hero banner image

BA (Hons) Finance

If you are serious about advancing your career in the global financial and banking industries, this practical degree shaped by the latest theories, will empower you by giving you the tools and techniques you need.

...

95% of graduates in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes, 2018-20)

...

A versatile course with multiple pathways, and a range of career options

...

Unleash your financial prowess, gain in-depth knowledge, and transferable skills

Course overview

Finance is the brains, eyes and ears of industry, helping to foresee potential challenges and achievements and preparing organisations effectively by allowing them to plan ahead.

This BA (Hons) Finance course gives you a firm foundation in the value of understanding financial decision-making, risk management and the financial markets.

The financial sector drives economic growth and has the potential to foster innovation, wealth and positive social change. In addition to modules on financial markets, you'll get a view of the societal and behavioural elements of finance.

Strengthen your ability to understand and shape numerical data, analyse statistics and information, but importantly how to communicate this effectively.

Develop and practice the personal, professional and academic skills needed to succeed in finance, whether that be to manage your family investment portfolio or enter a global conglomerate.

Get into the practicalities of the industry as you manage your own spreadsheet to form and track a portfolio of your own - an insightful practice.

You need to have a good attitude to learning, an open mind to numeracy and a professional mindset to flourish, on this course. Whilst strong numeracy skills are not required, an interest in the subject is helpful.

If you are interested in an MSc in Finance and Investment Banking, this is the ideal program to prepare you and ensure you are in a strong position to be accepted onto the course.

Why choose this course?

Our finance group has a culture of shared values and aspirations, which is an important aspect of both yours and our success in helping you fulfil your potential.

Enhance your independent thinking skills on our career-focused degree, helping you apply theory and understand the realities of the sector.

As the course progresses and you develop key areas of interest, you'll get to choose which routes to take based on your own passions and career plans.

Assignments include a mix of essays, reports and presentations, both individually and as part of the team, preparing you for the world of work with relevant skill development.

You are actively encouraged in CV boosting activities such as industry placement, study abroad or internships (including the latest online bite-sized digital experiences) as well extracurricular activities.

Choose to enter our entrepreneur making ‘Flare Ignite’ competition, join the Enactus society to have a positive social and environmental impact, or enter the University Business Challenge.

The GoHerts Award is open to all students and is an opportunity to further boost your CV with activities such as volunteering, work experience, skills development, society involvement and fundraising.

We support and mentor students, even after graduation. This has led to a strong and influential network of alumni, many of whom regularly come back as guest lecturers.

Through our strong relationships with professional bodies and business connections, meet entrepreneurs–in–residence, business ambassadors and industry leaders.

Professional accreditations

This is an adaptable finance program with flexible pathways, not tailored to any one professional body, providing you greater versatility in your professional choices.

Your future career

A finance degree is useful across the entire business spectrum, public or private sector. This course gives the perfect foundation for your career in the global financial and banking industries, or postgraduate studies. We are proud to have 95% of graduates in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes, 2018-2020).

Possible roles of employment include:

  • Investment manager
  • Financial analyst
  • Stockbroker
  • Commercial banker
  • Company secretary
  • Financial advisor

Finance graduates have gone on to succeed in the civil sector, treasury and tax office, commercial and investment banking, as well as the NHS and general business.

It really is a degree that can open up many doors. Discover your inner problem solver as you enhance your independent thinking and communication skills, vital in business. Develop the financial and commercial acumen you need to succeed in the industry that powers economies around the world.

What you'll study

Teaching is a combination of in person sessions (at least eight hours per week) supported by online materials and resources. You study four modules in each semester.

Senior advisers from all corners of the finance sector are consulted to give ideas and sense check modules, ensuring you get the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed.

Your first year establishes a solid foundation in financial principles and their connection with society and business, preparing you for success.

We promote teamwork, instilling in you both people and organisational skills alongside your analytical and financial expertise.

In your second year, develop your professional skills and knowledge as you explore essential topics such as business ethics, financial instruments and business lifecycle.

In your final year, get ready for the business world as you take on challenges with all your skills and knowledge acquired, as well as study niche topics. There is a high number of optional modules available to allow you to specialise in key areas of interest.

There are also opportunities to further enrich your personal development through our GoHerts program, placements, internships, study-abroad and Future Success team events.

What if I need support?

You'll benefit from an academic support team, wellbeing team and a personal tutor to help you adjust to the demands of university learning and living.

Additional support is available from our Student Success team focused on inclusive learning and our dedicated Future Success network who will help you with work experience, placements and graduate jobs.

You can also join and reach out to the Business School Student Voice community, a team of student representatives who regularly meet with staff to provide feedback and ensure teaching remains effective.

Our in-house Centre for Academic Skills Enhancement (CASE) is open to all Business School students, for extra support with academic writing, numeracy and referencing.

Optional sandwich year

At the end of your second year, you have the option to experience a year of working life with a placement, or a shorter internship, a huge CV booster!

