Finance

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1st in London, 4th in the UK for Accounting and finance courses (Guardian University Guide 2017)

The BSc Finance aims to place students in the broader arena of financial markets. The course is designed to look into various aspects of financial markets with emphasis on corporate finance and governance of global enterprises. The ever-increasing importance of corporate finance and its subsequent governance remains at the cornerstone of modern finance debates and regulatory reforms.

A variety of acquired soft skills as well as the strong academic knowledge will place BSc Finance graduates on the forefront of multinational firms as well as financial intermediaries. The course has a strong international orientation as well as blending the academic and vocational elements of the modern financial world

The BSc (Hons) Finance degree provides you with the academic knowledge and skills required to operate in the increasingly competitive world of finance. This degree is set up with the aim of ensuring coverage of all areas of finance, and as such distinguishes itself from the BSc (Hons) Banking and International Finance and the BSc (Hons) Investment and Financial Risk Management, which provide core skills in the areas of banking and financial risk management, respectively.

The BSc (Hons) Finance comprises areas such as Company Valuation, Financial Accounting, and Corporate Governance, which are not necessarily required in the banking and risk management sectors, while also including relevant areas from those degrees such as:

• Corporate Finance
• Asset Management
• Derivatives
• International Finance.

In years 2 and 3 you will also be able to choose a number of elective modules to focus more deeply on specialist areas such as Corporate Strategy, Bank Risk Management, Real Estate Valuation, Finance & Funding, or broaden your studies into areas including Accounting, Business and Financial Forecasting, or Emerging Markets.

The BSc (Hons) Finance is available as a three-year degree or four-year degree for those who wish to take up a one-year work placement option or study abroad sandwich option. These options offer excellent opportunities to gain relevant work experience to prepare for your career or add an international dimension to your undergraduate study.

As with all of Cass Business School’s undergraduate programmes, you will have a great opportunity to pursue either further study or a wide number of career opportunities in the finance sector.

Course content Year 1

The first year of the BSc Finance degree provides you with a strong foundation in financial markets, banking, economics and accounting, enabling you to relate study to the financial sector from an early stage and develop an understanding of the tools used in applied investment analysis, including mathematical, statistical, database, computing and presentation skills.

Core modules:

• Banking and financial institutions
• Business skills
• Finance and investment
• Introductory financial accounting
• Introductory management accounting
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• Quantitative methods

Year 2

The second year develops your theoretical knowledge of finance, investment and accounting. You also study econometrics, which forms the basis of modelling and testing in finance. Three elective modules chosen from a wide range allow you to focus on areas relevant to your own interests and career aspirations, such as investment, finance and risk, accounting and real estate.

Core modules:

• Asset Management
• Company Valuation
• Derivatives
• Financial Accounting
• Financial Econometrics

Elective modules:

• Alternative Investment Management
• Business and Industrial Economics
• Corporate Risk Management
• Financial Accounting 2
• Introduction to Real Estate Investment
• Management Accounting
• Mathematical Finance
• Personal Finance
• Real Estate Valuation
• Risk Analysis and Modelling
• Security Analysis

Final year

The third year develops your knowledge of corporate finance, governance, and international finance to an advanced level. You also select three electives which may either extend your knowledge of finance and the applications of mathematical models, or enhance your understanding of the role of financial markets. Alternatively, you may focus on areas such as investment or accounting. You also undertake a dissertation in a financial subject relevant to your interests and career aspirations.

Core modules:

• Corporate Finance
• Corporate Governance
• Final Year Project
• International Finance

Elective modules:

• Advanced Financial Accounting: Theory and Practice
• Bank Strategy and Management
• Business Forecasting
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Corporate Strategy
• Emerging Markets
• Financial Forecasting
• Financial Services Regulation
• Fixed Income and Credit Risk
• Real Estate Finance and Funding
• Technical Analysis

Download the full programme specification

Placements and internships

A key part of a Cass degree is the opportunity to gain professional work experience. BSc Finance students are eligible to undertake an optional one-year paid work placement during the 3rd year of a 4 year sandwich degree programme.

The experience of working for a leading institution can be invaluable in terms of your future career. It will enable you to acquire skills and competencies sought by graduate employers, give you an edge over the competition, apply the theory you have studied and develop a network of contacts.

Our reputation, achievements and successful graduates have helped us to develop close relationships with a diverse range of companies, who recognise that Cass students can add significant value to their workforce. Our dedicated Placement team are in regular contact with these and many more companies, and will support students throughout the work experience process.

