Finance and Business Management BA Honours

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Course Overview

Attendance

UK Fees £9,250 *
International Fees £15,400 *
Duration 3 or 4 years

* Price per academic year

Course summary

Sound and ethical financial management lies at the heart of every successful business: to generate sufficient income, optimise resources, reduce risk and gain a good return on investments. On this course, you’ll learn to strategically plan, organise, direct and control finances in a rapidly evolving global financial sector.

Our Finance and Business Management degree has been purposefully designed to meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). Although exemptions are not available, our Course will provide you with the necessary set of skills to sit several professional exams.

With an emphasis on learning through practice, it provides a solid foundation of finance theories, systems and procedures, developing your skills for complex modelling and analysis. Gaining a greater appreciation of strategic financial decision-making with a specific focus on ethics and sustainability, you’ll be prepared for a fast track and rewarding career in the international financial services sector or in management.

You will learn to analyse financial markets to forecast financial performance, using real data – live and historic – in our Finance Markets Suite (FMS) with its replica trading floor. You’ll also hear directly from current professionals through guest speakers, field trips to financial institutions and professional training sessions.

Business School graduates have gone on to work for large banks and other financial institutions, including Vanguard, Standard Chartered, Citibank, Société Générale and Paribas, and governmental agencies, such as the World Economic Forum.

Top reasons to study with us

  • Access to one of the largest financial databases in our state-of-the-art Bloomberg virtual trading room
  • Programmes delivered by a multicultural, research active, teaching body, with professional experience and established international links
  • Use of business computing and software, including Datastream, Eviews and SPSS
  • Guest lectures from industry practitioners: recent talks feature former city traders with extensive experience
  • Field trips to financial institutions: in the past, students had a guided tour of the new Bloomberg HQ in London
  • Optional placement year or internship, for example, working in the finance department of an NHS Trust
  • Free online subscription to The Financial Times

Course structure

This degree combines business and analytical skills with sound financial knowledge to help inform business strategy. In each year of study, you will take a combination of core and option modules, which cover specialisms such as personal finance or international financial management. The flexible nature of the course allows you to choose topics that most suit your interests or career aspirations – even if these change as your course progresses. 

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

You will investigate and learn how businesses operate, looking at how people are managed, how you manage projects and business operations and how managers make key decisions. You will also study modules to further develop your knowledge and expertise in finance, through corporate finance, security analysis and corporate financial management. Within corporate finance you will explore: the financial decision-making processes of organisations, the role of financial managers and the external factors which impact financial decisions. You will discuss and debate some of the issues facing modern markets, including the challenges of cyber-security, dealing with market abuse, ensuring good corporate governance and the impact of internationalisation.

Subjects of study include:

  • Corporate Financial Accounting
  • Introduction to Finance
  • Introduction to Financial Markets
  • Marketing for Finance and Accounting
  • Organisational Behaviour for Finance and Accounting

You will also have the opportunity to take one option module from: Creating and Managing an Online Presence, The Role of the Manager. You may also choose a foreign language as your option module.

Credit Level 4

You will investigate and learn how businesses operate, looking at how people are managed, how you manage projects and business operations and how managers make key decisions. You will also study modules to further develop your knowledge and expertise in finance, through corporate finance, security analysis and corporate financial management. Within corporate finance you will explore: the financial decision-making processes of organisations, the role of financial managers and the external factors which impact financial decisions. You will discuss and debate some of the issues facing modern markets, including the challenges of cyber-security, dealing with market abuse, ensuring good corporate governance and the impact of internationalisation.

Subjects of study include:

  • Corporate Finance
  • Corporate Financial Management
  • Financial Modelling and Statistics
  • Managing and Leading People for Finance and Accounting

You can also choose two options from: Digital Business for Finance and Accounting, Leadership and Management or Project Management.

Credit Level 5

Optional work placement/study abroad year

Between Years 2 and 3, you can take an optional work placement or study year abroad. The work placement year is a one-year full-time business work placement. Past students have completed placements in a variety of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and prestigious organisations, including Barclays Bank, British Airways, Disney UK, IBM and the National Health Service (NHS). The study abroad year allows you to follow a programme of study at one of our partner institutions, giving you the opportunity to experience life in another country and learn Business from a different cultural viewpoint.

You can also choose to split your year abroad into a first semester exchange and a second semester work placement, both conducted overseas.

