Studies & Degrees in Banking
Banking Study Programs
Banking is the study of how banks and other financial institutions work: how they take deposits, grant loans, process payments, manage risk and invest, and how they are regulated. It is rarely a subject on its own. Most programmes are called banking and finance and draw on several disciplines; London Metropolitan University, for example, describes its degree as built on accounting, economics, investment theory, law and management.
Students learn financial accounting and the analysis of company accounts, economics and monetary policy, credit and lending decisions, financial markets and investment, risk management, banking law and regulation, and statistics and data analysis. Many include a work placement or internship, which helps when applying for graduate schemes.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degrees. In the European Higher Education Area a bachelor's degree has 180 or 240 ECTS credits; in Spain official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240. In the United Kingdom the subject is offered as a named degree, such as the BSc (Hons) Banking and Finance at London Metropolitan University. In Spain it is usually studied within a degree in business administration (ADE), economics or finance: the Instituto de Estudios Bursátiles (IEB) in Madrid, for example, combines a Grado en ADE with a master's programme in investment banking or in stock exchange and financial markets.
- Master's degrees. A master's degree usually has 90 or 120 ECTS credits in the European system, and 60, 90 or 120 in Spain. Specialisations include investment banking, corporate finance, financial markets and risk. Business schools also offer MBAs with a finance track. Ask each school what recognition its master's programme has.
- Vocational training. In Spain, the Técnico Superior en Administración y Finanzas is a higher vocational training (FP de grado superior) programme of 2,000 hours with modules such as accounting and taxation and financial management. The ministry lists administrative work in banking and insurance among its job outcomes. In England, banks take apprentices on programmes such as the Financial Services Customer Adviser Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
- Professional qualifications. Some jobs require a licence or exam after the degree. In the United States, mortgage loan officers must have a Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) licence. In the United Kingdom, graduate trainees in investment firms must pass an exam recognised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and bodies such as the Chartered Banker Institute offer professional development.
Admission
Entry requirements are set by each institution. In the United Kingdom a degree usually requires two to three A levels or equivalent; London Metropolitan University asks for a minimum of CCC in three A levels, or 96 UCAS points from an equivalent qualification. In Spain, the higher vocational programme is open to holders of the Bachiller or an equivalent qualification, among other routes.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 81 active schools for banking. Spain has 16, the United States 10 and the United Kingdom nine. Greece, Italy and Slovenia have three each, and Australia, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Nicaragua, Belgium and the Czech Republic two each.
In Spain the list includes the IEB in Madrid and EU Business School Barcelona. Examples elsewhere are London Metropolitan University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Pasadena City College in the United States, the American College of Thessaloniki in Greece, GEA College in Slovenia, Masaryk University in Brno, the University of Wollongong in Australia, Baku Business University in Azerbaijan and the Universidad de Ciencias Comerciales in Managua. The language of instruction depends on the country and the school; international business schools in non-English-speaking countries often teach in English.
Careers
Banking graduates work in retail branches, corporate and investment banking, risk and compliance departments, central banks and supervisors, and in the finance departments of other companies. Typical roles are customer adviser, loan officer, credit and risk analyst, financial analyst, relationship manager and branch manager. The UK National Careers Service notes that most degrees are accepted for graduate management schemes in banks, and that people also start in customer service roles and work their way up to assistant manager and manager.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows how the sector is changing. It projects employment of tellers, who process routine transactions and typically need a high school diploma, to decline 13 percent from 2025 to 2035. Employment of loan officers is projected to grow 1 percent over the same period, that of financial analysts 7 percent and that of financial managers 10 percent. Financial managers typically need a bachelor's degree and five years or more of experience in another business or financial occupation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a banking degree to work in a bank?
Not necessarily. According to the UK National Careers Service, most degrees are acceptable for graduate management schemes, although subjects such as business management, accounting, economics, finance, law and maths give an advantage.
What is the difference between banking and finance?
Finance is the broader field: it covers how companies, investors and governments raise and manage money. Banking concentrates on the institutions that take deposits, lend and provide payment and investment services. Most degrees teach both.
How long does a banking degree take?
A bachelor's degree has 180 or 240 ECTS credits in Europe, and 240 in Spain, which corresponds to four academic years. A master's degree adds 60 to 120 ECTS credits.
Is there a route into banking without university?
Yes. Spain has a 2,000-hour higher vocational programme in administration and finance, and banks in England take apprentices. In the United States, tellers typically need a high school diploma and are trained on the job.