BA (Hons) Fintech

Introduction to Critical Business Competencies

This module is designed to support your transition to university and help you develop the skills you’ll need during your academic journey, as well as helping you prepare for professional work. It focuses on building literacy skills, critical engagement, data retrieval and analysis, and presentations.

As part of the module, you will produce a data analysis project report, demonstrating your ability to gather literature and data, analyse and present findings, and adhere to the department’s report-writing standards.

When selecting a project topic, you will be encouraged to explore themes related to business sustainability, such as transport, health, the economy and the environment.

Procedural Programming

This module introduces you to the fundamental concepts, methodologies, and techniques of modern programming, with a focus on core principles applicable to software development and data science.

Topics covered include syntax, variables and data types, expressions and assignment, input and output, conditionals, loops, and functions.

Emphasis is placed on writing clear, efficient, and reproducible code, with practical applications relevant to software engineering and data science. 

This module lays the groundwork for you to begin developing a professional portfolio of practical coding projects that will be refined and expanded throughout your degree.

As part of the curriculum, you will learn to set up and maintain a cloud-based repository to showcase your work.

The module will highlight how a publicly viewable project portfolio can play a key role in demonstrating employability, supporting you in building a compelling ‘online CV’ for future career opportunities.

This aligns with sector guidance calling for early engagement with professional skill sets and reflective practice in computing degrees.  

Marketing Principles and Practice

In this module, you will explore the purpose and societal role of marketing, with topics including buyer behaviour, digital innovations, marketing research methods and ethical considerations.

You’ll develop your practical skills in conducting environmental audits and marketing research, applying segmentation, targeting and positioning strategies, and designing your own marketing plans. You will also learn about customer relationship management and look at practical marketing strategies for new product launches.

Applied AI

This module provides a practical introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, focusing on hands-on model building, deployment, and evaluation. You will gain hands-on experience working with industry-relevant AI technologies and frameworks while also considering ethical and governance considerations.

Technology and AI for Business

This module introduces you to the use of digital technologies in enhancing organisational efficiency, improving oversight and control, and supporting effective decision-making.

It explores how organisations adopt, adapt and integrate technological solutions to gain and sustain competitive advantage within a rapidly evolving business environment. 

A key focus of the module is the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in business. You will examine how AI technologies, including data analytics, machine learning and intelligent automation, are applied across functions such as operations, finance, marketing and strategy.

The module considers how AI supports predictive decision-making, improves performance, and enables innovation, while also addressing key challenges such as ethical considerations, data governance, and the impact on the future of work. 

Through real-world examples and applied learning, students will develop an understanding of how technology and AI are reshaping organisations and industries, and how these tools can be used responsibly and effectively in business contexts. 

Accounting Skills and Financial Reporting

The aims of this module are to enable you to describe and critically discuss how financial reporting can be regulated, including the system of international accounting standards.

The module will also provide you with the fundamental accounting concepts, skills and techniques to enable the collection and recording of data and transactions for the preparation of accounting statements and management accounts.

In addition, the module aims to provide the necessary knowledge that will enable you to prepare the statutory accounts in the appropriate form for a single company.

Introduction to Cyber Security

This module will provide you with the background to the core concepts of cyber security. In addition to identifying technical threats and potential mitigation, you will also have the opportunity to investigate non-technical aspects such as employee risks.

Auditing and Assurance

This module aims to introduce you to areas of key concepts of audit, assurance, and corporate governance.  This will include an understanding of ethics and professional conduct.

You will learn about the audit framework and regulation, planning and risk assessment, internal control, audit evidence and how the discovered material is reviewed and reported.

Financial Management

This module aims to introduce you to areas of key financial decision-making and related underlying theory. These decisions include the setting of corporate objectives, the funding of corporate operations and the appraisal of potential investments.

In addition, the choices that are available to companies in terms of their working capital management and the implications of foreign exchange currency movements will be examined.

The module will also provide you with an understanding of the operation of equity markets and the related implications for listed companies.

Management Accounting for Control

This module will develop your understanding of a range of management accounting techniques and how these can be applied to support decision-making. You will solve problems that require you to demonstrate thoughtful and effective reasoning in proposing solutions to a given set of circumstances. You will be assessed through a open book online test, and in class tests.

Project Management

This module introduces you to the essential tools and methodologies for managing an effective project, including the ‘Prince2’ and ‘Agile’ methodologies.

You will explore techniques for change management and version control and have the opportunity to explore project planning and use Project Management software.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a 3,500-word portfolio.

