Why work with the CISI?
Our partnerships with education centres enable educators and the professional sector to work together to disseminate knowledge and careers insight to encourage and develop the next generation of financial services talent.
Our qualifications, approved for delivery at Level 2 and Level 3 can be embedded into your curriculum and aims to develop students’ knowledge of the financial services sector and its functions and challenge them to think about implications for their own personal finance decisions.
Level 2
Award in Fundamentals of Financial Services
(Total Qualification Time: 101 hours)
Level 3
Certificate for Introduction to Securities & Investment +
(A/S Level Equivalent - Total Qualification Time: 201 hours)
Ofqual regulated qualifications are marked +
Recognition & employability
Our certificates are recognised by banks and organisations as the preferred professional qualifications for professional practitioners.- Up to 24 UCAS points can be gained (CertISI).
- Free CISI Student membership – students are associated with a chartered professional body and are able to take advantage of an extensive range of benefits.
- Recognition for the overall highest achieving student(s) each year at our prestigious Annual Awards Ceremony, held at Mansion House, in the heart of the City of London.
Accessible & affordable
- Flexible teaching structure and the functionality to hold exam testing at your school/college.
- Provision of teaching materials.
- Educational bursaries are available for those that qualify.
Connections & opportunities
- Our connections with financial services organisations, our 45,000 members and our branches in your local area can offer you added value and the opportunity to build partnerships, via practitioners to support classroom teaching, career presentations or mentoring.
- Links with over 20 UK and international universities which we’ve recognised as leading institutions in financial services education.
Current centres delivering CISI School and College Qualifications
Connect your students to a career in financial services
If your school is interested in joining our network please contact our Education Development team:
+44 20 7645 0714
educationdevelopment@cisi.org
Our team will help you through the registration process and where applicalble, will arrange an accreditation visit. Once your school/college is registered, you will be recognised as a centre accredited to teach and assess CISI qualifications.
CISI Level 2 Award in Fundamentals of Financial Services
View the factsheet
Learning objective
To provide an understanding of financial services and an overview of key concepts and terminology relating to it.
Students will gain a broad insight into the fundamental components of the financial services sector. This would include looking at different types of banks, commonly used financial products, such as shares, bonds and insurance, as well as an introductory understanding of markets and how they work.
Syllabus summary
- Ethics and integrity in financial services
- Introduction – saving and borrowing
- Banking
- Equities
- Bonds
- Derivatives
- Markets
- Other areas of financial services
View the syllabus
Assessment and Cost
- Total Qualification Time: 101 hours (Total Qualification time is a term that Ofqual require awarding organisations to use. It is an estimate of the total time a candidate might typically take to complete the qualification. It includes Guided Learning Hours and any other time a candidate is likely to spend in studying for the qualification.)
- Flexible delivery - Can be offered over one academic year or offered as a shorter course
- Online exam graded pass/fail
- £70 per candidate (includes workbook, up to two exam sittings and access to the Revision Express e-learning package)
CISI Level 3 Certificate for Introduction to Securities & Investment
(A/S Level equivalent - Total Qualification Time: 201 hours)
(This qualification will be withdrawn from the academic year commencing in September 2022. The last academic year for delivery will be September 2021 to July 2022)
View the factsheet
The Certificate is gained by achieving two units:
Financial Products, Markets & Services
Extended Project (Certificate)
Declared purpose
The CISI Level 3 Certificate for Introduction to Securities & Investment (Qualification Number: 500/6267/0) is a qualification within the area of financial services (Accounting & Finance). It has been specifically designed to be taught in schools and colleges to equip post 16 learners with a broad range of transferable knowledge and skills gained through applied learning to enable progression into Higher Education or employment.
The qualification will provide candidates with an introduction to the financial services sector with a focus on investments. It will also enable candidates to expand their skills in planning, collecting, analysing, managing, evaluating and presenting information. It consists of two mandatory units which candidates must achieve in order to complete the qualification.
It supports progression to a range of finance and business related higher education courses when combined with other qualifications.
Subjects which will complement this qualification are Mathematics, Economics, and Business Studies.
The Certificate is regulated by Ofqual as a level 3 qualification on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
Progression to higher education
The Certificate for Introduction to Securities & Investment is recognised by higher education institutions as fulfilling entry requirements to a range of finance and business related higher education courses when combined with other qualifications, including:
Referencing
It is a requirement of the Extended Project that all reference sources and their annotation in the project report should follow a consistent referencing format for texts, journals, website pages etc.
Candidates are free to choose their own system of referencing, however the following links to the Harvard referencing system may be useful for you.
Warwick University Library:
Guide to Referencing Styles
Supporting documentation
CISI Level 3 Diploma in Finance, Risk & Investment (DipFRI - Final Year of Delivery from September 2018)
(A Level equivalent - Applied General - Total Qualification Time: 364 hours)
Learning objective
To provide an understanding of the key characteristics, mechanisms and influences on financial markets and institutions. Students will gain an insight in to data analysis, investment appraisal and accounting and the role and responsibility of financial services in society.
Declared purpose
The CISI Level 3 Diploma in Finance, Risk & Investment is an Applied General Qualification within the area of financial services (Accounting & Finance). It has been specifically designed to be taught in schools and colleges to equip learners with a broad range of transferable knowledge and skills gained through applied learning to enable progression into Higher Education or employment.
The qualification will give candidates an understanding of the key characteristics, mechanisms and influences on financial markets and institutions, and includes a grounding in data analysis, investment appraisal, accounting and the role and responsibility of financial services in society as a whole.
It supports progression to a range of finance and business related higher education courses when combined with other qualifications.
The Diploma is regulated by Ofqual as a level 3 qualification on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
Qualification structure
The Diploma is gained by achieving four units:
Unit 1
Money, Economies & Uncertainty**
Unit 2
Investment Decision Making, Accounting & Governance**
Unit 3
Financial Products, Markets & Services
Unit 4
Extended Project (Diploma)
** On successful completion of Units 1 and 2, a candidate will achieve the CISI Level 3 Certificate in Finance, Risk and Decision-Making (Total Qualification Time: 163 hours)
Supporting documentation
Teaching Resources and Support for Student Learning
For Schools
Classroom resources
- Complimentary teacher copy of the CISI text books for each qualification
- Sample exam papers
- Teaching materials, including slides and activities
- Exemplar projects and full guide to teaching, marking and administering the unit
Teacher Membership
Financial services practitioner presentations
- Where possible, we can contact CISI members in your local area to arrange for them to come in and talk to your students about working in the professional sector
For Students
Resources
- CISI textbook
- Access to our Revision Express e-learning tool for computer-based tested units
- Free access to member only areas of the CISI website, as well as free Student membership of the CISI, including member benefits
Exemption from professional qualifications
Career Insight
Get into Finance
- Get into Finance is a who, what, why and how introduction to financial services. The guide includes case studies as well as CV and interview advice.
Costs & Funding
Qualification Costs
The CISI is committed to making its courses accessible, we provide students in full-time education with a 50% discount. The breakdown of costs (including the discount) per student is as follows:
| Level 2 Award in Fundamentals of Financial Services (for 16-19 year olds) |
Exam fee |
Workbook price |
Total cost |
| Fundamentals of Financial
Services |
£30.00 |
£40.00 |
£70.00 |
Level 3 Certificate for Introduction to Securities & Investment (CertISI)
|
Exam fee |
Workbook price |
Total cost |
| Financial Products, Markets & Services |
£40.00 |
£40.00* |
£120.00
|
| Extended Project |
£40.00 |
n/a |
Students benefit from one free exam resit for all modules.
Government Funding
The qualifications are listed as eligible for funding as defined under Section 96 of the Department for Education's (DfE) Learning and Skills Act 2000. Search for these qualifications on the Learning Aim Reference Application:
- Award in Fundamentals of Financial Services - 60134847
- Award for Introduction to Investment - 50107823
- Certificate for Introduction to Securities & Investment - 50062670
CISI Educational Bursary
The CISI's Educational Trust sponsors a bursary scheme for students aged 16-19 studying at schools or colleges undertaking CISI qualifications. An award can be made for a maximum of two pupils at each centre teaching CISI qualifications per academic year, a maximum of 30 weeks at £30 per week, per student, a total of £900.
Financial Products, Markets & Services
Learning Objective
To provide a basic introduction to the financial services sector with a focus on investments. Students will learn the nature and purpose of the retail and wholesale (professional) sectors, the main products they sell to customers and market structures for the trading of equities, debt, commodities and derivatives.
Syllabus Summary
| Financial services |
The financial services sector and key investment distribution channels within it, distinguishing between retail and professional business. |
| Economic environment |
Understanding financial assets and markets. |
| Financial assets and markets |
How a company is formed and the differences between private and public companies. |
| Equities |
The main types of equities and the advantages and disadvantages of investing in different types of equities. |
| Bonds |
The main types of bonds and their characteristics. |
| Derivatives |
The main types of derivatives and their characteristics. |
| Investment funds |
The different types of investment funds and their characteristics. |
| Financial services regulation |
Financial services regulation and its application. |
| Taxation, investment wrappers and trusts |
An overview of investment wrappers, taxation and trusts. |
| Other retail financial products |
Characteristics of other retail financial products such as loans, mortgages and life assurance. |
Assessment
- 50 multiple choice questions delivered by Computer Based Testing
- one-hour examination
- 50 marks
- 40% of Cert ISI
- Externally assessed
- Available all year round
- £80 per candidate (Includes workbook, two exam sittings and access to the Revision Express e-learning tool)
Course Duration
Financial Products, Markets & Services
Learning Objective
To provide a basic introduction to the financial services sector with a focus on investments. Students will learn the nature and purpose of the retail and wholesale (professional) sectors, the main products they sell to customers and market structures for the trading of equities, debt, commodities and derivatives.
Syllabus Summary
| Financial services |
The financial services sector and key investment distribution channels within it, distinguishing between retail and professional business. |
| Economic environment |
Understanding financial assets and markets. |
| Financial assets and markets |
How a company is formed and the differences between private and public companies. |
| Equities |
The main types of equities and the advantages and disadvantages of investing in different types of equities. |
| Bonds |
The main types of bonds and their characteristics. |
| Derivatives |
The main types of derivatives and their characteristics. |
| Investment funds |
The different types of investment funds and their characteristics. |
| Financial services regulation |
Financial services regulation and its application. |
| Taxation, investment wrappers and trusts |
An overview of investment wrappers, taxation and trusts. |
| Other retail financial products |
Characteristics of other retail financial products such as loans, mortgages and life assurance. |
- 50 multiple choice questions delivered by Computer Based Testing
- one-hour examination
- 50 marks
- 40% of Cert ISI
- Externally assessed
- Available all year round
- £80 per candidate (Includes workbook, two exam sittings and access to the Revision Express e-learning tool)
Course Duration