Professional work experience is the biggest contributor to your future employability. It allows you to put your knowledge into action while learning how a business operates and making some handy professional connections.

We'll help you make the most of the experience, holding your hand from start to finish. You also get assistance with your CV, plus help preparing for interviews and presentations, at our groundbreaking mock Assessment Centre Experience.

Students on the programme have recently had the opportunity to work at Barclays, Santander, The Walt Disney Company, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and the Moore Kingston Smith Group.

You can take a sandwich year abroad, making that decision in your second year. Studying at one of our international partners is a huge personal development opportunity and an amazing experience.

More and more companies are now working internationally, the experience of living in another country will make a great impression on future employers. Put knowledge into action, learn how a business operates and make professional connections.

With over 100 partners in 40 countries, the world really is your oyster! Our dedicated study abroad office advises you on your options, to help you make the most of this opportunity.

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee, either to the partner university or us.

At the end of your second year, you have the option to experience a year of working life with a placement, or a shorter internship, a huge CV booster!

Professional work experience is the biggest contributor to your future employability. It allows you to put your knowledge into action while learning how a business operates and making some handy professional connections.

We'll help you make the most of the experience, holding your hand from start to finish. You also get assistance with your CV, plus help preparing for interviews and presentations, at our groundbreaking mock Assessment Centre Experience.

Students on the programme have recently had the opportunity to work at Barclays, Santander, The Walt Disney Company, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and the Moore Kingston Smith Group.

Find out more about work placements

You can take a sandwich year abroad, making that decision in your second year. Studying at one of our international partners is a huge personal development opportunity and an amazing experience.

More and more companies are now working internationally, the experience of living in another country will make a great impression on future employers. Put knowledge into action, learn how a business operates and make professional connections.

With over 100 partners in 40 countries, the world really is your oyster! Our dedicated study abroad office advises you on your options, to help you make the most of this opportunity.

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee, either to the partner university or us.

Find out more about study abroad options

Where you'll study

You'll be taught on our modern de Havilland Campus, with our 24/7 Learning Resources Centre, offering open and private study spaces. You also get online self-study materials to further support you.

There are dining options, a bar, and a recreational space on campus where you can shoot some pool or play video games. It also houses Hertfordshire Sports Village, featuring a gym, swimming pool, coffee shop and climbing wall.

Discover the Enterprise Hub, a vibrant destination where local firms and students work and learn in comfort.

The Student Union bar and additional facilities are only a 20 minute walk (or short bus ride) away at our second campus, on College Lane. Student housing is available at both campuses.

A train to central London takes just over 20 minutes, and you are also conveniently located on the A1(M) with access to the road network, making travel quick and convenient.

Who you'll learn from

Your team includes experienced academics, researchers and consultants alongside guest lecturers from industry, many of whom are alumni.

The teaching team is led by an experienced professional with a keen interest in innovation. He is enthusiastic about the power of economics, with its fusion of ideas and approaches to improve lives and societies and meet the challenges of the modern world.

You also have experienced financial researchers who have undertaken consulting and research projects associated with capital market relative performance measures, investment portfolio management and internal performance audit amongst other topics.

Lecturers have their own individual interests which often leads to academic or professional work and publications in areas such as Behavioural Finance, Experimental Finance and Household Finance.

How we support our students

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible.

We offer a range of support services, from childcare to counselling, ensuring that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying, having fun, and have the support you need.

Entry requirements

The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.

Typical offer (UCAS points)120–128
Typical A Level offerBBB–ABB
Typical IB offer120–128
Typical BTEC offerDDM
GCSEGrade 4/C in English Language and Mathematics.
Access courses120–128
Additional informationFind out more about our Undergraduate Entry Requirements.

English language

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

Additional information

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

Ready to apply?

UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK
Start date Study typeApply
September 2024 Full time Apply via UCAS
Full time with placement year Apply via UCAS
Full time with study abroad year Apply via UCAS

International and EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Fees and funding

At Herts, we’re dedicated to providing world-class teaching supported by industry-level facilities and incredible social spaces. We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to higher education, and we strive to keep both our standard and additional costs as low as possible.

 Study typeFees
UK studentsFull time£9,250 for the 2024/2025 academic year
EU studentsFull time£15,550 for the 2024/2025 academic year
International studentsFull time£15,550 for the 2024/2025 academic year

Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

Scholarships, grants  and bursaries

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship, grant or bursary to support your studies.

Disabled Students' Allowance

The Disabled Students’ Allowance can cover any study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.

Student loans

Find out about securing a student loan, from how much you could be eligible for to when you need to start making repayments.

Accommodation costs

We offer a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

Additional course fees

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet.

More about the course

Course fact sheets
BA (Hons) Finance Download PDF
Programme specifications
BA (Hons) Finance Download PDF
Additional information

Applications open to international and EU students

Yes

Course length

Full Time, 3 Years Sandwich, 4 Years

Not ready to apply?