BSc Finance
About this course
BSc (Hons) in Finance is a degree in economics, accounting and finance, focused on how financial markets, firms and investment decisions operate. Core topics include financial analysis, statistics, programming, research methods, project management, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. A compulsory dissertation in the final year allows an in-depth study of a finance topic selected by the student. Practical work includes access to a financial trading lab equipped with Bloomberg terminals. The first year covers the foundations through Foundations of Finance, Financial Valuation and Analysis, Quantitative Methods, and Introduction to Financial Economics, with Global Financial Systems and Markets and Ethics and Finance also compulsory. Quantitative Methods provides the mathematical, analytical and statistical techniques used throughout finance and business. Compulsory second-year modules are Corporate Finance, Intermediate Financial Economics, Financial Econometrics 1, and Programming for Finance, covering financial management decisions, financial market theory, econometric modelling, and data manipulation and visualisation in finance. Optional modules in the second year have included Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurial Finance, Derivative Markets, and Banking. The final year is built around Security Investment Analysis and the compulsory Dissertation. Final-year optional modules have included Quantitative Finance with Artificial Intelligence, Behavioural Finance, Financial Econometrics 2, Financial Derivatives and Financial Engineering, Financial Technology, and Real Estate Finance.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: AAB and a grade A/7 or above in GCSE Mathematics (if Mathematics is not studied at A-Level). or B/5 in Core Maths if Maths not taken as an A level. IB: 35 with 665 in higher level subjects. If Mathematics is not taken at higher level, then it is required at standard level 5.
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 26%: 55 offers from 215 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 46 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 92%
- Assessment and feedback: 84%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 92%
- Learning resources: 99%
- Student voice: 89%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 115 students who started
- Continued on course: 91%
- Left higher education: 6%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 3%
What graduates do next
Based on about 28 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 47%
- Working and studying: 37%
- Further study: 4%
- Unemployed: 6%
Most common jobs
- Finance Professionals: 43%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 18%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Sales occupations: 4%
- Find their work meaningful: 60%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 90%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 80%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 165 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 9%
- North West: 16%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 11%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 12%
- London: 27%
- South East: 9%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 160 students who started
- A levels: 98%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
Accreditation & quality ratings
- Accredited by the EFMD Quality Improvement System.
- Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Foundations of Finance
- Financial Valuation and Analysis
- Quantitative Methods
- Introduction to Financial Economics
- Global Financial Systems and Markets
- Ethics and Finance
- Corporate Finance
- Intermediate Financial Economics
- Financial Econometrics 1
- Programming for Finance
- Example optional modules
- Security Investment Analysis
- Dissertation
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Finance at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £35,000 after 15 months, £44,000 after 3 years, £55,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £39,000 and £71,500. The £55,000 median after five years is £6,500 more than the UK median for Economics.
What do graduates of BSc Finance at Durham University do next?
88% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Finance at Durham University?
92% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Finance at Durham University?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 139 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BSc Finance at Durham University?
26% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 55 offers from 215 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Is BSc Finance at Durham University accredited?
Yes. Accredited by the EFMD Quality Improvement System. Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Does BSc Finance at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BSc Finance at Durham University?
91% of students continued into their second year, and 6% left higher education.