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Entry criteria

All students are required to join the ifs School of Finance as a student member when they enrol on an ifs Professional Higher Education programme.

FHEQ Level 4

Entry requirements for the Professional Certificte in Banking (PCertB®) are:

  • a tariff of 300 UCAS points or equivalent, to include at least 1 subject qualification at A2 level or the International Baccalaureate, plus:
    • GCSE Mathematics minimum grade C (or equivalent) and
    • GCSE English Language minimum grade C (or equivalent) or IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.
      OR
  • a UK degree or equivalent, plus:
    • GCSE Mathematics minimum grade C (or equivalent) and
    • GCSE English Langugae minimum grade C (or equivalent) or IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.
      OR
  • successful completion of a programme approved by the ifs for provision of credits at FHEQ Level 4
    • Students should normally hold GCSE Mathematics and English Langugae minimum grade C (or equivalent) or IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5.  Students unable to meet these criteria should contact Student Service, Professional Higher Education.

All students are required to hold:

  • GCSE Mathematics at minimum grade C (or equivalent) and
  • GCSE English Language at minimum grade C (or equivalent) or an IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5

Entry assessment for FHEQ Level 4

Applicants who do not meet the entry criteria for the Professional Certificate in Banking (PCertB®) but do hold the required GCSE or equivalent grades will be required to submit a 500 word statement to enable an assessment to be made of their suitability for the programme. On acceptance of this statement they will be invited to undertake 2 online assessments designed to establish capability in numeracy and verbal reasoning for which a fee will be payable. In some cases an interview may also be held.

FHEQ Level 5

Entry requirements for the Foundation Degree in Banking Practice and Management (FdSc) are:

  • 120 credits at FHEQ Level 4 through completion of the PCertB® or equivalent ifs award
    OR
  • a UK honours degree or equivalent that demonstrates coverage across the PCertB® learning outcomes required at FHEQ Level 4. If awarded more than 7 years before the application to join the programme, evidence that the learning and skills have been maintained must be provided.

Entry requirements for the Professional Diploma in Banking Practice and Management (PDipBPM®) are:

  • 120 credits at FHEQ Level 4 through completion of the PCertB® or equivalent
    OR
  • a UK honours degree or equivalent. If awarded more than 7 years before the application to join the programme, evidence that relevant skills and experience are held to support study must be provided.

Students not progressing from the PCertB® are required to hold:

  • GCSE Mathematics at minimum grade C (or equivalent) and
  • GCSE English Language at minimum grade C (or equivalent) or an IELTS score of 6.5 with no element below 6.0

All students are required to join the ifs School of Finance as a student member when they enrol on an ifs Professional Higher Education programme.

FHEQ Level 6

Entry requirements for the BSc (Hons) in Banking Practice and Management are:

  • 120 credits at FHEQ Level 5 through completion of the Foundation Degree in Banking Practice and Management (FdSc) or the Professional Diploma in Banking Practice and Management (PDipBPM®)
    OR
  • a UK honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline that demonstrates coverage across the FdSc / PDipBPM® learning outcomes. If awarded more than 7 years before the application to join the programme, evidence that the learning and skills have been maintained must be provided.

Students not progressing from the FdSc or PDipBPM® are required to hold:

  • GCSE Mathematics at minimum grade C (or equivalent) and
  • GCSE English Language at minimum grade C (or equivalent) or an IELTS score of 6.5 with no element below 6.0

All students are required to join the ifs School of Finance as a student member when they enrol on an ifs Professional Higher Education programme.

Full-time degree programme

Entry requirements for the full-time BSc (Hons) in Banking Practice and Management are:

  • a tariff of 300 UCAS points gained from A Level and/or AS qualifications or equivalent (eg International Baccalaureate). This can include up to 120 points gained from the ifs CeFS and DipFS qualifications, depending upon the grade of qualification gained.

All students are required to hold:

  • GCSE Mathematics at minimum grade C (or equivalent) and
  • GCSE English Language at minimum grade C (or equivalent) or an IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5

All students are required to join the ifs School of Finance as a student member when they enrol on an ifs Professional Higher Education programme.

Applicants for the full-time BSc (Hons) in Banking Practice and Management may be interviewed and will be required to submit a piece of written work (personal statement) as part of their UCAS application to enable an assessment to be made of their suitability for the programme.

Mature students who do not meet the entry requirements will be required to submit a CV supported by a 500 to 600 word statement indicating why they have chosen to undertake the programme and how it will support their career plans. If invited to progress, a literacy and numeracy assessment will need to be passed and an interview may be held.

FHEQ Level 7

Entry requirements are normally a good degree (normally 2.1 or above) or equivalent (eg professional qualification recognised as being at degree level, such as the ICAEW degree-level qualifications) from a recognised university, and ideally in a related discipline, together with a minimum of 3 years' relevant experience within a financial services institution.

Candidates for whom English is not their first language would be expected to demonstrate competence through achieving an IELTS score of normally 7.0 or above with no element below 6.5.

Applicants may be interviewed and/or required to submit a piece of written work in addition to their application to enable an assessment to be made of their suitability for the programme.

All students are required to hold:

  • GCSE Mathematics at minimum grade C (or equivalent) and
  • GCSE English Language at minimum grade C (or equivalent) or an IELTS score of 7.0 with no element below 6.5

All students are required to join the ifs School of Finance as a student member when they enrol on an ifs Professional Higher Education programme.

Exceptional candidates not possessing these requirements may be considered if they can demonstrate their ability to achieve at this level and contribute to the debates, discussions and work of the learning set.

Chartered Associateship

Eligibility requirements to join the Chartered Associate scheme are:

  • successful completion of an ifs Associateship qualification or the ifs BSc (Hons) in Banking Practice and Management and
  • at least 2 years' relevant work experience within financial services.

On entry to the scheme, and in order to gain Chartered Associate status, applicants will be required to complete 12 months of high quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity that contributes to and sustains previously identified development objectives.

Chartered Associateship is maintained through confirmation of subsequent annual CPD completion.

Chartered Fellowship

Eligibility requirements to join the Chartered Fellow scheme are:

  • successful completion of the ifs MSc in Banking Practice and Management and
  • at least 2 years' relevant work experience within financial services.

On entry to the scheme, and in order to gain Chartered Fellow status, applicants will be required to complete 12 months of high quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity that contributes to and sustains previously identified development objectives.

Chartered Fellowship is maintained through confirmation of subsequent annual CPD completion.