Finance and Business

Finance and business together give you a dual command of how organisations operate strategically and how the financial analysis that should inform those strategies is actually done. Finance provides the quantitative tools to evaluate investment, manage risk, understand capital markets, and interpret financial statements. Business management provides the organisational and strategic context: how firms compete, how decisions are made, and how functions including marketing, operations, and human resources interact to produce outcomes.

In a globalised economy, understanding the financial implications of strategic choices is central to almost every management role.

At the University of Sussex, this four-year full-time programme includes a professional placement year, giving you a sustained period in industry that deepens your practical understanding of how finance and business work together in real organisations. You will study financial analysis, investment theory, corporate finance, accounting, business strategy, marketing, and organisational behaviour, developing both quantitative and analytical capabilities alongside broader management thinking. A foundation year is available, giving students who need to build their academic grounding access to the full degree programme.

Graduates from finance and business programmes are well placed for roles in corporate finance, financial analysis, management consultancy, banking, investment management, accounting, and general management in organisations of all sizes. The placement year strengthens this by giving you direct professional experience and often leads to employment offers or professional relationships that accelerate your career after graduation. Postgraduate study in finance, business administration, and accounting is a natural progression for those who wish to specialise, and many graduates also pursue professional qualifications in accounting and financial analysis alongside their careers.