Overview
Our Business and Finance BSc (Hons) course focuses on teaching and training you, aiming to provide you with sound financial knowledge placed in a business context.
We hope to provide you with a firm understanding of the role of business in society and how finance can impact on and be used to improve business performance.
Professional experience and skills development are embedded throughout the course with different opportunities. You’ll hear from current practitioners (subject to availability), take part in trade games, and discuss contemporary issues, such as sustainability, previous financial crises and technological innovation. The course also features modules that give you the opportunity to develop your employability skills, across both finance and leadership, to allow you the opportunity to explore the skills that may be needed to progress in your potential future career.
Coventry currently has excellent links with national and international employers, like PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Grant Thornton, Ernst & Young, IBM and Jaguar Land Rover. Our teaching is grounded in the corporate world, using real-life international case studies and providing a range of exciting work placement opportunities*.
You’ll also have the opportunity to work on our Trading Floor, one of the largest of its kind in Europe, which is equipped with 42 dual-screen Bloomberg terminals and a variety of industry standard software, allowing you the opportunity to explore how to put theory into practice.
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedTeaching Excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their fieldCourse essentials
A degree which offers you more, at no extra costAccreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
This course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), recognising that the course covers key management topics in the context of the financial sector. This accreditation offers you the option to register and gain a Level 5 Certificate, which can help to enhance your employability skills with a professional qualification (fees apply to become a registered CMI student, and securing a professional qualification is subject to application, additional costs, availability, and meeting any applicable requirements). This course is accredited with the CMI for the 2021/22 intake. If any changes occur with respect to our accreditation related to this course, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Chartered Financial Analyst Society UK (CFA UK)
This course is accredited by the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of the UK for the 2021/2022 intake, recognising the significant alignment between the course content and the Investment Management Certificate. If the accreditation of this course changes, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS)
Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) – Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, which has a membership of over 120 business schools and higher education providers, and supports its members in maintaining world-class standards of teaching and research.
European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)
European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) – Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the European Foundation for Management Development, a global membership organisation dedicated to management development, covering over 900 members across 91 countries. Coventry Business School is recognised by the above memberships for the 2021/22 intake. There is currently no intention for either of these memberships to lapse however if either of these memberships were not to be renewed we would notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) This course is recognised by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) for the 2021/22 intake. CII recognition allows students to gain certain exemptions from some professional examinations, upon successful completion of this course (subject to application, availability, meeting applicable visa requirements and additional fees may apply). If there is any change to the recognition of this course by the CII, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW)
This course is recognised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) for the 2021/22 intake. Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to secure particular exemptions from certain ICAEW papers, depending on your selection of modules, although you will also need to fulfil the practical experience requirement to qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. Please note that ICAEW qualifications are subject to application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional costs. If there is any change to the recognition of this course by the ICAEW, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Our Facilities
Trading Floor
Students have opportunities to practice simulated trading and other finance-related activities using the various types of demo software available in the Trading Floor.
Business Simulation Suite
Coventry Business School's Business Simulation Suite utilises the latest business simulation software to give students the opportunity to improve their business skills.
DigiComm Lab
Designed to build creative minds, the DigiComm Lab is equipped with the latest industry-standard marketing and advertising software and devices to support your creative development.
What our alumni say
I enjoyed the challenging modules and the way the course related to real-life issues and situations. The social life was great too.
Course information
Do you have an interest in current financial and business issues? Do you find yourself asking questions about how the financial crisis impacted on businesses? Are you interested in the way businesses obtain and manage their financing?
Our course has been designed to deepen your knowledge of the wider business and finance environment. You’ll explore innovative corporate practices and the implications and opportunities of globalisation, all the while giving you the opportunity to develop key business, entrepreneurial and personal skills, such as team working, communication and problem solving.
As a Business and Finance student at Coventry Business School, you’ll also have access to our Trading Floor, which is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. As well as being integrated into some of your modules, you will also have the opportunity to study towards professional certifications, such as the Bloomberg Market Concepts Certificate, in your own time using the Bloomberg terminals located in the Trading Floor (subject to availability). Such certifications could help develop skills that could be useful in any potential future career.
Course specification
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Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
We have been ranked joint first amongst Modern Universities in England for career prospects - Guardian University Guide 2021
In more detail...
Throughout the course, teaching is designed to embed the professional skills required by business and finance sector employers. We draw on real-world case studies and use a range of innovative practical exercises, such as trade games. You may be tasked, for example, with advising a UK company with overseas subsidiaries to gain experience of international strategy and financial planning.
