Certificate in Financial Studies

Applications Open - 3rd October 2025

Applications Close - Open all year

Entry Requirements - Please select 3 sixth form courses for your programme.

EPQ, LIBF Finance and Core Maths are allowed in addition to your main programme of study as enrichment choices.

Please go to our school website for more details about option blocks and course information:

https://www.goodwinacademy.org.uk/learn-with-us/sixth-form/courses-and-entry-requirements/

We look forward to receiving your forms

How to Apply - Please apply via KentChoices

Level 3 Certificate in Financial Studies

This course covers the core disciplines of financial education. Students are encouraged to become responsible borrowers, sensible savers, and have an appreciation of the need for financial planning throughout their life. The qualification is a comprehensive introduction to personal finance. It develops the knowledge and skills required for you to make informed financial decisions by introducing you to the risks and challenges involved in personal finance and the tools for effective planning.

This course offers UCAS points.

Unit 1: Financial Capability for the Immediate and Short Term

Unit 2: Financial Capability for the Medium and Long Term

Key content areas

• Importance of financial capability in the immediate, short, medium and long term.
• Financial services and products, including sources of help and advice.
• Borrowing, budgeting, financial planning and cash flow forecasting.
• The impact of external influences at different stages in the personal life cycle.
• Risk and reward in managing personal finance.

Skills developed

The qualification will encourage students to:

• analyse financial information, financial services products and services and begin to make judgments about suitability for people in different circumstances;
• develop an understanding of financial concepts and terminology to enhance financial literacy;
• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and reflect;
• demonstrate numeracy skills, including the ability to manipulate financial and other
• numerical data to reflect the conceptual activity of financial maths;
• select appropriate data and information to make arguments;
• structure and communicate ideas logically and coherently; and
• increase their ability to work and learn independently.

There are 2 units which are assessed through a combination of multiple choice questions and a paper-based written response.

Part A: 35 Multiple Choice Questions (45 minute examination)

Part B: pre-release case study (105 minute examination)

GCSE grade 4-9 including Maths and English

CeFS provides a platform for progression through further or higher education and has letters of support from universities. The financially related content of this qualification provides a foundation for continued study within the finance sector and a wide range of other business-related disciplines; many students go on to study subjects such as accounting, business, finance and banking at university or through further vocational training.

CeFS is an Applied General qualification that is primarily suited to the development of a solid foundation in personal finance that underpins employment in any field of employment.