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Financial Services (Year 2 Direct Entry) HND

(SCQF level 8)

Accounting and Finance, Education and Humanities

Mode of Study

Full-time

Start Date

25th Aug 2025, 2 years

Location

City Campus

  • Applications from International Students Welcome
    •

    Overview

    This HND year 2 is a continuation from the HNC course and is designed to provide you with the key competencies required by anyone entering the Financial Services Industry as a trainee, or at a technical level, or for anyone already working in such a position but wishing to lay the foundation of a professional career. 

    It develops your understanding in areas such as Pensions, Insurance and Investments. 

    Further details of the topics covered are provided in the section “What you Study” below. 

    Why Choose City of Glasgow College?

    City of Glasgow College is a next-generation college.  Our Campuses at City and Riverside have been meticulously designed to offer superb opportunities to our students and to meet and adapt to the changing needs of future generations. This future-proofing complements the vast open and inspiring learning and teaching environment.  Here are just a few reasons why you should make City your first choice:

    • We have designed our curriculum to develop the technical skills of students and it is closely aligned with industry requirements, meaning our graduates can successfully transition from their course into employment. 
    • Our Financial Services curriculum has been recognised by the industry in Scotland as we won the 2019 Pioneer Award as a result of our industry engagement and teaching content. 
    • We support our students in a classroom environment encouraging student engagement and improving attainment.
    • Over 90% of our successful students progress directly to further learning, apprenticeships, or employment. 
    • All of our students have a named Academic Advisor who can provide advice, support and signposting in key areas, such as:
      • Opportunities to discuss your academic progress.
      • Encouragement and an informed view with ways to enhance your academic studies.
      • Planned workshops from the student services team on a range of areas including finance and funding, careers information, help to be a class rep etc. You can suggest to your Academic Advisor workshops and talks that would benefit you.
      • A reliable point of contact throughout your studies, enabling you to make the most of your time at the college.

    Make City of Glasgow College your first choice for a world-class education.

    Entry requirements

    Minimum entry requirements

    • Successful completion of a full-time HNC Financial Services with 15 credits and a positive reference from your lecturer.  

    Additional selection requirements

    You'll be invited for a group and/or individual interview where you can find out more about the course and tell us why you're interested in this subject area or we'll make an offer based on your application form.

    ESOL entry requirements

    Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.

    What you study

    • Investment.
    • Principles of Insurance.
    • Pension Provision.
    • Financial Services Regulatory Framework.
    • Income Tax.
    • Statistics for Business.
    • Economics 1:  Micro and Macro Theory and Application.
    • Treasury Management.
    • Personal Enterprise Skills.
    • Preparing Financial Forecasts.
    • Personal and Business Lending.

    After the course

    Careers

    The course is for those wishing to work in an administrative, sales, customer support or technical support role within the Finance Industry.

    There are various employment opportunities, including working in banking, building societies, pension funds, investment companies, insurance, unit trusts, stock market operations, life and pensions, asset management and intermediation.

    Continuing Study

    Successful completion of HND Financial Services will enable students to apply directly to year 3 of some university courses in Finance, such as:

    • BA Finance, Investment and Risk at GCU, Glasgow 
    • BA Financial Services at Edinburgh Napier
    • BA Business Management with Finance at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh 

    If you intend to progress to a degree course or apply for professional bodies’ exemptions, you are advised to liaise directly with the university/professional body concerned.

    Teaching

    How the course is taught

    The course will be delivered by blended learning with up to one day per week being taught online and up to two days per week being taught in college (subject to and operating within any Scottish Government Covid-19 operating procedures).   You are timetabled for approximately 16 hours per week and an additional 16 hours should be allowed for studying out with class time in order to be successful. 

    You will complete practical assignments based on a variety of case studies. There will also be an element of report writing to demonstrate the ability to explain and analyse information. 

    You will be required to use IT to complete some of the units. You should ensure that you possess a basic level of IT in Microsoft Office including Word and Excel. 

    For online learning, you will require access to a device and Wifi. You will also be accessing learning resources on our virtual learning environment called Canvas.

    • Mode of Study:
      Full-time
    • Start Date:
      25th Aug 2025, 2 years
    • Location:
      City Campus
    • Applications from International Students Welcome