• The Open University
  • The Open University Business School

Finance Fundamentals: Financial Services after the Banking Crisis

Explore the UK financial services landscape, how financial firms and products are regulated, and how consumers are protected.

47,626 enrolled on this course

A coin sits on top of a line graph on a piece of paper – a metaphor for the financial services industry.
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • Accreditation

    AvailableMore info

See what’s changed in the financial services industry in the last decade

The financial crisis of the late 2000s transformed the UK financial services industry. This online course takes stock and examines the industry today.

You will review the history of the industry leading up to the financial crisis; examine its institutions and the issues they now grapple with; walk down the financial supermarket aisles and see what’s changing with the products on offer; and find out how the industry is now regulated and protects consumers.

The Open University’s Centre for the Public Understanding of Finance created this course, with the generous support of True Potential LLP.

What topics will you cover?

  • The historical development of financial services in the UK
  • The 2007/08 financial crisis
  • The financial services industry after the financial crisis
  • The revisions to the regulation of the industry after the financial crisis
  • Financial products and new product offerings for consumers
  • The pensions revolution in the UK
  • How financial firms are regulated
  • How financial product sales are regulated
  • How consumers are protected and helped in the financial market place

Who is this accredited by?

EOCCS
EOCCS:

This course is accredited by EOCCS, the first international quality benchmark for online courses in business and management education.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explore the origins and development of the UK financial services industry
  • Assess and examine the UK financial services industry and the issues it faces following the 2007/08 financial crisis
  • Evaluate and review the financial products available to consumers in the financial marketplace
  • Identify and understand how financial services firms and financial product sales are regulated
  • Explore the support, advice and guidance available to financial services consumers

Who is the course for?

For further information about registration, the final assessment course, your eligibility and the BA in Business Management, visit the Open University website.

IMPORTANT! If you are aiming to use your study of courses in the Business and Finance Fundamentals program to obtain academic credit, please be aware that the final planned presentation of the Open University Assessment Course BXM191 Business and Finance Fundamentals in Practice starts October 2020. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time to obtain all eight Certificates of Achievement from courses in the program before registering for the Assessment Course. Details of runs of the relevant FutureLearn courses in 2019 and 2020 are available here.

What do people say about this course?

"The twelve weeks of the program has at times been a real learning curve extending my fairly limited knowledge of finance to provide a useful understanding and platform for the future - my appreciation to all the team."

Who will you learn with?

I am Director of the True Potential Centre for the Public Understanding of Finance (PUFin) at the OU Business School. Previously I was Treasurer of Nationwide Building Society.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

The Open University Business School

A pioneer in flexible learning for over 30 years, The Open University Business School delivers transformational, high quality business and management education which is quality assured.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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