Bradford College

Course Overview

The Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) will enable you to develop and further the knowledge and skills gained by achieving the Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS) to the wider financial environment. It will also enhance your financial capability by helping you understand issues from perspectives beyond your own; including that of the providers of financial services, and to appreciate the consequences of decisions and their impact upon personal financial footprints.

The Diploma in Financial Studies (Dip FS) follows on from the IFS level 3 Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS) and applies what you have learnt to the broader financial environment. The financial planning element, introduced in CeFS, is explored further as you become more aware of the (financial) environment within which you live.

You must successfully complete the Certificate in Financial Studies before you begin the Diploma in Financial Studies.
 

Course Structure

This qualification can provide a route to Higher Education and to a career in financial services. Together the Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS) and Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) can provide up to 120 UCAS points.

The Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) consists of three Units:
Unit 1: Financing the Future (FTF)
Unit 2: Financial Services from the Providers' Perspective (TPP)
Unit 3: Enhancing Financial Capability (EFC)
A Pass must be achieved in all three Units to gain the qualification. You will receive two registrations for each Unit to allow you to potentially improve your grade.

On completion of this qualification you will be able to:
• understand the need for personal budgeting and be able to create and monitor an appropriate personal finance plan
• understand the financial product types and mixes available to the individual and assess their suitability and affordability to support a personal financial plan and changing personal circumstances
• understand the wider financial environment , its key impacting factors and its application to a variety of different groups of people from a range of cultures, different socio-economic groupings and at different stages in their lifecycle
• appreciate a financial provider's prospective and their aims and objectives
• understand how providers develop products to suit different customers and be able to analyse this
• develop an understanding of promotional products, including the more complex products such as pensions and investments, how they will suit different individual needs, wants and aspirations and how providers retain and attract customers
• appreciate the factors that will influence and change the financial marketplace such as ethical considerations
• explain the benefits of an efficient and effective financial services industry .
 

Entry Requirements

For entry onto the Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS), you must have studied and achieved a Pass in the Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS).

You should be aware that the level of achievement required to obtain the Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) is equivalent to that of GCE level/A2 Level qualifications. You need to be satisfied of your ability to study, in English, at this level.
 

How Will I Learn?

Students will be provided with numerous support material including:
• Specialist Business/Finance qualified teaching staff
• Online access to learning materials, my ifslearning and ifs Knowledgebank (virtual library)
• Online activities to help consolidate their learning
• Unit syllabuses
• Worksheets for each Unit
• Revision guide
• Specimen papers
• Feedback on objective tests. 

Skills You Will Develop

The qualification will enable you to make informed and confident decisions regarding your finances. It will help you to become a responsible borrower, a sensible saver and have an appreciation of the need for financial planning throughout your life.

Benefits

This course is particularly useful if you are interested in working in the financial services industry. However, it is also of benefit if you want to go to university or just want to take control of your own financial situation. The qualification is equivalent to an A2 Level and, as such, attracts the same UCAS points.

This qualification can provide a route to higher education and to a career in financial services. Together the Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS) and the Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) can provide up to 120 UCAS points.
 

Expect Also To

You should also expect to use:
• Business books to help you with your studies
• Computers in classes and to produce your assignments
• The internet to obtain information for your course
• Reference books in the library to research material for your course
• Word-processing and spreadsheets.
 

How You Will Be Assessed

• FTF and TPP can be assessed either by a paper-based examination or via the ifs e-test™ electronic testing system. EFC is assessed by a paper-based examination
• Financing the Future (FTF) will be assessed by a single 75-minute objective test and will comprise 42 one-mark questions: seven are stand-alone questions and 35 questions are based on seven case studies each with five associated questions. To pass Financing the Future (FTF), you must achieve at least 21 out of 42 marks
• Financial Services from the Providers' Perspective (TPP) will be assessed by a single 75-minute objective test and will comprise 42 one-mark questions: 21 are stand-alone questions and 21 questions are based on three case studies each with seven associated questions. To pass Financial Services from the Providers' Perspective (TPP), students must achieve at least 21 out of 32 marks
• Enhancing Financial Capability (EFC) is a single paper-based written examination based on pre-released case study material. Students are required to answer one question from a choice of two. To pass Enhancing Financial Capability (EFC), you must achieve at least 10 out of 40 marks. Please note that EFC is a paper-based examination and is held on set dates each year
• To achieve the qualification, you will be required to achieve a pass of 50% in both FTF and TPP and 25% in EFC. A minimum of 40% overall is required to pass the qualification. The overall grade bands (out of a total of 124 marks, across the three Units) are decided at a grade award meeting held after each Unit 3 examination session.

Things You May Need

• A non-programmable calculator is essential to the course
• A course folder will be provided by the IFS School of Finance upon registration for the qualification
• Your lecturer will supply all reading material and you will have access to online learning material throughout your studies.