University Centre Leeds is set to launch a new undergraduate degree programme aimed at preparing students for careers in the rapidly expanding financial technology, or FinTech, industry.
The new BSc (Hons) Financial Technology course is scheduled to begin in September and will offer students a three-year programme combining finance and accounting fundamentals with training in programming, data analysis and software development.
The institution said the course is designed to equip learners with both technical expertise and practical skills increasingly sought by employers across banking, financial services, start-ups and technology-driven businesses.
The launch comes as the FinTech sector continues to experience rapid global growth, with West Yorkshire emerging as a major hub for financial and professional services in the United Kingdom.
In 2024, University Centre Leeds’ parent organisation, Luminate Education Group, partnered with the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges and Whitecap Consulting to examine how colleges could better support workforce needs in the region’s financial and professional services sector.
The resulting Financial and Professional Services Skills Blueprint found that despite West Yorkshire institutions offering more than 280 professional services courses, graduates from colleges remain underrepresented in recruitment pipelines within the industry.
Becky Fores said the new programme aims to close that gap and create stronger pathways into employment.
“Driven by the growth of financial services in the region, Leeds is fast becoming a FinTech hub,” Fores said.
“Our new Financial Technology course will bridge the gap between computing and financial services, supporting students’ next steps by embedding key regulatory knowledge within the programme and therefore aiding the transition into employment in this vibrant sector,” she added.
University officials also highlighted the role of partnerships in shaping the programme, including collaboration between Luminate Education Group and FinTech North, which seeks to strengthen employer engagement and align education with labour market demands.
The Financial Technology course has been designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of financial markets while developing expertise in emerging technologies through hands-on experience in purpose-built computer suites using advanced digital platforms and software.
University Centre Leeds delivers higher education courses while also supporting further education institutions under Luminate Education Group, including Leeds City College, Leeds Sixth Form College, Pudsey Sixth Form College, Keighley College, Harrogate College and Leeds Conservatoire.
Luminate Education Group serves around 30,000 students and employs more than 2,000 staff members across its Yorkshire-based institutions.
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