You’ll have access to one of largest academic trading floors in Europe, which incorporates analytical, news and data platforms to give you the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of these industry-standard tools. For example, previous students have used Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters Eikon, Thomson Reuters Datastream or Fitch Connect.
We currently enjoy close links with many professional accounting and finance bodies, such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), and the CFA Society of the UK (CFA UK) and Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). Guest speakers from these bodies often deliver sessions in commercial awareness, employability and working in the business sector
(subject to availability). For more details on accreditations and exemptions, please consult the Accreditation and Professional Recognition and Exemptions sections on the Overview tab of this page.
As well as links with accounting and finance bodies, this course is also accredited by the Chartered Management Institute, recognising its focus on giving you the opportunity to explore business management topics in a financial context. This accreditation gives the option to register and obtain a professional management certificate. For more details, please see the Accreditation and Professional Recognition section on the Overview tab of this page.
Past students have undertaken placements* and gone on to work for prestigious companies including Microsoft, IBM, Tesco Graduate Scheme, Jaguar Land Rover and the NHS.
You’ll be taught by highly qualified staff with substantial experience in practice and industry, many with active research interests in areas such as auditing, banking, corporate finance and financial markets. They regularly bring contemporary practice into the classroom, for example, monitoring relevant news stories like the furore around public pensions or executive bonuses, to stimulate debate and discussion (please note that staff are subject to change).
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure thatyou fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
- Coventry Business School was ranked ‘excellent’ in 2019 by Eduniversal, an annual ranking of business schools in over 150 countries
- Facilities include our Trading Floor, one of the largest of its kind in Europe, featuring 42 dual screen Bloomberg terminals.
- Coventry Business School is an active member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS). Please refer to the Memberships section for further information.
- Course is recognised by the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of the UK (CFA UK) and provides exemptions from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) additional costs may apply to professional exams). Please refer to the Accreditation and Professional Recognition and the Exemptions section.
- Opportunity for all students to apply for an internship or sandwich placement* with national and international companies as well as a large number of small to medium-sized firms and organisations. *Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
- Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) this course gives you the option of registering and gaining a Level 5 Certificate, which can enhance your employability skills (registration fees apply). Please refer to the Accreditation and Professional Recognition section for further information.
- Opportunity to access support from the Faculty’s Progress Coaches, who are able to offer advice and guidance during your course.
- Access to the university’s sigma centre, which provides maths and statistics support through drop-in sessions with experienced tutors.
Eduniversal, an annual ranking of business schools in over 150 countries, ranked Coventry Business School as 'excellent' in 2018.
Our main study themes are:
- Business policy and strategy: Explore the the development of appropriate policies and strategies within a changing global environment to meet stakeholder interests.
- Finance fundamentals: Explore the basic principles, rationale and methods used in analysing, planning and managing finances.
- Operations: Explore the management of projects and day-to-day business operations, including scheduling, resource planning, quality assurance and operations.
- Markets: Explore the development and operation of international markets for resources, goods and services, including considerations of customers and their expectations.
- Statistical analysis and quantitative methods: Explore essential numeracy skills and analysis including the use of specialist software such as SPSS.
This course is available on a three-year full-time basis or a four-year sandwich basis, where between Years Two and Three there is one year of supervised work experience or a 12-month period studying abroad.*
The course can also be studied part-time, over six years. Find out more information on part-time study, including how to contact us directly to discuss how this course will be structured if you choose to take it on a part-time basis.
The Faulty's employability team will assist you in applying for a suitable placement, preferably in a business- or finance-related position in a private, public or charitable organisation.
Wherever possible, we try to incorporate topical issues from the news and introduce professionally relevant coursework and experiences. An example includes a group coursework which student undertake that is based on a topic which is of current interest to the banking industry. Students take on the role as consultants who have been asked to complete a project for a client and are expected to present in front of a panel consisting of professional bankers and/or members of professional bodies which requires for them to carry out significant amounts of independent research.
The School has excellent links with employers including PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Grant Thornton, Ernst & Young, IBM and Jaguar Land Rover. We offer various career development events, providing exposure to these and other local and national businesses. In the past, for example, ICAEW Coventry has held a workshop on employment, while PwC have provided guidance to students on the application process for graduate jobs.
Throughout your studies, you will have access to one of the Faculty’s Progress Coaches, who will be able review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice.
