BSc(Hons) Banking and Finance (with Foundation Year)

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year zero (foundation year)

All foundation year students in Bristol Business School study together on ‘Year Zero’ and take the below compulsory modules, which includes an introduction to university-level academic and study skills. This will ensure that you have the necessary grounding, enabling you to develop a range of perspectives and skills that will enrich your learning at Year one and beyond.

You'll study:

• Becoming a Professional
• Introduction to Organisations, Enterprise and Management
• Economics and Accounting for the Real World
• Introduction to Law in a Social, Business and Global Context.

You usually need to pass your foundation year before going onto Year one.

Year one

You'll study:

• Accounting and Finance for Decision Making
• Economics for Banking and Finance
• Financial Institutions and Markets
• Professional Skills for Banking and Finance.

Year two

You'll study:

• Econometric Analysis and Professional Advancement
• Financial Analysis and Security Valuation
• Governance and Sustainability
• Modern Banking: Theory and Practice.

Plus one optional module from:

• Corporate Finance
• CyFi: Cyber and Financial Crime.

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement or a study year abroad after Year two.

Depending on which you choose, you'll either complete a placement learning or learning and development module.

See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final year

You'll study:

• Contemporary Issues in Banking and Finance
• Portfolio Management with Professional Practice
• Research in Banking and Finance.

Plus, optional modules as follows:*

• Personal Financial Planning or Programming Economic and Financial Models
• Behavioural Finance or Risk Management and Derivatives.

*If you complete the sandwich year, you'll only study one of these four modules.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.

Learning and Teaching

Learning and teaching on this course emphasises active participation and learning by doing, supporting you to gradually become more independent in your learning as you progress through the course. Each module is inspired and informed by a learning and teaching approach that enables you to prepare for and participate in your classes and practise your skills.

You’ll prepare by engaging with suggested materials, such as pre-recorded lectures, to gain background knowledge. This will support you to participate in timetabled interactive sessions, applying your knowledge to develop your understanding and skills. Finally, you’ll practise applying your knowledge to real-world business challenges.

Learn through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, and workshops, involving both individual and group work. You’ll explore a variety of course materials and activities, such as case studies, live briefs, portfolios, pitches, presentations, online exercises, and simulations. You’ll also interact with guest practitioners and speakers and undertake professional practice field visits.

See our glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Study time

In a typical week, you could expect to be timetabled with academic staff for an average of 12 hours. You’ll also engage with a range of additional academic and professional development activities, and work on practice and assessment tasks through independent self-study for 28 hours per week on average.

The balance between taught sessions and independent study hours may vary between modules and at points across the academic years. This enables both the development of new skills, concepts, and knowledge and to facilitate the space to produce assessment tasks.

Assessment

Our assessment strategy focuses on developing subject knowledge, practical skills, and professional attributes within key business environments, including your chosen area of specialism. The scaffolded structure ensures your assessments progressively challenge you as you advance through each year of the course.

You’ll be assessed through a broad range of methods, such as written assignments, presentations and posters, projects, case studies, reports, examinations and set exercises.

Throughout the course, you’ll also complete a professional practice portfolio of evidence, alongside a reflective workbook to document your own personal development. Your portfolio will demonstrate that you have developed the required professional skills and attributes for a career in business.

In your professional practice modules, you’ll be encouraged to engage in collaborative learning and contribute to group tasks as part of your assessments. These modules will include support through mentor groups to facilitate your collaborative learning.

Learn more about our assessments.