Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance)

Faculty of Business and Logistics
Programme Title (Arabic) البكالوريوس في إدارة الأعمال
(تخصص الأعمال المصرفية والمالية)
Acronym / Abbreviation* BBUS (Banking & Finance)
Nature Major
Programme Code BBS8030 Programme Duration 4 Year/Cycle Programme Level Level 8
Programme Credits 480 Award Category Bachelors
Effective From 2023/2024 Sem 1
Owner School of Business
Professional Body
Professional Body Recognition Status Effective From Interim Date Professional Bodies Contact Person Evidence
Employability Skills Yes 04/01/2021   CIMA   https://www.cimaglobal.com/Starting-CIMA/Starting-CIMA/Exemptions/Exemption-Search/Bahrain-Polytechnic-13011/?qualification=1-62MR67Z
Target Groups*
High School Graduates
International Students
Unemployed
Qualification Completion Requirements Criteria

Awarded where candidates have met all of the requirements below:

  • Successful completion of all courses listed in Schedule A 

  • Achieve the Bahrain Polytechnic General Qualification Requirements as found in Policy A/AB/004, Naming and Awarding Qualifications:

    • One National Requirements – Arabic Couse;

    • The two National Requirements courses;

and

  • Completion of courses to accumulate a minimum of 480 credits from any Bahrain Polytechnic Qualification;

Programme Overview*

The Banking and Finance program is developed to prepare the students for a career in commercial and investment banking, trading and brokerage firms or risk management, consulting as well as onto further advanced academic or professional study such as MBA or CFA. 

The Banking and Finance program is based on a general business curriculum (covered in Year 1 and 2) that provides a solid foundation in a broad range of business disciplines, which widen students’ ability to think strategically, and which enhance their employability.

In year 3 and 4, the students will start to specialize in the field of finance to cover advanced topics such as corporate finance, investment, derivatives, financial risk management, behavioral finance and Islamic Finance.

 
Entry and Selection*

General entry requirements such as secondary school achievements, English and Mathematics are described in the Student Admission Policy A/AB/010. Specific entry requirements for this qualification, beyond those described in the Student Admission Policy are as follows:

  • Academic

    • Applicants must demonstrate competence in English and in Mathematics. These requirements may be met by:

      • The successful completion of:

    AP4203 English 2

    AP4101 Mathematics 2 or similar

 

  • or passing English and Mathematics Selection Tests at the required level.

 

  • Applicants who do not meet all of the entry criteria above may be considered for special or provisional entry.

 
Selection and Criteria and Process*

Where there are more applicants who meet the programme entry criteria than can be accepted, the following shall be used:

  • Selection Criteria

Preference will be given to students who have successfully completed the Foundation programmes at Bahrain Polytechnic and have clearly demonstrated an aptitude for Business and a commitment to their study.

Results from programme entry tests will be used to select students with the highest likelihood of successfully completing the degree programme.

 

  • Selection Process

Applicants may be required to attend an interview.

Consideration of work experience and prior educational achievement may be used.

 

 
Major Selection Criteria*

All students must have completed, or be exempted from, 210 credits from courses listed in Schedule A inclusive of:

  • 45 credits of English courses
  • BU6009 Introduction to Finance
  • BU6005 Introduction to Accounting
  • BU6007 Introduction to Economics

Where there are more applicants for a major than places available, priority for selection will be made using combined GPAs for courses as set out as follows:

  • BU6005 Introduction to Accounting
  • BU6007 Introduction to Economics
  • BU6009 Introduction to Finance
  • BU6013 Business Mathematics
 
Accreditation / External Approval Requirements*

Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance) is CIMA accredited program and the graduates will be exempted from the following courses under CIMA qualification: 

  1. BA1 Fundamentals of Business Economics
  2. BA2 Fundamentals of Management Accounting
  3. BA3 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
  4. BA4 Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law

For more information visit CIMA exemption database website : https://www.cimaglobal.com/Starting-CIMA/Starting-CIMA/Exemptions/Exemption-Search/ 

 
Attendance Requirements*

Attendance requirements are described in the policy Student Attendance A/AB/006.

 
Qualification Overview*

The qualification encompasses an initial two years full-time academic study in the broad Business disciplines at NQF levels 6 and 7, followed by two years full-time academic study of specialist study at NQF levels 7 and 8.  The intention is to build up core knowledge in a range of areas including marketing, accounting, finance, quantitative techniques, research methods, economics, management, information systems and law; to develop general academic capacity, introduce sociological and ethical issues in business, and prepare for a chosen specialist field of study. The specialist area of study in Banking and Finance runs over the final two years and comprises courses that are designed to develop students’ abilities to think and operate strategically within the finance arena. In the final year, this knowledge is consolidated in the form of the capstone industry project where students operate in a fully authentic setting as professionals on a current finance issue that a partner company is dealing with. The industry project requires the learners to develop solutions towards authentic business needs underpinned by general and specialist theoretical argumentation.

