Finance, Investment & Risk Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Are you interested in how money and finance 'work'? Do you want to use that knowledge to make a difference for individuals, businesses, and wider society?

With our BA (Hons) Finance, Investment and Risk degree, you’ll develop in-demand skills and expertise across finance and financial services. You’ll get to grips with how finance can affect local and global economies, and how it can impact all aspects of our lives.

You’ll study topics including:

* personal finance

* corporate finance and investment

* banking

* technology and international finance

* risk

* sustainable finance.

Working in our industry-standard Bloomberg Lab, you’ll learn how to use the world’s leading information platform for global business, and have access to real-time financial data. You’ll hear from employers and professional bodies during guest lectures and networking events, and build important professional networks.

Our close connections with industry, such as our relationships with Barclays and the Chartered Insurance Institute, ensures our course always reflects the latest developments in this fast-paced and innovative field. We work with employers to deliver what they need, and give you valuable opportunities to gain a competitive edge.

Why choose this course?

* Access the world’s leading platform for real-time global business and finance news, data, analytical tools, and research – the Bloomberg Finance Lab.

* Our course is one of the few in the UK focusing specifically on careers in the financial services industry, a major UK employer.

* Engage with high-profile guest lecturers from top organisations such as Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Argyle Consulting, Scottish Building Society, and Glasgow Credit Union.

* Bringing together research and professional experience, our staff ensure the course is always up to date with the latest ideas and innovations.

* Benefit from employer-sponsored prizes and free student membership of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) on this accredited course.

Careers

The UK government is aiming to become the world’s most innovative full-service financial centre by 2035. This means there are exciting opportunities ahead for Finance, Investment and Risk graduates.

Glasgow is recognised as one of the UK and Europe’s leading financial centres, ranking 43rd globally and 15th in Western Europe in the 2026 *Global Financial Centres Index*, reflecting its international reputation and competitiveness. With major global firms such as Barclays, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, and JP Morgan having significant operations in the city, Glasgow continues to strengthen its position as a dynamic hub for financial services talent, innovation, and investment.

Studying at GCU means gaining your finance education in one of Europe’s fastest‑rising financial centres, giving you direct access to a thriving hub of employers, industry opportunities, and career‑relevant networks.

At GCU, you’ll be based near the centre of one of the UK’s most successful financial services clusters: Glasgow’s International Financial Services District (IFSD). You’ll also benefit from being exposed to the activity of Fintech Scotland – the second largest fintech cluster in the UK, with more than 250 fintech firms – as well as our proximity to Edinburgh, ranked 28th in the 2026 *Global Financial Centres Index*.

Past GCU students have secured jobs at:

* Tesco Bank

* Morgan Stanley

* The Financial Conduct Authority

* Royal Bank of Scotland

* Virgin Money

* Standard Life

* Barclays Investment Bank

* Santander UK

* Capco

* EY (Ernst & Young)

* BlackRock.