finance personal statement bsc

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Accounting and Finance Personal Statement (Hoi Lee Yang)

Hoi Lee Yang is currently studying Bsc Accounting and Finance at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and is graduating in 2021. This personal statement was part of his successful application to LSE, University of Warwick, University of Bristol and Durham University for Accounting and Finance.

As a child, I was enamoured with the same questions that would have plagued any questioning child’s mind. Like any aspiring engineer or doctor or lawyer, I yearned to know more about how the world, in all its intricacy and sophistication, functioned. I savoured my opportunities to learn about the breakthroughs of physics in creating our modern comforts, and relished the study of history: of how every nascent today is inextricably linked to past events. I have been thrilled by the knowledge of anatomy, learning so intently about what I was, and how I functioned. Despite all this, the world appeared insistent in showing me that the true key to understanding its machinations lay not in any of these fields. The surest way to make sense of the world, it seemed, was in a certain field without which all human activity would not function. It manages us, as much as we try to manage it: money.

I am interested in accounting and finance due to its sheer ubiquity. I realise that every economic entity, from the big corporations and governments down to local sundry shops or even households, relies on the management of finances and planning for the best future outcome. Accounting has always been a deep-rooted industry, charting a colourful history from the clay envelopes used for bookkeeping in 5000 BC Mesopotamian temples, to the double-entry ledgers of Medieval Venice. Regardless of what general perception might contend, though, I am convinced the field of accounting is also one of growth and vibrancy. Looking to the recent proliferation of financial technology, or Fintech, I am particularly keen to follow the advances in the field as I make my journey into accounting at university.

March 2017 saw HSBC, Europe’s largest bank, partner up with an online commerce platform, Tradeshift, to offer an online alternative for financing and paperwork. This is part of a broader phenomenon of big finance companies collaborating with Fintech startups not just in the UK, but around the world. On the ground, we see the business world evolve, just as it did when manufacturing first took root in the Industrial Revolution. A KFC outlet in Beijing now accepts payment through facial recognition, and the Singapore government is working on a standardised QR code system for all monetary transactions. Bitcoin, despite price volatility and initial hostility from banks had, by the end of August 2017, octupled its market value in a year, pointing to its increasing use as a medium of transaction. Other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Litecoin also follow suit. At university, I am eager to refine my knowledge of the current framework of finance, and alongside a group of equally-curious peers, enrich myself with a better understanding of how the status quo will adapt to these technological advances.

I am drawn to accounting and finance due to the promise of challenge, not only arithmetically but also in tackling complex problems. A-Levels also marked my first exposure to the world of Economics, allowing me to enrich my understanding of accounting with a background context in how the business world worked. The course compelled me to pick up books such as Daron Acemoglu’s ‘Why Nations Fail’, which intrigued me with the idea that governments must strive to maintain inclusive economic activity that incentivises every party to work hard. The copious examples of failed civilisations which could not ensure a reward for parties to take risks and adopt new technologies had also sparked my interest in management, realising how similar the running of businesses are to that of entire civilisations.

I feel I am a dynamic, curious and highly-motivated student who is very excited about the prospect of studying Accounting & Finance at a first class university in the UK. I eagerly look forward to the challenges I will face on an academically rigorous and complex course. And hopefully by the end of my degree, the machinations of the world will be a little less elusive.

DISCLAIMER:  The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements.  COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND .  UCAS employs a plagiarism check system  that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please  DO NOT PLAGIARISE.

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Bachelor in Management (BSc) Students' Blog

How to Write a Good Personal Statement When Applying to Our Bachelor Degree Programme

The personal statement is one of the most important parts of your application to a business school. It is your opportunity to demonstrate who you are , what inspires and motivates you, and what your career aspirations are. 

When applying to the Bachelor in Management (BSc) at ESCP Business School , students need to submit a personal statement in the first stage of the application process. The personal statement can include up to 1,000 words and must be written in English .

If this is your first time writing a personal statement, it can be difficult to know what to include and how to ensure that you stand out . Read on to find out how to write the perfect motivational letter. 

Why ESCP Business School?

In your personal statement, you should make sure to talk about your motivation . Think carefully about what made you choose to apply to study for a Bachelor Degree in management at ESCP Business School .

Does the program’s combination of liberal arts with more traditional management courses appeal to you? Do you have global ambition and want to complete your undergraduate studies across three different cities? Are there specific aspects about business administration that appeal to you and make you want to explore the field further?

Whatever it is, write it down! In just a paragraph or two, you can transform your submission from a generic personal statement to one that is carefully tailored to the school and will stand out to the admissions department. 

• READ ALSO: The Benefits of Studying Liberal Arts During Your Management Degree

Focus On What Makes You Stand Out

One of the best choices you can make while writing your personal statement is to emphasize your sense of authenticity and personality, and how it makes you stand out. This can of course be a challenge since you are competing with numerous other applicants hoping to enrol in the same programme.

You can try to determine this by asking yourself some questions . What are my strongest personal qualities , and how do they enhance my sense of authenticity? How can I demonstrate this in my application? In what way do they make me into a great student and serve me as a professional? How have my life experiences shaped me as an individual?

The more you express what makes you unique as a student , and why this makes you a fantastic candidate for the programme, the more it can help your statement and application stand out from those of your peers.

• READ ALSO: How to apply for a prestigious degree course successfully? ESCP Business School’s advice to distinguish yourself by focusing on authenticity

Include Real-Life Examples 

Every point you make in your personal statement should be backed up with real-life examples . You might have excellent time management skills , an entrepreneurial spirit , or be naturally good at building relationships . However, without examples to back them up, these statements could seem meaningless. 

Try to think of experiences in your education or professional life so far that demonstrate skills that will help you during your Bachelor of Business . For example, did you balance a part-time job with studies and extracurricular activities at school? Or maybe you founded a student magazine? Or did you take the time to volunteer for a local charity or cause? Think about the things that make you different , and use your personal statement to highlight them. 

What Are Your Career Aspirations After Completing Your Bachelor of Business?

Finally, it’s a good idea to include a paragraph about what you want to do after graduating from business school, and how the Bachelor in Management (BSc) will help you get there.

ESCP Business School has links to some of the world’s top employers , including KPMG , Coca-Cola , and EY , and its graduates will have the opportunity to enhance their CVs with prestigious internships and hands-on social impact projects . As well as this, the school helps students to access competitive professional opportunities with recruitment days and career fairs . 

Even if you’re not completely certain of what you want to do after graduating, mentioning some of the things that you’re considering, like starting your own business or working in the financial sector , will show that you are driven and ambitious . Be honest about what you want to achieve and what interests you, and your passion should flow through the page. 

• READ ALSO: After the diploma. Discover yourself and the World (of opportunities) out there

Are you interested in joining the ESCP Bachelor in Management (BSc ) ? Contact ESCP Europe for more information! 

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D O W N L O A D

Top tips for writing your personal statement!

Putting together a personal statement can be tricky! Every year, we speak to lots of applicants about what we expect and what we are looking for in the finished piece – it’s something we get asked about a lot!

‘What should I talk about in my personal statement?’

‘How can I make my personal statement stand out?’

‘How long should my personal statement be?’

Fear not! The personal statement section on your application is broken down into 4 clear questions so you can write responsive answers, that offer us insight into the key attributes we look for! That being said, we do have our own tips and guidelines that we like to share, so read on for our full insight!

Why does Imperial College Business School ask for a personal statement?

Quite simply, we ask for a personal statement because we want to know about you. All aspects of your application are important, but many areas tend to be factual and to the point. The personal statement is your opportunity to expand and tell us more about who you are, and what your motivations are for applying to Imperial. Our programmes are hugely competitive, so we often rely on the personal statement to help us understand your profile and fill in any missing pieces from our assessment.

