(BSc) Bachelor of Science
Banking and Finance (Including Foundation Year)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Pathways
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Accounting
BSC N391
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
UK and EU applicants:
All applications for degree courses with a foundation year (Year Zero) will be considered individually, whether you
- think you might not have the grades to enter the first year of a degree course;
- have non-traditional qualifications or experience (e.g. you haven’t studied A-levels or a BTEC);
- are returning to university after some time away from education; or
- are looking for more support during the transition into university study.
Standard offer:
Our standard offer is 72 UCAS tariff points from at least two full A-levels, or equivalent.
Examples of the above tariff may include:
- A-levels: DDD
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma: MMP
- T-levels: Pass with E in core
For this course all applicants must also hold GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent). We may be able to consider a pass in Level 2 Functional Skills Maths where you cannot meet the requirements for Maths at GCSE level. However, you are advised to try to retake GCSE Mathematics if possible as this will better prepare you for university study and future employment.
If you are unsure whether you meet the entry criteria, please get in touch for advice.
Mature applicants and non-traditional academic backgrounds:
We welcome applications from mature students (over 21) and students with non-traditional academic backgrounds (might not have gone on from school to take level 3 qualifications). We will consider your educational and employment history, along with your personal statement and reference, to gain a rounded view of your suitability for the course.
You will still need to meet our GCSE requirements.
International applicants:
Essex Pathways Department is unable to accept applications from international students. Foundation pathways for international students are available at the University of Essex International College and are delivered and awarded by Kaplan, in partnership with the University of Essex. Successful completion will enable you to progress to the relevant degree course at the University of Essex.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 5.5 overall. Specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels required. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
Our Year 0 courses are only open to UK and EU applicants. If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to your chosen degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr Hf Guo
Assistant Professor in Finance
University of Durham
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
To provide students with the academic training in the principles of banking and finance.
To provide students with the opportunity to analyse the role of financial and banking information and data.
To equip students with knowledge of fundamental research methodologies covering quantitative or qualitative approaches to empirical research in finance, with a focus on banking.
To develop students' critical and analytical skills and to encourage the acquisition of autonomous study skills in the learning process.
To produce students who will have a sufficient variety and depth of knowledge to start careers in the financial sector, most notably in the City of London (banking, stockbroking, derivatives, insurance, regulation and other areas of finance).
To provide students the knowledge and analytical skills to pursue postgraduate courses in finance at Essex and elsewhere.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: The contexts in which finance can be seen as operating including knowledge of the institutional framework necessary for understanding the role, operation and function of markets and institutions.
A2: The basics of financial statements and appreciation of the limitations of financial reporting practices and procedures.
A3: Understanding of particular areas of banking in which the student has chosen to specialise.
A4: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fundamental issues in banking such as risk management and regulation.
A5: The major theories of asset pricing and their relevance and application to theoretical and practical problems.
A6: The major theories associated with the management of risk, such as portfolio management, asset allocation and the application of financial derivatives to practical problems.
A7: The major theoretical tools necessary for advanced study in finance.
A8: An ability to interpret and analyse financial data using appropriate statistical packages.
A9: The relationship between financial theory and empirical testing and an ability to evaluate empirical evidence.
A10: The factors influencing the investment behaviour and opportunities of private individuals investing in bond, equity, and derivative markets.
Learning methods
Lectures and tutor-led seminars.
Directed reading.
Individual and group tasks.
Assessment methods
Unseen written examinations.
Assessed essays.
Class tests.
Pre-published class assignments.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: A capacity for the critical evaluation of arguments and evidence.
B2: An ability to analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and, to a more limited extent, unstructured problems from a given set of data which must be acquired by the student.
Learning methods
Lectures and tutor-led seminars.
Directed reading.
Individual and group tasks.
Assessment methods
Unseen written examinations.
Assessed essays.
Class tests.
Pre-published class assignments.
C: Practical skills
C1: Ability to locate, extract and analyse data from multiple sources, including the acknowledgement and referencing of sources.
C2: Communication skills, including the ability to present quantitative and qualitative information together with analysis, argument and commentary in a form appropriate to a different intended audiences.
Learning methods
Lectures and tutor-led seminars.
Directed reading.
Individual and group tasks.
Assessment methods
Unseen written examinations.
Assessed essays.
Class tests.
Pre-published class assignments.
D: Key skills
D1: Present ideas and arguments in a coherent and effective manner.
D2: Use appropriate Information Technology to locate, acquire and analyse data.
D3: Manipulate and analyse numerical (including financial) data and appreciate the nature and limitations of basic statistical concepts.
D4: Identify and analyse problems and apply appropriate knowledge and skills to develop effective solutions
D5: Problem-solving and analytical skills
D6: Time management, task prioritisation and working to deadlines.
Learning methods
Lectures and tutor-led seminars.
Directed reading.
Individual and group tasks.
Assessment methods
Unseen written examinations.
Assessed essays.
Class tests.
Pre-published class assignments.