Fundamentals of FinTech and Financial Innovation
Develop workplace-ready skills to thrive in the financial services industry. Learn on demand and earn 10 UK Level 7 credits.
Duration
10 weeksCost
$874
Gain the skills to navigate the FinTech industry and advance in your career
The FinTech sector is in a state of rapid evolution, driven by emerging technologies, regulatory challenges, and a growing emphasis on financial inclusion and social impact.
This 10-week, flexible microcredential will help you navigate the complex and dynamic landscape of financial innovation. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be well-prepared to not only drive transformation within your organisation but also explore promising opportunities within the FinTech sector.
Work through engaging modules at your own pace, starting any time from 7 October 2024 onwards with three specified assessment hand in dates over the academic year.
Delve into financial technology
You’ll start by exploring disruptive business models in digital finance to develop your understanding of different financial technologies.
This will help you establish a strong foundation in FinTech and financial innovation.
Gain an understanding of digital payments
Next, you’ll unpack digital payments including blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and more.
With this knowledge, you’ll have a solid grasp of key trends in FinTech that can be directly applied to your professional context.
Explore the role of AI technologies in the financial industry
Artificial intelligence (AI) stands as a driving force behind the evolution of financial services.
On the microcredential, you will be able to critically appraise AI technologies and how they impact the financial industry.
Discover the impact of financial innovation
Taking a broader perspective, you’ll explore how financial innovations and new digital business models affect the economy, humanity, and the way we work, live, and play.
In this context, you’ll evaluate both the positive impacts, such as enhanced financial inclusion and literacy, and the problematic impacts, including concerns related to data privacy and social vulnerability.
This exploration will equip you with the insights to understand ongoing developments and their wide-reaching implications. It will also empower you to harness FinTech for the greater good.
Discuss aspects of financial inclusion
Towards the end of the microcredential, you’ll discuss the role of FinTech and financial inclusion, ethics, regulation, and sustainability to ensure you have a comprehensive overview of the industry.
By the end, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to understand how to use financial technology to help people, teams, companies, and societies thrive.
How will these skills help in my career?
By completing this microcredential, you’ll acquire both current knowledge to stay up-to-date with the latest FinTech insights and specialised skills in areas such as blockchain, AI, digital payments, open banking, and more.
You’ll also develop broader skills like adaptability and agility, which are crucial for navigating the ever-evolving financial services landscape.
Armed with this expertise, you can explore entrepreneurial opportunities, leveraging your deep knowledge of financial innovation to identify market gaps and launch FinTech-focused ventures.
Overall, this microcredential equips you with the knowledge, skills, and industry relevance to excel in your existing role and to chart new career paths in the dynamic world of FinTech.
How will I be assessed?
You’ll complete an individual 2000-word reflective assignment designed to review, reflect on, and apply in practice, concepts related to FinTech, financial innovation, and digital banking and finance, with an ongoing action plan.
When you feel ready, you can decide when to complete this assessment. Upon successful completion, you’ll receive your university credits once you’ve handed in your assessment on one of the following select dates:
- Monday, 3rd February 2025
- Monday, 12th May 2025
- Monday, 8th September 2025
Will I receive university credits?
You’ll receive 10 UK level 7 credits in completing this online microcredential. These credits are obtained once you’ve successfully completed your assessment on multiple, select dates.
You can use these credits to build towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Management Practice from Nottingham Business School (NBS).
Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University, is renowned for designing courses that help individuals develop career-advancing skills. It’s the perfect foundation for propelling your career forward.
What skills will you learn?
- Up-to-date knowledge: Stay current with the latest insights in FinTech and financial innovation.
- Specialised skills: Gain expertise in areas like blockchain, AI, digital payments, and open banking.
- Adaptability and agility: Navigate the changing landscape of financial services by embracing new technologies.
- Career advancement: Stand out from peers and access higher-level job opportunities in FinTech.
- Entrepreneurial opportunities: Identify market gaps, leverage emerging technologies, and launch or join FinTech-focused ventures.
Are you eligible for this microcredential?
To study this microcredential, you’ll ideally have:
- A basic understanding of financial markets and the banking system
- Interest in financial innovations of the recent past
- Experience in using web and browser based tools of various forms
- Appreciation for the interface of technology, finance, consumers, society, and sustainability
Is this microcredential right for you?
This microcredential is designed for anyone interested in understanding the rapidly evolving FinTech industry.
