Finance and Management | Top-up

Program Overview

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Finance and Management | Top-up BSc (Hons)

Year of entry

• 2026 - for 2026 entry see here - for 2025 entry see here

UCAS code

• N310

Duration of study

• 1 year

Course summary

Upgrade your achievements and earn a Finance and Management 'top-up' BSc. This one-year top-up undergraduate degree provides the ideal opportunity to enhance your knowledge of both subject areas, preparing you for postgraduate study and maximising your career potential.

Why study Finance and Management | Top-up at Keele University?

• Transform your current qualifications into a 'top-up' undergraduate degree
• Benefit from employability opportunities to apply your skills in a 'real-world' setting
• Study alongside innovative companies in Keele Business School

Course overview

Our Finance and Management Top-up degree provides you with the opportunity to complete the required 120 credits which when added to your existing qualifications amounts to the equivalent of an undergraduate degree.

If you have previously studied finance or business at an international institution or further education college and meet our entry requirements, our programme recognises that existing expertise and allows you to ‘top-up’ your knowledge. Study final year level modules to enhance your range of finance and management knowledge and practical experience, plus benefit from opportunities to engage with different business challenges, developing your confidence.

The programme curriculum focuses on several subject-specific core areas, providing you with a solid foundation. Plus additional optional modules allow you to adapt your studies to specific business themes and interests.

Firstly, you will analyse what makes an effective business strategy, developing your strategic thinking abilities and learning to improve your decision-making skills through reflective practice and the examination of different theories and case studies. Our exciting virtual business simulation game also provides scope to work within groups and put into practice the theory you’re learning, whilst enjoying some healthy competition!

Diverse international business cultures are examined so you can use that global view to inform your understanding of management in a global context. How are international projects managed and what are the potential challenges and risk involved is explored. You’ll discover what issues contemporary management currently faces and how the theory you are studying can be applied within organisations.

You will examine international finance, exploring the foreign exchange market to understand how currencies are traded, and get an introduction to the different theories and models that are used to explain exchange rate behaviour.

Risk management with derivatives is analysed so you can understand the specific techniques that rely on the use of derivative contracts such as options, forwards and futures and you’ll examine the different key factors that this is dependent on.

The different challenges faced by developing countries operating in a global financial system centred around developed countries is evaluated. You'll explore questions such as, what are the development opportunities for these countries, what are the consequences of sovereign debt burden and crises, and how do they access finance?

You’ll consider how the economic and politic landscape has changed since Brexit - the UK’s withdrawal as a member of the European Union (EU) - such as what the pros and cons of Brexit are, and evaluate areas such as the theory around European integration and the prospects for trade relationships between the UK and the EU.

A choice of independent study projects enables you to focus on specific themes such as managing diversity in organisations and developing a new business venture, or you could choose to undertake a consultancy project which will see you working on a ‘real’ project set by a local organisation.

Student support

We have a robust support system in place for our students. You will be allocated an academic mentor at the start of the programme who will review your progress, meet regularly with you, and is contactable by Teams and email. Academics can also provide guidance about specific course modules and all members of the teaching team on this programme are available to see you during office hours, if available, and by appointment.

Student Voice Representatives provide a focus for issues at module and year level.

If English is not your first language, you may be offered language classes, facilities and services by our Language Centre. There are credit bearing modules on English for academic study and you will also have access to one-to-one tutorials for individual help and advice, and to a wealth of resources for self-study and practice.

You can access advice, guidance and one-to-one support from our School's Student Experience and Support Officer who is part of our Faculty's Student Experience and Support Team.

You will also have access to a mixture of advice and support services at Keele including:

• Learning Support and Academic Guidance
• Disability Support and Inclusion
• English Language Unit
• Student Advice at Keele (ASK)
• Student Support Services
• Occupational Health Department

Keele Students' Union also offers support through their sabbatical officers.

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies here at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to business is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for the area and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles. It is also a great way to make friends and share interests with fellow students.

Course structure

Modules for Finance and Management | Top-up

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are subject to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Year 1

Compulsory

• Business Strategy
• International Finance
• Managing International Projects
• Risk Management with Derivatives
• Development Finance
• The Political Economy of Brexit

Optional

• Managing Diversity
• Enterprise Business Plan
• Consultancy
• Academic English for Business Students (1)
• Academic English for Business Students (2)
• Advanced Business English Communication

Additional opportunities

Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities for this course. Please note that undertaking one may impact the availability of another.

Entry requirements

These are the typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If your qualifications aren't listed, please contact us to check if we can accept them. If you don't think you'll meet the stated requirements, you may be able to access this course via a Foundation Year.

Typical offer

Students would need to have completed the equivalent of 240 credits of prior learning in an area relevant to the programme to access Level 6. These may include:

• A relevant HND with a grade of Merit or above.
• A relevant Foundation degree with a score of 50% or above.
• Level 5 of a relevant undergraduate degree with a score of 50% or above.
• An international equivalent to the above.

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide a language test certificate and achieve an IELTS score of 6.0 overall (or equivalent) with no less than 5.5 in any component.

English language requirements

All our courses require an English language qualification or test. Most students meet this through a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please visit our English Language pages for details, including test information for international students. For students who require a test, this course requires a result from Group A.

