Description
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, such as investment banking, portfolio management, corporate finance, treasury, and consultancy. It provides a thorough grounding in areas such as the financing of companies and other organisations, instruments and structures of financial markets, financial decision-making, valuation, mergers and acquisitions, and financial reporting. It develops competences in applying statistical and econometric techniques, and equips you with knowledge of the fundamentals of Islamic finance, ethics as well as corporate financial strategy and governance. 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 year by completing a dissertation module.
Planning your studies
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 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.
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 and employability
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.
Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 120 credits with:
60 credits from the following:
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules B858, B859.
plus 30 credits from the following:
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module B860.
plus 30 credits from either of the following:
Optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Investment and portfolio management (B818) NEW
This module explores the main participants and their objectives in the major investment markets. Topics include bonds, equities, derivatives, portfolio optimisation, performance measurement, ethical investment, taxation, and behavioural biases.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Derivatives and risk management (B819) NEW
This module explores financial risks, including interest rate and foreign exchange risk, and how they are managed by using derivatives like futures, swaps and options.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules B861, B862.
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.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you’ve successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study or elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study. You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
On completion
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Postgraduate Diploma in Finance. You'll be entitled to use the letters PG Dip Fin (Open) after your name.
You can progress from this Postgraduate Diploma in Finance to our MSc in Finance (F67).
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification