Finance BSc 2021

Prepare for a career in the finance industry. Our BSc Finance degree will develop your understanding of finance, economics and management to equip you with the knowledge, skills and applied experience that makes our graduates some of the most employable in the country.

What you’ll learn

You will unpack many aspects of finance and management throughout the course, from capital markets and derivatives, through to asset pricing and international finance. You’ll also develop excellent financial literature skills, from interpreting small scale to large financial data and apply these to real-world company performance questions.

As well as class-based learning, students on our BSc Finance will enjoy study trips such as the recent visit to the London Stock Exchange. Given the global demand for graduates with finance degrees, you can also study a language alongside your degree as well as explore our study abroad opportunities and double degree route.

Professional accreditations

Our BSc Finance has five professional accreditations and exemptions:

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

The Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI).

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA UK).

This means you’ll not only graduate with a degree and experience, but a well-positioned finance career path for you to develop in whatever direction you choose.

HSBC now has its retail HQ in Birmingham, and Deutsche Bank has expanded its trading operations at its Birmingham office alongside the presence of PwC, KPMG, Deloitte and Ernst & Young, making our course well-placed for placements and job opportunities.

CISI Accreditation: Aston Business School pays for your membership to the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI), as well as your study guide and a professional exam. You’ll also get the chance to take part in a national competition and gain valuable networking opportunities.

Accreditation is a stamp of quality and prestige for a business school and its programmes. Aston is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation. 

Two undergraduate degrees

This course offers an Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway, meaning you could study overseas at one of our partner institutions during your placement year and graduate with two undergraduate degrees for the price of one. Find out more about the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway here.

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students. Students from over 120 different countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities, so you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Foundation programme

Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme in business will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course. During your foundation year you’ll have excellent support from academics, while group projects will give you the chance to meet new people, make new friends and build a network of peers who will share your university journey. We also have a Learning Development Centre that can provide additional support and offer pre-sessional English language programmes.

Post-study work visa

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new immigration route which will enable international students to remain in the UK for two years after they have completed their studies, in order to find work. The new post-study work visa will apply to international students starting undergraduate and postgraduate courses from 2020 at universities with a track record of compliance with immigration policy. Find out more about the post-study work visa.

Modules

Year 1

You will study a range of topics, designed to give you a solid foundation for your business degree. The core modules are: 

• Introduction to Finance
• Introductory Accounting for Business
• Law for Business
• Mathematics for economics
• Statistics for economics
• Introduction to Microeconomics
• Introduction to Macroeconomics

Year 2

From the second year you will explore financial and management accounting in depth, participate in events organised in conjunction with accountancy firms, visit businesses and undertake an interactive business game module. 

Your degree begins its specialist emphasis upon finance and financial management. The core modules are:

• Financial Markets
• Intermediate Microeconomics
• Quantitative Methods
• Financial and Management Accounting for Managers
• Trading Strategies
• Financial Services, Regulation, and Crisis
• Corporate Finance

Students must also choose one module from the following options:

• Business Management Simulation
• Sports Economics and Finance
• Introduction to Econometrics 
• Business Tax 
• Principles of Macroeconomics 

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Year 3

Professional placement year in finance, accountancy or management role or you have the option to undertake an international study placement. This year is compulsory for all UK students.

See placement year section or find out more about the Aston placement year.

Final Year 

In this year studies are taken to a more refined level, similar to a professional qualification standard, but retaining theoretical analysis. The core modules are:

• Derivatives
• Further Derivatives
• Investments 
• Financial Economics 
• Advanced Corporate Finance 
• Financial Analysis
• International Finance  

Students must also choose two modules from the following options:

• Financial Analysis
• Risk Management 
• Macroeconometrics 
• Microeconometrics 
• Tax Policy and Personal Tax 

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

4 year with integrated placement year / 3 year course without integrated placement year option only available for non-UK/EU students

UCAS Code: N300

Typical offers:

A Levels

BBB – standard offer

BBC (with EPQ or Core maths minimum grade B)

BCC (Contextual offer)*

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here. 

IB

31 points overall in the IB diploma with 5,5,5 at HL. Minimum score of 5 in Maths at Standard level.

BTEC, Access & other

BTEC Extended Diploma DDD – standard offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma DDM – Contextual offer.

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here. 

Further requirements

5 GCSE grades A*/9 – C/4 to include: 

GCSE Maths – grade B/5

GCSE English Language OR English Literature – grade C/4

Please note that General Studies does not contribute towards the UCAS points requirement but is welcomed as an additional qualification.

View our Admissions Policy. 

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

Entry onto our Foundation Year maybe offered as an alternative to the degree course if lower entry grades are achieved.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

International students

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements.

For more information about qualifications view our Aston in your country webpage.

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston. Find out more.

Our close links to industry and our focus on delivering practical business experiences provides a blend of learning experiences to equip you for your future career.

Learning and teaching

You will experience a range of teaching methods on our BSc Finance degree at Aston including lectures, tutorials, group working, case studies and both individual and group presentations.