Cass students enjoy a wide range of opportunities in areas such as Sales & Trading, Hedge Funds, Prime Brokerage, Equity Research, Corporate Finance, Operations, Wholesale Markets, Asset Management, and Accounting. Students have recently taken up placements within many leading corporate organisations including:

• AXA Investment Management
• Bank of America
• Bank of England
• BNP Paribas
• Deutsche Bank
• Goldman Sachs
• JP Morgan
• KPMG
• Morgan Stanley
• UBP

Although this additional year is not credited and will not count towards your degree classification, it is a recognised part of the degree programme and will be endorsed on your final degree certificate.

Study abroad

International study opportunities

In today's global business environment, international exposure gives you a vital edge in the employment market. As part of the BSc Finance course, a period of study abroad is an excellent opportunity to enhance your education with an international dimension.

Studying abroad enables you to improve your language skills, develop future business contacts and gain an international outlook on business.

Cass Business School gives you the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying at one of our partner institutions. This could be in Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, South Korea or Europe.

Available study abroad programme structures and partner institutions 1. Replacement 2nd Year Abroad

You can spend the second- year of your three- year degree course studying abroad at one of our partner institutions.

During your time abroad you will cover all core material of your second year Cass programme, taking equivalent courses at the host institution. Teaching is in English, but subjects are taught from a different perspective. Elective modules will enable you to focus on the specialist areas of the partner institution, or the business practice of the country in which you are studying.

A comprehensive list of partner universities will be available soon.

Accreditation

The BSc Finance provides exemption from some of the professional examinations of the following professional bodies:

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
• Institute of Financial Services (IFS)

*Please note, these exemptions are currently provisional and will be confirmed in the 2015/16 academic year.

Entry requirements

Qualification Requirement 'A' level AAA BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Distinction Distinction Distinction (must have at least grade A GCSE maths) IB 35 points overall including 6 in all Higher Level subjects and 5 in all Standard Level subjects. Consideration will be given to 1 bonus point.

In addition we also ask for the following GCSE requirement:

• GCSE Mathematics (grade B)
• English Language (grade C) or equivalent

If you are studying General Studies, Critical Thinking or a native language 'A' level, these subjects will not be included in any offer condition.

International students

We accept a wide range of international and other UK qualifications at Cass.

• Typical offers for international and other qualifications

If you do not qualify for direct entry, there are several partners that offer preparatory internation foundation courses for students seeking entry to undergraduate degrees. These include:

INTO City University London

Together with INTO University Partnerships, the University has established a purpose-built study centre in the heart of London's financial district. As a student enrolling at INTO City you will have full access to City University's facilities. Courses at INTO City are designed and validated by the University. For more information please visit /city

Progression to degree courses at the University is guaranteed if you complete the INTO City Foundation at the required level.

Kaplan International College (KIC) London
Additionally, the University works in partnership with KIC London to provide a range of preparatory courses for international students. KIC London courses offer comprehensive support to students - including regular one-to-one tuition. Students who successfully complete the KIC London Foundation course at the required level are able to progress to City University degree courses.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, we will require evidence of English language proficiency. Minimum requirements are:

Qualification Requirement IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in any unit PTE Academic 58 overall with a minimum of 50 in each component GCSE English language grade C

View further information about the minimum acceptable English language requirements for Tier 4 students.

English Language Programmes

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner, INTO City University London offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree. Please click the links below for more information.

English for Undergraduate Study

Pre-sessional English

Application and fees

All applications should be made through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Applications are made via Apply, UCAS's online application system.

Institution code: C60 (Cass Business School and City University London)
Course code: N3N3

You can find more information at UCAS and in the UCAS Handbook.

More information about applying to Cass

Fees 2016/17

• UK/EU students: £9,000 per year (fees in subsequent years may be subject to increases (limited to the Retail Prices Index) dependent on governmental policy)

• Non-EU international students: £16,000 per annum (fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the Retail Prices Index)

Your career after Cass

Graduates of the BSc Finance will be well-placed to enter a career in the finance industry, working for financial intermediaries, in treasuries division of multinational firms, for brokerage houses (securities and/or insurance), in auditing and consulting, for treasury departments of any corporations, within central banks and regulatory offices, in enterprise risk management divisions, as well as analysts for debt and equity markets.

Job roles for BSc Finance graduates could include:

• Assistant Auditor
• Consulting Analyst
• Financial Analyst
• Graduate Analyst
• Insurance Broker Assistant
• Investment Banking Analyst
• Investment Banking Credit Risk Analyst
• Market Analyst
• Risk Management Assistant
• Underwriting Assistant.

You may also be interested in further study and Cass offers a wide variety of postgraduate finance and banking related courses.