Financial Economics and Banking BSc

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Leicester

Program Overview

The Financial Economics and Banking BSc at University of Leicester is perfect for students who want to understand how financial systems, banks, and economies interact in the real world. You’ll combine economic theory with practical banking and finance knowledge, gaining the analytical skills needed to make sense of markets, risk, and financial decision-making.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Foundations of Economics and Finance
In your first year, you’ll build a strong base through modules such as Introduction to Economics, Principles of Finance, and Mathematics and Statistics for Economics. This year focuses on understanding how markets operate, how financial institutions function, and how data supports economic and financial analysis.

Year 2 – Banking and Financial Economics in Practice
The second year deepens your knowledge with modules like Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Banking and Financial Intermediation. You’ll explore how banks manage risk, how financial markets respond to economic change, and how policy decisions influence financial stability.

Year 3 – Advanced Financial and Banking Analysis
In your final year, you’ll study advanced modules such as Financial Economics, International Banking and Finance, and Economics of Financial Markets. You’ll develop strong critical and analytical skills, preparing you to evaluate complex financial systems and global economic challenges with confidence.

Focus Areas

Financial economics, banking systems, financial markets, risk and regulation, global economic analysis

Learning Outcomes

Strong analytical and numerical skills, deep understanding of banking and financial systems, confident economic reasoning, data-driven decision-making, commercial awareness

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The degree is designed to align with employer and industry expectations, providing a solid foundation for careers in banking, finance, economics, risk analysis, and financial services

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

The University of Leicester is well regarded in UK league tables such as QS and The Guardian for teaching quality, student satisfaction, and graduate employability, with strong outcomes for finance and economics-related programmes

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At University of Leicester, the Financial Economics and Banking BSc is designed to help you turn theory into real, usable skills that employers in banking and finance actually look for. From your first year onwards, you’ll work with real financial data, applied economic analysis, and research-led teaching that reflects how banks, regulators, and financial institutions operate in practice — and this hands-on approach comes together through experiences such as:

Applied financial and economic analysis, using industry-relevant tools such as Excel, STATA, SPSS, and R to work with real financial and economic datasets
Banking and financial case studies, where you analyse real-world issues like risk management, financial crises, regulation, and market behaviour
Group-based projects and presentations, helping you build teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills used in consulting and banking environments
Research-led learning, shaped by staff expertise in financial economics, banking, and monetary policy, giving you insight into current global financial challenges
Independent analytical projects, particularly in later years, allowing you to explore areas such as banking stability, financial markets, or economic policy
Access to the University of Leicester Library, with specialist resources in finance, economics, banking, and quantitative research, including academic journals and financial datasets
Careers and employability skills embedded into the course, helping you translate analytical and numerical skills into workplace-ready experience

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Financial Economics and Banking BSc from University of Leicester leave with a strong mix of economic insight, financial understanding, and analytical confidence that’s highly valued in today’s banking and finance sector. The degree prepares you for careers across financial services, consultancy, and policy-driven organisations, with many students progressing into roles such as Financial Analyst, Banking Officer, Risk Analyst, or Economic Analyst, supported by Leicester’s strong employability focus, which translates into clear career outcomes:

Careers and Employability Service at Leicester, offering one-to-one career coaching, CV and interview preparation, assessment-centre practice, and employer-led workshops tailored to finance and economics students
Positive graduate outcomes, with finance and economics graduates securing professional roles across banking, financial services, consultancy, and the public sector, alongside competitive UK graduate starting salaries
Employer-relevant learning and industry exposure, with course content shaped by real-world banking systems, financial regulation, and applied economic research
Long-term professional value, as skills in financial analysis, risk evaluation, and economic reasoning remain in demand across global markets and institutions
Strong graduation pathways, with alumni working in commercial and investment banks, financial institutions, advisory firms, regulatory bodies, and corporate finance roles

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you’ll be well positioned to progress to postgraduate study such as an MSc in Finance, Banking and Finance, Economics, Financial Economics, Risk Management, or related research-focused programmes at Leicester or other leading universities.