What questions are included in the personal statement section of my application? 

You will be required to complete 4 mandatory questions, which cover your motivation to study and contribution to the cohort, with an additional information section which offers you a chance to detail anything else you haven't mentioned as part of the application. The 4 questions are as follows:

Please share your motivation for undertaking the programme? Treat this as a priority. Ideally, your CV and academic history should have already given us a good idea of your achievements to date, so be sure to tell us why you are pursuing postgraduate study and why you have chosen your programme of interest. You should be able to link your past experiences to your suitability for the programme and expand on anything else that is relevant.

What is your proudest non-academic achievement? This could be professional, personal, or extra-curricular, but we want to know about your proudest non-academic achievement to date, and how it has helped shape you into the person you are today. We love to hear about all the interesting things that applicants have done and achieved, and this is a great way to differentiate yourself from other candidates.

What would you contribute to the cohort and the Imperial community? This question is your opportunity to show us how you will enhance the college experience of those around you and how you will make the most of your time at the Business School. Think about how you will make the campus community a better place, whether this be through participation in extracurricular activities or interactions with staff and students across campus. 

How would you use your degree to make a positive impact? We want to know how the programme will benefit you, both during your studies and in the future. Perhaps, you could use this section to tell us about how your programme fits into your long-term goals, or any long-term objectives you have relating to your chosen area of study.

Additional Information Use this section to include any additional information you want to tell the Admissions Committee. 

Is there anything I should not write about in my personal statement?

Try not to get too caught up with university rankings or facts about the Business School – we want to hear about you, not us! It’s good to talk about the programme content but avoid simply relaying this information back to us. Focus instead on what interests you the most and how you plan to build on past study.

Don’t waffle - keep it concise! You have 1500 characters per section (including spaces!) so make sure your answers are clear and succinct.

Check, check, and check again! It’s the golden rule; make sure your personal statement is free from any spelling or grammatical errors. Copying and pasting from any other personal statements you have written, such as one to another institution, is a risky game – don’t reference another university and be sure to use the correct programme title!

Hopefully, we have given you some good guidance on what is expected from the personal statement and we wish you the best of luck if you are submitting an application, and we look forward to reading your personal statement soon!

Listen to our podcast Inside IB to learn more about creating a stand-out application

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Course Overview

Our BSc Finance will provide you with a core set of technically demanding, yet applications-oriented, skills in finance and an extensive knowledge of the financial sector. You will acquire the knowledge and skills needed for working in professions requiring economic and financial literacy. You will begin by attaining the IT, professional and quantitative skills required for the degree as well as a career in economics. You will gain knowledge of how financial institutions and markets work in the UK, alongside introductory accounting and economics. 

On this BSc Finance degree, your main focus will be on principles of:

• corporate finance
• financial markets.

You will also study modules in:

• basic microeconomic theory and policy
• financial reporting
• econometrics.

This will equip you with the skills required to read and understand financial journal articles or simple balance sheets. There is also an opportunity to do a dissertation, or take a module from a range of options such as portfolio management and behavioural economics and finance.

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking Finance (BSc (Hons)).

Key information and modules

Finance bsc (hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting october 2024, finance bsc (hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2024, finance with foundation year bsc (hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting october 2024, finance with foundation year bsc (hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2024, finance bsc (hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting october 2025, finance bsc (hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2025.

Applications open in October 2024

Finance with Foundation year BSc (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2025

Finance with foundation year bsc (hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2025.

Find another course:

• Our BSc Finance is ideal for anyone whose ambition is to work in investment banks and other financial institutions, financial regulators or economic consultancies, as well as those hoping to continue to graduate studies in finance.
• Goldman Sachs and Birkbeck Diversity Scholarships are available for this course for students from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. 
• We bring together research and teaching across economics and finance, mathematics and statistics in a single department, which creates significant interdisciplinary synergies.
• Birkbeck was ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Economics and Econometrics research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
• You will be taught by academics who are professional practitioners in the world of economics and international finance, and who provide specialist advice and in-house training for government departments and City firms and banks.

Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

Entry Requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

For Foundation Year studies, applications with non-standard qualifications are also welcomed. Acceptance may be subject to an admissions test and/or interview.

For part-time courses, standard requirements are a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.

UCAS tariff points

• 3 years full-time: 96-128 points (A-levels CCC-ABB - A-level mathematics preferred)
• 4 years full-time with Foundation Year: 48 points

The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a tariff calculator for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff.

Applicants to the Foundation Year routes should have GCSE grade C or new grade 4, or equivalent, in English and mathematics.

Foundation year degrees

Our 'with Foundation Year' route is designed to give you extra support as it provides you with an additional year (full-time) or two years (part-time) of supported study. This is an ideal route if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. 

Once you successfully complete your Foundation Year studies, you will automatically advance onto the main degree. 

English language requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.  We also accept other English language tests .

If you don’t meet the minimum English language requirements,  please contact us  or see our  international study skills page  for more details of how we can help.

Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our  English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country .

Visa and funding requirements

If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

• Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
• Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

For full information, read our visa information for international students page .

Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country .

Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Finance BSc (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26

Academic year 2024–25, starting october 2024.

Part-time home students: £6,935 per year Part-time international students : £13,215 per year

Academic year 2025–26, starting October 2025

To be confirmed

Finance BSc (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26

Full-time home students: £9,250 per year Full-time international students: £17,620 per year

Finance with Foundation year BSc (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26

Finance with foundation year bsc (hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26.

Part-time home students, Year 1&2: £4,625 per year Part-time international students , Year 1&2: £8,810 per year Part-time home students, Year 3+: £6,935 per year Part-time international students , Year 3+: £12,615 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy .

If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

Tuition fee and maintenance loans

Eligible full-time and part-time students from the UK don’t have to pay any tuition fees upfront, as government loans are available to cover them.

Maintenance loans are also available for eligible full-time and part-time UK students, to assist with covering living costs, such as accommodation, food, travel, books and study materials. The amount you receive is means-tested and depends on where you live and study and your household income.

Funding for EU students is changing from August 2021: find out about details of these changes.

Find out more about tuition fee and maintenance loans for full-time and part-time students at Birkbeck.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

International scholarships

We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship .

At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.

Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.

In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

Methods of teaching on this course

Lectures and problem-solving classes

Teaching hours

Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.

On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).

Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.

Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.

Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

Indicative class size

Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.

Independent learning

On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.

Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.

Study skills and additional support

Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:

• academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
• written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
• numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).

Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.

Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.

Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.

Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

Methods of assessment on this course

Depending on the module: tests, assignments, project work, presentations and usually examinations.

Careers and employability

Our finance students go on to build successful careers with a variety of employers in a range of sectors, including:

• government departments
• the Bank of England
• UK regulatory bodies
• commercial banks

Some also progress their studies further at master's level.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

You apply via UCAS for our full-time undergraduate courses or directly to Birkbeck for our part-time undergraduate courses.

Full-time (UCAS entry)

If you are applying for a full-time undergraduate course at Birkbeck, you have to apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). To apply, go to the UCAS website and click on ‘Sign in’. You will have to register, giving UCAS a few personal details, including your name, address and date of birth, and then you can start working on your application.

The first UCAS deadline is in January, and the majority of university applications through UCAS are made by then. Find the exact deadline date on the UCAS website . We welcome applications outside of the UCAS deadlines, so you can still apply through UCAS after the January deadline, depending on the availability of places. We also take late applications via the UCAS Clearing system in August.

If you are applying for a part-time undergraduate course (4 or 6 year), you apply directly to Birkbeck by using the Apply now button. You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification .

