Business Finance with Foundation Year

Following the foundation year, the syllabus of this course is identical to its sister course [Business Finance, N310].

Why study Business Finance at Aberystwyth University?

The world of business is demanding, challenging and heavily reliant on finance: a diverse environment with various factors that influence business

performance and prospects. Our Business Finance course will equip you with a well-founded, coherent framework to understand financial strategy,

the conduct of financial services and regulation of money and finance. The finance aspects of the course will equip you with the fundamental

theoretical and practical applications of accounting that enable organisations to undertake well-informed financial decision-making. You will

also explore the following areas on this course: managerial finance, taxation, investment fundamentals, portfolio management and global finance.

Opportunities for Business Finance with Foundation Year students at Aberystwyth include:

• gaining numerous industry perspectives through guest lectures by industry professionals
• enhancing your career opportunities through our partnerships with business, industry and commerce
• being taught by active researchers, ensuring that you are exposed to the latest theories and knowledge in the subject area
• joining our Investment Society to participate in a Wales and Ireland universities trading competition, won by our Aberystwyth team in recent years
• exemptions from the UK professional accountancy exams, which include:
• ACCA
• CIMA
• ICAEW
• CIPFA
• CII
• ICAS
• The BSc in Business Finance will enable you to develop your analytical, communicational skills to understand and negotiate in an increasingly complex business environment.
• Throughout the academic year, we invite guest speakers for industry (local and national small, medium and large enterprises) to share their expertise and knowledge to our cohort of students. This has been a popular addition to the extra-curricular events of the academic timetable and gives you a valuable opportunity to network with those who may become your future employer. 

Our Staff

Students at the Aberystwyth Business School are taught by lecturers and other teaching staff who are active researchers and expert practitioners in their chosen subject area.

Over 75% of full time members of teaching staff are qualified to PhD level. Most are currently research active, meaning that students benefit from being taught ‘new’ knowledge in their chosen field of study as well as recognized literature. The School also employs part-time and full time staff devoted purely to teaching. Many part-time staff combine teaching duties with consultancy and business activities, ensuring that students have access not only to up to date research but the latest applied knowledge.

Career prospects: From Campus to Career

Our graduates have discovered careers in:

• Financial strategy;
• Actuarial profession;
• Corporate banking;
• Tax;
• Investment analysis;
• Financial trading;
• Retail banking.

What skills will I obtain from this degree?

Studying a degree in Business Finance will equip you with the following skills:

• Understanding of organisational behaviour and structure;
• Improved numeracy skills and the ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data;
• Deep understanding of the causes and effects of economic and other external changes;
• The ability to communicate clearly written and spoken;
• Effective problem solving;
• Analytical and creative thinking skills;
• Decision- making;
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Time-management and organisational skills;
• Self-motivation and self- reliance.

What work experience opportunities exist whilst studying? 

Discover more about the various opportunities that our Aberystwyth University Careers team offer.

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and YES (Year in Employment Scheme) managed by our Careers department.

What will you learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four year degree scheme.

In the first foundation year, you will be introduced to core components of Business Finance.

In your second year you may discover:

• Financial accounting;
• Management Accounting;
• Financial Management;
• Quantitative skills and methods;
• Management;
• Business Environment.

In your third and fourth year you may explore and study:

• Investments and financial instruments;
• Firms;
• Markets;
• Pricing;
• Corporate finance;
• Taxation;
• European and International monetary systems. 

How will I be taught?

You will be taught through lectures, seminars and tutorials of which are in small groups. You will be required on some modules to deliver presentations, work effectively as part of a group and undertake any essays that are required from you.

At Aberystwyth University, all our modules are placed online for you to study further in the comfort of your room. We also have a wealth of printed texts which are available in our library and the National Library of Wales.

 The course is assessed by:

• Examinations;
• Assessed essays;
• Projects;
• Presentations;
• Dissertation (certain modules).

You will be allocated a personal tutor for the duration of degree at Aberystwyth University.