BSc Finance (with placement year)
About this course
BSc (Hons) in Finance (with placement year), a finance degree within the economics, accounting and finance subject area. Core topics include financial analysis, statistics, programming, research methods, project management and artificial intelligence and machine learning. The third year is spent on a compulsory work placement of at least 40 weeks. The degree also gives access to a trading lab equipped with Bloomberg Terminals, and the final year includes a compulsory dissertation alongside Security Investment Analysis. The first year covers the foundations of finance, financial markets and quantitative analysis through Foundations of Finance, Financial Valuation and Analysis, Quantitative Methods, Introduction to Financial Economics, Global Financial Systems and Markets and Ethics and Finance. The second year develops corporate and analytical skills with Corporate Finance, Intermediate Financial Economics, Financial Econometrics 1 and Programming for Finance, alongside options such as Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurial Finance, Derivative Markets and Banking. Year 3 is spent on a compulsory placement of at least 40 weeks. In the final year, Security Investment Analysis covers investment and portfolio management, and the compulsory Dissertation allows an independently investigated finance topic. Final-year options include 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). 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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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
- Placement
- Security Investment Analysis
- Dissertation
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Finance (with placement year) 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 (with placement year) 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 (with placement year) 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 (with placement year) at Durham University?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 139 UCAS points.
Is BSc Finance (with placement year) 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 (with placement year) 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 (with placement year) at Durham University?
91% of students continued into their second year, and 6% left higher education.