Gain the knowledge you need to understand today’s fast moving global financial markets while securing valuable experience in the workplace. With the BSc in Finance you’ll discover that there’s a lot more to finance than figures.
As financial markets across the world grow more closely connected, this specialist degree develops the necessary quantitative and analytical skills you’ll need to pursue a career in the financial services industry. The course combines academic excellence, insightful research and exceptional global business connections, equipping you with the tools to become an innovative business thinker in your career and beyond.
This four-year degree includes a placement year to give you a real-world taste of work. The placement is a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand industry experience and start building a network of business contacts in preparation for graduation.
Our flexible study programme puts you in control. The curriculum links academic theory with practical experience through a combination of core and optional modules that offer plenty of opportunities to tailor your studies as your interests evolve. As an alternative to the placement route, you have the option to complete the degree in three years or spend a year abroad.
In the first year, you study compulsory modules that provide the key fundamentals to examine and evaluate modern financial markets.
The second year is made up of finance modules which will give you the skills to examine financial issues and institutions, markets and securities across global markets. You’ll also learn to interpret financial data and price financial securities.
The final year offers more flexibility. You can choose modules tailored to your interests and career aspirations. The dissertation, on a finance topic of your choice, makes up a third of your final year marks.
Course structure
Year 1
Core modules:
Foundations of Finance explores the key principles of corporate finance and their importance to firms. From bonds and stocks to capital structure and dividend policy, it provides you with a solid grounding in issues of finance as they relate to the business and financial markets.
Financial Accounting covers the basic concepts and techniques involved in financial accounting reports, including the preparation of basic financial statements.
Quantitative Methods 1 provides you with a rigorous introduction to the fundamental mathematical techniques you will need throughout your degree.
Quantitative Methods 2 introduces the analytical and statistical techniques widely used in finance and business.
Introduction to Financial Economics examines the basic principles of economics of microeconomics and macroeconmics in a financial context. The study of subjects like market structure, fiscal policy, stock market and economic growth will provide a solid foundation for modules in micro- and macroeconomics.
Global Financial Systems and Markets develops the knowledge of the operations of financial institutions within the global financial system and the products and services these institutions provide; the markets in which financial institutions operate and that facilitate the process of intermediation; and the purpose and scope of financial oversight and regulation.
In recent years, optional modules have included:
Ethics and Finance
Principles of Taxation
Year 2
Core modules:
Corporate Finance provides theoretical knowledge and practical understanding of key theories in finance and corporate policy decisions.
Intermediate Financial Economics develops knowledge and understanding of international macroeconomic analysis, performance and its importance for the business community.
Financial Econometrics 1 teaches you about statistics and business models in preparation for a project in applied financial econometrics. It equips you with the mathematical, statistical and analytical skills required to interpret literature in business finance and provides a strong foundation for higher level study.
Financial Valuation equips you with knowledge and understanding of the key issues in valuing companies and alternative investment securities as well as the practical tools for undertaking valuations of companies and alternative investment securities.
Financial Technology introduces you to contemporary financial technologies related to financial markets and institutions. You will learn frameworks and obtain skills needed to understand and critically evaluate core concepts in financial technology.
Derivative Markets helps you to develop knowledge and understanding of theoretical concepts of derivative securities as well as pricing and practical application of derivative securities in financial markets. You will also develop the ability to evaluate academic literature in derivative markets.
Banking covers key concepts in banking and the purpose of banks as financial intermediaries. You will learn frameworks and obtain skills needed to understand and critically evaluate core concepts in banking.
In recent years, optional modules have included:
Programming for Finance
A credit-bearing language module
Year 3
Year 3 is spent on placement. A minimum of 40 weeks of work experience is an opportunity to put learning from the first two years into practice in the workplace. You will also gain valuable experience and a tailored skill set to take forward to your final year. The skills and professional network gained during the placement year will give you a head start with graduate employers.
Year 4
Core modules:
Security Investment Analysis provides a thorough grounding in investment and portfolio management, focusing on theoretical concepts and practical applications.
The Dissertation develops your ability to plan and manage your own learning. It provides you with an opportunity to research the topic and present your findings and conclusions.
In recent years, optional modules have included:
Financial Derivatives and Financial Engineering
Computational Quantitative Finance
Behavioural Finance
Islamic Economics and Finance
Real Estate Finance
Financial Econometrics 2
Corporate Governance.
Placement
You may be able to take a work placement. Find out more.
Lectures and small group seminars are supported by specialist workshops which provide hands-on experience of finance-related problems using up-to-date resources such as Dow Jones, Refinitiv and Bloomberg. You’ll also benefit from one-to-one support and self-directed learning to develop your critical thinking skills.
Years 1 and 2 include placement-specific workshops and bootcamps to help develop your placement strategy and to identify and develop the skills and competencies that will help you stand out to potential placement employers.
We place great emphasis on high-quality small-group teaching sessions to help you get more out of your learning. As you move from first to final year, you’ll find a greater emphasis on self-directed learning and independent research as you begin to prepare for professional or postgraduate life.
