About This Course
This programme in Banking and Finance will allow you to develop specialist knowledge of the financial intermediaries, markets and institutions which lie at the heart of modern economies. You will learn about the roles that banks and central banks fulfil in providing credit and liquidity to the economy and in mitigating and managing risks. You will also learn about the ability of financial markets to satisfy similar roles. You will develop knowledge and skills which are highly valued by employers within the financial sector, which will provide a firm foundation for your future career.
Bangor Business School is one of the longest established providers of banking and finance teaching in the world. The Banking and Finance programme has been evolving since 1969. We have a global reputation for research in banking and are currently ranked highest of all UK universities (RePEc, August 2022).
Banks and financial markets play a crucial role intermediating between savers and investors with excess funds and individuals, firms or governments with needs for those funds. Money markets, bond markets, equity markets and derivatives markets involve different forms of intermediation, based on a variety of financial instruments which distribute risks and returns differently between lenders and borrowers.
Our highly qualified and experienced academics have interests in a wide variety of topics, including: market structure/competition; bank performance; bank regulation and bank risk-taking; financial deregulation; regulatory initiatives like European Banking Union; negative interest rate policy; fintech; climate change; executive compensation; financial ethics; and credit ratings. Our team is engaged in world class research in banking and finance, and regularly works with international institutions such as the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), alongside policymakers in government, regulators, and financial sector practitioners. They are dedicated to bringing their insights from the worlds of policy, practice and research to help you to develop your knowledge and understanding of banking and finance.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- Bangor Business School is one of the longest established suppliers of banking and finance teaching in the world, since 1969.
- Top of all UK universities for research in the field of Banking (RePEc, August 2022).
- Learn from research active staff who have strong links and credibility with professional bodies, banks, regulators, and financial institutions.
- 2nd for Teaching Quality within Accounting and Finance (Times & Sunday Times: Good University Guide 2023).
- Top 10 for Accounting & Finance (Guardian University Guide 2023).
- Top 10 for Student Satisfaction within Accounting & Finance (Complete University Guide 2023).
Additional Course Options
This course is available with a Placement Year option where you will study for 1 additional year. The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year.
The Placement Year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with a self-sourced organisation relevant to your degree subject. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider. You would normally start sometime in the period June to September of your second year and finish between June and September the following year. Placements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements.
You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Careers and Employability Services.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option when you have started your course at Bangor and can make an application for a transfer onto this pathway at the appropriate time. Read more about the work experience opportunities that may be available to you or, if you have any questions, please get in touch.
This course is available with an International Experience Year option where you will study or work abroad for 1 additional year. You will have ‘with International Experience’ added to your degree title on graduating.
Studying abroad is a great opportunity to see a different way of life, learn about new cultures and broaden your horizons. With international experience of this kind, you’ll really improve your career prospects. There are a wide variety of destinations and partner universities to choose from. If you plan to study in a country where English is not spoken natively, there may be language courses available for you at Bangor and in your host university to improve your language skills.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option at any time during your degree at Bangor and make your application. If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch.
Read more about the International Experience Year programme and see the studying or working abroad options on the Student Exchanges section of our website.
Course Content
From the first day of your degree course, you will begin to learn the skills to develop as a banker or financial practitioner. You will have access to excellent facilities, resources and extensive information technology to support your learning journey.
Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops and seminars. You can expect to have a minimum of 12 hours contact time during each teaching week. You will also be expected to undertake independent study and group work, and participate in online activities and discussions using our virtual learning environment.
In your first year, you will learn the fundamental principles of banking and acquire an understanding of financial techniques and financial instruments. You will gain insights into the wider economy in order to gain an appreciation of the context in which banks and financial markets operate. You will also start to build up your analytical and quantitative skills.
During your second year, you will build a deeper understanding of banks and financial markets. You will study the role of central banks in monetary policy and deepen your knowledge of financial markets, and the decisions that investment and portfolio managers are faced with. You will develop your quantitative skills to be able to analyse the relationship between different financial variables within formal models.
In your third year, you will develop your knowledge, skills and expertise to a more advanced level. You will study international aspects of banking and financial markets, as well as topics related to bank management. You will learn more sophisticated econometric techniques and how to apply them to real-world financial issues using specialist software.
Throughout the three years, you will have a wide range of optional modules to choose from. You will have the option of choosing modules from subject areas elsewhere in the University including, for example, modern languages or social policy. However, if you prefer to focus on banking and finance, then there will be options for you to study related topics in corporate finance and a variety of more specialised topics, such as mergers and acquisitions.
What will you study on this course?
