Finance, Risk and Business HNC
(SCQF level 7)
Accounting and Finance, Education and Humanities
Mode of Study
Full-time
Start Date
26th Aug 2024, 1 year
Location
City Campus
Applications from International Students Welcome
Overview
Why Financial Services?
Financial Services is a large sector in Scotland with a number of employment opportunities. This course combines core elements of Business with specialist Financial Service units that have been selected specifically to give you an advantage if applying for roles in Financial Services.
This HNC is designed to provide you with the key competencies required by anyone entering the Financial Services Industry as a trainee, or at a technical level, or for anyone already working in such a position but wishing to lay the foundation of a professional career. Further details of the topics covered are provided in the section “What you Study” below.
The aims of the HNC are to:
- Develop a range of vocational skills specific to the Financial Services Industry, in relation to product and service knowledge, and an understanding of the role of its providers.
- Preparing you for employment in the Financial Services Industry at clerical, sales or administration levels.
- Developing a broad-based range of vocational skills in relation to, for example, communications, customer service, and the use of information technology.
You'll be assessed throughout this course with the assessments taking the form of practical assessments, assignments and case studies. You'll also undertake a Graded Unit project, which is designed to assess your ability to integrate the knowledge and skills gained through the mandatory units.
City of Glasgow College has strong links with Financial Services organisations, which provide industry visits and guest speakers to add value to the academic content of the course.
Throughout the course, you'll undertake a program of guidance activities designed to help you make the most of your qualification and college experience.
You'll be required to attend college on three days every week from 9am to 5pm for one academic year.
Why Choose City of Glasgow College?
City of Glasgow College is a next-generation college. Our Campuses at City and Riverside have been meticulously designed to offer superb opportunities to our students and to meet and adapt to the changing needs of future generations. This future-proofing complements the vast open and inspiring learning and teaching environment. Here are just a few reasons why you should make City your first choice:
- We have designed our curriculum to develop the technical skills of students and it is closely aligned with industry requirements, meaning our graduates can successfully transition from their course into employment.
- Our Financial Services curriculum has been recognised by the industry in Scotland as we have recently won the 2019 Pioneer Award as a result of our industry engagement and teaching content.
- We support our students in a classroom environment encouraging student engagement and improving attainment.
- Over 90% of our successful students progress directly to further learning, apprenticeships, or employment.
- All of our students have a named Academic Advisor who can provide advice, support and signposting in key areas, such as:
- Opportunities to discuss your academic progress.
- Encouragement and an informed view with ways to enhance your academic studies.
- Planned workshops from the student services team on a range of areas including finance and funding, careers information, help to be a class rep etc. You can suggest to your Academic Advisor workshops and talks that would benefit you.
- A reliable point of contact throughout your studies, enabling you to make the most of your time at the college.
Make City of Glasgow College your first choice for a world-class education.
Entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements
- One Higher at Grade C or above in a relevant* subject; OR
- Three National 5 qualifications at Grade A in relevant* subjects; OR
- National Qualification at SCQF level 6 in relevant* **subjects; OR
- NPA in Financial Services and/or successful completion of Year 1 Foundation Apprenticeship in Financial Services; OR
- Other equivalent qualifications or experience.
*Relevant subjects include any from a STEM discipline, Business or English.
** Internal applicants must complete 14 credits undertaken in the NQ Financial Services qualification, including all units specific to Financial Services.
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.
ESOL entry requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.
What you study
The mandatory units are:
- Financial Sector: An Introduction.
- Creating a Culture of Customer Care.
- Information Technology: Applications Software 1.
- Business Communication.
- Managing People and Organisations.
- Personal Financial Services.
- Financial Services: Graded Unit 1.
Other units full-time students will study to bring their total credits up to 15 are:
- Mathematics for Business.
- Business Accounting.
- Business Law.
- Economic issues.
- Marketing.
After the course
Careers
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 to HND Financial Services (Year 2).
Successful completion of HND Financial Services will enable students to apply directly to year 3 of some university courses in Finance, such as:
- BA Finance, Investment and Risk at Glasgow Caledonian University.
- BA Financial Services at Edinburgh Napier University.
- BA Business Management with Finance at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
If you intend to progress to a degree course or apply for professional bodies’ exemptions, you are advised to liaise directly with the university/professional body concerned.
Teaching
How the course is taught
The course is intended to be delivered in a blended way with up to one day per week being taught online and up to two days per week being taught in college (subject to and operating within Scottish Government Covid-19 operating procedures). You are timetabled for approximately 16 hours per week and an additional 16 hours should be allowed for studying out with class time in order to be successful.
You will complete practical assignments based on a variety of case studies. There will also be an element of report writing to demonstrate the ability to explain and analyse information.
You will be required to use IT to complete some of the units. You should ensure that you possess a basic level of IT in Microsoft Office including Word and Excel.
For online learning, you will require access to a device and Wifi. You will also be accessing learning resources on our virtual learning environment, Canvas.
Assessment methods
This course is designed on the principle of continuous assessment.
You will be continuously undertaking, working towards or preparing for an assessment.
The assessments are a combination of closed-book, knowledge-based assessments under controlled, timed conditions and project-based assessments demonstrating your application of knowledge to a particular case study situation.
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Mode of Study:
Full-time
Full-time
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Start Date:
26th Aug 2024, 1 year
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Location:
City Campus
Applications from International Students Welcome