You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure that there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol. You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply.

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link. Please note that online application will open in September.

When to apply

You are strongly advised to apply now , to ensure there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.

Help and advice with your application

Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

Apply for your course

Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section .

Related courses

• Financial Economics (BSc (Hons))

Course structure

Course structure listing, course structure and modules for finance bsc (hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2024.

You must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits.

• Year 1: four compulsory modules
• Years 2 and 3: three compulsory modules in each year
• Year 4: two compulsory modules and one option module

Year 1 compulsory modules

• Introduction to Accounting
• Introduction to Economics
• Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance I
• Study Techniques

Year 2 compulsory modules

• Microeconomic Theory and Policy
• Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance II
• UK Financial Institutions and Markets

Year 3 compulsory modules

• Applied Statistics and Econometrics
• Financial Reporting
• Principles of Finance

Year 4 compulsory modules

• Corporate Finance
• Financial Markets

Indicative option modules

• Behavioural Economics and Finance
• BSc Project
• Data Science for Economics and Finance
• Economics of Public Policy
• International Finance
• Issues in Development Economics
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• Political Economy
• Portfolio Management

Course structure and modules for Finance BSc (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2024

• Year 1: five compulsory modules
• Year 2: four compulsory modules
• Year 3: three compulsory modules and one option module

Course structure and modules for Finance BSc (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2025

Course structure and modules for finance bsc (hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting october 2025, course structure and modules for finance with foundation year bsc (hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting october 2024.

You undertake four core modules at Level 3 to a total of 120 credits.

Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will automatically advance onto the three-year, full-time BSc Finance or onto one of our other Finance/Economics/Business degrees.

Foundation Year core modules

• Economic Principles (Foundation Year)
• Essential Maths and Data Analysis
• Fundamentals of Study
• Understanding Organisations

Course structure and modules for Finance with Foundation year BSc (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

Our part-time Foundation Year degrees allow you to spread out your Foundation Year studies over two years. As the 'Foundation Year' is made up of 120 credits, as a part-time student you take two 30-credit core modules in each of your first and second years. This means that you can take six years to complete the part-time degree with Foundation Year.

Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will automatically advance onto our four-year, part-time BSc Finance or onto one of our other Finance/Economics/Business degrees.

Foundation Year 1 core modules

Foundation year 2 core modules, course structure and modules for finance with foundation year bsc (hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting october 2025.

For the Foundation Year, you undertake five compulsory modules at Level 3 to a total of 120 credits.

If you successfully complete the year, you will automatically advance on to the three-year, full-time, evening study BSc Finance .

• IT and Data Skills for Economics
• The Modern British Economy (Foundation Year)

Course structure and modules for Finance with Foundation year BSc (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2025

Our part-time Foundation Year degrees allow you to spread out your Foundation Year studies over two years. As the 'Foundation Year' is made up of 120 credits, as a part-time student you can take 60 credits in each of your first and second years before starting the main four-year BSc Finance . This means that you can take six years to complete the part-time degree with Foundation Year.

You take three core modules in Foundation Year 1 and two core modules in Foundation Year 2.

If you successfully complete these modules, you will automatically advance on to our four-year, part-time, evening study BSc Finance .

BSc Finance

Introduction, preliminary readings.

Finance is at the heart of every business, industry and society around the world – and its role has never been more complex. There’s a huge demand for talented, ambitious graduates with the right financial acumen to meet these challenges. This rigorous programme equips you with the necessary financial knowledge and quantitative skills.

You’ll delve into the use of specific finance techniques, financial decision-making, risk management and the behaviour of the financial markets. Importantly, you’ll learn how to think analytically, evaluate financial issues from different perspectives and apply analytical methods to real-world problems.

You’ll be taught by world-leading academics and practitioners in the field. We make the most of our proximity to the city and financial districts and you’ll benefit from our links with industry practitioners, regulators and policymakers.

Our graduates are well-prepared for careers in investment banking, sales, trading, investment management, management consulting, start-ups, research and academia.

If you wish to gain further insight into the subject, we suggest that you look at one of the following books, papers and videos:

• A Admati “ Seeing through “the banker’s new clothes” ”, TEDxStanford
• W Clarke  How the City of London Works  (7th edition, Sweet and Maxwell, 2008)
• B Graham  The Intelligent Investor  (HarperBusiness, 2003)
• M Lewis  The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine  (Penguin, 2011)
• D McCloskey  Economical Writing
• PwC:  Peer Pressure – How peer-to-peer lending platforms are transforming the consumer lending industry
• H Rey “ Monetary Policy and International Capital Flows ” IMF Mundell-Fleming Lecture

Annual reviews :

• D Lucas  Valuation of Government Policies and Projects
• P M Dechow, R G Sloan, and J Zha  Stock Prices and Earnings
• C Frydman and D Jenter  CEO Compensation

The Royal Economic Society  Public Lectures:

• T Harford  “How to run – or ruin – an economy”
• S Flanders  “The UK economy after the crisis”
• R Griffith  “Does Starbucks pay enough tax?”

Entry requirements

Here, you can check our entry requirements for GCSEs, A-levels (please read them alongside our information about subject combinations) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We also consider applications from students with a range of other UK qualifications and from overseas. Please select the overseas button below and choose your country from the dropdown list to find the equivalency to A-levels of your qualification.

For GCSEs, you’ll need several GCSE grades at A (or 7) and A* (or 8-9).

As a minimum, we ask for GCSE English Language and Mathematics grades at B (6) or higher. We’ll also consider your overall GCSE subject profile.

A*AA, with an A* in Mathematics

We also consider your AS grades, if available.

See subject combinations regarding Further Mathematics requirements.

Contextual admissions A-level grades

A*AB with an A* in Mathematics

Read our undergraduate admissions information to learn more about contextual admissions.

A-level subject combinations

• We consider your combination of subjects as well as your grades.
• A broad mix of traditional academic subjects provides the best preparation for studying at LSE. We expect applicants to have at least two full A-levels (or equivalent) in these subjects.
• We’re looking for students with strong mathematical abilities, and A-level Mathematics (or equivalent) is therefore essential. If you take three or more A-levels, you’ll need A*AA (with A* in Mathematics).
• Further Mathematics at A-level is also desirable – and accepted with Mathematics and one other A-level. We understand that Further Mathematics is not available in all schools/colleges – you will not be disadvantaged if this is the case. Please could you/your referees indicate this on your application form.
• An A* in Further Mathematics and an A grade in Mathematics is acceptable.
• Alongside Mathematics, we’re looking for subject combinations that show you have good analytical and writing abilities. Typical subject choices include Economics, Physics, History, Chemistry, and Government and Politics.

Find out more about A-level subject combinations .

38 points overall. 766 in higher level subjects, including 7 in Mathematics

Please also see subject combinations regarding Further Mathematics requirements.

Contextual admissions IB grades

37 points overall including 765 in higher level subjects, with 7 in Mathematics

We welcome students from all walks of life at LSE. We want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation. So, whatever your background, please do apply. Get all the details on our general  entry requirements .

Competition for places at LSE is high. We cannot guarantee you an offer of a place even if you’re predicted or achieve our standard entry requirements.

Our standard offer requirements are intended only as a guide and, in some cases, you’ll be asked for different grades.

Programme content

Why study with us.

Discover more about our students and department.

Student stories

Meet the department.

The Department of Finance is one of the largest and most highly respected finance groups in the UK and Europe.

With a longstanding reputation for excellence in both teaching and research, we offer various undergraduate, postgraduate and executive programmes.

Our research and teaching span the full range of financial sub-fields, including:

• corporate finance
• asset pricing theory
• risk management
• empirical analysis of capital markets
• behavioural finance
• portfolio analysis
• derivatives pricing
• microstructure
• financial econometrics.

