Finance

Postgraduate Diploma in Finance
This qualification is designed to support professional development and practice in a wide range of roles in finance – whether you are developing in your career or aspiring to enter the sector. It is applicable to roles in areas such as investment banking, portfolio management, corporate finance, treasury, and consultancy. It provides a thorough grounding in areas such as corporate finance, financial decision-making, financial reporting and governance. It develops competences in applying statistical and econometric techniques, and equips you with knowledge of the fundamentals of Islamic and behavioural finance. You can choose to specialise either in derivatives and financial risk management, or in investment and portfolio management.

Key features of the course
• Provides an up-to-date perspective on both theory and practice in national and international contexts
• Learn and apply the most important tools for financial analysis and decision support
• Acquire competencies in statistical and econometric analysis
• Develop your digital literacy skills, research capabilities and critical thinking
• Opens up the opportunity to top up to the MSc in Finance in just one more yearby completing a dissertation module.

Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 120 credits with:
60 credits from the following:
Compulsory modules
• Financial markets and the financing of organisations (B815) NEW 30
Next start: 05 Nov 2022
• Financial strategy: valuation, governance and ethics (B859) 30
Next start: 07 May 2022 FINAL

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module B858.

plus 30 credits from the following:
Compulsory module
• Research methods for finance (B860) 30
Next start: 05 Nov 2022 FINAL

plus 30 credits from either of the following:
Optional modules
• Investment and portfolio management (B861) 30
Next start: 07 May 2022
• Derivatives and risk management (B862) 30
Next start: 07 May 2022

You should note that the University's unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

You must hold a bachelors degree awarded by a recognised UK university or equivalent. Please contact us if you hold a qualification that you believe is an equivalent level to a UK degree to ensure that it meets the requirements for admission.

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 6.5 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.

This diploma requires an aptitude for analytical and quantitative methods to engage with theories of finance and their applications. You should possess a good working knowledge of maths and be confident with spreadsheets. It would be advisable to self-assess your level of maths before registering for this qualification. To help you decide whether you are ready, you may want to try this diagnostic quiz.

1 – 2 years

How long it takes
Most students study this qualification in two years by studying 60 credits a year. The minimum time to complete this qualification is one year. This can be achieved by studying 120 credits in a year, which is the equivalent of full-time study. The maximum time to complete is five years.

Career relevance
This postgraduate qualification offers knowledge in a wide range of finance areas that include the corporate finance function, investments, banking and financial institutions and risk management. You will gain both theoretical and practical insights into the working of financial markets, valuation of securities, understanding financial statements, risk management and portfolio management. You will develop the skills and capabilities required by investment analysts, finance managers, finance directors and chief financial officers. You will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to support decision making at the higher levels of organisations by exploring issues related to ethics and corporate governance, reporting and disclosure, financing and investment in uncertain and global business environments. Prudent practice of finance is relevant across all sectors – public, private and voluntary. This qualification will therefore prepare you to work in the corporate sector, financial services, the banking industry, multinational organisations and other sectors where analytical and decision tools in treasury, investment and financing decisions are required.

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.