...

Huddersfield Business School

Business with Financial Services (Top-up) BA(Hons)

Select the year

Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

1 year full-time


Recent Awards For Excellence

AACSB
Find out more about these awards
About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • Already studied business or finance? This top-up helps you build on that and specialise in financial services.
  • Explore the stock exchange and test your skills with our simulation tool ‘The Portfolio Game’
  • Pick optional modules that match your goals – from strategy to investment and portfolio management.

Accreditation and Professional Links

Recognised connections to give you an extra edge when you graduate. Read More

Are you looking for a career in business or the financial services sector? Alternatively, are you already familiar with the business and finance basics but want to build on your understanding and develop your skills and knowledge to degree level? This one-year top-up course is your opportunity to gain specialised theoretical knowledge and practical skills in business, management and financial services.

This top-up degree course is designed to help you build a greater understanding of central banking, financial markets and regulatory practice. You will explore the theory and policy in the financial services sector.

How will you learn?

You will learn through practical application and delivered lectures, workshops, seminars and group work sessions.

You’ll have the opportunity to gain hand-on practical experience of business and finance activities. For example, you will explore the stock exchange and try your hand at investing through our simulation trading tool ‘The Portfolio Game.’

What subjects will you cover?

You’ll explore subjects such as Investment and Portfolio Management, Monetary and Financial Framework, Business Responsibility, and Strategy.

For a business to be successful, all the different functions need to operate effectively in conjunction with each other. By studying strategy you'll develop the skills and knowledge to be a business leader of the future. Through your specialist study relating to the financial services, you'll understand how the financial markets operate. In addition to your core modules, you'll be able to select optional modules to gain a deeper insight into subjects that relate to your specialist personal or professional interests.

The top five job titles advertised in the UK for graduate roles associated with Business with Financial Services (Top-up) BA(Hons) are Paraplanners, Finance Analysts, Business Analysts, Financial Advisors and Data Analysts.*

*Lightcast data extracted from Graduate Career Explorer – job postings from Dec 2023 to Nov 2024 showing jobs advertised associated with a selection of relevant graduate.

Career opportunities after the course *

Paraplanners

Finance Analysts

Business Analysts

Financial Advisors

Data Analysts

*Lightcast

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally one of the following:

  • HND Business or overseas equivalents (two years post baccalaureate) passed at 55% average
  • Successful completion of a foundation degree with 120 ECTS credits (or equivalent).

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

What will you learn?

Course Details

This module examines contemporary and policy issues in Monetary Theory, Monetary Policy and International Finance. You’ll have the opportunity to analyse the impact of different types of risk and uncertainty in money and finance and use appropriate theory to help decide the financial methods to avoid or reduce risk.

You’ll have an opportunity to study investment analysis and portfolio management using an innovative experiential learning environment – “The Portfolio Game". This provides you with the opportunity for personal development whilst building a critical appreciation of the requirements for managing a successful investment portfolio.

The module examines the inter-relationship between business ethics, corporate social responsibility, business sustainability and sustainable development. You'll engage in constructive debates related to theories of business ethics and ethical decision-making by business managers and examine how companies could fulfil their social responsibilities. By focusing on global sustainability issues, you'll appreciate how businesses can develop sustainable solutions to resolve grand challenges.

In this module you’ll gain an understanding of how organisations develop their strategies in relation to different aspects of their environment. You’ll study how both the internal context (e.g. organisational structure, routines and resources) and external context (e.g. institutional systems, industry structures and competition) shape organisational activities and the strategic decisions that individual managers make.

Choose two from a list which may include:

In this module, you’ll learn how to organise and execute business activities and specific transactions on a variety of electronic platforms. You’ll build your understanding of the electronic economy and how the changes in the electronic landscape and technology are shaping the development and success of business. In addition to learning about e-commerce operations, you’ll consider how businesses interact with their key stakeholders, such as customer and public administration agencies, in the Internet context.

In this module, you'll explore entrepreneurship for large and small businesses in both national and international settings. This module considers the theory and practice of entrepreneurship from different academic perspectives (economic, organisational, behavioural, etc.) and in the current world business climate. The teaching and learning approach on this module makes extensive use of practical case studies.

The aim of this module is to equip you with a set of tools and techniques for managing environmental performance in both the context of national and international policy regulations, conventions and government policy and corporate strategy. You'll examine the impact of culture, media and religion on the formulation and implementation of environmental policy at international, national and corporate level. Techniques for improving the environmental performance of an economy as a whole as well as policies and systems for measuring and managing environmental improving corporate performance will be explored.

This module considers the fundamental issue of competitiveness and helps you consider strategic business responses to globalisation. You’ll explore the different types of international business operations (international trade and foreign direct investment activities) and the factors that shape these operations (organisational resources and cultural and institutional environments in different national markets). You’ll also learn to make practical strategic decisions as international managers.

Marketing is important, entrepreneurship is vital, and 95% of businesses anywhere in the world are small. When large organisations seek to improve performance – they often turn to the young dynamic small businesses as their role model. We weave these themes together into what can be called entrepreneurial marketing

Retailers are powerful brands within their own right. How is the customer changing and how do retailers anticipate this change? You’ll investigate the various elements included in retail strategy, including sales channels, the supply chain, distribution, costing structures, product development, category management, promotional techniques and internationalisation.

In this module, you'll explore how culture affects business and management. You'll learn the essential knowledge and theories in cross-cultural management, which will enable you to compare cultures systematically. You'll also investigate the latest developments in cross cultural research, which will develop your capability in understanding and analysing cross cultural scenarios. You are encouraged to develop an open-minded approach to cultural differences and an understanding of culture’s influence on business and management.

For more information on when and how we update our modules please see the ‘Legal Information’ section below.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Where could this lead you?

Your Career

Previous graduates from this subject area have gone on to roles such Business Development Executive, Accounts & Audit Junior, Financial Officer and Account Executive in organisations including Company Shop, Simpson Wood, Nestle S.A, Mediacom and Tesco PLC.

86.5%
of undergraduate graduates from the School of Business, Education and Law in work or further study within fifteen months of graduating

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 21/22, UK domiciled graduates, other activities excluded.

Huddersfield gave me the perfect mix of theory and real-world experience. I’ve gained knowledge, confidence and countless opportunities, supported by staff who truly care. It’s a place to meet people from around the world and take on projects that make a difference—I’d recommend it to anyone.

- Jake Williams
Studied Business Management with Finance (BA)Hons. Currently works as Vice President at HSBC

Our graduates work at some of the world's biggest companies.

DHL logo Walt Disney logo Adidas logo Arla Foods logo Enterprise logo
How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£9,790 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£17,600 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

Scholarships and Bursaries

Discover what additional help you may be eligible for to support your University studies.

Tuition Fee Loans

Find out more about tuition fee loans available to eligible undergraduate students.

What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

Explore More

Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

Need more details?

More Info

Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

Find out more about careers support

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

See our support services

Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

Find out more

Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Huddersfield Business School may teach you on this course.

Find out more about our staff

Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

Find out more

Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

Take a look at your options

Further Study

If you want to continue your learning beyond your undergraduate degree, there is a range of financial support available for postgraduate study, including discounts for Huddersfield graduates.

Discover postgraduate courses
Ask us a question