We are also closely associated with two leading research groups at LSE – the Financial Markets Group and Systemic Risk Centre , which host seminars, conferences and public lectures by renowned academics and practitioners.

Our research is regularly published in leading academic journals globally. Faculty members work closely with national and international institutions, such as the Bank of England and the World Bank, informing policy at the highest levels.

The department was ranked the top place to study finance in the Good University Guide 2024.

Learn more about our programmes and research .

Department of Finance

2nd In Europe

5th In the world

1st We're ranked top university in London for the 12th year running

Carbon neutral in 2021 lse became the first carbon neutral verified university in the uk, your application, who attends.

We consider each application carefully, taking into account all the details you’ve included on your UCAS form, such as:

• academic achievement , including predicted and achieved grades (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• subjects and subject combinations  (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• your personal statement
• your teacher’s reference
• educational circumstances

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although this is not needed at the application stage.  See our English language requirements page .

We’re looking for students who demonstrate:

• strong analytical skills and a high level of numeracy
• an ability to apply logic, follow complex lines of reasoning and identify trends
• the ability to think independently
• a creative and flexible approach to problem-solving
• time-management skills and resilience (to thrive under pressure)
• great communication skills
• intellectual curiosity
• self-motivation and a willingness to work hard.

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for each year of your programme. Your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Your tuition fees, and eligibility for any financial support, depend on whether you’re classified as a home or an overseas student – known as your fee status. We assess your fee status based on guidelines from the UK Government’s Department for Education.

Learn more about fee status classification .

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We recognise that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country. LSE provides generous financial support, in the form of bursaries and scholarships, to UK, EU and overseas students.

Additionally, the UK Government provides loans to UK and some EU students. Some overseas governments also offer funding.

Further information on tuition fees, living costs, loans and scholarships .

Learning and assessment

How you learn, how you're assessed.

Format and contact hours: you’ll usually have 12 to 15 hours of lectures and classes each week. Hours vary according to the course. Get a broad idea of the study time involved in the Calendar within the Teaching section of each course guide .

Independent study: you’ll also be expected to complete independent study, which involves reading, writing essays or working on class assignments.

In total, you should expect to study 40 hours per week.

LSE teaching: lectures are given by academic staff while classes are predominantly taught by PhD students. Learn about the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant  course guide .

Academic support

Academic mentor: you’ll meet with your academic mentor regularly to discuss your work. Your mentor can provide advice and guidance on academic issues and, where appropriate, personal concerns.

Other academic support: at LSE, we offer lots of opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom.

LSE LIFE is a great place to get advice and practise the skills you’ll need during your studies and beyond.

Through LSE LIFE, you can:

• attend workshops on developing leadership skills, finding the right study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work
• develop your reading, academic writing and critical-thinking skills
• gain experience of working in study groups and develop your cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills.

Disability and Mental Health Service: we want all LSE students to achieve their full potential. Students can access free, confidential advice through our Disability and Mental Health Service . This is the first point of contact for students.

Your timetable

• The standard teaching day runs from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Undergraduate teaching is not normally scheduled for Wednesdays after 12 noon to allow for sports, volunteering and other extra-curricular activities.
• The lecture and seminar timetable is published in mid-August and the full academic timetable (with information on classes) is published by mid-September via the LSE timetables web pages .
• All personal undergraduate timetables are published in LSE for You (LFY) . For personal timetables to appear, you must be registered at LSE, be signed up for courses in LFY and ensured that there are no unauthorised clashes in your course selections. We try our best to minimise changes once personal timetables have been published. However, you’ll be notified about any changes by email.

Formative coursework

A ll taught courses include formative coursework, which is not assessed. This helps prepare you for summative assessment. We use a range of formative assessment methods, such as essays, case studies, reports, quizzes and mock exams. Feedback on coursework is an essential part of the learning experience. Class teachers mark formative coursework and feedback is given within two weeks – provided the work is submitted on time.

Summative assessment

This assessment counts towards your final course mark and the degree award.

Summative assessment usually involves written examinations at the end of each academic year. To progress through the degree, you’ll need to pass the appropriate examinations.

Assessment on individual courses can change from year to year. Details on the current formative coursework and summative assessment for each course are given in the relevant  course guide .

You’ll receive feedback on any summative coursework as part of individual course assessments (except on final submitted dissertations). This feedback is generally provided before the examination period.

Find out more about LSE’s teaching and assessment methods .

Graduate destinations

Career support.

Graduates from this programme will be well prepared for careers in investment banking, sales, trading and research, investment management, management consultancy, start-ups and other professional careers in the City, as well as further academic study.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Median salary of our undergraduate students 15 months after graduating:

Top 2 sectors our students work in:.

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.

Discover Uni

Every undergraduate programme of more than one year duration will have Discover Uni data. The data allows you to compare information about individual programmes at different higher education institutions.

Programmes offered by different institutions with similar names can vary quite significantly. We recommend researching the programmes you're interested in and taking into account the programme structure, teaching and assessment methods, and support services available.

Find out more

Explore lse, student life.

Student support

Accommodation

Meet, visit and discover LSE

Call us : +88 (0) 1712969390, +44 (0) 7495942849, +44 (0) 7459725824

[email protected]

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Personal Statement of Purpose Finance and Accounting MSc

• Sample personal statement

28 July, 2022

Personal statement of purpose finance and accounting msc share.

• 12 May, 2013

With my deep interest, I want to pursue the course Finance and Accounting MSc at the University of Brighton because this course has access to modern computing facilities and specialist computing packages. And this course will provide me with the skills to make these investment decisions across various business areas. This degree will give me develop an in-depth knowledge of financial theory and practice, research methods, financial markets, financial accounting and management accounting. Moreover, I found this Finance and Accounting MSc will help me to specialise and meet the growing demand for finance professionals with strong research skills. I can also progress with or continue by studying for a Ph.D. I want to develop my career in this sector and the accounting and financial services sectors require a high level of understanding of theory and practice. And this MSc course can make me professional. I believe that this course will help me become professional and proficient in my future career.

Following my Intermediate and Secondary education from the Business Studies group, I completed my Bachelor’s degree major in Accounting in February 2022 from National University, Gazipur, Bangladesh. In my home country, there are many open places to develop a career in accountancy but they require a professional applicant. From this MSc course, I can meet the growing demand for finance professionals with strong research skills. So, I decided to complete my further higher studies by choosing this Finance and Accounting MSc at the University of Brighton. While studying, I was involved in various co- curricular activities to enrich my knowledge and skills. Attended and organized different types of seminars and workshops, participated in different voluntary services and activities, and actively participated. From my last education qualification, I have realized that I need to gain knowledge about business accounting and finance part as well as I want to grow my career in this area. I also have my English language concern and I attend a UKVI IELTS test where my overall band score is 6.0. I think I should gain more knowledge in the field so I decided to continue my further studies with this course. I am confident that my professional goal makes me a suitable candidate for the course.