It is suitable for all, no matter what your experience or previous knowledge.
It will be beneficial for individuals who are working or seeking to work in the financial services industry, including bankers, regulators, investors, consultants, and entrepreneurs. It is also ideal for individuals with a background in technology, computer science, or engineering who are interested in applying their skills to financial services.
Syllabus
What happens before, during, and after your microcredential
Before learning
As a taster, you can engage with this short course from NBS.
Course
From 7 Oct 2024
Fundamentals of FinTech and Financial Innovation
Gain expertise in FinTech and financial innovation. Stay ahead in the evolving financial landscape and unlock new opportunities.
10 weeks
10 hours per week
Week 1
Introduction to FinTech and financial innovation
- Getting started
- FinTech and its evolution
- FinTech trends, global landscape and impact on financial services
- What is coming up
Week 2
Digital finance, sustainability and society
- Introduction to digital finance, sustainability and society
- Digital finance and sustainability
- Ethical considerations in digital finance
- Digital finance and society
Week 3
Digital payments and services
- Introduction to digital payment and services
- Digitalisation and payments
- Digitalisation and financial services
- Future of digital payments
Week 4
Cryptocurrencies, blockchains, and decentralised finance
- Introduction to cryptocurrencies, blockchains, and decentralised finance
- Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology
- Decentralised finance (DeFi)
- Future trends in cryptocurrencies, blockchains, and DeFi
Week 5
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in FinTech
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in Financial Services
- Applications of AI and ML in financial services
- Challenges and opportunities of AI and ML in financial services
- Future trends in AI and ML in financial services
Week 6
Big data: powering the digital economy
- Introduction to big data in financial services
- Technologies, tools and applications for handling big data in financial services
- Use cases for big data in financial services
- Formative assessment
Week 7
Digital banks and neo-banks
- Overview of digital banks and neo-banks
- Disruptive impact of digital banks and neo-banks
- Innovative products and services of digital banks and neo-banks
- Customer acquisition and retention strategies of digital banks and neo-banks
Week 8
Open banking and the API economy
- Overview of open banking
- Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) in finance
- Implications of open banking for financial services
- Security and privacy considerations in open banking
Week 9
Financial inclusion and social impact of FinTech innovation
- The concept of financial inclusion
- FinTech and financial inclusion
- Social impact of FinTech
- Ethical considerations in FinTech and financial inclusion
Week 10
Regulatory challenges and opportunities in the FinTech sector
- Overview of regulatory landscape for FinTech
- Challenges, risks and opportunities for FinTech regulation
- Course summary and conclusion
- Summative assessment
After learning
At the end of this microcredential, you’ll submit your assessment and you’ll earn 10 UK level 7 credits and a formal certificate of completion. Credits are officially obtained once you successfully complete your assessment.
What you will receive
10 UK Level 7 Credits at Postgraduate level from Nottingham Business School
Find out how credits work and where you can use them in our FAQs.
What is a microcredential?
Microcredentials are designed to upskill you for work in rapidly-growing industries, without the time and cost commitment of a full degree. Your microcredential can stand alone as an independent credential, and some also offer academic credit to use towards a degree.
Complete online courses led by experts over multiple weeks with a dedicated group of professionals.
Test your understanding with online tutor-marked assessments and exercises.
Finish your learning and pass your assessments to gain an accredited credential.
Use your microcredential as evidence of your specialised skills and progress further in your industry.
Career-focused learning by Nottingham Business School
Nottingham Business School’s (NBS) purpose is to provide research and education that combines academic excellence with positive impact on people, business and society.
Career-focused learning by Nottingham Trent University
With over 40,000 students and staff spanning five university sites, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is one of the largest and most influential higher education institutions in the country.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
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- 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
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When would you like to start?
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FAQ
We can accept payments made by card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) or PayPal via our online system.
You will have 14 days from the day the course starts to apply for a refund. If this Microcredential has any non-refundable costs they will be stated in the ‘Overview’ section above. You can find more information in our cancellation and refund policy.
Microcredentials are designed to fit around your life and timezone.
There may be live events as part of your studies, but these will be recorded and can be watched afterwards if you aren’t online for the live broadcast.
No, microcredentials are designed to be taken anywhere in the world. You won’t need the right to study in the country where the university offering the microcredential is based.
Want to know more? Read the microcredential FAQs, or contact us.