Finance
Graduate Diploma
Developed by academics at LSE, this diploma provides a strong grounding in the principles of finance and helps you to develop critical skills for a wide range of real world professional situations.
It is designed for graduates looking for either a standalone qualification in finance or a foundation for postgraduate study in finance-related fields.
Study this course at a Teaching Centre near you
You can receive local support from a local teaching centre, use the dropdown to find your nearest centre.
Studying this programme, you will:
- understand several of the major contexts within which banking operates.
- understand and critically evaluate, current and major alternative technical languages and practices of banking and finance.
- manipulate financial and other numerical data and apply mathematical and statistical concepts.
- the principles of business information systems management.
- analyse business activities and perform financial analyses and projections in appropriate contexts of planning, decision making and recognise the limitations of these techniques.
- understand the pricing of financial assets and why and how corporations issue various types of assets.
- understand financial management, risk and the operation of financial markets, based on critical evaluation of theories and empirical evidence.
Programme details
Programme structure, courses and specification
You complete four full courses (or equivalent) to complete the diploma.
How you study
Study at a Recognised Teaching Centre
This programme is only available to study at a Recognised Teaching Centre and cannot be studied independently.
If you prefer to study independently, a selection of programmes with academic direction from the London School of Economics are available to study fully supported online.
Study materials
We will send you study materials developed by academics appointed by LSE. These include a Programme Handbook of practical information (such as how to enter exams); and past exam papers and commentaries, which give you valuable tips for performing well in exams.
Online support
When you register, we will give you access to your Student Portal. You can then access your University of London email account and other key resources:
- The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Here, you can access electronic copies of all printed study materials, resources including audio-visual and revision guides, and forums to discuss course material and work collaboratively with others.
- The Online Library holds thousands of journal articles which you can access free of charge. A dedicated helpdesk is available if you have any difficulties in finding what you need.
Student Support
We are committed to delivering an exceptional student experience for all of our students, regardless of which of our programmes you are studying and whether you are studying independently or with a Recognised Teaching Centre.
You will have access to support through:
- The Student Advice Centre – provides support for application and Student Portal queries.
- TalkCampus – a peer support service that offers a safe and confidential way to talk about whatever is on your mind at any time of day or night.
Assessment
Each module is assessed by an unseen written exam, which is usually held in May or June. You can sit your exams at any approved centre around the world. These centres charge a fee for hosting the exams.
Your exam is set and assessed by academics at LSE, ensuring that your degree is of the same standard as those studying on-campus in London.
Entry requirements
To be eligible for this Graduate Diploma programme you must have one of the following:
- an acceptable bachelor’s degree;
- an acceptable master’s degree (or any other appropriately accredited Level 7 award) provided this is at least 1 year full time in duration;
- an acceptable Level 5 or Level 6 award (such as an HND or Graduate Certificate) provided this is at least 1 year full time in duration. In addition applicants must submit evidence of at least 2 years relevant work experience.
Plus:
- GCSE Mathematics (Grade A – C) or equivalent.
English Language requirements
You need to demonstrate a good level of English to be admitted to our programmes. We accept a range of evidence, including proficiency test scores. If you don’t have evidence but believe you can meet the standard, we may consider your case.
Do I meet the language requirements?
Computer requirements
We set minimum basic computer requirements because your study resources are accessed via the Student Portal and it is vital that you can access this regularly. For this degree, you will also need Adobe Flash Player to view video material and a media player (such as VLC) to play video files.
Fees
The fees below relate to new students registering for the 2022-2023 session, and are effective from 25 January 2022. These may be increased by up to 7% per annum.
Disclaimer: Currency conversion tool
*The online examination administration fee is charged for each examination paper held online, including resits. This does not apply to any coursework submissions. This fee will be charged at the point of exam entry and is in addition to the exam entry fee listed above.
Additional Costs
You will also need to budget for:
- Textbooks (could extend to around £300 per year)
- Teaching centre tuition costs
- Exam centre fees, which are paid directly to the venues where you sit your exams.
We accept most traditional payment methods, including debit/credit card, international money order, and Western Union.
Please note: all student fees shown are net of any local VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any other sales tax payable by the student in their country of residence. Where the University is required to add VAT, GST or any other sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the fees shown during the payment process. For students resident in the UK, our fees are exempt from VAT.
Further information on Sales Tax
Your payment provider may apply additional transaction fees (if in doubt, please check with them before making a payment).
Further information about fee payment options can be found in the “How to pay your fees” link above.
How you apply
This programme is only available to study at a Recognised Teaching Centre and cannot be studied independently. Before you apply for this programme with University of London, you should contact your Recognised Teaching Centre of choice for advice on application/admission requirements, including any additional requirements that the teaching centre might have.
Once the Recognised Teaching Centre is happy to offer you a place in principle, they will provide you with an Application Validation Code (AVC) to be used to complete your University of London application. Please remember that any Recognised Teaching Centre offer is subject to formal University of London approval. This will be in the form of you receiving an offer from your University of London application. Your Recognised Teaching Centre can contact University of London on your behalf for eligibility advice, prior to you submitting a formal online application.
Career opportunities
This diploma will help to prepare you for careers in accountancy, finance, auditing or management if your first degree is in a different field. It could also help you gain entry to master’s programmes in these fields.
Graduate diplomas will help you to question and analyse information, develop arguments, and boost your analytical and communication skills – all of which are valued by a broad range of employers.
What do employers think of our graduates?
In some countries, qualifications earned by distance and flexible learning may not be recognised by certain authorities or regulators for the purposes of public sector employment or further study. We advise you to explore the local recognition status before you register, even if you plan to receive support from a local teaching institution.
Academic leadership
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) provides academic direction for this programme. LSE is regarded as an international centre of academic excellence and innovation in the social sciences.
Academic co-ordinator
Dr Vicente Cuñat is Associate Professor in the Department of Finance at LSE. A former winner of the Young Economist Award, he began his studies at the University of Valencia in Spain before undertaking doctoral research at LSE. Dr Cuñat’s research interests include corporate finance, applied theory and econometrics and labour economics.
Funding your study
Without the cost of moving to London, studying for your University of London diploma anywhere in the world represents excellent value for money. However, there may be additional sources of support depending on where you live.
LSE Summer School
About the LSE Summer School
LSE’s Summer School is the most well-established and the largest of its kind in the whole of Europe, with over 80 academically rigorous courses on offer. Each year over 6,000 students from 120 nations study at the LSE campus in the heart of Central London.
Courses are taught by LSE faculty and complement the content of this degree. If you complete two Summer School courses you may be able to earn credit equivalent to one course on the degree. As a student on this programme you will receive a 15% discount on tuition fees to attend the LSE Summer School.
Full details and how to apply are available on the LSE Summer School website.