By reviewing the university website, I have seen the course Finance and Accounting MSc at the University of Brighton is ideal preparation for continuing my studies at MPhil or Ph.D. level, also I will be able to work as a professional researcher in finance. The course will prepare me for a specific level of accounting and financial roles, accountancy firms, consultancies and finance departments in the private and public sectors. Studying in a simulated business environment will teach me to explore business practices from regulatory and risk management issues to how financial markets operate and what makes them crash. This course has been designed to help me develop the necessary skills to solve the financial accounting standards, complex business problems in recent facing situations. Modules on the course involve both taught sessions and guided independent study. The core module units include Economics of Financial Markets, Financial Theory and Practice, Research Methods for Finance and Economics, Dissertation or Work Placement Project. Mandatory specialism modules are- Contemporary Issues in Accounting, International Investment and Trading, Economics of Money, Interest Rates, Banking and Financial Institutions. Completion of my dissertation will teach me the undertake research leading to practicable recommendations based on sound analysis and judgment. All of these modules will help me to broaden my knowledge of accountancy understanding in an international context which will prepare me for my employment in an increasingly internationalized business world. Hopefully, I have been able to clear the purpose of my admission to the university. Moreover, during times of crisis, accountancy is seen as a stable profession. By completing this course, I will be able to work with reputed organisations in my home country ranging from accountancy, banking, financial management, and management consultancy. So, I believe this course will be the right choice for my career plans and objectives.

UK’s academic reputation is globally renowned and it is known that having a graduate degree from a UK university will definitely propel one’s career to a significant level. However, the study environment in my country follows the theoretical system of education which is quite different and no soft skills are acquired. The UK maintains a quality management system with high standards in all fields. In recent years, all companies in Bangladesh are emphasizing hiring of Bangladeshi graduates with degrees from abroad, as they see the transferrable skills carried forward from the international education will play a key role in transforming their approach to the business and believe these graduates are capable of doing so. The transferable skills from the UK are key to advancing graduates through organizational growth and gaining a competitive advantage. This reason attracted me to pursue a degree in the UK. A recent survey of International Graduation Results in 2019 produced by iGraduate by Universities UK International shows that 82% of international graduates say their UK degree is valuable for financial investment and a similar number of graduates say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their careers. About 83% think a UK degree has helped them get a job. These aspects have driven my ambition to get a degree from a UK institution.

University of Brighton is one of the re-known top universities in the UK. As my study destination is the UK and I wish to study at the University of Brighton, because it offers an experience that goes way beyond the classroom. Their core values are part of a dynamic, diverse and creative community that embraces partnership working and that makes a positive difference to society. From there, I will be able to gain real-world knowledge and transferable skills that employers look for in graduate recruits. And by the time I graduate, I’ll feel confident and fully prepared to start my career anywhere in the world. The university won a Silver Award in Teaching Excellence Framework, which means that the learning environment and the teaching I will receive are consistently better than the national requirements for UK Higher Education. The university has around 18,000 students and 2,400 staff studying and working at four campuses in Brighton and Eastbourne. Also, according to Destination Leavers from Higher Education 2017-2018, 94% of University of Brighton graduates get engaged in work or further study within the first 6 months. I will also be able to make connections with local, national and international companies, as the university has links with over 1800 businesses, including Fujitsu, BT, Sky, Boots, IBM, and the NHS, while the university educates professionals from 90% of FTSE 100 companies. The university puts students on a fast track that is designed to get a postgraduate degree into faster employment with excellent career opportunities. Moreover, the University brings the workplace into classrooms so it will be beneficial for me to attain my personal career objectives by practicing in this type of learning environment. I am looking forward to studying and wish to experience all the opportunities the University of Brighton has to offer.

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• Anniston/Gadsden

BSC said all was well. She exposed the truth with a spreadsheet.

• Updated: Apr. 24, 2024, 9:33 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 24, 2024, 8:30 a.m.

Fourteen years before it's closure, computer science professor Marietta Cameron used public documents to prove the college wasn’t telling the truth about its finances. file

• Kyle Whitmire | [email protected]

This is an opinion column.

A well-crafted spreadsheet can spoil a mystery with a bar chart.

On July 23, 2010, one such spreadsheet landed in my email inbox.

It told a story that important, powerful people in Birmingham wanted to keep quiet — that my alma mater, Birmingham-Southern College, was bleeding to death.

It showed in clear terms that the story the college had been telling — that its financial woes were due to a miscalculation of Pell Grants — just wasn’t true.

It proved the problem was much bigger and had been going on for much longer than college administrators had said.

It was also a warning. The college was in danger of closing and the people in charge couldn’t be trusted to fix it.

The sender — a faculty member — asked to remain anonymous. If I had questions, I should call Marietta Cameron, a computer science professor at the college, the person said.

It was Cameron who had made the spreadsheet, and she had shared it with the entire school.

“I sent it to the entire campus with my name on it, knowing full well that somebody was going to send it to the media, and everybody would think it was me,” she said when I spoke with her again last week. “I would just wait. And then you called.”

Back in 2010, Cameron asked to remain anonymous, too, but she walked me through the data and explained to me where she had gotten it.

Fourteen years later — after the college announced its years of financial struggles would force it to close — I asked Cameron if I could tell this story again, this time with her name on the record.

A discovery she didn’t want to find

At BSC, Cameron was an anomaly in several ways. She was a computer science professor at a college that favored humanities and business majors. She wasn’t only a faculty member, but also an alum. And at the time, she was the only faculty member who was Black.

Like a lot of BSC students, she first attended the college as a summer scholar — a program for rising high school seniors looking for college credit. Cameron says she planned to go to UAB, but one math professor changed her mind, Dr. Lola Kiser. “Dr. Kiser was such a supportive person and took such an interest in me that, if all of the professors at Birmingham-Southern would be like Dr. Kiser, I wanted to be at Birmingham Southern College, too,” Cameron says.

Later, it was those same friendships with Kiser and other faculty that drew her back to become a professor. In 1991, she left her job at Blue Cross Blue Shield to join the faculty.

The college’s computer science program had often been in danger during lean years, Cameron said. Between her graduation and her return as a professor, the program had been cut once already.

“At a liberal arts institution, there was a bias against what people perceived to be pre-professional,” she says.

In 2010, computer science became a target for budget cuts again.

BSC administrators began 2010 with assurances to faculty that the college’s financial picture was strong, according to faculty meeting minutes which the college now keeps online . That February, the provost even teased the possibility of raises, a prospect that had disappeared with the Great Recession.

But by late spring, those administrators were telling a different story, and by June they warned the faculty that the school might have to cut staff or even whole courses of study.

At first they said the college had a $3 million hole in its budget.

Then $5 million.

Then $10 million.

The administration blamed miscalculations in financial aid to students.

The faculty formed an advisory committee to figure out the extent of the problem, but members complained they weren’t being given access to the college’s financial data.

“And that’s when I said, ‘I know how you could get numbers,’” Cameron recalls.

Nonprofits are exempt from paying taxes but not from filing financial data with the IRS. They must disclose that information publicly in a form called a 990.

Cameron retrieved several years’ worth of the college’s disclosures and began using the information to build her spreadsheet.

“What I found instead was — ‘Oh, shoot, this is not $10 million,’” she recalls.

The college, according to the data, had been running at a $10 million deficit three years earlier, and those deficits had been growing. Nonprofits file their 990s the year after their books close, so the most recent fiscal year was still a mystery.

“The rate we were going up — with a nice little regression line, I estimated that we were most likely at $30 million,” Cameron says.

Her estimate would turn out to be much closer to the truth than what administrators had shared.

Under BSC’s new president, David Pollick, the college had gone on a spending spree, building new dorms, an alumni welcome center and what could either be described as a large pond or a small lake. Amid the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the college had spent money on a water feature to attract students.

The college paid for much of this from its endowment, cashing out investments when the markets were in a slump. It was, in effect, buying high and selling low.

The day Cameron’s spreadsheet landed in my inbox, I first reached out to Cameron by phone, leaving a voicemail at her office, then by Facebook messenger, which 14 years later still memorializes our first exchange.

“I am happy that someone forwarded to you. However, if I am to fight a battle in Thursday’s faculty meeting I should not make a comment just yet,” she wrote.

Cameron was about to have that battle with the college’s then-president, David Pollick.

