Financial Studies Certificate (CeFS)

What does the course involve?

The Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS) teaches students about the financial services industry and how to apply the appropriate solutions available within the evolving financial services marketplace. The qualification will enable you to make informed and confident decisions regarding your personal finances. It will help you to become a responsible borrower and sensible saver, and to have an appreciation of the need for financial planning throughout your life. In the second year we look at the wider implications of finances on our own sustainability and the sustainability of the financial services industry as a whole. We invite guest speakers in to the college to discuss financial services, both from industry and the LIBF and we usually visit the Bank of England in London.

This course is an A Level equivalent and earns UCAS points in the same way as any A Level course.  Upon completion of the CeFS, students can study for a further year to achieve the Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS). The Diploma is also a Level 3 qualification, benchmarked as an A2 equivalent.

Course Outline

There are 4 Mandatory Units:

Year 1
Financial Capability for the Immediate & Short Term
Financial Capability for the Medium & Long Term

Year 2
Sustainability of an Individual’s Finances
Sustainability of the Financial System

Assessment
Students have to pass each of the 4 compulsory units.  Each unit has two papers – one multiple choice paper and one pre-release case study paper. Students are able to re-take each paper once, free of charge, and the highest score counts!

Exam Board
London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF)