Finance with Placement (BSc)

This finance course is made up of a combination of modules, some of which you'll choose yourself, to reflect personal interests or future career options. Compulsory modules provide a foundation in finance and business, while optional modules include everything from human resources to international banking.

You’ll also be able to broaden your studies by choosing:

• interdisciplinary modules

• language modules

You don't need to select your modules when you apply. Your academic tutor will help you to customise your course.

A dedicated placement team will ensure that you are prepared for your placement in year 3 and find a high quality position.

Year 1 overview

You'll cover finance topics such as an introduction to economics and also statistical methods, such as probability, hypothesis testing and graphical analysis.

Business modules provide an introduction to management and the decision-making process, as well as managing accounting within a business. You'll also look at calculative techniques for analysing costs and the way that financial accounts are prepared.

These core and compulsory modules will provide you with the foundations for years 2 and 3.

Year 2 overview

You'll study corporate finance, where you'll learn how firms operate and strike the balance between debt and equity. A portfolio theory and financial markets module looks at how to price various financial assets and understand the importance of risk. You'll also cover auditing and how firms manage their tax obligations.

Further modules provide you with the skills you'll need for your dissertation. Business research will help you to design a research project and econometrics will look at how to collect and analyse financial data correctly.

Optional modules include:

• human resource management

• Islamic banking

• the practice of management science

Year 3 overview

You'll spend a year with a financial institution. You'll gain hands-on experience in a corporate setting and produce a report at the end of your placement.

Our placement team will support you throughout the finance placement year and visit you in your place of work to ensure the placement is going well.

Year 4 overview

You'll undertake a dissertation on a finance topic of your choice. This is an opportunity to put into practice the research strategies and methods you've learned.

Compulsory and core modules cover topics such as new alternative investments, financial derivatives and world trading across borders and currencies.

You can also choose a range of optional modules to tailor the final year to your interests. These include:

• auditing

• corporate social responsibility and sustainable business

• international banking

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

The learning activities for this course include the following:

• lectures
• classes and tutorials
• independent learning (studying on your own)

How you'll spend your course time:

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Course leader

Larisa Yarovaya is the course leader.

You'll graduate from this finance course with placement, with the quantitative and analytical skills and corporate governance knowledge needed to be successful in the financial industry. You'll also gain valuable real-world experience within a financial institution on your placement.

Possible roles include:

• trader or stockbroker

• asset manager

• treasurer

• fund manager

• forecaster

• corporate finance analyst

• investment banker

• risk manager

The Business School and Southampton Law School run the Small Business Clinic which offers advice to those interested in starting their own venture. With input from local companies, it offers you training and the opportunity to work with a mentor from industry to test out your ideas and receive expert feedback.

Careers services at Southampton

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

• work experience schemes

• CV and interview skills and workshops

• networking events

• careers fairs attended by top employers

• a wealth of volunteering opportunities

• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK/EU students pay £9,250.
• International students pay £17,065.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Find out how to:

• pay your tuition fees

• calculate your student finances

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:

• accommodation costs

• living costs

• budgeting advice

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

When you apply use:

• UCAS course code: F98C
• UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for 2020 entry now

What happens after you apply?

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

• predicted grades
• academic achievements
• personal statement
• academic reference

We aim to respond to you within 2 to 6 weeks with a decision about your application.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

If you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course please contact our enquiries team; we're very happy to help.