Assessment
Modules are assessed via a combination of examinations, written assignments and reports, projects and presentations and a final year dissertation.
The range of assessment methods is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the material, test your capacity to solve problems, enhance your written and oral communication skills, and assess your ability to relate your learning to real-world issues.
Entry requirements
A strong proficiency in Mathematics is required. If not taken as an A level, a grade 7 (or grade A) in Mathematics at GCSE is required.
We welcome the Core Mathematics Qualification and accept a grade 5 minimum (or grade B) in lieu of our GCSE Mathematics requirement.
IB Diploma score – 36 with 665 in higher level subjects. If Mathematics is not taken at higher level, then it is required at standard level 5.
In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:
We also consider other level 3 qualifications, including T-levels.
We consider each application holistically, on an individual basis and against the other applications we receive. Whilst academic achievement is important, it is not the only factor that we consider when assessing applications and applicants who have achieved, or are predicted to achieve, close to our typical offer, but who have not met it exactly, will be welcome to apply if they have a strong application in other key elements, for example if they can demonstrate merit and potential through their personal statement or their reference.
We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications, please email us for more information.
We are willing to consider applications for deferred entry from those who have well-structured plans for work or travel, for example. We may, however, need to restrict the number of deferred entry offers we make because we have to be careful not to fill too many of next year’s places in advance. However, if you do apply for a deferred place and are unsuccessful, you are welcome to reapply the following year.
You are welcome to apply if you are taking resits; we do not make higher offers to students who declare resits.
If you do not satisfy our general entry requirements, the Foundation Programme offers multidisciplinary degrees to prepare you for a range of specified degree courses.
Science A levels
Applicants taking Science A levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This applies only to applicants sitting A levels with an English examination board.
The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.
The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only; fees for subsequent years will be confirmed not less than 3 months before the start of the academic year to which the increase is intended to apply and will be published on the Finance webpages.
In deciding the annual level of increase the University will take into account inflationary pressures on the costs of delivery. Tuition fees will rise annually by up to the higher of;
6%, or,
the latest annual percentage increase in the Consumer Prices Index.
Our students graduate with subject-specific knowledge such as economic theory and data analysis, as well as the commercial awareness, IT and problem-solving skills that are highly valued by employers across the world. This combination of academic knowledge and transferable skills will open up a range of career possibilities in the economics and finance sector and beyond.
Our focus on employability stretches beyond the classroom. You will benefit from events that will give you a competitive edge in the job market. From employer talks and interview advice to business-tailored careers fairs, we work with you to achieve your goals.
Previous Economics graduates have gone on to work for global innovators and leaders in their sector including Ernst and Young, Deloitte, Lloyds Banking Group, PwC, JP Morgan and for government departments such as the National Audit Office, HMRC and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
Of those students who graduated in 2020-21:
89% of Economics and Finance graduates are in paid employment or further study 15 months after graduation across all our programmes
Of those in employment:
96% are in high skilled employment
With an average salary of £36,000.
(Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk)
Department information
Business School
Gain constructive insights from active practitioners and researchers. Our Economics degrees close the gap between the business world and the classroom, and prepare the next generation for success across a range of disciplines.
We are part of Durham University’s Business School, one of the UK's longest established business schools. We offer an inspiring and stimulating learning environment, and consistently rank highly for the quality of our teaching, research and for graduate career prospects.
The rigorous curriculum combined with exceptional teaching prepare you to navigate the economic challenges faced by the modern world.
You will learn from leading academics across a range of economic disciplines. Many of the academic team are active practitioners and researchers who will share their skills and knowledge directly, delivering their insights to the classroom and bringing you closer to the realities of the business world. You will also benefit from lectures by guest speakers who give new perspectives on relevant topics, while case studies give you the opportunity to explore a range of contemporary economics issues. There are further opportunities for hands-on work placements and international study.
You will gain an understanding of the principles of Economics, including supply and demand, competition and growth theories while developing the skills to effectively analyse and interpret data. All our degrees can be tailored to your interests through a wide range of option modules, including the chance to study a language.
Economics degrees at Durham prepare students to become the innovative business thinkers of the future and our qualifications are highly successful in creating job opportunities.
You’ll be taught across the University campus by world leading academics from the Business School. You’ll have access to the Business Schools modern, spacious meeting rooms and study areas. The University campus is within walking distance of the historic centre of Durham, a city with UNESCO World Heritage Status.
You’ll be able to access up-to-date financial and market research information from sources such as FAME, Mintel, IMID, European Business asap and Pro-Quest. There’s also a wide range of information available via online databases, including Emerald, Mintel, Lexis-Nexis, Reuters Business Insight, IMF Statistical Service Online. In addition, you’ll have access to Durham University’s prestigious libraries and archives.
Apply
Find out more:
Use the UCAS code below when applying:
Apply
2M83
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) handles applications for all undergraduate courses.
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