'Quality' newspapers such as The Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian and The Independent
Stoakes, C (2011 3rd Edition) All you need to know about the City. Longtail: London (ISBN 978-0-9552186-6-8)
Prince, J B (2012) Building Wealth & Loving It: A Down-to-Earth Guide to Personal Finance and Investing. Wrightbooks (ISBN: 978-1-74216-995-8)
Boatright J R (2007 2nd Edition) Ethics in Finance. Wiley-Blackwell (ISBN 978-1-4051-5599-1)

The University Library and learning resources
BBC news and business web sites
Newspaper web sites
Brochures and booklets published by financial service providers
Electronic data such
Blackboard website

Details -
An individual report (assessing learning outcomes 1 and 2) of not more than 1500 words which requires students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the roles played by organisations within the Financial Services Sector. The report will also require students to show an appreciation of the ethical conflicts, the customer expectations and the problems caused by differing objectives within the sector.

An assignment consisting of several tasks (assessing learning outcomes 3 - 5) of not more than 1500 words which requires the students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the personal finance market and the financial implications of undertaking a course of Higher Education. The assignment will also require the students to analyse the benefits and inherent risks associated with long term personal financing and investing and calculate personal income tax obligations.

The learning strategy for the module requires students to commit 300 learning hours (including assessment). There will be 72 hours of class support and 228 hours of independent and self directed study.

Learning support material will be provided for the module via VLE. Students will be encouraged to undertake their own (contemporary) research into recent events affecting the Financial Services Sector and Personal Finance issues.

The sessions will involve a mixture of tutor led sessions, student centred activities. Formative assessment will involve the students working in groups in a competitive share investment exercise and group presentations

Guest speakers

The content of this module splits into two key areas of the Finance Sector.
1. An introduction to the Financial Services sector and the roles the sector plays.
Retail and Investment Banks, Islamic Banking, the London Stock Exchange, the Financial Services Authority, the Bank of England, Financial Advisers, Pension and Insurance providers are amongst the organisations that will be studied: reference will be made to the moral and legal obligations of these providers, illustrated by recent events within the Financial Services Sector.
2. An introduction into Personal Finance issues including:-.
Managing personal cash flow and budgeting. Long, medium and short term personal finance issues including home loans, credit and debit cards. Student finance issues including student loans. Personal investing, insurance, assurance, annuities, pensions and savings. Concluding with a brief guide to income tax.