IFS University College

Address and Location

Peninsular House, the ifs London teaching campus, is situated in the Monument part of the capital, close to the City and surrounded by many of the world's leading financial institutions. In 2014 the institution expanded to open centres in Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.  

Background and History

The ifs School of Finance is a not-for-profit professional body and registered charity incorporated by Royal Charter. It is the UK's only provider of professional financial education able to award its own degrees. It exists to provide the financial services industry with a skilled workforce and promote a better understanding of finance among consumers.

University Accommodation

The university does not offer its own accommodation, but can help students find housing in cities with ifs facilities.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

The ifs focuses solely on financial education, providing a number of formal qualifications that include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificates and its own Executive Education awards.

Tuition Fees

Undergraduate courses currently cost £6,000 per year.

 

Financial Support: A variety of means-tested bursaries are available to undergraduates and postgraduates. Check the university website for more details.

Academic Facilities

The ifs works by providing students with virtual learning resources and all work is submitted online. The various ifs campuses provide dedicated group and project-work areas. IT provision at all sites is excellent.  

Moving On

Being focused on the finance industry, students at the ifs can take advantage of the organisation's far-reaching professional network for gaining work experience and seeking graduate employment. The organisation is also on-hand to offer careers advice to students.

The ifs was founded in 1879 as the Institute of Bankers, but didn't receive its Royal Charter until 1987. In that time, the organisation has built up a network of 30,000 finance professionals and volunteers across the globe, all of which contribute to the body's lifelong learning programme for the financial industry.

Is the ifs right for me?

For students considering a future in finance, the ifs offers the ideal means to gain the skills and knowledge needed for career success. The organisation is not a university in the typical sense of the word however - more a network of colleges and facilities to compliment work done at home. Look elsewhere for a more conventional university experience.