KS 5 - FINANCIAL STUDIES

These innovative courses provide an excellent introduction to the banking and finance industry.  They are offered by the Institute of Financial Services (ifs), the training arm of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. CeFS is a stand-alone AS equivalent course usually taken in Year 12. Students may, if they wish, continue into Year 13 by taking the A2 equivalent DipFS course.

The first 2 units of each course are multiple choice and the third unit is a written examination based on a case study. Students must pass each unit at either their first or second attempt in order to continue the course.

CeFS

• The CeFS course helps students to develop an understanding of financial needs and an awareness of risk and reward

DipFS

• The DipFS puts the CeFS studies in its broader context, with an examination of the financial services industry
  
• The course looks at personal financial planning, and the industry from the providers’ perspective.

Course Books and Equipment

• The course material is all available on line. Students are given access to the ifs website, with their own log in and password. This allows them to access the online study materials for the whole course
• Planner, pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, calculator

Events and Visits

• Financial services providers, whenever possible.

Key dates

• Examinations for units 1 and 2 usually take place in December and March
• Unit 3 of each course is examined in mid-May and again in early July (For 2008, 13 May 2008 and 1 July 2008.)