Fast Track to Financial Services

Fast Track to Financial Services

(SCQF level 7)

Evening, Accounting and Finance

Course Options

Overview

The Professional Award in Financial Services award is a part-time evening based qualification aimed at those who want to:

  1. Progress a career in Scotland’s financial services sector.
  2. Gain experience of studying Financial Services with a view to completing an HNC/D in the subject.
  3. Have a better understanding of the financial services sector in Scotland.

The course is the result of a partnership project involving industry, City of Glasgow College and Skills Development Scotland (SDS). Employers have been involved at every stage of the curriculum development of the course and actively support the course through the engagement of subject experts who will deliver regular lessons and workshops. These employers include BNP Paribas, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Tesco Bank, TSB and Sainsbury’s Bank.

Over 2019-21 the 6-week version of this course won the Scottish Financial Services Pioneer Award as well as the Partnership Award at the Herald Higher Education Awards.

You will attend college on a Tuesday evening between September and June.

On completion, you will receive the Financial and Professional Services Award (SCQF Level 7) qualification. This award is jointly accredited by the industry body, Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE), The Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and Skills Development Scotland.

Minimum entry requirements
  • Two Highers at Grade C or above in relevant* subjects; OR
  • Other equivalent qualifications or experience.

*Relevant subjects include any from a STEM discipline or English.

Additional selection requirements

You'll be invited for a group and/or individual interview where you can find out more about the course and tell us why you're interested in this subject area or we'll make an offer based on your application form.

What you study

The curriculum reflects the skills and behaviours identified by employers as important skill sets for customer-facing roles in Financial Services – meaning you will be building a solid foundation for your future career.

The curriculum is centred around four main modules:

  • Financial Services: Environment - This unit introduces you to the financial services landscape including the key regulators and products.
  • Financial Services: Culture - The Financial Services sector has and continues to undergo significant change. This unit introduces aspects of culture in financial services such as values, stakeholders and change management.
  • Financial Services: Risk - Working in Financial Services requires all employees to understand sources of risk and methods to reduce risk. This unit introduces areas of risk such as money laundering and cybersecurity.
  • Financial Services: Professional Skills - This unit will develop your interpersonal and meta-skills to communicate and collaborate effectively in a professional setting. The unit will encourage you to consider your career goals, update your CV and develop key interview skills.

After the course

The course is for those wishing to work in an administrative, sales, customer support or technical support role within the Finance Industry.

There are various employment opportunities, including working in - banking, building societies, pension funds, investment companies, insurance, unit trusts, stock market operations, life and pensions, asset management and intermediation.

Continuing study

You can progress into HNC Financial Services on completion of this course.  There are exemptions to some elements of assessment on HNC Financial Services. 

How the course is taught

The course will be delivered as a blended online interactive course with staff, industry experts and participants accessing the course from home.

Along with notes, remote collaboration tools, suggestions for self-learning, and opportunities to have one to one and group sessions with experienced tutors and industry experts, you must be fully equipped for a virtual classroom experience.

Guide to Applying
Funding and fees information
Qualifications explained
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