Under Birmingham-Southern College President David Pollick the college added new amenities, including a water feature in the middle of the Great Recession. In three years the college's endowment plunged from more than $113 million to $54 million. (The Birmingham News / Mark Almond) BN FTP

Showdown with the president

Time can corrode memory, but 14 years later Cameron can recall what was said in that faculty meeting with remarkable precision, and the meeting minutes kept by the college show she remembers some comments verbatim.

“Let me begin, though, by saying that I have told you things over the course, particularly in the last year, that were not true. I have never lied to you,” Pollick said, according to those minutes. “There is a fundamental difference between that.”

Pollick told the faculty that he and college trustees had been duped by the finance department. A summary of the college’s finances, called a green sheet, had not been accurate, he said.

Further, he told them, the college had been taking out unauthorized bridge loans from Regions Bank, unbeknownst to him or Dowd Ritter, the board president and also then-CEO of Regions Bank.

Still, Pollick tried to argue that the college’s 990s were inaccurate and misrepresented the college’s true financial position.

“So we misrepresented on a tax form?” Cameron asked, according to the minutes.

“The information on the 990s is accurate,” the vice-president of administration, Lane Estes interjected.

Pollick asked for calm and said the college could recover through austerity. Other administrators, including the college’s spokesperson, gave additional reports. Cameron began to think Pollick was trying to run out the clock, she recalls.

“I would like to make a resolution as follows: due to either intentional negligence or incompetence or malfeasance or all of the above, I call for a vote of no confidence in our President and in the Executive Committee of the Board,” she said.

Pollick left the room and several faculty members balked at the resolution.

I went to Birmingham-Southern — before Pollick and before the crash — where I had classes with many of the people in the room that day. Today, it’s heartbreaking to read these faculty minutes, to see professors I respect leave Cameron stranded at such an important moment in the college’s history.

She had taken a stand, but few were ready to stand with her.

One moved to table the motion until more faculty could take part in the discussion. A history professor moved to table the motion for good.

“If word gets out that we have set a meeting certain to discuss a motion of no confidence on this president — if that gets into the press, which it will — it is a disaster for this college,” he said. “I move to table it period.”

Cameron’s motion was tabled by a vote, 54-to-14.

Loneliness of a whistleblower

In the end, the vote didn’t save Pollick. Cameron’s spreadsheet had exposed the truth and neither he nor the college could fully dispute what it revealed. Two weeks after that faculty meeting, Pollick resigned.

In the years since, Pollick has insisted the college’s financial problems were not his doing and that he and the board had been deceived.

Even if that is true, it’s still damning.

The most charitable interpretation of the facts is that a computer science professor uncovered in a day of digging what the college president, the board and the board president — himself the CEO of one of the nation’s largest banks — didn’t see during six years on the job.

However, Cameron’s discovery didn’t save her department. The college cut the computer science program.

And Cameron with it.

Today, Cameron serves as dean of Natural Sciences at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

I asked her how her experience at BSC changed her.

“My experience at Birmingham-Southern has made me be more aware of university operations and governance,” she says. “It forced me to say that there’s a part that faculty need to play in it.”

When she reflects on her last days at BSC, she struggles with disappointment in some of her colleagues who, she says, kept quiet because they were afraid. After she shared her spreadsheet, one professor pulled the college’s 990s from a cabinet in his office and commended her for having put them in a form everyone could understand.

“And I’m like, why are you not saying something? You have more influence. You’ve been here longer than I have,” she recalls. “I had tenure at the time, but this person had been my professor.”

Cameron’s struggle to find allies in her last days at the college is a story I’ve seen play out in other places — at HealthSouth during its financial fraud, at Jefferson County before its largest-in-U.S.-history bankruptcy, in a governor’s office trapped the in the quicksand of a sex scandal.

In a crisis, it can feel safer to do nothing. To let someone else step forward and speak up.

Rather than rallying a rescue effort from the inside, whistleblowers often wind up alienated, ostracized, or even blamed for the crisis itself.

“A lot of them just sat back and let me speak because they did not believe that the only Black faculty member was going to be fired,” she says.

Cameron’s spreadsheet and her push to censure Pollick didn’t create the disaster at BSC. She alerted the world that a disaster was in progress — so somebody could do something about it. In the end, Cameron’s spreadsheet didn’t save the college, but had she not forced the issue when she did, it’s easy to imagine the college going under much earlier. In the last 14 years, thousands of students have passed through BSC — something that might not have happened had the college’s financial problems been left to fester that summer in 2010.

Cameron has any number of reasons to be bitter about her time at BSC — racism she endured as a student, her department’s odd fit within the liberal arts and sciences, her colleagues’ silence at such a perilous moment. Despite all that, she still feels an attachment to the school and a sadness that it will soon be gone. “I love Birmingham-Southern like a child, as if it were a family member,” she says. “Even when I left, at the time, I thought I would probably one day go back and be part of the leadership.” Like a lot of other alumni I’ve spoken with in recent months, she lets herself daydream there’s a happy ending waiting.

“I fantasize about finding the miracle money to save the college,” she says. “I still do. I still pray and hope that some miracle happens.”

But Cameron already did her part to save the college when many others stood frozen in place.

When no one listens to whistleblowers, the only consolation left for them is getting to have the last word.

Kyle Whitmire is the 2023 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Subscribe to his weekly newsletter, Alabamafication .

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Personal statement example bsc economics personal statement.

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BSc Economics Personal Statement

Inequality; the perfect word to describe the problematic world that we live in, the world we have made our own. The government takes huge responsibility to the reason as why some countries are poor and some are rich. We have all had an impact on the less fortunate countries, from wasting food to having a long, hot shower. If we switched places with those living in poor conditions, we would not know how to cope. We have been brought up in a selfish society, where we do not think about others. This is why I have a keen interest in economics as I am able to apply my mathematical knowledge to economic issues.

Through recent years I have noticed the growing changes in the exchange rate and have taken a keen interest in learning about how this affects a country's economy. To educate myself further, I have taken part in online webinars, open day lectures and have read through numerous online articles regarding the subject.

Whilst studying towards my Business qualification, I was given the opportunity to partake in a Young Enterprise programme, which involved the creation of an innovative business. I and other sixth form students came together after looking at several business ideas and we decided upon the name “Tech-Ex”. The slogan for the business is “The place for all your tech needs.” I was given the role of Finance Manager, which involved keeping track of the business’s financial position. This included thorough research of various possible products and considering the cost of resources, development and advertising. Using an online database I recorded the business’s cash flow, this entailed keeping a record of all purchases and sales. The business worked a success and we got given the opportunity to visit Lithuania to compete against other businesses within the EU. At the North Wales competition, we won “the best company” award and “the best use of IT and marketing”. This enabled us to compete in Cardiff for the Wales award. The whole team worked together to make Tech-Ex successful, whilst breaking-even within 6 months and making a profit of over £900 within a year.

My main interest in economics stems from my love of numeric based learning. To further my knowledge of the financial sector I volunteered my services to two financial sector based organisations, one was HSBC. During my week of work experience at HSBC, they allowed me to spectate and gather information on the daily activates of a high street bank. This provided me with a great deal of further insight into how banks protect and help their clients, whether they are a business or personal customer they are treated with the same level of respect and provided with the same information regardless of wealth or status.

The other work experience placement that I was involved with was at Sailsbury’s accountancy firm where I was given the task of conducting a tax return for a local business client of theirs. To carry out this task I needed to look across all the businesses invoices over the past financial year and sus out which invoices they could claim against. This involved looking at their recent purchase orders and daily/weekly cashflows. Whilst working at Sainsburys I was placed under the supervision of a fully chartered accountant who delegated some of her tasks onto me, these tasks gave me further insight into the economic difficulties that businesses face such as paying VAT, taxes, employee pension schemes, etc.

