BSc (Hons) Finance Bachelor's degree at the University of Reading
BSc (Hons) Finance at University of Reading. You'll study core finance concepts alongside research skills, specialist topics and an independent project, with consistent emphasis on applying what you learn to real-world problems.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Finance is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Reading. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Finance graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 75% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (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: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (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 6 modules
- Introductory Securities and MarketsCompulsory
Module details
Explore financial institutions, credit risk, maturity transformation and liquidity, plus the economics of banking and types of money including cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies. Focus on sustainable finance and its important contribution to achieving Net Zero by 2050.
- Introductory Finance/Trading Simulation ICompulsory
Module details
Get an overview of the role the financial system plays in the economy. Discuss the main players in the system, the instruments they trade, and the trading prices. Focus on capital markets and the private and public financial institutions participating in these markets
- Introductory Economics for Business and FinanceCompulsory
Module details
Develop an understanding of micro- and macroeconomics, enabling you to see how businesses are affected by developments in specific markets as well as by changes at the level of the entire economy.
- Introductory Quantitative Techniques for Business and FinanceCompulsory
Module details
Discover a range of quantitative techniques that are commonly applied in business, finance and management. You'll learn about introductory statistics and mathematical techniques that are necessary for a good understanding of financial theories and which are vital to develop and understand the models used in business and finance.
- Ethics in Investment ManagementCompulsory
Module details
Explore the ethical conflicts encountered by the investment management and finance professionals and firms. You'll be encouraged to reflect on financialisation and the impact of unethical behaviour on trading partners, customers, financial markets and wider stakeholders.
- Business in Practice: Accounting for ManagersCompulsory
Module details
Develop a foundation in how businesses use accounting information. Learn about management accounting and financial accounting, which will provide the necessary foundation to allow you to specialise in your later studies.
Year 2 8 modules
- Corporate FinanceCompulsory
Module details
Focus on corporate value: its measurement, and its maximisation through corporate financial decisions, growth strategies, and governance practices. Get a good grounding in corporate finance theory and an appreciation of the related empirical evidence.
- Portfolio ManagementCompulsory
Module details
Examine the issues involved in understanding the investment market, constructing an optimal investment portfolio, evaluating the performance of that portfolio, and adjusting its composition through time. Develop a detailed knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings and the practical techniques required to form and manage portfolios of assets.
- Financial ModellingCompulsory
Module details
Put finance theories, that you studied during Part 1 Introductory Finance, into practice with the use of Microsoft Excel functions, giving you the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge to solve some real-life financial problems.
- Climate Change and FinanceOptional
Module details
Gain an overview of the scientific consensus on climate change and its projected social and economic consequences, in order to understand how the financial sector can help to mitigate and manage these impacts.
- Trends in FinanceOptional
Module details
Contextualise current issues and debates in finance by placing them in the historical evolution of finance. Understand how finance has evolved over time and where it may develop in the future.
- Programming for FinanceOptional
Module details
Learn about Object Oriented Programming using Python as the main programming language, and use the learning outcomes for data processing and applications in Finance. Discover the basics of programming, including class, objects, datatypes, conditional statements and loops, processing data from files, receiving inputs and displaying relevant outputs.
- Sustainable FinanceOptional
Module details
Learn about the basics of Sustainable Finance, covering applications in financing and investment activities. You'll explore the Environmental, Social and Governance factors, and will discuss the relevant policies and international regulations.
- FX and International Debt MarketsOptional
Module details
Study the international debt markets, equip yourself with the tools to analyse and compare products, and determine trading and hedging strategies. Develop an understanding of the products and practices of international money and bond market cash instruments and bond
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 will study the principles and practice of finance, accounting and financial decision-making. A course like this usually moves from foundations in financial and management accounting, quantitative methods and markets in Year 1, through corporate finance, financial reporting and analysis in Year 2, before progressing to specialist options and advanced work in Year 3. Specialisations such as audit and assurance, taxation, corporate finance, financial risk and fintech let you tailor your study to your interests. Your final year typically includes an independent dissertation or applied project, often aligned with professional-body exemptions. The course is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the EFMD Quality Improvement System, and recognised by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute.
Who it's for
This course suits you if you're drawn to how money, markets and organisations work, and you want to understand the mechanics behind financial decisions. You should be comfortable with numbers and analytical thinking, and interested in building expertise that's valued across banking, investment, insurance and corporate finance. Expect to engage seriously with theory and its application; much of your time will involve problem-solving, data analysis and developing the professional foundation that employers in finance actually look for.
Careers & job market
Across Accounting & Finance courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree; 65% of working graduates are employed in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings figures show a starting salary range of £25,000 to £32,500 at 15 months; after five years, this typically rises to £30,175 to £42,600. Figures come from Graduate Outcomes and the Longitudinal Educational Outcomes (LEO) survey and reflect the broader sector, not this university alone.
University & format
This degree is studied full-time at the University of Reading, a university founded in 1892 and located in Reading, England. The course runs for 3 years and is taught in English. You will receive a BSc (Hons) in Finance, a nationally recognised UK degree. The university holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. The course is accredited by AACSB, EFMD and recognised by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute.
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.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
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 | 75% |
| a foundation course | 25% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
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 (code N300). 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 University of Reading →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 | £30,000 | £26,000 – £35,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £38,500 | £27,000 – £54,000 | 45 |
| 5 years after | £48,500 | £37,500 – £66,500 | 45 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
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: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. 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 · 45% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Protective service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
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: 30; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
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
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. 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
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. 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 8.9 out of 10: NSS 76.9% · in work or study 95% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Reading
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 University of Reading
1,062 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 University of Reading from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £31,800 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 University of Reading’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 University of Reading and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Reading
BSc (Hons) Accounting and BusinessBSc (Hons) · University of ReadingBSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance with Placement YearBSc (Hons) · University of ReadingBSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance with Year AbroadBSc (Hons) · University of ReadingBSc (Hons) Accounting and FinanceBSc (Hons) · University of Reading
Common questions
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