In Year 1, students will take 120 credits from the following topics, Business Analytics, Financial Techniques and Analysis, Personal Finance and Banking and Economics. There are optional modules available in topics such Digital Marketing Essentials, Foundations of Marketing, Introduction to Contemporary Management Issues in Ethics, Sustainability, HRM, and Tourism, Principles of Financial Accounting, Principles of Management Accounting, Principles of Management and Organisation and Technology in Marketing. Students can also choose optional modules from other Business School level 4 modules or from elsewhere in the University, subject to timetabling constraints.
In Year 2, students will take 120 credits from the following topics, Banks and Financial Markets, Econometrics and Investment and Portfolio Management. There are optional modules available in topics such as Corporate Finance, Management & Accounting Information Systems, Microeconomics and Public Economics. Students can also choose optional modules from other Business School level 5 modules or from elsewhere in the University, subject to timetabling constraints and pre-requisites.
In Year 3, students will take 120 credits from the following topics Advanced Econometrics, Bank Management and International Banking. There are optional modules available in topics such as Corporate Governance, FinTech in banking, finance, investment, insurance and regulation, Market Risk Analytics and Merger and Acquisition students can choose optional modules from other Business School level 6 modules or from elsewhere in the University, subject to timetabling constraints and pre-requisites
Please note course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Facilities
General University Facilities
Library and Archive Services
Our four libraries provide a range of attractive study environments including collaborative work areas, meeting rooms and silent study spaces.
We have an extensive collection of books and journals and many of the journals are available online in full-text format.
We house one of the largest university-based archives not only in Wales, but also the UK. Allied to the Archives is the Special Collections of rare printed books.
Learning Resources
There is a range of learning resources available, supported by experienced staff, to help you in your studies.
The University’s IT Services provides computing, media and reprographics facilities and services including:
- Over 1,150 computers for students, with some PC rooms open 24 hours a day
- Blackboard, a commercial Virtual Learning Environment, that makes learning materials available on-line.
Course Costs
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,250 per year (2025/26).
- The fee for all integrated study abroad years is £1,385 (2025/26).
- The fee for an integrated year in industry as part of a sandwich programme is £1,850 (2025/26).
More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.
International (including EU) students
Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
GCSE Maths at grade C/4 required if not demonstrated by the Level 3 qualification.
Offers are tariff based, 104 - 136 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels: General Studies and Key Skills not normally accepted
- BTEC National Extended Diploma: DMM - DDD
- Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM - DDD
- International Baccalaureate Diploma: accepted
- Access: pass required
- Welsh Baccalaureate: We will accept this qualification in conjunction with other level 3 qualifications
- T Levels: T Levels in a relevant subject considered on a case-by-case basis
- Extended Project Qualification: Points can include a relevant Extended Project (EPQ) but must include a minimum 2 full A-levels, or equivalent.
We are happy to accept combinations of the qualifications listed above, as well as alternative Level 3 qualifications such as City & Guilds, Access and Cambridge Technical Diplomas.
We also welcome applications from mature learners.
International Candidates: International Candidates: school leaving qualifications that are equivalent to A levels/Level 3 and/or college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information can be found on our International pages.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.
GCSE Maths at grade C/4 required if not demonstrated by the Level 3 qualification.
Offers are tariff based, 104 - 136 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels: General Studies and Key Skills not normally accepted
- BTEC National Extended Diploma: DMM - DDD
- Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM - DDD
- International Baccalaureate Diploma: accepted
- Access: pass required
- Welsh Baccalaureate: We will accept this qualification in conjunction with other level 3 qualifications
- T Levels: T Levels in a relevant subject considered on a case-by-case basis
- Extended Project Qualification: Points can include a relevant Extended Project (EPQ) but must include a minimum 2 full A-levels, or equivalent.
We are happy to accept combinations of the qualifications listed above, as well as alternative Level 3 qualifications such as City & Guilds, Access and Cambridge Technical Diplomas.
We also welcome applications from mature learners.
International Candidates: International Candidates: school leaving qualifications that are equivalent to A levels/Level 3 and/or college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information can be found on our International pages.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.
General University Requirements
To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy, we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.
EU and International Students' Entry Requirements
For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
Careers
Studying Banking and Finance provides you with the foundation for a broad range of careers across banking, brokering, consulting, funds management, insurance and pensions. You could pursue a career working with corporates, in financial markets or with government. It is also a discipline that can take you anywhere around the globe.
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.
Internships
Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.
Student Volunteering
Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website.
Foundation Year
A 'with Foundation Year' option is available for this course. Apply for Banking and Finance (with Foundation Year.
What is a Foundation Year course?
If you don’t have the required qualifications for the degree-level course or are looking to re-enter education after time away from study, then a Foundation Year Programme might be the right choice for you.
The Foundation Year is an excellent introduction to studying this subject at university and will provide you with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to go on to study this course at degree-level.
When you have successfully completed the Foundation Year, you can progress on to the first year of this degree-level course.
