance of academic standards.

The course draws on external links with banking and finance practitioners in the City and elsewhere in the UK. These links give rise to University and GSBL public lectures, external speaker seminars and other meetings of interest to undergraduate students. These events throughout the course provide opportunities for students to gain knowledge and experience from outside the University.

There are no course specific regulations.

Modules are required to be taken as indicated in section 22 above.

A student entering at Level 6 shall be required to pass 90 credits in order to graduate without
Honours.

Students are encouraged to plan the development of their skills and employability throughout their course.

Students are provided with support for the development and reflection on professional skills and develop their presentational and team-working skills in a number of modules across the course. Where particular skills are developed in particular modules, lecturers and course tutors make this process explicit to students to enhance reflection.

Extension of knowledge options allow students to shape their own specialist knowledge and development, including the option of developing skills in languages such as German, French, Spanish or Arabic.

The final-year project module FE6P01 Empirical Research in Global Banking, Finance and Economics requires students to carry out research and assessment work which incorporates work-based skills, career management and professional standards.

Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) (2014)

Taking this course opens up a wide range of career opportunities. In the past BSc Banking and Finance graduates have found employment in financial institutions, international companies and public sector organisations. A sizeable proportion also progress to postgraduate study.

The Careers Development and Employment Service is a university-wide resource made available to students which provides information about labour market opportunities and career development.
Students are given a “Careers” talk during Welcome Week. The University careers advisor runs careers and CV forums which students are encouraged to attend.

Students are introduced to the local Careers and Employability team within the School. The course leader, with the support of academic staff contributing to the course, provides information about career opportunities and works closely with Careers and Employability team.

Guest speakers organised by the School of Business & Law and student societies bring students into contact with finance specialists and business managers from both national and international organisations. These meetings give students the opportunity to know more about future career paths and the best strategies to pursue their own career aspirations.

In addition, students are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities including involvement in peer coaching of students, receiving professional mentoring, volunteering in the not-for-profit sector, joining or setting up student society and national competitions / activities including University Business Challenge.

On graduation, you’ll be equipped to pursue a career in a number of sectors related to banking and investment, such as financial regulation, insurance or accounting. This course is also an excellent preparation for postgraduate study.

Our previous graduates have gone into finance roles at companies such as City Credit Capital, Honda Finance and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have one of the following:

• 240 credits from a Higher National Diploma (HND), Foundation Degree (FdA/ FdSc) or equivalent international qualification in a relevant subject
• 240 credits from years 1 and 2 of an undergraduate degree (BA/BSc) in a relevant subject at a different institution

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.