Outside of my academic life, I have a keen interest in helping others. I have been a volunteer for The Alzheimer’s Society since 2015, within a year I have gained the title of a support services volunteer. Once a month I visit a surgery and set up a stand with information about Dementia, formally known as Dementia RED. This has been a success and has allowed me to help people with their questions and concerns about their memory or someone else's memory. Being the eldest of all 8 of my siblings I have to set the example and I feel by helping the community I am doing that. Within school, I am a prefect and during November I am going to run assemblies to all of the years about bullying, discrimination, racism, etc. With all the business knowledge I have acquired I am looking forward to gaining an even greater understanding of the daily changes that occur within our economy. I particularly look forward to further educating myself about the various aspects of economics and the doors that this will open for me in the foreseeable future. Although I understand that this degree will by no means be easy and will undoubtedly present me with a multitude of challenges, I know that my strong will and passion towards learning about the future of the world’s economy will spur me on to achieving this degree.

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Keep these 10 financial documents forever. Scan and shred the rest.

Always hold onto birth certificates and social security cards, but it’s okay to cast off those old bank statements.

No matter how digital we’ve become, we’re still a paper nation.

Are your financial documents stuffed in a closet, files, shopping bags or stacked up on the floor?

Get Michelle’s advice free in your inbox

You may prefer to view it as organized chaos. But isn’t it really just a manifestation of your inability to discern what you need and what you should let go?

When I look at the piles of paper in my office accumulated throughout the past year, I know it’s time for another document dump. It’s part of my spring cleaning ritual .

Sometimes we hold onto all that paper because we aren’t sure what to keep and what to toss. Here’s a rundown of what should be retained.

Forever documents

Certain papers should be kept in a safe location where they are protected from damage, loss and theft. Such original documents, which may be hard or costly to replace, include:

• Birth certificates and adoption papers
• Death certificates
• Marriage and divorce records
• Social Security cards. Yes, you know the number, but there may be an occasion where you have to produce the actual card.
• Military service records, including discharge documents. An honorably discharged service member is eligible to receive funeral and burial benefits.
• Loan payoff statements. Here’s something important: If you negotiated to pay less than what you owed on a debt, keep the original agreement in perpetuity. Often when debt is sold to debt collectors for pennies on the dollar, the sale doesn’t include a lot of information, including documentation proving a payoff.
• Year-end pay stubs. If a company goes out of business you may not be able to track down the information should you need it later.
• Retirement or pension records. Be sure to keep the records from previous jobs.
• Estate documents
• Funeral programs. Although many funeral homes will post an obituary online, they are often shortened versions of the program you might receive at the service. I have a folder of programs because they contain a wealth of information that can be helpful in estate planning, including maiden names and other family history you might need. (In this case, I like keeping the originals rather than a scanned version.)

Loan documents: Keep original loan documents and statements until you have paid off the loan. Then, save the paperwork verifying the balance was paid in full. My husband and I are coming up on one year of paying off our home . I may be a little paranoid, but I’m keeping the original documentation.

Vehicle title: Keep the original as long as you own the vehicle.

Receipts for big-ticket items: For insurance purposes, in case of fire or theft, save receipts for big-screen TVs, computers and other major purchases. Hold on to each receipt as long as you own the item. Personally, I like to keep the original, but a scanned copy should be fine.

Home improvement purchase orders, receipts, canceled checks: Keep proof of any upgrades until you sell the home. If you have a capital gain from selling your primary home, you may qualify to exclude as much as $250,000 from your income or as much as $500,000 if you file a joint return with your spouse.

If you exceed these limits, here’s where having proof of the capital improvements helps your tax situation: “When you make a home improvement, such as installing central air conditioning or replacing the roof, you can’t deduct the cost in the year you spend the money,” according to TurboTax. “But, if you keep track of those expenses, they may help you reduce your taxes in the year you sell your house.”

Investment statements: If they are available online, you do not need paper copies. The most important reason to maintain these records would be to establish your cost basis when selling an asset to make sure you claim the proper capital gain or loss on your tax return.

3 to 7 years

Tax records: Record-keeping guidelines are tied to statutes of limitations. That’s generally three years, but it’s seven years for worthless securities and bad debts, according to IRS spokesman Eric Smith.

“For most people, the tax-related statute of limitations is pretty straightforward,” he said.

But there are special circumstances that extend that time. For example, getting a tax-filing extension, serving in a combat zone, qualifying for a disaster-area deadline postponement or a financial disability.

You must keep records, such as receipts, canceled checks and other documents that support an item of income, a deduction or a credit appearing on a return, according to the IRS.

But it doesn’t have to be an original. Scan and shred. The agency will accept a legible digital copy of a document.

“Electronic storage is also fine, as long as they can be retrieved, if needed,” Smith said.

Why keep even a scanned version after several years?

Your past returns contain your financial history — employment, investments and charitable giving choices.

But you won’t have to worry about having a scanned copy if you have an IRS online account. With an account, you can access a transcript of your return.

Maintaining years of tax returns can help if you ever need to research payments made into Social Security .

Medical bills: If you paid a medical expense with your health savings or flexible spending account, keep the receipt for three years. Consider it a tax-related document.

If you want more personal finance advice that's timeless, order your copy of Michelle Singletary's Money Milestones.

Credit card statements: Companies will provide you with a year-end statement that categorizes all expenses. If that works for you, shred the monthly statements you may have been getting in the mail.

And if you’re still getting paper statements, stop. Get them e-delivered. I still scan and save statements in case I close an account and no longer have online access.

Less than a year

There is no need to keep all those ATM or retail receipts. Once you get your statements, you can shred and toss.

Word of caution

I’ve mentioned this before, but be sure to research online services that will backup your scanned documents. By the way, an external hard drive attached to your computer is still vulnerable to hackers.

Make sure you also regularly update your computer software. The Washington Post’s Help Desk is a great source to help secure information.

B.O.M. — The best of Michelle Singletary on personal finance

If you have a personal finance question for Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary, please call 1-855-ASK-POST (1-855-275-7678).

My mortgage payoff story: My husband and I paid off the house in the spring of 2023 thanks to making extra payments and taking advantage of a mortgage recast . Even though it lowered my perfect 850 credit score and my column about it sparked some serious debate with readers, it was one of the best financial decisions I’ve made.

Credit card debt: If you’re in the habit of carrying credit card debt, stop. It’s just a myth that it will boost your credit score. For those looking to get out of credit card debt, see if a balance transfer is right for you.

Money moves for life: For a more sweeping overview of my timeless money advice, see Michelle Singletary’s Money Milestones . The interactive package offers guidance for every life stage, whether you’re just starting out in your career or planning for retirement. You can also purchase a copy for yourself or as a gift.

Test yourself: Not rich and wondering what it’ll take to build your wealth? Take this quiz for my wealth-building tips.

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yikes —

Tesla profits drop 55% as elon musk dodges cheap car questions, tesla spent $1 billion on gpus even as its profit margins shrank by half..

Jonathan M. Gitlin - Apr 24, 2024 1:16 pm UTC

Tesla had a terrible first quarter of 2024, according to its financial results, posted yesterday . We already knew that it was a bad three months in terms of delivering cars—the automaker built tens of thousands of cars it couldn't sell as deliveries dropped by 8.5 percent, year on year. If anything, the quarterly results paint an even worse picture.

