Programme Specification for Finance, Money & Banking BSc (Hons)
|
Final award |
BSc (Hons) |
|
Intermediate awards available |
Certificate of Higher Education, Diploma of Higher Education |
|
UCAS code |
N300 |
|
Details of professional body accreditation |
N/A |
|
Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
Economics |
|
Date specification last up-dated |
June 2011 |
Profile
The summary - UCAS programme profile
BANNER BOX:
In recent surveys, students on this programme have expressed very high levels of satisfaction with their programme - the highest in UEL
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- 200 UCAS tariff points or equivalent
- Pass in a recognised Access Course or International Foundation Programme
In addition to the above, we require GCSE Maths grade C and English grade C or equivalents, unless competency is part of the qualification gained.
We also welcome mature student applicants and those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications, and these will be dealt with on an individual basis and may require an interview.
Students that apply to enter Year 2 or 3 of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Prior and Experiential Learning (APEL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement.
In the case of applicants whose mother tongue is not English, then IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.
You do not have to have studied Economics at GCSE, A/S or A level to be admitted to the BA Economics programme.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
What is BSc Finance, Money and banking?
BSc Finance, Money and Banking provides students with a broadly based understanding of the workings of the financial sector. It contains a strong analytical core, but it is more linked to the practical world of financial markets than many specialist Financial Economics programmes.
Finance, Money and banking at UEL
-
Programme structure
The BSc Finance, Money & Banking programme is a three year full-time programme (a part-time mode is also available, although please note that there are no evening classes).
Learning environment
All modules, involve a weekly element of formal class contact. This contact may take many forms but in practically every module, there will be a lecture. This lecture element will be accompanied by smaller group contact that will variously take the form of seminars, tutorials, workshops, or discussion groups. Some quantitative modules take place in the IT labs. In addition to the learning resources available in the library, students also have the advantage of material provided via staff web pages.
Assessment
Assessment in modules is generally carried out by a combination of course work and end of semester examination. Weightings of coursework and examinations vary from module to module. In line with University policy, level one semester A modules do not have an end of semester examination. The course work component may take several forms, depending on the module, the most common types being: essays, tests, timed essays, and seminar presentations.
Only second and third year marks count towards degree classification. The university-wide rule is that degree classification is determined by adding one-third of the level two average mark to two-thirds of the level three average.
Work experience/placement opportunities
Under the EU Socrates Programme, it is possible for students to study for one year at a university in Italy, Spain or France.
Project work
All students doing the BSc Finance, Money & Banking Programme are required to do a supervised Project in their final year. Some taught modules may also contain 'project-like' elements as coursework assessment. Such elements provide students with the opportunity to develop their own ideas; work in groups; and research specific topics.
Added value
In addition to subject specific skills, cognitive and transferable skills are also developed. Both types of skill are taught within the context of the subject, the former including: abstract thinking, critical analysis, synthesis and summary and evaluation; the latter: planning and management of learning, investigative skills, problem-solving, communication and presentation and interactive, group and psycho-motor skills (such as IT skills).
All Finance, Money & Banking students must take an ‘Employability’ (Career Management) module at level two. This module helps students prepare themselves for employment by, inter alia, requiring students to research the labour market, draw up a skills audit and prepare themselves for interview and job applications.
IS THIS THE PROGRAMME FOR ME?
If you are interested in...
- Stocks and shares
- Developing an understanding of the financial sector and the role of key financial institutions
- Portfolio analysis and management
If you enjoy...
- Financial issues
- Acquiring skills and problem-solving
- Understanding theories and applying them to real world problems and issues
If you want...
- To develop a wide range of employment-related skills
- To prepare yourself for a career in the financial sector
Your future career
The Finance, Money & Banking programme provides an educational experience which is specifically designed to facilitate employment in a wide range of financial institutions.
How we support you
- personal tutor system
- residential/student finance advice
- careers advice
- study skills development
- IT training
Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
The BSc Finance, Money & Banking degree aim to provide students with:
- knowledge and understanding of financial institutions and instruments
- an understanding of the inter-relationships between the financial sector and the rest of the economy
- a grounding in appropriate quantitative skills;
- a grounding in relevant economic theories and policies
- the ability to communicate ideas and to consider opposing ideas and interpretations;
- appropriate study skills and ability to make use of basic information technology skills;
- transferable skills in the form of the abilities to formulate and analyse problems, use relevant sources in seeking to clarify problems, reach reasoned conclusions, choose between available alternatives and present ideas clearly and coherently in both verbal and written form.
What will you learn?
Knowledge
- knowledge of financial institutions
- knowledge of financial instruments
- knowledge of specialist applications of economic theory to the financial and monetary areas
- knowledge regarding the nature and development of key financial and monetary issues and policies
Thinking skills
- Analysis
- Synthesis and creativity
- Problem solving
Subject-Based Practical skills
- an ability to use statistical skills in the identification and analysis of financial problems
- an ability to use industry-standard (e.g. Excel) and specialist applications software to solve economics-related problems
- an ability to apply the analytical techniques of economics to a range of financial issues
Skills for life and work (general skills)
- the ability to present an argument and to provide a critical evaluation of ideas
- skills in inter-personal communication and in the oral presentation of ideas
- the ability to undertake individual work, making appropriate use of library and other resources, and to direct this work to specifically-defined tasks and targets
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 360 credits.
Typical duration
The typical duration of this programme is three years when attended in full-time mode or five years when attended in part-time mode. It is possible to move from a full-time mode of study to a part-time mode of study and vice-versa to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.
