The information on these pages relates to September 2020 entry and is for guidance only.
September 2021 entry content will be updated here in due course.
Overview
Where better to study financial economics and banking than London, one of the world’s leading financial centres?
At our London campus, you’ll be surrounded by hundreds of financial institutions. We’re just a few minutes’ walk from the traditional financial district (which includes the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange) and we’re also within view of Canary Wharf, the new financial district in East London. We will arrange visits to these centres, and you may apply to have the opportunity to do an internship there.
This course provides the ideal blend of academic theory and hands-on experience. In class, you’ll work on practical exercises such as case studies and business, banking or trading simulations. You’ll be taught to do real workplace tasks using industry-standard technology, and we encourage contact with financial firms which may be through work experience and visits to companies and institutions.
Why Coventry University London?
We believe that there is no better place to learn about business than to study in the heart of one of the most successful business and financial centres in the world. Launched in 2010 and located in the City of London, we are minutes away from the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange, and are surrounded by several blue chip companies.
To ensure an optimised and continual student experience, the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityHeart of the City
Minutes from the Bank of England and Stock ExchangeWhat our tutors say...
We are poised on the brink of a new economic era. This course will prepare you to help create the future we all need to prosper as individuals and societies in an inter-connected world.
Course information
This course could be the preparation you need for a high-flying career in private equity, venture capital, investment and retail banking, or in business. Alternatively, you might go to work in the public sector, work for a charity or even in the media.
Study this course and on successful completion you will learn to recognise key economic policies and banking concepts, and how finance operates around the world. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about the various economic sectors and the different types of financial business, and how they all inter-relate.
One of the key skills that this course will teach is how to approach decision-making creatively and with the right information. You’ll use industry-standard technology to interpret and model financial, economic and banking data to help you reach well-informed decisions and solve complex business challenges.
All students will have the option to take a sandwich year after Year 2, either applying to undertake work experience (in the UK or in another country), or applying to study at a university in another country. Additional costs may apply.
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.
In more detail...
This degree in financial economics and banking aims to explore the skills needed for a very successful management or leadership career. On successful completion you will have learnt a wide range of transferrable skills which will help you to succeed in a wide variety of disciplines, industries and locations.
Practical
This is a very hands-on course, where you will have the opportunity to learn not only academic theory but also what happens in the workplace. On successful completion, you should be confident at preparing business reports and presentations, and be confident handling complex economic and financial data. You will have the opportunity to learn to model economic relations, interpret banking theories and economic policies, and analyse and predict business behaviour. This course will help you to develop a superb range of analytical, quantitative, communication and IT skills, and be able to apply them in real-life situations.
Technology
You will be taught to use the industry-standard software you’ll encounter in the workplace when you graduate. Besides learning Excel to an advanced level, you’ll use econometrics software such as Eviews and/or STATA. You’ll also use our mock trading floor, which mirrors an investment bank and is equipped with Bloomberg terminals; Global investor simulation; S&P Capital IQ (for company data and analytical tools.
London
You will study in one of the world’s leading cities for finance, which means you’ll be surrounded by world-famous institutions, huge investment and retail banks, venture-capital companies, hedge funds, fintech firms, analysts and consultants, and much more. You’ll have opportunities to visit and hear from a range of organisations and institutions, and even to apply to do an internship with one or more of them (subject to application and availability). Since this is London, you’ll also be surrounded by countless finance and economics-related conferences, expos and museums.
Tutors
You will be taught by enthusiastic and helpful tutors who have experience of working in finance, economics and/or banking, and who hold a range of both academic and professional qualifications. If you need extra support with statistics, mathematics or Excel, they run additional workshops to help. They will also use their extensive network of contacts to create opportunities for you – which could include networking with employers, UK and international field trips (subject to additional costs and availability), study trips, guest lectures, extra-curricular workshops, and competitions.
- On successful completion of your course, you should have a clear understanding of your career options in the world of international economics, banking and finance – and beyond.
- You’ll enjoy a truly multi-cultural experience, since you’ll be studying alongside students drawn from many countries around the world.