The company has been engaged in a series of heavy price cuts, and that's showing up on the balance sheet. For all of Tesla CEO Elon Musk's statements about artificial intelligence being the future of the company, the vast majority of its income is still derived from automotive sales. These amounted to $16.5 billion in Q1, nearly $2.5 billion less than for Q1 2023. (Regulatory credits remain pretty steady at $442 million for the quarter.)

Total revenues were down by 9 percent, year on year, with gross profits down 18 percent. But the net profit, once generally accepted accounting measures were applied, fell by 55 percent to $1.1 billion. (Non-GAAP net profit was down 48 percent.)

Tesla's net cash dropped by 90 percent during the first three months of this year, and its free cash flow has been wiped out, dropping 674 percent, year on year. Meanwhile, its supply of inventory—cars its built but hasn't sold—grew from 15 days to 28 days, accounting for a third of the cars it built during the three-month period.

Perhaps most alarmingly for those who claimed Tesla was different to other automakers has been the decline in the company's once-envied profit margin. This has been on a steady slide as the company's price war took hold, but for Q1 2024 it stands at just 5.5 percent, almost half the industry average .

In fact, the true picture may be slightly worse. When customers pay Tesla for its FSD driving option, it has deferred that revenue. But as it adds more features to FSD—most recently automated parking—it has been recognizing that revenue, almost all of which is profit. For Q1, the automaker says it recognized $281 million of deferred revenue, and it expects to recognize an additional $848 million during the remainder of 2024.

Tesla fans hoping to hear good news about a $25,000 Model 2 went home disappointed. While Tesla refers to "more affordable models" in its outlook, questions about a cheaper Tesla received short-shrift from the CEO, who rebuffed inquiries by saying that "I think we’ve said all we will on that front."

Rather, the company plans to continue cutting costs from its existing Model 3 and Model Y. Tesla "will use aspects of the next-generation platform as well as aspects of our current platforms, and will be able to be produced on the same manufacturing lines as our current vehicle lineup," Musk claimed.

There is still no clear timeline on when replacements for these models might appear, although Tesla has just returned the Model 3 Performance to sale . Instead of developing new models, Musk continues to maintain that Tesla's future is in AI. It spent $1 billion on GPUs in Q1—almost as much as it spent on total R&D during the same time.

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Economics and finance personal statement example 15.

Through life's experiences, I have come to realise that the economy affects almost everything in the world. Newspapers dedicate more headlines to financial issues in comparison to other topics. This has led to the realisation that without a good stable economy the world could fall to its knees, for example, the Wall Street collapse of 1929 and the more current financial crisis which started in 2007. These factors have influenced my decision to study a finance and economics related degree in university.

I have always had a keen interest in the business environment therefore the BTEC certificate in Business combined with the Certificate and Diploma in Financial Studies I am currently studying at college has provided me with valuable insight into the world of business and finance. Studying Maths at A level alongside this course has helped to increase my understanding of financial calculations, i.e. ratios and cash flow forecasts. I was pleased to be predicted an A for my A level Maths as it reflects all my hard work and dedication. The Business course has provided me with the opportunity to broaden and increase my knowledge with regards to economic and financial issues. This was through the various assignments such as starting up and financing a small business. Through research, I identified that customer satisfaction is a key priority within business organisations. Therefore in order for a business to be successful they need to keep their customers happy.

It is my strong personal belief that like the saying: "Knowledge is power", the road to success lies through education, and in the financial market, knowledge about the economy and the risks involved is crucial if you want to succeed. This has led me to admire and respect successful entrepreneurs such as Sir Allen Sugar and Stelios Haji Loanu. Personally, I would like to work for an international leading bank facing different challenges whilst working in different environments. This will give me the opportunity to deal with financial decisions that will help increase corporate value whilst managing financial risks. The desire to make my community a better place encouraged me to undertake voluntary work. My current post as a Youth Assistant worker gave me the opportunity to organise various events, with the aim of bringing the youths together. This helped to develop my team working and social skills. It was important to be able to work effectively with the other members in order for the event to be a success. In addition to this, I helped to manage the finances and ensure that our budget would cover any events or trips planned. We recently hosted a successful event called 'Black Dreams', which was aimed specifically at young black boys, and was sponsored by local government. During such events, we would socialise with the youths, something that I personally enjoyed and felt like it boosted their confidence and self-esteem. It also helped to develop valuable skills such as organisational skills and good communication skills.

During secondary school, I was actively involved in the highly recognised scheme Aim higher and I was given an award for being innovative and creative. Strong-minded, innovative, risk-taker - These are all qualities that I feel are necessary for anyone who wants to enter the financial field, especially with the world's economy as it is and are qualities that I have in abundance. In conclusion, I hope that taking this course at university will equip me with the necessary intellectual knowledge and practical skills needed when making economical or financial decisions. This will be essential for any career path within the finance and business industry.

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This personal statement was written by mscaro for application in 2011.

mscaro's university choices Aston University Brunel University Oxford Brookes University

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

Degree Economics, Finance and Banking at Nottingham Trent University

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Ted Cruz granted extension on FEC personal finance statement; Democrats pounce

Cruz, a two-term republican, has downplayed the podcast revenue controversy, but democrats keep hammering the issue..

Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, seeking a third term in the November election against well-financed Dallas Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, has been granted permission by the Federal Election Commission to extend his deadline to file his required personal financial statement from mid-May to Aug. 14.

The extension, published on the FEC's website , comes as Cruz is attempting to fend off allegations that hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds from his podcast "Verdict with Ted Cruz" are being directed to a political action committee supporting his reelection.

"Senator Cruz appears on Verdict three times a week for free,” the campaign told the American-Statesman in an email.

Cruz does the podcast with co-host Ben Ferguson and according to its homepage offers a behind-the-scenes analysis "of the political debates that define our country."

The Senate Ethics Committee in February found that Cruz did not violate federal law in connection with his podcast and the political action committee. But last week, two campaign finance watchdog groups asked the FEC to investigate their allegations that Cruz had violated the Federal Election Campaign Act after iHeartMedia, a San Antonio media company that publishes "Verdict," made deposits to a super PAC connected to Cruz's reelection campaign.

More: Ted Cruz, Colin Allred each raise $9 million-plus over three months in US Senate race

The payments were reported as "digital revenue" or "digital income" as opposed to campaign contributions.

The Cruz campaign did not directly address a question from the Statesman about whether the delay in filing the personal financial statement was related to the podcast controversy. Cruz has received 10 extensions during his time in the Senate. Allred has received four since entering Congress in 2019.

But a spokesman for the Texas Democratic Party pounced on Cruz's latest delay, which means the details contained in the statement won't be available for public review until less than three months before the Nov. 5 election.

“With his shady podcast scandal getting worse by the day, it’s no surprise that Ted Cruz wants to keep his finances out of Texans’ view for as long as possible," party spokesman Ryan Radulovacki said in an emailed statement. "Texans deserve answers, a full investigation, and a U.S. Senator — not a full-time podcaster — who’s committed to actually delivering for Texans."

The Allred campaign said the three-term congressman, who is forgoing reelection in a safe Democratic district this year to challenge Cruz, plans to meet the May 15 deadline for filing his statement.

The disclosures, required annually, offer the public a glimpse of how members of Congress earn and invest money outside of their $174,000 annual government salaries.

Cruz's 2022 statement shows that he was given a $500,000 advance for the book he was writing and that he had hundreds of thousands of dollars in investments through sundry mutual funds and corporate stocks. He and his wife, Heidi, also owed between $1 million and $5 million on a home mortgage that carried an interest rate of 2.65% for the first seven years and an adjustable rate thereafter.

Allred's 2022 statement showed tens of thousands of dollars invested in treasury bond and equity funds. The amount owed on Colin and Aly Allred's home mortgage ranged from $250,000 to $500,000. The interest rate was not reported.