About This Course
Our Banking and Finance course (with Foundation Year) is a four-year course with an integrated foundation year which leads to the same qualification as our three-year honours degree. It has been specifically designed for those wanting to undertake degree-level study but who may not meet the entry requirements or have traditional qualifications.
The Foundation Year (Year 0) offers you the chance to expand and strengthen your confidence, skills and knowledge – ensuring that you are well-prepared and qualified to progress into Year 1 of the undergraduate degree.
Banking and financial services is a highly competitive and rapidly changing sector in every modern economy and this course prepares you to tackle it head on. In recent years, forces such as globalisation, technological change, deregulation and international integration have fundamentally transformed the banking and financial services sector. Banks have responded to growing competitive pressure by diversifying into new activities. Insurance companies and pension funds have also grown rapidly and non-bank institutions such as supermarkets and telecommunications firms now compete directly in financial services markets.
A degree in Banking and Finance offers you the opportunity to study the theory and practice of financial services and financial markets, and to analyse the broader role of the financial sector in the national and global economies.
Bangor is now an exam centre for The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, one of the world’s largest professional bodies for the financial sector. Our BSc Accounting & Finance, Banking & Finance or Financial Economics students can now take the L3 Introduction to Investment qualification at Bangor and gain Student Membership of CISI.[Eligible International students may take the International Introduction to Investment, which focuses on global financial markets.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- We have world-renowned experts in Banking teaching on this course.
- Our staff are active researchers in their subject areas and we enjoy an international reputation.
- During the course you will study within a multidisciplinary School that employs specialists across a broad range of business subjects, including Accounting, Banking, Finance, Economics, Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
- All single honours students taking degrees within Bangor Business School, including this course, follow the same modules in year 1, so you are allowed to change to another Business School degree anytime up to the start of year 2.
- Our students take part in national competitions such as the IBM Business Challenge.
- A Careers and Employability Fair is held every year and provides an opportunity for students to meet recruiters and learn more about post-graduation employment options.
- We arrange a varied programme of guest lectures. Recent speakers have included the Chief Executive of the Scottish Premier League, the Chief Operating Officer of No. 10 & 11 Downing Street, and the Head of IT Security at HSBC.
- We have excellent computing facilities and you will have the chance to develop your skills in data analysis and report preparation.
- Bangor offers an attractive range of postgraduate degrees in business and finance subjects.
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
You will spend up to 15 hours per week in lectures, seminars and tutorials. There is a mixture of continuous assessment and written examinations. You will complete assignments such as collecting and analysing information from commercial databases or the internet, preparing business case studies, writing essays and completing problem-solving exercises.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Banking and Finance (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons) Modules page.
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
Offers are tariff based, 48 -96 tariff points, from Level 3 qualifications* e.g
- A Levels (including: AS-levels, General Studies)
- International Baccalaureate: accepted
- Extended Project Qualification (EPQ): accepted
- BTEC: Diplomas and Certificate accepted
- Cambridge Technical: Diplomas and Certificates accepted
- City & Guilds: Advanced Technical Diplomas accepted
- Welsh Baccalaureate: accepted
- Scottish Highers: accepted
- Irish Leaving Certificate: accepted
- T-levels: considered on a case-by-case basis
We also welcome applications from mature learners. Mature students and/or those with other qualifications are considered on individual merit
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.
International Applicants: We are currently unable to accept applications from international students for this course.
If you are an international student your recommended route of study for this degree is through our International College. Successful completion of Year 0 of the equivalent International programme guarantees entry to Year 1 of the same Bangor University degree programme. Through this route, Year 0 is delivered at Bangor University International College (BUIC) located at the heart of our University Campus and run by our partner, Oxford International Education Group.
For more information, visit Bangor University's International College pages.
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
Many graduates from Bangor Business School pursue careers in areas such as accountancy, banking, investment, insurance, risk management, marketing, human resource management and retail management.
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.
