Business & Finance Degree Guide

It’s a practical, career-oriented course that combines commercial awareness with financial knowledge - ideal for students aiming for roles in banking, accounting, investment or business strategy.

What You Study

This degree covers a broad foundation in business, with a special emphasis on financial decision-making. Key areas typically include:

Business Modules:

• Management and leadership

• Marketing and branding

• Operations and supply chain

• Organisational behaviour

• Business strategy

• Entrepreneurship or innovation

Finance Modules:

• Corporate finance – how firms raise and invest capital

• Financial accounting and reporting

• Management accounting

• Investment and portfolio management

• Banking and financial markets

• Risk management

• Financial modelling and data analysis

You’ll often work on:

• Case studies and simulations

• Group projects and business plans

• Financial reports and forecasts

• Real-time market scenarios using trading software or Bloomberg terminals (at some universities)

Useful A-Levels (or equivalent qualifications)

Entry requirements vary depending on the university, but useful subjects include:

• Maths (particularly helpful for finance-heavy courses)

• Business Studies

• Economics

• Accounting

• Statistics or Computer Science

BTECs in Business are widely accepted by many universities, often alongside or instead of A-levels, especially for applied business courses.

What Makes a Strong Application

To strengthen your application:

• Show interest in how businesses make financial decisions

• Demonstrate commercial awareness:

  • Follow financial news (e.g. BBC Business, Financial Times, The Economist)

  • Discuss current issues in business, banking or entrepreneurship

• Mention relevant experience such as:

  • Part-time work in retail or admin

  • School enterprise projects

  • Young Enterprise, business competitions, or investment games

• Explain what draws you to business and finance together - not just one or the other

Career Prospects

A Business & Finance degree is directly aligned with a wide range of graduate careers in both the private and public sectors.

Popular career paths include:

• Finance roles:

  • Investment banking

  • Corporate finance

  • Financial planning and analysis

  • Risk management

  • Accounting (often requiring further qualifications: ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

• Business roles:

  • Business analyst

  • Management consultant

  • Marketing or commercial manager

  • Operations or supply chain specialist

• Other options:

  • Fintech and startup roles

  • Public sector finance

  • Graduate schemes in banking, retail or professional services

Transferable skills include:

• Numerical and analytical thinking

• Problem-solving and decision-making

• Teamwork and communication

• Commercial awareness

• Financial reporting and data literacy

Studying in the UK vs Other Countries

UK

• Offered widely as BSc or BA in Business and Finance or Finance with Business

• Many courses offer:

  • Placement years in industry

  • CFA or ACCA accreditation or exemptions

  • Access to trading rooms or real market data

• Strong business schools include Loughborough, Leeds, Nottingham, Exeter, Manchester, and City (Bayes)

USA

• Studied through Business Administration, Finance or Accounting majors

• Broad liberal arts curriculum in the first two years

• Access to large internship networks and business incubators

Canada

• Business & Finance available through BBA or BComm degrees

• Co-op (paid work placements) widely offered

• Highly respected schools include Rotman (Toronto), Sauder (UBC), and Schulich (York)

Australia and New Zealand

• Offered as part of Commerce or Business degrees

• Combines theory with practical internships and case study-based learning

• Strong links to Asia-Pacific financial markets

Europe

• Business & Finance taught in English at many universities, especially in the Netherlands, Germany and Spain

• Strong emphasis on international business and financial regulation

• Dutch universities (e.g. Maastricht, Tilburg, Erasmus) offer structured and affordable programmes

Final Thoughts

Business & Finance is ideal for students who:

• Are interested in how money flows through companies and economies

• Want to combine strategic thinking with financial acumen

• Enjoy working with data, people and real-world scenarios

• Are aiming for careers in finance, business leadership, or entrepreneurship

It’s a versatile, employer-focused degree that equips you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the fast-moving world of global business.