Traditional teaching is enhanced by a virtual learning environment that is used to host a range of electronic supporting materials. For example, all business students undertake the Business Game module and compete in teams in a computer simulation exercise that culminates in a presentation to a panel of internal employers.

We pride ourselves on our teaching, which has been awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for teaching quality – the highest possible accolade and the benchmark by which the government evaluates the quality of university teaching.

Bloomberg Trading Room at Aston

Today's economy is rapidly changing, and for students looking to get a competitive edge, the ability to analyse real-time data is vital. The Aston Bloomberg Trading Room provides students with a simulation of what it’s like to work in the financial industry, and gain experience of a trading floor environment.

Bloomberg trading software is internationally renowned and used by the world's most influential decision makers, providing coverage of markets and securities as well as offering trading solutions. Find out more.

Aston University has subscriptions to both the Financial Times and The Economist, which you can benefit from whilst studying here.

Assessment

You will undertake a mix of coursework and examinations as well as group work and presentations.

Personal development

Our business degrees are designed to also give you a range of transferable and practical skills to help you succeed in your chosen career. We make extensive use of group working and presentations to prepare you for the reality of working life. This experience will develop your teamworking and negotiating skills.

The integrated placement year gives you genuine, practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues such as office politics, which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.

Placement year

The Aston placement year forms an integral part of your educational journey and is compulsory for all home students. International/EU students can request permission to opt out of the placement year, but we strongly recommend that it is completed where possible. 

Find out more about the Aston placement year.

The integrated placement year gives you the genuine, practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues such as office politics, which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.

We have a dedicated Employer Team within our Careers and Placements department who have links with local, national and international organisations and advertise vacancies to students through an online platform exclusively for Aston students and graduates.  

Aston University was recognised as the 'Best University Careers/Employability Service'.

The Careers and Placements team at Aston University won the 'Best University Careers/Employability Service' category at the National Undergraduate Employability (NUE) Awards 2020 for it's use of innovative ideas to engage a high number of students with the service in order to support them with their career planning.

Aston University has strong links with national and international organisations with over 200 employers interacting with students on campus each year.

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as Home students.

Further information 

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our scholarships here.

The specialist financial knowledge gained through this degree provides excellent preparation for graduate entry into finance-related careers.

Because this degree also combines broader-based business knowledge, it provides an excellent foundation for careers in general management and imparts skills that will be highly valued by graduate recruiters in both the private and public sectors.

Many students are offered jobs linked to their placement year. The integrated placement gives you an opportunity to gain experience for your CV as well as an understanding of the areas of finance that you’re interested in, preparing you for the world of work.

Recent graduates

Our recent finance graduates have obtained positions in roles such as:

• Finance Reporting Analyst
• Area Manager
• Risk Assurance
• Associate Auditor
• Investment Analyst
• Operations Analyst.

Our graduates have gone on to work at companies such as Lidl, PwC, JP Morgan, Airbus, Bank of England, Ford Motor Company and KPMG.

Why study BSc Finance at Aston University?

Not only will you develop your understanding across finance, economics, accounting and management, but you’ll gain invaluable, real-world career experience during your placement year. You’ll develop excellent financial literature skills and our BSc Finance has numerous accreditations and exemptions, meaning you’ll not only gain a degree but a career path to progress into a number of settings.

Is a placement for finance useful?

Aston has some of the most employable graduates in the UK, and the placement year helps to demonstrate to employers that you are able to transfer your knowledge to a real-world environment. A placement also helps you to understand the type of career you may want to establish once you graduate.

Does accreditation matter for finance?

Yes. Accreditation can instantly be applied, whether that’s specifically in an accounting role or more broadly within business. You’ll get theoretical, accredited and practical experiences within this degree.

What kind of career can a BSc Finance lead to?

A BSc Finance degree from Aston Business School will equip you with specialist knowledge that prepares you for a breadth of finance-related careers. Our previous graduates have obtained graduate positions in roles such as Finance Reporting Analyst, Area Manager, Risk Assurance, Associate Auditor, Investment Analyst and Operations Analyst at companies such as Lidl, PwC, JP Morgan, Airbus, Bank of England, Ford Motor Company and KPMG.

Why Aston Business School?

Aston Business School is amongst the top 1 per cent of business schools in the world to have triple accreditation. The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) rates us Gold, and we are first in the UK for Value Added, comparing our students’ entry grades with their final degree result, showing the quality of our teaching (Aston University, Guardian University Guide, 2020). All of this means we really value your learning experience and the skills you develop and demonstrate as part of your course.

What is the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway at Aston Business School?

You can deepen your learning and stand out from other graduates whilst gaining fantastic learning experience overseas. The Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway is similar to an exchange programme, but during your placement year you’ll follow a curriculum that sets you on the track for our partner institution’s degree award. This means, if successful, you will graduate with two undergraduate degrees.

Find out more about the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway here.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students. Students from over 120 different countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career.

Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme in business will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course.