- UCAS course code
- N201
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Management
- Typical A-level offer: AAA
- Typical contextual A-level offer: ABB
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBB
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36 points overall with 6,6,6 at HL
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £31,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Additional expenses
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
The Manchester Bursary is available to UK students registered on an undergraduate degree course at Alliance MBS who have had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance England.
In addition, Alliance MBS will award a range of Social Responsibility Scholarships to UK and international/EU students.
These awards are worth £2,000 per year across three years of study. You must achieve AAA at A-level (or equivalent qualification) and be able to demonstrate a significant contribution and commitment to social responsibility.
The School will also award a number of International Stellar Scholarships to international students achieving AAA at A-level (or equivalent qualification). Applicants who exceed AAA and/or have supplementary qualifications (such as EPQ) will receive additional consideration.
Additional eligibility criteria apply - please see our scholarship pages for full details.
Course unit details:
Financial Markets and Institutions
Unit code | BMAN21011 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
This course aims to give students an overview of how financial markets and institutions work. The content includes introduction to the financial system, financial claims, financial intermediaries, banking, financial markets, equity market, bond market, investment, hedge fund, and private equity, and sustainability in finance. By the end of the course, students should be able to explain the roles, structure, and mechanism of the financial system, financial institutions, and financial markets. They will also be able to explain the key concepts such as financial claims, financial intermediation, and financial markets. They will also gain a good understanding of the relevant theories on financial markets and institutions, and explain phenomena such as adverse selection and moral hazard.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Financial Decision Making | BMAN10522 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Fundamentals of Finance | BMAN10552 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Financial Decision Making M | BMAN10522M | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Pre-requisites:
BMAN10522 or BMAN10522(M) Financial Decision Making or BMAN10552 Fundamentals of Finance
(BMAN10552 Fundamentals of Finance must be passed at 60% or more).
Pre-requisite course units have to be passed by 40% or above at the first attempt unless a higher percentage is indicated within this course outline.
Co-requisites: None
Dependent course units: None
Aims
This course aims to help students to understand how financial markets and institutions work. It involves the essential concepts and principles of the financial system. It explains the mechanism of the financial institutions and financial markets, their roles in the economy, and how they interact with each other. The course also covers common types of financial instruments, financial intermediary, and financial markets.
Learning outcomes
The course will enable the students to understand the financial systems, financial institutions, financial markets, and financial securities. A good understanding of these is essential for any job in the financial sector.
Syllabus
(Provisional) Introduction to the financial system, financial claims, financial intermediaries, banking, financial markets, equity market, bond market, investment, hedge fund, and private equity, and sustainability in finance.
Teaching and learning methods
We will deliver the course unit through a combination of lectures and workshops. Quiz questions will be made available after each week’s lecture for revision. There will be 9 lectures and 4 workshops. We expect students to complete the workshop question sets before each workshop. This is important because the workshop leaders will only have time in the sessions to cover the answers instead of allowing time for students to attempt the questions on site.
An online forum will be made available to facilitate interaction among students. In the forum, student can also ask questions to staff. We encourage students to actively participate in the online learning community by asking questions and providing comments.
Total study hours: 100 hours split between studying asynchronous course materials, lecture meetings, workshops, question sets, examinations, and other course-related activities. Participation is compulsory and will be monitored.
Knowledge and understanding
Identify the roles, structures, and mechanisms of financial systems, institutions, and markets.
Describe the relevant theories of financial markets and institutions, such as Efficient Market Hypothesis.
Explain asymmetric information problems such as adverse selection and moral hazard.
Identify the regulatory frameworks and policies that govern financial markets and institutions locally and globally.
Intellectual skills
Synthesise information from multiple sources to develop reasoned arguments about current financial market issues and debates.
Interpret financial instruments and assess their role in portfolio management and financial stability.
Critically analyse the structure, functions, and interrelationships of global financial markets and institutions.
Practical skills
Evaluate research findings on financial markets and institutions using academic, industry, and regulatory sources.
Apply quantitative techniques and financial models to assess the value and performance of financial instruments.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Exercise professional responsibility and ethical judgment in the analysis of financial information.
Communicate complex financial concepts clearly and effectively in both written reports and oral presentations.
Assessment methods
Formative Assessment:
Four workshop question sets containing MCQs and short essays.
Quizzes after lectures
Summative Assessment:
Examination (95%)
MCQs (5%)
Feedback methods
Methods of Feedback to Students
• Informal advice and discussion during a lecture, seminar, workshop or lab.
• Online exercises and quizzes
• Responses to student emails and questions from a member of staff including feedback provided to a group via an online discussion forum.
• Written and/or verbal comments on assessed coursework.
• Generic feedback regarding overall examination performance.
Recommended reading
BMAN21011 students will need two textbooks listed below.
B&T (2016) is more related to the first half and Arnold (2011) more related to the second half of the semester.
Buckle, M. and J. Thompson (2016), The UK Financial System: Theory and Practice. 5th ed., Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Glen Arnold (2011), Modern Financial Markets and Institutions: a Practical Perspective, Harlow: Pearson.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Lectures | 18 |
Seminars | 4 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 78 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Yazhou He | Unit coordinator |
Ning Gao | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Pre-requisites:
BMAN10522 or BMAN10522(M) Financial Decision Making or BMAN10552 Fundamentals of Finance
(BMAN10552 Fundamentals of Finance must be passed at 60% or more).
Pre-requisite course units have to be passed by 40% or above at the first attempt unless a higher percentage is indicated within this course outline.
Co-requisites: None
Dependent course units: None
Programme Restrictions: Optional for BA Econ, BSc Econ, Management, IM, IMABS, IBFE, and Accounting
For Academic Year 2025/26
Updated: March 2025
Approved by: March UG Committee