- We aim to invite guest speakers from the world of finance, economics and banking to come in and lecture students, discuss their work and offer career advice.
- Your teaching and assessments will closely reflect the kind of work you could do in the workplace, so you should be more confident when you begin your working career.
- This course will give you the tools to become a confident and independent thinker, with strong research skills and the ability to devise effective solutions to challenges.
- You will be taught how to do mathematical and statistical modelling, and how to use industry-standard software used in finance so that on successful completion you’ll transition more easily to the world of work.
- You’ll study in the heart of London, one of the world’s leading financial centres, and apply for opportunities for work experience in either or both of London’s two financial districts.
Your main study themes are:
- Ethics – Ever since the global financial crisis of 2008, the spotlight has – quite rightly – been on the behaviour and performance of the financial markets. We will also look at globalisation, and sustainability in international economic development.
- Integration – The economic crisis revealed that economists and financiers had rarely understood each other’s work. This course helps to bring an end to the separation between economics and banking – recognising that they are, in fact, intertwined.
- Application – This course doesn’t just teach you the theory of finance, banking and economics – it gets you to work. You’ll be taught to use the technology, do the modelling and simulations, make the presentations, and could even do an internship (subject to application and availability). All of which will help you to fit more easily into the workplace when you graduate.
You’ll enjoy excellent teaching from experienced tutors. Coventry University London holds the Gold Rating for Teaching Excellence (TEF), and we’re number six for Student Experience (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018). We’re also the UK’s top new university and we’re ranked at number 12 among all UK universities (The Guardian University Guide 2018).
Although you will attend lectures, seminars and workshops, you will also be expected to become a strong independent learner in your own time – a skill which will serve you throughout your career. Another important way to learn is to spend time in the workplace; you could do a one-year internship as part of the sandwich-year option, and/or a one-term internship as part of your final year project.
This is a very practical, hands-on course, so you’ll be taught to use a wide range of technology, including financial modelling software, trading systems, financial databases and accounting software platforms.
You could also have the opportunity to take part in field trips (in the UK or overseas), and London’s financial focus means there are plenty of conferences and exhibitions for you to attend. Surrounded by so many employers here in the heart of London, there are opportunities for you to learn further by working part-time during your studies (subject to visa restrictions), or even to volunteer.
Teaching methods also include:<br> Lectures, seminars, textbooks, workshops, debates, case studies, consultancy projects, simulations, business plans, online collaborations.
Assessments help to ensure that you and your tutors know how your learning is progressing, and whether you need extra support in any area. It ensures that all students have the opportunity to do well, and to progress through the course to successful completion.
Your assessments will fall into three main categories. First, you’ll complete academic coursework to demonstrate your understanding of the essential theories in banking, finance and economics. Second, because of the statistical and mathematical focus of the course, about a third of your assessments will involve exams.
The remainder of your assessments will include more practical individual and group exercises such as preparing business plans, presentations and trade or country reports; case studies; research proposals, simulations; debates; workshops; and more. These will enable you to prove your ability to work well independently or as part of a team; to communicate; to analyse data; to plan and make decisions; and to present and persuade.
On successful completion, you should be able to:
- Articulate the fundamental principles of banking and analyse the related conceptual frameworks
- Discuss economic concepts, principles, and tools, and say how they can address issues in both microeconomic and macroeconomic policies
- Explain the structure and functioning of financial markets, and describe how financial intermediaries and institutions operate
- Describe how financial services impact on economies, and the factors which influence those economies over time
- Appreciate the relationships between economics and social and political issues
- Say how banks (and other institutions) might use financial assets in risk management
- Describe the methods for valuing financial assets, and why and how corporations issue various types of assets
- Explain how intermediaries operate, domestically and internationally
- Undertake and analyse in-depth economic and financial research (both quantitative and qualitative) and say how financiers, economists and bankers might structure and analyse such data, and use mathematical and statistical tools to support decision-making
- Understand the factors which influence investment behaviour and opportunities for private individuals, and their effect on tax and legal frameworks
Teaching includes a mix of traditional lectures and seminars, as well as group activities. In addition, you should expect to spend time each week on personal study: doing online activities, reading, studying, preparing for tutorials and revising.