How the teaching year is divided
The teaching year begins in September and ends in June, but some programmes also allow students to join at the start of Semester B, in February. A typical student registered in a full-time attendance mode will study the equivalent of 120 credits over the year. A typical student registered in a part-time attendance mode will study for one day and one evening per week and will complete 60-80 credits.
What you will study when
This programme is part of a modular degree scheme. A student registered in a full-time attendance mode will take six 20 credit modules (or fewer, if any are 40 credit modules) per year. An honours degree student will complete modules totalling 120 credits at level one, modules totalling 120 credits at level 2 and modules totalling 120 credits at level 3.
It is possible to bring together modules from one field with modules from another to produce a combined programme. Subjects are offered in a variety of combinations:
- Single - 120 credits at levels one two and three
- Major - 80 credits at levels one, two and three
- Joint - 60 credits at levels one, two and three
- Minor - 40 credits at levels one, two and three.
Modules are defined as:
- Core - Must be taken
- Option - Select from a range of identified modules within the field
- University Wide Option - Select from a wide range of University wide options
The following are the core and optional requirements for the single route for this programme
|
LEV-EL |
TITLE |
SKILLS |
CREDITS |
STATUS |
STATUS |
STATUS |
STATUS |
|
1 |
Introduction to Economics |
|
20 |
Core |
Core |
Core |
Core |
|
1 |
Statistics for |
|
20 |
Core |
Option |
Option |
|
|
1 |
Finance, |
|
20 |
Core |
Core |
Core |
|
|
1 |
Studying for Business |
Y |
20 |
Core |
Core |
*Core |
|
|
1 |
Financial Services in the Modern World |
|
20 |
Core |
Option |
Option |
Core |
|
1 |
Principles of Investment |
|
20 |
Core |
Option |
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
Accounting for |
|
20 |
Core |
Option |
Option |
|
|
2 |
Portfolio |
|
20 |
Core |
Option |
Option |
Core |
|
2 |
Principles of Financial Intermediation |
|
20 |
Core |
Core |
Core |
Core |
|
2 |
Applied Economics |
|
20 |
Core |
Core |
Core |
|
|
2 |
Career Management |
Y |
20 |
Core |
Core |
*Core |
|
|
2 |
Econometric |
|
20 |
Option |
Option |
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
Corporate Finance |
|
20 |
Core |
Option |
Option |
|
|
3 |
Project |
Y |
20 |
Core |
Core |
*Core |
|
|
3 |
Asset Pricing |
|
20 |
Core |
Option |
Core |
Core |
|
3 |
Options, |
|
20 |
Core |
Core |
Core |
Core |
|
3 |
Applied |
|
20 |
Option |
Option |
Option |
|
|
3 |
Monetary |
|
20 |
Option |
Option |
Option |
|
*The Skills Modules listed in the Joint Route are Core, unless the equivalent Skills Modules are taken in your other combined subject.
Requirements for gaining an award
In order to gain an honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:
- A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
- A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
- A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher
In order to gain an ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:
- A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
- A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
- A minimum of 60 credits at level three or higher
In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher
In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher.
In order to gain a Foundation Degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 240 credits including:
- A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
- A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
(A foundation degree is linked to a named Honours degree onto which a student may progress after successful completion of the Foundation degree.)
Degree Classification
Where a student is eligible for an Honours degree, and has gained a minimum of 240 UEL credits at level 2 or level 3 on the programme, including a minimum of 120 UEL credits at level 3, the award classification is determined by calculating:
|
The arithmetic mean of the best 100 credits at level 3 |
× |
2/3 |
+ |
The arithmetic mean of the next best 100 credits at levels 2 and/or 3 |
× |
1/3 |
and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification
|
70% - 100% |
First Class Honours |
|
60% - 69% |
Second Class Honours, First Division |
|
50% - 59% |
Second Class Honours, Second Division |
|
40% - 49% |
Third Class Honours |
|
0% - 39% |
Not passed |
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
Knowledge
is developed primarily through lectures, reading, use of the internet
Thinking skills
are developed through smaller group seminars or tutorials, writing essays and reports
Practical skills
are developed through e.g. IT-based workshops
Skills for life and work (general skills)
are developed through seminars, tutorials and workshops
Assessment
Knowledge
is assessed by essays, tests, projects, seminar presentations and examinations
Thinking skills
are assessed by essays, projects and examinations
Practical skills
are assessed by tests, IT project-based work
Skills for life and work (general skills)
are assessed by IT-based assessments such as tests and projects, written projects and reports/essays, seminar presentations
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before this programme started the University checked that:
- there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- adequate resources would be in place;
- the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the University’s Quality and Standards Committee.
Once every six years the University undertakes an in-depth review of the whole field. This is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the University's quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme;
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students.
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments;
- Attending assessment boards;
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
- Ensuring that regulations are followed;
- Providing feedback to the University through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Module evaluations
- Student representation on programme committees
- Student/Staff consultative committee
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- reporting back to student representatives at subsequent committee meetings
- a newsletter published once or twice a year
- providing details on the programme noticeboard
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Questionnaires to former students
Further Information
Alternative locations for studying this programme
| Location | Which elements? | Taught by UEL staff | Taught by local staff | Method of Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Where you can find further information
Further information about this programme is available from:
- The UEL web site
- The student handbook
- Module study guides
- UEL Manual of Regulations and Policies http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- UEL Quality Manual http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- Regulations for the Academic Framework http://www.uel.ac.uk/academicframework/
- Economics Group http://www.uel.ac.uk/elbs/undergraduate/economics/index.htm