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Teaching methods include: weekly lectures, small group seminars and tutorials.
Meet our staff
Dr. Jacek Niklewski
Jacek Niklewski is a senior lecturer in finance.
Read full profileThis course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include formal examinations, coursework, tests, essays, group work, presentations and posters.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments, presentations or group work elements.
On successful completion, you will able to:
- Understand and analyse the nature and context of business organisations.
- Formulate and suggest solutions to business problems.
- Analyse and produce financial solutions to complex business decisions.
- Critically evaluate relevant qualitative and quantitative data in the areas of business and finance.
- Apply numeracy and quantitative skills including data analysis, interpretation and extrapolation.
- Use effective communication, oral and written, using a range of media which are widely used in business, such as the preparation and presentation of business and financial reports.
- Identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately.
- Create, evaluate and assess a range of options together with the capacity to apply ideas and knowledge to a range of situations.
- Conduct research into business, finance and management issues, either individually or as part of a team for projects/dissertations/presentations.
We set out below the typical teaching contact hours that you will receive on this course. Teaching contact hours will vary in different semesters and years of study and may vary due to module selection. In addition to the contact hours below, we offer the opportunity to attend additional optional sessions, including sessions with the Faculty’s progress coaches, or to meet with staff during their advice and feedback hours.
Within your first and second year, you will have around 12 contact hours of teaching which includes:
- Medium group teaching: practical classes, workshops or seminars each week.
- Large group teaching: lectures each week
In your final year, if you are undertaking a project/dissertation, there is a greater emphasis placed on independent study and therefore total contact hours may be reduced.
In addition, you will be expected to undertake a significant amount of studying and revising in your own time each week, including some guided study using, for example, handouts or online activities.
There are opportunities to take part in a number of overseas field trips, some of which have previously been subsidised by the University. In the past, our previous students have visited universities in China and Malaysia to study alongside students, see how finance is taught internationally, appreciate the issues in different countries and broaden their perspectives. Future field trips are planned to a variety of locations, including but not limited to, India and Hong Kong.
You will also have the opportunity to study or work abroad* and may be supported by schemes such as Erasmus, Marco Polo and Vasco da Gama.
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we provided a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni in 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
What our alumni say
I enjoyed the challenging modules and the way the course related to real-life issues and situations. The social life was great too.
Entry Requirements
What our alumni say
I enjoyed the challenging modules and the way the course related to real-life issues and situations. The social life was great too.
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
For more information, please visit our Finance pages.
Course essentials at no extra cost
We're committed to communicating study costs clearly to make sure you're not faced with having to make any unexpected payments.
This is why our ‘Flying Start’ package provides you with a few course essentials. Your full-time fee for an undergraduate degree will cover the following:
UK field trips
Any mandatory site visits and trips within the United Kingdom.Key material
This can include core textbooks, software and equipment.Laser prints
1,000 A4 sides of black and white laser printing credits per year.Optional year
Pay no tuition fees for optional work placements or study abroad trips.Course essentials – additional costs
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to) travel, accommodation, activities and visas.
EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
What our alumni say
I enjoyed the challenging modules and the way the course related to real-life issues and situations. The social life was great too.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
Our current close links with major employers ensure the course remains responsive to the need of potential employment sectors. Upon successfully completing this course you can gain a degree in business and finance which gives you the opportunity to access a range of potential graduate positions around the world – in for example, financial management, investment banking, advertising, marketing, e-commerce, human resources or project management.
The strong vocational element and use of case studies should give you a good grounding in real business situations. Upon successful completion of the course we aim for our students to benefit from a wide range of desirable professional skills, including: team working; critical evaluation; self-directed learning; problem-solving; action planning and organising; written and oral communication; presentation; questioning and listening. The following personal qualities will also be addressed in each of the skills modules: achievement orientation; initiative and creativity; self-confidence; decisiveness; reflectiveness; adaptability and flexibility.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your potential future career options and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your potential future career.
Where our graduates work
Our past graduates have progressed to careers across a wide spectrum of industry sectors, from banking, accounting and finance to manufacturing and marketing. Alternatively, you may decide to continue your studies at postgraduate level to further enhance your employability.
Here at Coventry, we offer an MSc in Finance, for example. Further study opportunities are subject to competitive application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional costs may apply.
What our alumni say
I enjoyed the challenging modules and the way the course related to real-life issues and situations. The social life was great too.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2020/21 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
