| In the UK, the financial services industry primarily | | | | other bank account operations and the role of |
| encompasses banks, insurance providers and | | | | banks in the economy. The latter will equip the |
| credit card companies - as well as accountancy | | | | student with skills which can be attributed to all |
| firms and advisory services such as stock | | | | industries, such as verbal and written |
| brokers. It is perhaps unsurprising that as a | | | | communication, numerical analysis, and other |
| subject of study, financial services is broad and | | | | specifics such as time management and team |
| far-reaching, and is a valuable addition to the | | | | building exercises. |
| knowledge and skills base needed by anyone | | | | Many financial services courses will offer optional |
| eager to pursue a career in the industry - even if | | | | modules whereby students will be able to choose |
| they are not entirely sure with which niche their | | | | specialist subjects to study alongside those that |
| strengths lie, or what they enjoy the most. | | | | make up the core parts of the course. These will |
| So what does a financial services foundation | | | | go into more detailed areas of the finance |
| degree teach you? | | | | industry, such as mortgages and principles of |
| One of the first core objectives will be to | | | | insurance. Mortgage advice, for example, is a |
| introduce students to the workings of the varying | | | | multi-faceted subject in itself - and a number of |
| types of financial institutions and markets - and | | | | products (such as buy-to-let) need to be studied |
| their role and importance within the economy on | | | | to understand their differences. The same goes |
| a wider scale. It is important for anyone with an | | | | for insurance - and such modules are in place for |
| interest in the financial services to start to | | | | students to go into more depth into their chosen |
| understand the rules and laws that govern and | | | | niches. |
| control these organizations - and the structures in | | | | A career in the financial services industry will likely |
| place to regulate them - from the outset. | | | | be challenging and rewarding. Studying the subject |
| It is also likely that any financial services course | | | | at foundation degree level will not only prepare |
| will involve at least an introductory module to the | | | | you with a range of skills that can be utilized |
| basic principles of banking, as well as the core | | | | across the industry, but will also give you a |
| business skills that are needed within the industry. | | | | chance to hone you specific area of interest - |
| The former will likely be in place to ensure all | | | | even if you are not fully sure which avenue you |
| students are familiar with loans and credit and | | | | want to take before your studies. |