BSc (Hons) Financial Trading and Investment Management Bachelor's degree at Sheffield Hallam University
BSc (Hons) Financial Trading and Investment Management at SHU. You learn how markets work in practice whilst studying the theory, analytical methods and regulatory knowledge that underpin trading and portfolio decisions.
About this course
<p>Work with professional traders in both Sheffield and London, gaining hands-on experience of trading financial markets while learning how to manage a range of investments.<p> From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Financial Trading and Investment Management is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at SHU, based in City Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Finance graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 60% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £27,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Accounting & Finance, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Asset Classes And Investment ManagementCompulsory40 credits
Module details
This module explores asset class categories of investments with similar characteristics and risks – from equities and fixed income to real estate and alternative investments. You'll consider diversification of investment capital across asset classes to match an investor's goals, risk tolerance and investment horizon – as well as the active or passive nature of investment management, from choosing individual securities to buy and sell within asset classes, to investing in a diversified portfolio
Assessment: Coursework (40%), Exam (60%)
- Data Analytics For Finance And BusinessCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module develops your understanding of various quantitative processes for collecting, analysing, managing, interpreting and utilising data within the context of business and economics. You'll gain the knowledge and analytical and mathematical skills to tackle advanced material in later years, along with transferable insights for other disciplines and applications.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Fundamentals Of FinanceCompulsory40 credits
Module details
This module develops your understanding of the principles of finance, including the ability to read, understand and perform fundamental analysis of financial statements – such as income statements, statements of financial position and cash flow statements. It's an applied project module, working collaboratively with a client to explore real-world challenges while developing and employing professional behaviours.
Assessment: Coursework (60%), Practical (40%)
- Introduction To Trading AlgorithmsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module provides students with an awareness of trading algorithms so that they have a basic understanding that will help them make sense of other more complex trading platforms later. Students will use variants of Jupyter Notebooks to explore the Python coding language and its libraries such as Pandas, that run on the Linux operating system in a cloud. After mastering basic coding skills students will be guided through more advanced coding that models stock data as a time series and uses "Ba
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
Year 2 4 modules
- Financial Management And RiskCompulsory40 credits
Module details
This module aims to give students an understanding of financial markets to enable evaluation of choices in funding and financing investment decisions, an appreciation of the role of cash in firm, managing working capital, the management and measurement of risk for decision making and students will be able to apply core concepts of finance to reduce risk, engage in risk taking activities and fully explain these decisions to all stakeholders of a firm.
Assessment: Coursework (40%), Exam (60%)
- Financial Markets And InstitutionsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module provides an in-depth understanding of the structure and functioning of financial markets and institutions, including the roles and functions of financial intermediaries – such as banks, central banks, insurance companies, pension funds and stock exchanges. You'll consider how they contribute to the efficient allocation of capital in the economy, while developing analytical and critical thinking skills, and making informed decisions when investing or managing financial risk.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Financial TradingCompulsory40 credits
Module details
This module is initially taught by our specialist trading education partner Zishi – six weeks full-time Monday to Friday in an internship environment, where you learn how to trade a range of markets from professional traders in a purpose-built trading room using industry-standard technology. You'll then join us for two weeks, focusing on the employability skills you'll need in financial services.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Law, Ethics And Investment ProfessionalismCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module introduces law, the English legal system and professional ethics in financial services. You'll develop your understanding of legality and morality to inform decision-making in financial services organisations.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
Year 3 1 modules
- Undergraduate Sandwich Placement Applied Professional DiplomaCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to enhance students' professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s). A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. In this module students undertake a sandwich placement (min 24 weeks / min 21 hours per week) which is integrated, assessed and aligned to their studies.
Final year 2 modules
- Consultancy ProjectCompulsory40 credits
Module details
Students will take an applied 'consultancy' approach, developing and presenting solutions to real-world industry challenges on behalf of a real client. This can alternatively be undertaken as part of an enterprise residency where students develop their own venture.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- International Derivatives And RiskCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module provides an in-depth understanding of derivatives and their characteristics or uses in financial markets – from futures, options, swaps and credit derivatives to the various strategies used to manage risk and enhance returns. Through applied learning you'll learn to value derivatives, price options using different models and hedge positions using different instruments – while considering the relevant regulatory framework surrounding derivatives.
Assessment: Exam (100%)
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll work with professional traders in both Sheffield and London, gaining hands-on experience of trading financial markets while learning how to manage a range of investments. A course like this typically begins with foundations in financial accounting, introduction to finance and quantitative methods for business. In your second year, you'll usually move to management accounting, corporate finance and financial reporting under IFRS. Year 3 offers specialist options such as audit and assurance, taxation, corporate finance, financial risk, fintech and professional-body exemptions, alongside an advanced corporate reporting module or applied project. This progression builds from core accounting and finance principles towards practical trading and investment decision-making.
Who it's for
You are drawn to financial markets and want to understand how they operate rather than just observe them. You're analytical, comfortable with quantitative reasoning and interested in how investment decisions affect real portfolios and real people. You thrive on practical application, working alongside traders will appeal more than purely theoretical study. This course suits you if you want a degree that treats finance as a living, changeable discipline rather than a closed body of facts, and if you're willing to absorb both the rigour and the uncertainty that trading environments demand.
Careers & job market
Across Accounting and Finance courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 65% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. Graduate earnings across the field typically sit between £25,000 and £32,500 at the 15-month mark, rising to £23,375–£33,000 after three years and £30,175–£42,600 after five years (these are national figures from the Graduate Outcomes survey and linked employer data, not guaranteed salaries). Roles vary widely, some graduates move into investment management, others into banking, compliance, or risk management. Your hands-on experience with traders may open paths that desk-bound finance degrees do not.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) is delivered by Sheffield Hallam University, a university located at City Campus in Sheffield. The course runs for 3 years full-time, taught in English. Your degree is recognised by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA) and the university holds Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. As a nationally recognised UK degree-awarding body, your qualification is recognised across the UK.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at SHU →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Accounting & Finance graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £27,000 | £24,000 – £32,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £26,500 | £21,500 – £32,500 | 170 |
| 5 years after | £33,500 | £27,500 – £43,500 | 180 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in accounting & finance · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Accounting & Finance nationally
National figures for Accounting & Finance graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Accounting & Finance courses at the same study level.
Compared with 957 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Finance ProfessionalsSOC 2020 242 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 95; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is BSc (Hons) Financial Trading and Investment Management worth it?
Generally yes. On its graduates’ median earnings, BSc (Hons) Financial Trading and Investment Management is worth about +£65,630 more over the first ten years of work than going straight to a job, a solid return once you net out the fees.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 3 years of wages given up while studying. The line clears zero around year 15.5. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 3 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
Job market & outlook
How Accounting & Finance graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Accounting & Finance graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- The Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG)
- Banks & insurers
- Corporate finance teams
- HMRC & public sector
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Accounting & Finance graduates.
Accounting & FinanceLecturerGEDU Global EducationAccounting Engineer - Pre-Sales & Post SalesStacksAccounting Advisory Manager | Lead Client Projects HybridCFGIAccounting, Insight and Advisory ManagerRSM UKAccounting & FinanceLecturerGEDU ServicesAccounting Associate Apprentice Business Services (September 2026)Best ApprenticeshipsIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £27,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.3 out of 10: NSS 69.7% · in work or study 85% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Sheffield Hallam University
Business and management across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around City Campus
3,427 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Accounting & Finance right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to SHU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by SHU; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check SHU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with SHU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at SHU
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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