Financial Services

Course Content

Award:
Foundation Degree, FdA (awarded by the University of Plymouth)

What's it all about?:
The Foundation Degree in Financial Services is a broad-based university level qualification. It enables you to progress directly to careers in the Financial Services sector or to complete the final year of an honours degree programme at university.

Foundation Degrees are nationally recognised qualifications that have been designed and developed to meet the needs of employers. The programme integrates both academic and work-based learning and is broadly equivalent to the first two-years of an honours degree. This Foundation Degree (FdA) is delivered by City College Plymouth and awarded by the University of Plymouth.

Progression:
On successful completion of your Foundation Degree in Financial Services you may progress to either:

• 
  The final year of the BA (Hons) Business Administration Degree at the University of Plymouth.
  
• 
  The final year of BA (Hons) International Financial Services at the University of Plymouth, which offers the possibility of gaining exam exemptions towards professional qualifications after successful completion.
  
• 
  A wide range of careers in the field of financial services.
  

Entry Requirements:
In our experience in order to be successful on this programme you will need one of the following:

• 
  60 UCAS tariff points (any combination, to include a minimum equivalency of one A level
  
• 
  a BTEC National Diploma
  
• 
  an NVQ level 3
  
• 
  an equivalent qualification
  
• 
  relevant work experience.
  

Duration: Two years

Business Benefits:
You will gain an employment focussed higher education qualification that will help you enter or progress in the workplace, whilst also allowing you the option to study a final year for an Honours Degree.

Course Overview
What does the course involve?:

This course consists of the following modules ...

Year 1

• Personal and professional development - develop transferable professional skills demanded by the course and potential employers.
• Business environment - national and European business environment.
• Business accounting and financial analysis - introduction to financial and management accounting.
• UK financial services industry - develop a fundamental understanding of the UK financial services industry, its institutions and its structure.
• Work-based Learning - enables you to investigate issues relating to real work environments.
• Law, regulations and professional ethics -develop essential knowledge, skills and ethos relating to the legal and professional regulation of the financial services sector.
• Managing financial information and IT systems - looks at the role of information, its management and its impact on the conduct and development of businesses in the financial services sector.
• Quantitative methods -gives you the necessary tools to deal with data (financial or other) and the uncertainty inherent to financial services.

Year 2

• Organisational behaviour and people management -explores a range of theories and managerial approaches to organisations, and also considers aspects of people management.
• Research skills and quantitative Methods II - enables you to examine a range of research skills and quantitative methods which are central to conducting a research project either academic or professional.
• Operations management - develop your understanding of how an organisation designs, plans, controls and improves its activities within the financial services industry.
• Marketing and customer care in financial services - enables you to understand the principles of marketing and their application to financial services including key aspects of customer relationship management.
• Financial regulations and governance - enables you to understand the mechanics of international regulation, governance and mitigation of risks.

Choice between two optional modules in the second year

• Personal financial planning - provides you with the knowledge and skills in the application of personal financial planning process. It also arms you with the analytical, communication skills and product knowledge required to succeed in the financial services industry.
• Investment and risk management - examines how personal investments are made and how they are managed.

When can I study?:
Thursdays, various times

Are there any exams?:
You will need to take an active role in the learning process by undertaking self-directed study. Modules are assessed through a mixture of written assessments, projects, presentations, in-class tests and examinations.
Course Facts

Although we are not yet able to confirm dates or fees, applications for the next course are now welcome.