Professional Graduate

The module aims to address the following:

• Enhance Career Readiness and communication skills by equipping students with the practical skills and confidence needed to navigate the graduate recruitment process, including CV writing, application forms, and interview techniques.
• Understand recruitment processes by providing insight into employer expectations and recruitment methods, including assessment centres and competency-based interviews, both locally and internationally.
• Build self-awareness and reflective practice by encouraging students to identify and reflect on their own skills, values, and career aspirations to make informed decisions about their professional development.
• Engage with industry experts through facilitated opportunities to learn directly from employers and professionals through guest lectures, workshops, and networking events, enhancing understanding of workplace expectations.
• Prepare for real-world scenarios by simulating professional situations such as mock interviews, group tasks, and role plays, carried out by local businesses, to build confidence and adaptability in high-pressure environments.
• Utilise digital career tools to introduce students to platforms like LinkedIn, CareerSet, and online psychometric test resources to support their ongoing career development.
• Ensure all students have the ability and opportunity to search and apply for placement opportunities, either as a part-time 20-week placement or a full one-year internship.

Taxation

The aim of this module is to introduce you to key concepts and the underlying principles of major aspects of the UK taxation system. This will include an understanding of the principles behind taxation, the sources and types of taxation, personal income tax such as employment.

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to understand and calculate personal income tax liability from different sources, and understand the way these are administered, including deadlines, penalties, etc. 

In addition, the module aims to provide an overview and coverage of calculations in relation to value-added tax and an examination of the scope of National Insurance contributions and Capital Gains Tax. 

Over the past few years, the UK has made changes in the tax system to remain competitive among the major economies. The tax system is continuously changing specifically in the advent of the financial crisis. This makes UK Tax an important subject area.  

The module is designed to build on the personal income tax and this time introduce company tax including sources of income, adjustments and rules, Chargeable gains, losses and finally cover Inheritance tax. 

Corporate Finance

This module aims to give you an insight into the practical implications of key areas of corporate finance.

The module will commence with an overview of the core concepts of corporate finance and progress focusing on specific areas related to e.g. corporate valuation and merger and acquisition activity.

More complex aspects of finance theory will also be introduced including Portfolio Theory, the Capital Asset Pricing Model and Capital Structure Theory.

A key aim of the module is to encourage you to examine “corporate finance in action”, essentially linking theory and practice.

With the nature of the module, your work is likely to be influenced by current developments and occurrences in the corporate world.  

Advanced Financial Accounting

This module will examine consolidated accounts, evaluating financial statements to provide an analysis of performance, comparing and contrasting alternative approaches to asset valuation, and examining current developments in external reporting. 

The module will also provide you with the fundamental accounting concepts, including the system of international accounting standards, skills and techniques to enable the collection and recording of data and transactions for the preparation of accounting statements and management accounts.

Research Project

The module has a crucial role within the programme of study in that it provides the opportunity to research an area of particular interest within an appropriate business, public sector or third sector context. The module is designed to make a major contribution to your professional and intellectual development.  

The research project provides a vehicle for you to demonstrate the extent to which you have managed the final transition from a tutor-led approach to student-centred learning.  The issue is chosen, investigated and published by you, with the support of a research supervisor. It enables you to demonstrate their capacity for sustained independent thought, learning and critical reflection in a major piece of work.  

The subject chosen will normally be concerned with the investigation of one or more management issues within the context of a public or private sector organisation.

The study can be set in the context of a client organisation. Alternatively, the focus of the study can involve research across a range of organisations, or of a specific group of people, in relation to a management issue.

Whilst the topic might well be one that is of interest, unless directed to a placement organisation, the end product must have findings that are generalisable and capable of broad application.

A library-based dissertation may also be acceptable, but it must consider the management implications of the study and cannot be purely literature-based.

Work Placement and Professional Practice

This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to gain valuable experience of working in an organisation, or for an organisation, for 270 hours. 

This module will lead directly on from the Level 5 module Professional Graduate, where you will work towards securing a placement for this module and developing your Personal Development Plan for future career aspirations and improved employability. 

You will typically be conducting your Research Project in parallel with this module, although for a minority of students (typically those who are studying part-time), the module can be undertaken as a stand-alone module.

The primary aim of the module is to enable you, within the context of your work placement, to focus on areas of personal development to enhance your employability skills for chosen career aspirations and gain both practical and research skills for deeper knowledge of your subject field.