 

 
Qualification Aim*

The qualification aims to develop work-ready, skilled Banking and Finance graduates who are aware of the ethical and professional standards required of finance professional. Banking and Finance graduates will have the latest finance techniques, business concepts and relevant employability skills to be adaptable in the workplace in Bahrain and internationally. They will have the professional competencies and finance skills required to effectively solve problems and apply critical analysis to make informed business decisions.  They will have the skills that enable them to work effectively in teams and to clearly present their ideas in written and oral forms to a range of audiences.

 
Graduate Pathways and Destination*

In Bahrain the majority of employment opportunities for marketing graduates will come from the private sector, parts of the semi-government sector undergoing transformation as well as SME’s and family businesses who are ‘corporatising’ their business models. Dr Jarmo Kotilaine, Bahrain Economic Development Board highlighted the scale of the market in Saudi Arabia and the range of opportunities the Eastern Province offers for graduates willing to move or commute.

Diagram 2.6A provides for essentially two progression opportunities for graduates – into employment or into post-graduate study.

Postgraduate Study – MBA or Master in Finance 

Employment

Completing Professional Qualifications (e.g.CFA )

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Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance ) Major, Years 3 and 4

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Bachelor of Business, Years 1 and 2

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Secondary school graduates

Foundation 

Workforce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employment

This programme prepares students for careers or employment opportunities and not limited to the following list: 

  • Commercial banker

  • Commodities trader

  • Corporate banker

  • Portfolio analyst

  • Investment banker

  • Securities analyst

  • Stock broker

  • Corporate treasury

 

The programme should achieve widespread international recognition and allow students to progress to further fields of study, including:-

  • Professional Certifications in Financial Analysis or Investment such as CFA 

  • Masters in Finance or MBA. 

 
Other Information*

Employability Skills Generic Definition:

Communication

Communicate in ways that contribute to productive and harmonious relationships across employees and customers.

Team work

Work effectively independently and in collaboration with others.

Problem solving

Think critically and respond appropriately to changing needs within a growing and diversifying economy.

Initiative and enterprise

Apply resourcefulness, innovation and strategic thinking to a range of workplace situations.

Planning and organisation

Plan and manage their working lives.

Self management

Demonstrate self discipline and adaptability, and be able to plan and achieve personal and professional goals.

Learning

Understand the need for and engage with continuous learning throughout the lifespan.

Technology

Utilize information technology effectively and ethically in their personal and professional lives.

 

 

Programme Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this programme the learner will be able to :

Description
Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of core business concepts and a broad understanding of the changing business environment
Evaluate business perspectives and adapt strategies to deal with varied (defined and some undefined) business contexts
Solve organizational financial challenges using portfolio management theories
Manage organizations’ funds effectively through knowledge of the key financial factors and the methods of managing funds
Apply the fundamentals of circulation of money, credit and investment in order to ensure appropriate organizational growth
Contend with financial securities transactions with local, regional and international frameworks
Apply government and economic policies and comply with financial parameters set by the regulators
Practice as a professional using 21st century skills

Semester Schedules

Year 1 / Semester 1

Core
Course Code Title
BU6008 Applied Communication
EL6003 English Skills A
BU6005 Introduction to Accounting
BU6004 Introduction to Management

Year 1 / Semester 2

Core
Course Code Title
BU6013 Business Mathematics
EL6005 English Communication Skills 4
BU6007 Introduction to Economics
BU6001 Introduction to Marketing

Year 2 / Semester 1

Core
Course Code Title
BU6009 Introduction to Finance
BU6010 Management Information Systems
NR National Requirements
BU6006 Quantitative Business Methods
Optional
Course Code Title
NR-Arabic National Requirements- Arabic

Year 2 / Semester 2

Core
Course Code Title
BU6015 Business Analytics
BU7003 Business Law
BU6011 Business Research Methods
BU7002 Human Resource Management

Year 3 / Semester 1

Core
Course Code Title
BU7300 Corporate Finance
BU8300 Financial Risk Management
BU7302 Investment & Portfolio Management
Elective
Course Code Title
BU7400 Financial Accounting

Year 3 / Semester 2

Core
Course Code Title
BU8301 Derivatives & Alternative Investments
BU7301 Money and Banking
BU6012 Project Management
Elective
Course Code Title
BU7306 Financial Technology

Year 4 / Semester 1

Core
Course Code Title
BU7305 Financial Markets and Institutions
BU8302 International Finance
BU8306 Islamic Finance and Takaful
Elective
Course Code Title
BU8305 Behavioral Finance

Year 4 / Semester 2

Core
Course Code Title
BU8099 Cooperative Industry Project Business