A+ Programme Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Financial Studies

Course overview

This course is designed to be studied alongside 2 A Levels.

Are you a logical thinker? Do you enjoy problem solving with figures and have an analytical mind? Through this course you will gain a good understanding of the financial decisions people have to make at different stages of their lives such as savings, credit, mortgages and pensions and the financial products available to them. The course equips you with the knowledge and skills required for careers in the ever expanding banking and financial services sector and the understanding required to make better financial decisions for yourself. The emphasis throughout this course is on developing your ability to tackle "real world" financial problems.

The course is made up of four mandatory units and is equivalent to a full A Level in terms of study time and UCAS points. The course is delivered in two distinct sections:

Year 1 – Certificate in Financial Studies (CertFS).
The CertFS develops the knowledge and skills required for young people to make informed financial decisions by introducing you to the risks and challenges involved in personal finance and the tools for effective planning. Within this, it provides a solid basis for creating financial inclusion, by exploring social-economic trends and their relationship with an individual’s circumstances and attitudes. This is split into two units which are assessed separately.

Year 2 – Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS).
You must successfully complete the Certificate studies in Year 1 to progress to the Diploma in Financial Studies in Year 2. The Diploma builds on the skills and knowledge acquired through successful completion of Year 1 studies and extends this to include areas such as financial sustainability within the wider financial services system, and the long-term impact of debt. You will explore the political, economic, social, technological, ethical and legal impacts of personal finance in the short, medium and longer terms. Through this, a greater understanding of the impact that global events can have upon consumers and the wider financial services industry is developed. Completing the Diploma will provide you with a much enhanced ability to make informed financial decisions through effective planning to manage the risks and challenges involved in personal finance.

What else do I need to know?

Your studies will be supported by textbooks for each unit written by London Institute of Banking & Finance authors along with full access to their online resources.