The Benefits of a Financial Trading and Investment Management Degree.

Getting into higher education is something that can open up your career choices to a much wider selection. The simple fact is, that many jobs nowadays require some form of higher education. As a rule, the more training you have, the better opportunities will show themselves. There is a range of careers such as financial trading and investment management that can be lucrative and fulfilling. If learning about different financial markets is something you are interested in pursuing, then getting a degree is a huge stepping stone in that direction.

When searching for a degree, there are a few considerations people usually consider.

• Employment
• Practicality

Of course, you should always make sure you get some joy from the subject area, if not you can find the work tedious. The second consideration regards the opportunities that the degree can offer you during the study and afterwards. The wider the variety of modules, the more choices you will have in the future.

Getting a degree in financial trading is one such degree that can open many doors for you. Here’s why you should consider a degree in financial trading and investment management.

Why You Should Get a Degree in Financial Trading

To give a brief summary of each, financial trading is the buying and selling of financial assets, while investment management is the holding of financial assets, and devising strategies for acquiring and disposing of portfolio holdings.

Trading finances is a unique skill that can take years of practice. Once achieved, it can offer you greater financial freedom than ever before. It can help you pursue trading as a career, and will help you with your personal investments.

As stated previously, a degree can really broaden your horizons and offer you new opportunities. Completing a course in financial trading will help you to understand key principles based on trading and investment. These key understandings can make you more desirable as an employee. As well as this, many businesses require you to have a degree in the correct field before applying.

Technology is certainly developing further and further regarding assisting with trading. AI has a strong influence on financial trading and the business world. However, the need for a finance and investment expert remains.

Financial trading and investment management degrees can give you a firm understanding of financial markets. Skills like accounting, wealth management, financial planning, and investment banking can make you a key aspect of any competitive business environment.

Starting a Degree in Financial Trading and Investment Management

As with any degree, there is a lot involved in achieving that goal. The first hurdle to get over is the entry requirements for the course. Entry requirements typically come in the form of UCAS points and can vary from university to university. UCAS points usually must come from A-Levels or equivalent BTEC qualifications.

For instance, if you were to look at the entry requirements for Sheffield business school at Sheffield Hallam University, you need a total of at least 112 UCAS. You will also need.

• 64 points from 2 A-Levels
• BBC at A-Level
• DMM in an Extended Diploma
• A combination of qualifications from AS Levels, EPQ, and general studies
• GCSE English Language and Maths at Grade C or above.

If you can meet the requirements for entry, you should also carefully consider other factors such as tuition fee requirements. Tuition fees are usually around £9-£10K per academic year. Student loans can cover this as well as offer a maintenance loan to help with living costs.

Where To Study

If you have studied well and built-up lots of UCAS points, you’ll find that there are many more options available to you. Many universities offer state-of-the-art facilities and technologies to help you achieve the highest possible standard. Before deciding, you should go have a look at your favourite choices beforehand. That’s where open days come in.

An open day is a perfect opportunity to visit a university of your choice. You will be shown around the premises and get introduced to your tutors and lecturers. Make the most of these as they are a chance to see if the university is the right supportive environment for you.

What Is Involved

The course is over a 3–4 year period. If you want to spend a year on placement, then it will be a 4-year course, otherwise, 3 years is standard. Courses are designed to cover a variety of different modules to broaden your skill set. Below is a list of some of the modules for Financial Trading and Investment Management at Sheffield Hallam University.

Year 1

• Accounting
• Asset Classes
• Economics
• Investment Theory Management and Measurement
• Quantitative Methods

Year 2

• Employability Skills for Financial Services
• Ethics and Investment Professionalism
• Financial Market and Institutions
• Financial Trading
• Legal Concepts

Year 3

• Optional placement year

Year 4

• Client Advice
• International Derivatives Risk
• Taxation in the UK
• The Regulation of Financial Markets and Institutions
• Trading and Investment Management Project

During the second year, you will also have opportunities to devise and implement trading strategies. The modules are designed around a set of key finance principles, covering a wide, yet concise subject area that will lead you down the path of finance.

The third year is the optional placement year. This is a great opportunity for work placement, giving you real-world experience in a job role that suits you. The work placement usually takes place in London if you apply for Sheffield Hallam University, along with the second year of the course. However, the course is world collaborating, and students have been able to apply to placements around the globe in previous years.

Make use of the networking opportunities this course offers as you work, as this will help provide you with the best chance at getting work once your course is completed.

Careers

After completing a course, you might want to take a short break. But if you are looking to get straight into work, then there are a variety of jobs that people go into. Some examples are:

• Investment Management
• Financial Trading
• Investment Banking
• Wealth Management and Financial Planning

Given the course title and description, it’s no surprise that Financial Trading and Investment Management are common career choices.

Conclusion

Getting a degree is a smart decision for those seeking better career opportunities. Many businesses nowadays may require a degree or/and a year of experience. The more experience you have, the better your chances will be. The finance industry can be a competitive market, so going in with as much experience as possible can help you achieve higher pay and beat out the competition.