Undergraduate study

Overview

• An understanding of the workings of financial markets and a rigorous training in asset pricing
• Thorough training in analytical techniques for financial decision making
• A wide range of career opportunities in industry and the financial sector
• Opportunities to combine with closely related subjects

Finance at Keele provides a rigorous training for students with an interest in understanding how financial markets work and why they are important. The course has been designed to train students in finance but, at the same time, it combines naturally with many other subjects especially Economics, Business Management, and Mathematics.

Our teaching is motivated by the following aims:

• to help students explain a diverse range of real-world financial phenomena in terms of a small set of unifying core principles
• to combine theoretical analysis with up-to-date factual knowledge about real financial phenomena
• develop students’ ability to use professional software tools for the analysis of real financial data
• to develop independence and self-confidence among students in their work and their ability to co-operate with colleagues
• develop students’ ability to present complex findings in a well-balanced and concise manner to a wide range of audiences

There is an option to study abroad for a semester at a range of partners in the EU, the USA, Canda, Asia and Australia.

Course Content

First year 

The First Year of the Course introduces the scope of the subject and provides an insight into the nature of Finance.  The following core modules are taken:

Economics of Financial Markets explores the connection between the financial system and the wider economy. This module emphasises how financial markets operate efficiently to transfer funds from savers to borrowers through the workings of the money and capital markets.  The module also examines how asset prices are determined by the equilibrium of supply and demand in these markets.

Quantative Methods develops basic mathematical and statistical methods such as calculus, probability, hypothesis testing and univariate regression used extensively in Finance and Economics.

Accounting Principles examines the basic concepts of financial accounting, and how these may be used to construct and interpret the financial statement for an organisation.

A range of electives are also available, including:

Strategic Thinking
Financial and Management Accounting
British and Global Economy

Second year

Builds upon the First Year and involves three core modules:

Asset Pricing introduces the relationship between risk and return in financial markets and the role of arbitrage in determining asset prices.

Portfolio Choice explores the rationale for holding portfolios and the advantages this brings as a way of diversifying risk for private investors and large financial institutions, such as insurance companies.

Introduction to Econometrics uses statistical methods to investigate selected financial and economic issues such as asset pricing, savings function, and household labour supply.

Modules can also be taken from a range of electives, including

Cost and Management Accounting

Banking

Third year

The programme develops understanding of financial issues as they affect companies, the operation of derivative markets and the determination of foreign exchange rates and international financial transactions. The following core modules are taken:

Corporate Finance undertakes analysis of company financing of investment projects; corporate tax policy; financial decisions and real activity; and the interaction of shareholders, creditors and managers.

Options and Futures examines the structure of derivative markets that form a key role in risk management and hedging.  The module examines the principles of options and futures pricing and investment strategies with options and futures.

Applied Financial Analysis deepens your understanding of statistical techniques utilised in the investigation of financial problems and issues.  The module considers techniques for studying time-series data and applies these to problems of 'efficiency' in domestic and international financial markets and to asset pricing.

You can extend your interests in Finance by taking modules from a range of electives, including:

International Finance
Corporate Governance
Game Theory

The opportunity to take a structured, project-based independent study module using the tools needed to construct and interpret economic and business forecasts is also available

Codes and Combinations

Students are candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) (BA Hons) if their two Principal courses are in humanities and/or social science subjects.

All students who study a science subject are candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science (with Honours) (BSc Hons).

Dual Honours Course can be combined with:

Foundation course available:

For overseas students who do not meet direct entry requirements, we offer the opportunity to take an intensive Foundation Diploma programme in Business and Management leading to second year degree entry

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching takes place in lectures, tutorials, study groups and computer laboratory classes. Finance is a quantitative subject and financial markets themselves rely heavily on the use of IT.

Computer facilities are used extensively in Finance teaching, especially in quantitative methods, now part of the essential ‘toolkit’ of modern finance. Students acquire expertise with a wide range of statistical, economic and modern business software, and access to commercial databases, including Datastream, the main source of information for economic and financial data.

A range of assessment methods is utilised across the programme comprising weekly or fortnightly exercises, mid-semester tests, projects, essay assignments and unseen two-hour examinations. The precise combination in each module will depend on the material covered. Modules usually have an unseen examination which counts for 70% of the marks available.

Programme specifications (new window)

Skills and Careers

The course develops and assesses a variety of transferable and subject-specific skills, all of which are highly relevant to typical career choices in this subject area.

Tests and examinations assess students' ability to solve problems and address issues under a severe time constraint, essays develop abilities in written expression and argument, a dissertation develops students' ability to study a single issue in depth, while seminars give students practice in making presentations and developing powers of oral expression and argument.

Graduates from our Dual Honours Finance programme leave Keele well prepared for further study or employment in finance and related areas. The skills acquired at Keele make graduates highly valued with employers. Finance graduates from Keele take up careers in the City, government service and in banking, accounting and other financial enterprises.

Finance destinations for graduates who completed their undergraduate course in 2011:

Of those who responded:

Want to work in?

Many students are excited by careers that utilise the academic knowledge and skills developed on their degree:

• Investment Analysis
• Financial Trader
• Investment Banker
• Banker
• Chartered Accountant
• Management Accountant
• Tax Adviser
• Insurance Broker

What else?

For those who do not wish to pursue a career directly related to their degree, here are some career ideas to open up options:

• Solicitor
• IT Consultant
• Broadcast Journalist
• Operational Researcher
• Civil Service Fast Streamer
• Statistician

Careers information

Visit our Careers pages (new window)

Finance and Economics
Finance and Economics share the same analytical framework. The notion of market equilibrium that is used extensively in economics provides the foundation for the arbitrage ideas that underpin the standard approach to asset pricing used in Finance. The economic policies of governments studied in our macroeconomic modules are closely inter-related with the behaviour of the monetary and financial system. The analytical toolkit acquired from the quantitative methods modules is identical for finance and economics. Graduates with this combination are well-placed to find employment with financial institutions, or in the financial sections of large enterprises.

International Admissions
Tel: +44(0) 1782 733274
Email: international@keele.ac.uk

Course Information
Tel: 01782 733108
Email: e.symons@keele.ac.uk