University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2022/23 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School of Accounting and Finance - Business School > Finance (BSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 9EFIM013U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Sylvain Friederich
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Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School of Accounting and Finance - Business School |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Finance (2019) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 3 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
The BSc Finance Programme aims to equip students with the subject-specific intellectual and professional skills necessary for a successful career in the financial services industry, in economic consultancy, in government departments and regulatory agencies. Graduates from the programme will be well-placed to pursue postgraduate studies in specialist Masters programmes at the best international universities.
The programme offers rigorous and practical training in all areas of finance, with a focus on the quantitative techniques that are a required skill for a successful career in the financial services industry. Through their choice of optional courses, students will gain exposure to the related fields of Economics, Accounting and Management.
The programme has been designed and will be updated and informed by both researchers and professional practice, combining theoretical education with an understanding of how to tackle the many challenges posed by the dynamic contemporary global environment. It is among the first in the UK to contains coverage of new and disruptive forms of finance like cryptocurrencies, smart beta investing, peer-to-peer lending or high-frequency trading at undergraduate level.
Concepts and theories are always related to finance practice through the use of specialist industry newspapers like the Dow Jones-Financial News and data vendors like Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters.
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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The design and delivery of units within the programme are based around Biggs (2003) ‘constructive alignment’. Acquisition of knowledge and understanding is achieved through conventional lectures, exercise lectures, workshops, presentations and supervisions and supported by linked small-group seminars, tutorials, clinics and surgeries. Units have designated reading and problem sets to be completed. Analytical and problem-solving skills are developed in core units. Some units require group work and student presentations. Directed and independent reading, with a strong emphasis on effective use of a wide range of literature and other information sources: academic texts, business reports, and journal articles. Delivery of learning material is supported through technology including Blackboard, digital and software packages, and databases. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
The assessment culture is based on ‘constructive alignment’ and ‘authentic alignment’. Summative assessment is carried out by a combination of unseen exams, extended essays, presentations, business reports, group and individual projects. Formative assessment makes use of a wide range assessment methods, including tests, essays, exercises, presentations, group-work and reports; with each method appropriate to the specific unit of the programme. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Intellectual skills are developed through the lectures, exercise lectures, independent study and coursework. Students are exposed to relevant modes of enquiry and analyses; they are encouraged through class discussion and their individual written work to identify key issues, to summarise and reflect upon key points from their reading, to assess evidence and its relevance. Research skills are further developed through teaching of quantitative methods, and the completion of a third year Supervised workshop in computer labs or dedicated data rooms (Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters) |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
A variety of written assignments/essays provide formative assessment throughout the course, including computer-based assignments. Summative assessments are through a combination of unseen examinations which test summary, analytical and evaluation skills, problem-solving, report writing and presentations. An individual data project and an extended essay are also used. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Oral communication is developed by requiring students to engage in class discussions, in tutorials/clinics, and to provide presentations individually and in groups. Effective use of information sources, analytical ability, independent and group work are all developed through coursework tasks and study skills. Use of Blackboard; Development of computing skills and essential software packages used in Finance. Supervised workshop in computer labs or dedicated data rooms (Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters) |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Communication and presentation skills are assessed through written coursework (numerical questions and essays). Recall and the organisation of relevant material is tested through unseen written examinations. An individual data project and an extended essay are also used. Independent study is assessed through coursework, assessed essays and preparation for examinations. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Students are expected to acquire the foundations on which to develop appropriate expertise in line with the aims and objectives of the course. They will acquire familiarity with the main themes and key concepts of economics and finance and the character of the two disciplines. They will develop an understanding of debates on issues of central importance to economics and its mathematical and statistical relationships. They will have grasped the analytical tools necessary to work in these disciplines. The expectation is that their work may require substantial direction from tutors at this stage with guidance on the development of study skills. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
In Year 2, students are expected to expand the range and depth of their knowledge in core areas of the discipline and in their capacity to evaluate material using a variety of critical perspectives. They acquire an overview of key fields of study and appropriate methodologies, a strong conceptual basis for later theory and substantive units. Students will extend their analytical skills, their ability to structure their work and present it fluently. They will be encouraged to acquire group work skills and team-work through active participation in seminars/clinics. They are expected to be developing a capacity for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of essays and coursework assignments). |
Level H/6 - Honours |
At level 6 students are expected to broaden and deepen their knowledge through their study of specialised subjects, the units being more closely linked to staff research interests developing the conceptual and methodological approaches used in more complex environments. Students will be expected to develop further their ability to gather and assimilate information from diverse sources, to synthesise these in an appropriate way and to engage in sophisticated critical evaluation of financial texts. Students will be encouraged to make their own critical judgements, to develop greater independence and organisation of relevant materials, which is tested in particular through unseen written examinations. They will further extend individual and group work skills and their IT capabilities. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
Students will be encouraged to seek CFA certification.
Email: acfi-ug@bristol.ac.uk
ACCG10052 and EFIM10010 are must pass units. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Financial Markets, Institutions and Instruments | EFIM10029 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Risk and Return | EFIM10028 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Economic Principles | EFIM10010 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Introduction to Accounting | ACCG10052 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Mathematics for Economics and Finance | ECON10005 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Probability, Statistics and Econometrics | ECON10003 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
EFIM20041 and EFIM20043 are must pass units. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Asset Markets | EFIM20043 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Financial Data | EFIM20040 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Corporate Finance and Valuation | EFIM20042 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Quantitative Methods for Finance 1 | EFIM20041 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Select 40 credit points from: | ||||
Financial Accounting | EFIM20007 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Management Accounting | ACCG20011 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Taxation | EFIM20012 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Microeconomic Analysis | EFIM20038 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Macroeconomic Analysis | EFIM20037 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Management Science | EFIM20005 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Foundations of Business Law | LAWD10007 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Choose open units | OPEN | 20 | Optional | |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Quantitative Methods for Finance 2 | EFIM30054 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Advanced Topics in Finance | EFIM30055 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Digital Finance | ACFI30007 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Risk Management | EFIM30057 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Select 40 credit points from the following Finance options: | ||||
Derivatives and International Finance | ACFI30013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Portfolio Management | ACFI30011 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Behavioural Finance | ACFI30005 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Financial Crises | ACFI30008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Banking | EFIM20032 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Financial Statement Analysis | ACFI30002 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Auditing | EFIM30016 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Open-Economy Macroeconomics | ECON30010 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Decision Analysis and Simulation | MGRC30003 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Finance (BSc) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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