BSc Finance with Foundation

Prepare for a career in the fast-paced industries of corporate finance, financial services or financial markets with our BSc Finance with Foundation degree.

This four-year programme includes a foundation year that leads directly into the three-year BSc Finance course.

Foundation year

The foundation year will provide you with the skills and knowledge to succeed at university. You’ll develop core skills in academic study, writing and research.

Your learning will be delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical classes and workshops.

A foundation year is more than just a stepping-stone to a degree. You will also benefit from:

• access to our full range of facilities and resources
• full integration into university life, before your degree year begins
• experience of an academic environment, and the ability to work independently
• specialist support and guidance.

After successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll progress onto our three-year BSc Finance degree.

Recent changes in finance – including the emergence of financial technology and the focus on sustainability – have necessitated changes throughout the industry. Our BSc Finance degree will help you develop the key skills and knowledge to meet these changes head-on, as you gain a deep understanding of finance and the financial services industry.

Experts from from Henley Business School will introduce you to the:

• fundamental principles of accounting, finance and economics
• quantitative techniques of finance
• role of finance in business and society
• ethics required to work in the finance industry.

As your studies progress, you’ll gain deeper knowledge of the core concepts in:

• portfolio management
• financial modelling
• corporate finance.

You’ll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, and self-guided study. This will provide the opportunity to discuss subject materials in an in-depth way with your lecturers and fellow students.

The University of Reading is a CFA partner university. Within this partnership, a number of scholarships are offered towards CFA exams (partial fee reduction) for which students can apply.

Choose BSc Finance at Henley Business School

• Ranked in the top 25 in the UK for Accounting and Finance (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024).
• Triple-accredited status from the UK, European and US accrediting bodies (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB).

Flexible study options

After the first year of your BSc Finance degree, you will have the option to transfer to any of our specialist pathways:

• BSc Finance (Investments)
• BSc Finance (FinTech)
• BSc Finance (Sustainable Finance)
• BSc Finance (International Business)

Each pathway is designed to help you understand particular challenges within finance and how to respond to them.

If you choose to remain on the general degree course, you’ll still be offered a wide range of options in your second and final years – allowing you to tailor your learning to your individual interests.

All of our degrees are available as four-year options, with either a Placement Year or Study Year Abroad in the third year.

Dedicated industry facilities with BSc Finance

Put your understanding of financial systems and capital markets into practice in our state-of-the-art dealing rooms, featuring computer trading simulations and financial modelling.

A focus on employability

We are passionate about developing your personal skills alongside your business acumen.

Our focus on self-development aims to prepare you for the external market – from internships and placements to full-time employment. The skills required to secure, and succeed, in future roles are embedded into the curriculum.

For example, you will undertake a group project on portfolio management in your second year. Within this project, you’ll have the opportunity to put your quantitative skills and knowledge of investment analysis into practice, gain new experiences, and open yourself up to new ways of thinking.