The whole of this course is taught from a global perspective, which is of major importance because economies are inter-connected and financial-services organisations either trade internationally or are impacted by what happens in the wider world.
You will study alongside students from around the world, hearing their perspectives and learning to work cross-culturally in a way that helps everyone be maximally comfortable and productive.
The course offers a range of opportunities for international travel. You might go on a field trip to visit institutions in another country, or take a sandwich year to work or study overseas. You could also arrange an overseas internship in your final term. Overseas trips may incur additional costs and are subject to application and availability.
What our tutors say...
We are poised on the brink of a new economic era. This course will prepare you to help create the future we all need to prosper as individuals and societies in an inter-connected world.
Entry Requirements
Unconditional offers
We want to recruit the best students to Coventry and having assessed applicants' past, current and predicted performance and commitment to the course we feel that it is appropriate to reward consistently high-achieving students with an unconditional offer from a top university. It is a commitment from us with regard to an applicants’ potential as an excellent undergraduate and we hope that this will encourage such applicants to join the Coventry community.
Personal statements and references will also be taken into account and, for some degree courses, an interview will form part of the assessment. The criteria for unconditional offers will vary across the University as entry requirements for specific courses differ and not all degree courses will be taking part in the Scheme. The unconditional offer will be confirmed once a selected applicant has made Coventry their firm choice.
Coventry University has assessed that you are capable of achieving excellent grades and we have demonstrated this belief by making you an unconditional offer. This is our commitment to you so then we ask that you reciprocate this commitment by selecting us as your ‘firm’ choice and activating your unconditional offer.
We will consider other qualifications for a pre-result unconditional offer providing that you have an appropriate proven performance at GCSE (or equivalent) level and predicted grades in line with grades that we expect to see at A-level. Other qualifications that we may consider for a pre-result unconditional offer include: the International Baccalaureate Diploma, BTEC Level 3 qualifications, Cambridge Pre-U and combinations of qualifications (e.g. BTECS plus A-levels).
An unconditional offer is what it says it is. So if you don’t meet your predictions then your place at Coventry is still guaranteed. However we would hope and expect that you continue to work hard to make the most of your potential and be best prepared to study at university level.
We can’t but our experience over the years has shown us that students like you with a track record of high grades and excellent predictions are very likely to achieve those grades. Our assessment takes into account all elements of your application to allow us to take a holistic view of your potential. There is still the opportunity to gain one of the Coventry University Scholarships if you achieve the required grades so there is a financial incentive to aim high. Unconditional offers are only made to individuals who have demonstrated their commitment so we believe their focus and determination is unlikely to waver in the final stages of their qualifications.
No, the unconditional offer is only available to those who will take up their place in 2019.
What our tutors say...
We are poised on the brink of a new economic era. This course will prepare you to help create the future we all need to prosper as individuals and societies in an inter-connected world.
What our tutors say...
We are poised on the brink of a new economic era. This course will prepare you to help create the future we all need to prosper as individuals and societies in an inter-connected world.
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.
As we emerge from the global economic crisis, a huge range of employers are looking for strong graduates with a fresh approach to managing the world’s economies, banks and financial systems.
Employers today are looking for more than a degree qualification: they want well-rounded, independent and resilient individuals who can make a difference, fast. It has been designed to provide the kind of practical skills, soft skills, attitudes and behaviours you’ll need to succeed in the workplace.
When you graduate, you should have a good understanding of where your own talents and interests lie, and of the sort of careers which would best suit you. You should have a solid foundation from which to seek the career you want, whether in the private, public or third sector, or even becoming self-employed. Of course, you might also go on to further study and achieve a master’s degree or PhD.
What our tutors say...
We are poised on the brink of a new economic era. This course will prepare you to help create the future we all need to prosper as individuals and societies in an inter-connected world.
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.