You will be introduced to environmental auditing and consider how sustainability impacts are measured, monitored and improvements planned. Developing your specialist knowledge further by studying international investments, personal finance and current themes in finance, you will investigate the challenges facing organisations at a strategic level, whether this be the safety measures to handle fluctuating markets or increasing digitisation of business and the need for talent equipped to deal with today’s fast pace of change. In doing so, you will undertake research on an aspect of finance of your choice – past students have, for example, looked at how to make financial markets safer, Brexit and financial markets turmoil, the need for financial regulation, and the role of central banks during the crisis and afterwards. 

Subjects of study include:

  • Company Law
  • International Investments
  • Strategic Perspectives for Finance and Accounting 
  • Sustainable Finance

You can also choose two options from: Project and Programme Management, Risk Management in Finance and Banking and Wealth Management.

Credit Level 6

Programme recognition

The course content has been designed to meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), the leading professional body for securities, investment, wealth and financial planning professionals. Although exemptions are not available, our course will provide you with the necessary set of skills to sit several professional exams.  

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Programme specification

For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).

To request an accessible version please email [email protected]

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Prospectus

Get your copy of the University of Westminster prospectus and browse the range of courses on offer.

Request a prospectus

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Get in touch

Contact us for general course enquiries:

+44 (0)20 7911 5000 EXT 65511
(Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm GMT)

[email protected]

Live chat with us
(Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm GMT)

Open days

Join us at an open day online or on campus. Get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster and talk to course leaders and our support teams.

Careers

This degree is designed to prepare you for a managerial role in the financial and broader business sector. Employers in this industry seek graduates with entrepreneurial flair and analytical mindset to make informed business and management decisions. Graduates emerging from this programme will have the confidence to take on exciting professional and management projects to solve complex problems and make sound business decisions. We expect them to work for international organisations in the financial services sector, for multinationals or in their own entrepreneurial financial management practices. You could go on to work as a financial manager, analyst or advisor in a wide range of private, public or third-sector organisations.

The University's Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.

Develop your innovation and entrepreneurial skills

Develop your innovation and entrepreneurial skills in The Big Idea competition, sponsored by Santander.

Kickstart your career

Learn how to use social media in your job hunt or LinkedIn to kickstart your career.

Develop your CQ

Develop your cultural intelligence – or ‘CQ’ – studying alongside students and staff representing more than 100 nationalities.

Industry links

Our course was designed with input from a range of industry professionals with expertise in financial markets, institutions and financial regulation. To retain currency and relevance, we receive ongoing feedback from the School’s Employability Advisory Board, whose members include practitioner representatives from Vanguard, JPMorgan and Global Structured Finance, as well as former students now working in the finance industry who provide suggestions on how to improve employability for current students.

Job roles

This course will prepare you for roles such as:

  • Analyst or researcher
  • Business development manager
  • Financial advisor
  • HR business partner
  • Management consultant

Graduate employers

Graduates from the Business School have found employment at organisations including:

  • Amazon
  • Citibank
  • Financial Conduct Authority
  • Paribas
  • Santander
  • Sberbank
  • Société Générale 
  • Standard Chartered
  • World Economic Forum

Westminster Employability Award

Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.

The award is flexible and can be completed in your own time, allowing you to choose from a set of extracurricular activities.

Activities might include gaining experience through a part-time job or placement, signing up to a University-run scheme – such as mentoring or teaching in a school – or completing online exercises.

Read more about our Westminster Employability Award.

Westminster Employability Award

International Opportunities

Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.

Opportunities could include:

  • Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
  • Attending an international summer school or field trip
  • Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad

International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.

Find out more about our international opportunities, including funding options and where you can go.

Students working and studying internationally

Course Leader

Why study this course?

Outstanding facilities

State-of-the-art Bloomberg-powered Financial Markets Suite (FMS) featuring industry-leading technology and software.

Professional software

Free access to professional software including Bloomberg, Datastream, Fame, Factiva, EViews, Matlab, Nvivo, SPSS, Sage, Statista, EIU Viewswire, Mintel, Passport (Euromonitor) LinkedIn Learning.

Expert teaching staff

Expert teaching staff will share their professional experiences of working as financial and credit risk analysts, and as economic, business and digital consultants.

Entry Requirements

  • A Levels – BBC (112 UCAS Tariff points)
  • T levels – 112 UCAS Tariff points
  • International Baccalaureate – 112 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM
  • BTEC Diploma – D*D*
  • Access – 112 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course

In addition to one of the above, you should have:

  • GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher Level, GCSE Maths grade 4/C – IB grade 4

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combination of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.

View more information about our entry requirements and the application process

  • International Baccalaureate – 112 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

More information

International Foundation course

We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London to provide Foundation Certificate courses for international students who don’t meet our Bachelor’s degree entry requirements.