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. We offer alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying in the Keele region, and recognition of a range of additional qualifications.

General information

The entry grades outlined indicate the typical offer, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary conditions based upon a candidate's application.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year

• UK: £9,535 for the 2025/6 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval).
• International: Band 1, £17,700 for the 2025/26 academic year

Please note, our 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set. We set our fees on an annual basis and they will be updated here once set.

For Home students, the University's fees are regulated by the UK Government and may be subject to change in subsequent years of your course in-line with government policy or legal requirements. For continuing international students, fees will increase annually by RPI, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.

For details of our international fee bands visit our Undergraduate tuition fees page.

Going to university can be daunting as well as exciting. It's important to understand the costs and financial support available.

Our Student Financial Support team offers confidential advice and guidance to help you manage your money, resolve issues with Student Finance, create a budget, explore your options if you're facing financial hardship, and access any funding you are eligible for, such as bursaries and scholarships.

Your future career

Keele’s Careers and Employability team offers a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability. From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

Find out more about Careers and Employability Support at Keele

Your future career

You will gain a wealth of transferable skills on our Finance and Management Top-up BSc programme enabling you to enjoy career success in a wide range of sectors and industries.

Jobs that a graduate of this course could go on to do:

• Business Adviser
• Business Analyst
• Business Development Manager
• Chartered Management Accountant
• Data Analyst
• Data Scientist
• Financial Trader
• Insurance Broker
• Investment Analyst
• Investment Banker
• Logistics/Supply Chain Manager
• Management Consultant
• Project Manager
• Risk Manager
• Sales Executive

Previous Keele Business School graduates have gone on to work for:

• Avecto
• B&Q
• Bet365
• Capita
• Enterprise Rent a Car
• Lloyds Bank
• Morrisons
• Santander
• Nationwide Building Society
• Bennett Brookes
• Ascot Business Solutions Ltd
• Ford
• Jaguar Landrover
• Jack Wills
• Mercedes Benz
• NHS
• PwC
• UK Fuels
• Barclays Bank
• Allianz Insurance
• Corona
• Local Government
• Sparta Global
• Dow Jones
• Capita
• HMRC
• Ernst and Young
• National Trust

Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching

We use different teaching and learning techniques depending on the specific module. These methods may include:

• Lectures
• Tutor-led seminars
• Problem-based tutorials
• Practical, computer laboratory-based classes
• Directed independent study
• Web based self-study via Keele University’s virtual learning environment (KLE)

Assessments

You will be assessed by a variety of methods which reflect the broad range of skills and knowledge you will develop on this programme. Such methods may include:

• Essays
• In-class tests and final examinations
• Individual and group presentations
• Individual and group reports
• Portfolios
• Dissertation

Program Outline

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Program Extraction: Finance and Management Top-up at Keele University

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Degree Overview:

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Overview:

The Finance and Management Top-up BSc program at Keele University is a one-year intensive program designed for individuals who want to upgrade their qualifications in finance and management. The program focuses on providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue postgraduate studies or advance their careers in these fields.

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Objectives:

The program aims to:

• Enhance students' understanding of finance and management concepts.
• Develop students' analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Equip students with the necessary skills to apply theoretical knowledge to practical business situations.
• Prepare students for further academic or professional pursuits.

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Description:

The program offers a comprehensive curriculum covering various aspects of finance and management, including:

• Business strategy
• International finance
• Managing international projects
• Risk management
• Development finance
• The political economy of Brexit
Students will also be able to choose from a variety of optional modules to tailor their studies to their specific interests.

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Outline:

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Program Content:

The program consists of 120 credits, divided into compulsory and optional modules. The compulsory modules cover the core areas of finance and management, while the optional modules allow students to focus on specific areas of interest.

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Structure:

The program is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and independent study. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and participate actively in discussions and group work.

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Course Schedule:

The program typically starts in September and runs for one academic year.

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Modules:

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Compulsory Modules:

• Business Strategy
• International Finance
• Managing International Projects
• Risk Management with Derivatives
• Development Finance
• The Political Economy of Brexit

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Optional Modules:

• Managing Diversity
• Enterprise Business Plan
• Consultancy
• Academic English for Business Students (1 & 2)
• Advanced Business English Communication

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Assessment:

Students will be assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Essays
• In-class tests and final examinations
• Individual and group presentations
• Individual and group reports
• Portfolios
• Dissertation

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Teaching:

The program is taught by experienced academics and practitioners who are experts in their fields. The teaching methods are designed to be interactive and engaging, with a focus on student participation and active learning. Students will have access to a range of resources, including a virtual learning environment, to support their studies.

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Careers:

The program prepares graduates for a variety of careers in finance, management, and related fields. Some potential job titles include:

• Business Analyst
• Business Development Manager
• Chartered Management Accountant
• Data Analyst
• Financial Analyst
• Investment Banker
• Management Consultant
• Project Manager
• Risk Manager
• Sales Executive

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Other:

• The program is designed to be flexible and can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.
The campus is located in a beautiful rural setting and offers a wide range of facilities, including libraries, sports centers, and student accommodation.

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Tuition fees for 2024/25 academic year UK: £9250 International: Band 4, £21,900 for the 2024/25 academic year