Find out how to apply for the Foundation Certificate course.

Pre-sessional English programmes

Need to improve your English before starting your course? We offer summer pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.

What our students say

Filippo Iguera

Finance and Business Management BA Honours - 2022

My favourite part about the Finance and Business Management BA was being able to take advantage of the several opportunities that Westminster gives you. I was able to take a 3-month summer internship at PwC in Italy, and I also had the chance to spend a semester abroad at Copenhagen Business School.

Laurent Gerxhalija

Laurent Gerxhalija

Business Management (Finance) BA

I was told that the transition to university would be eye opening and it really has been. The workload is much more demanding and challenging, however teaching standards at Westminster are high quality and the ethics followed are perfect to ensure that everyone receives the right level of learning. The professors are very knowledgeable and know how to make a student feel at home at the University. My course is a great way to expand your array of knowledge while also having a great time. Years 2 and 3 should be a belter!

Marco Amato

Marco Amato

Business Management (Finance) BA

My time at the University of Westminster has been amazing! The University offers fantastic opportunities to increase students' employability, such as exchange programmes, summer schools and business trips. In addition, I found the Business Management (Finance) BA really practical - the course provided me with the essential skills that helped me to succeed during my second-year summer internship in the consulting industry.

What our students say

Evelyn Namutebi

Evelyn Namutebi

Business Management (Finance) BA

I'm currently a course representative for Business Management (Finance) BA - my dream is to become a finance director. Westminster has supportive lecturers, detailed study materials on Blackboard and well-equipped libraries. They also have a dedicated Careers and Employability Service, which offers work-related support.

Gabriela Koleva

Finance and Business Management BA

I began my studies with no previous knowledge in finance or business management and coming this far already has definitely been rewarding and intellectually stimulating. The best part of being a Westminster student is the diverse environment, and everyone is very supportive and ready to help.

Filip Olofsson

Finance and Business Management BA

The course is a great blend between learning the hard skills of finance and learning the soft skills of management and people. The best part of the course was learning skills that were directly applicable in the real world, putting me in a great place to take on roles within the industry before graduation.

Learn new skills

Develop your creativity

Develop your creativity to think outside the box. 

Learn to critically evaluate

Learn to critically evaluate the strategies that managers use to help organisations adapt in an uncertain or complex environment.

Improve your problem-solving skills

Improve your problem-solving skills to better understand and tackle people management issues. 

Westminster Business School blog

Read our blog and get an insight into life and studies at Westminster Business School.

Visit the WBS blog

Fees and Funding

UK tuition fee: £9,250 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

Funding

As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.

Find out about undergraduate student funding options.

Scholarships

The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.

Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.

Additional costs

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.

International tuition fee: £15,400 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme

If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2024 or September 2025 at level 3 (Foundation) or level 4 (first year) on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.

International student funding

Find out about funding for international students.

Additional costs

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.

Student work

On our doorstep, the London Stock Exchange is a major part of the financial industry and our students have the opportunity to experience a day in the life of the markets, participating in a half-day special educational programme. You’ll learn about the role of the different participants, from companies and governments seeking to raise finance, to investors, traders and the regulators. You’ll also consider the challenges companies face when exploring their finance options.

Stock market graphs

Teaching and Assessment

Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable.  Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.

How you'll be taught

Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:

  • Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
  • Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
  • Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
Year
1
24%76%
2
24%76%
P
5%10%85%
3
24%76%
Scheduled hoursIndependent studyPlacement

How you'll be assessed

Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:

  • Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts  
  • Written exams: end of semester exams 
  • Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
     
Year
1
1%10%89%
2
2%98%
P
100%
3
100%
Written examsPracticalCoursework

Data from the academic year 2023/24

Supporting you

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

  • Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
  • Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
  • Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
  • Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Visit our student hub

Facilities

Course Location

Our Marylebone Campus has benefited from a multi-million-pound refurbishment resulting in new workshops, digital studios and development of the Marylebone Library. The campus is home to Westminster Business School and our award-winning Architecture, Planning and Tourism courses. For more details, visit our Marylebone Campus page.

Westminster Business School

Based in the heart of London's political, media and financial services, Westminster Business School has excellent industry links and a strong commitment to social enterprise.

Our courses are accredited by professional bodies including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Our practical teaching relates learning to the real world, and we develop graduates who are ready to respond to contemporary business challenges.

Find out moreGo to Westminster Business School page

Westminster Business School Marylebone Campus

Contact us

Call our dedicated team on:

+44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65511

Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday

[email protected]

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