Foundations of Digital Finance and Innovation (FDFI)

Financial technology has advanced significantly in recent years, with innovations like cryptocurrency, open banking, and robo-advisers continuing to shape the way we interact with money.

With such rapid change, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest developments. But shifts in consumer preferences are changing the way financial institutions engage with their customers and leading to new ways of banking. This means that those looking to work in the industry need to understand fintech.

Our Foundations of Digital Finance and Innovation (FDFI) programme has been designed to give participants a broad understanding of the different technologies, innovations, and applications of fintech and the various ways they impact banking.

By studying this programme, students will gain the knowledge they need to embrace the digitalisation of the banking world.

Who can study FDFI?

The Foundations of Digital Finance and Innovation (FDFI) is aimed at individuals who are at the start of their digital banking and fintech career or looking to move into the field. The programme is ideal if you’re:

starting your career in digital banking and fintech
already working in banking and are preparing to take the next step in your career.

Key information

Fees

£370

Study duration

12 hours – but you have up to 12 months from registration to complete
Everything is online, so you can study at a pace that suits you

Modules

12 modules

Your studies will cover

How the financial industry is changing as a result of technological advances
The digital channels financial institutions use to engage customers
What the key technologies are when it comes to digital finance
The regulatory implications that digital technology can have for banks and financial institutions
How APIs and cloud computing are reshaping the financial services sector
How to accommodate customer needs when communicating with them via digital channels
Successful innovators in financial services develop winning products and services
How blockchain technology operates

Your programme at a glance

The Foundations of Digital Finance and Innovation is available online and you’ll learn through our virtual learning environment (VLE) Brightspace. You can access your learning on any device, anytime, anywhere. This means it’s completely flexible and can be studied according to students’ individual schedules – balancing work and life commitments.

Studying
This engaging programme consists of mixed learning materials, including short videos, recommended reading material, and mini quizzes to check progress.
Digital Certificate
Upon successful completion of the programme, you’ll be able to claim a digital certificate that demonstrates your new knowledge and can be added to your website, social media profile, and email signature.

Module information

- Learn about the key technological innovations in finance and their impact
- Understand how banking and finance has evolved to meet the needs of customers
- Explore the key drivers for disruption and how the pace of change is accelerating
- Learn how the adoption of technology is changing the behaviours, attitudes, and expectations of consumers
- Explore what these changing expectations mean for financial services organisations and the way they serve their customers
- Understand emerging customer groups and what influences their choice of provider
- Understand how banking is evolving to meet the digital needs and expectations of customers
- Learn how new entrants are seeking to disrupt the market
- Understand the impact and influence of technology giants such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon
- Learn about open banking: what is it and what does it mean for the bank and customers?
- Learn how digital technology is changing the landscape for wealth management
- Understand the opportunities and implications of Robo advisers
- Regulatory and ethical considerations
- Learn about alternative lending models and platforms
- The growth of embedded finance
- Banking as a software service – the enabler
- Understand how embedded finance transactions work
- Embedded finance – the competitive edge
- Learn why payments systems have been identified as a key fintech battleground
- Explore infrastructure innovations and opportunities
- What is mobile money and how is it changing consumer habits?
- Discover the next generation wearables and biometrics

- Learn about the regulatory environment and role of the regulators
- What are the key regulatory principles and requirements?
- Understand the impact of regulation on fintech initiatives
- Explore open banking – its implications, opportunities, and threats
- Learn about Implementation strategies
- Explore the potential impacts of cloud and APIs on traditional banking relationships and models
- Understand banking as a platform
- Discover opportunities for collaboration, product development, and customer engagement
- Understand how innovation happens – where the ideas come from and what conditions are needed for innovation to occur
- What are the innovation challenges faced by the different players; incumbents versus challengers versus fintechs?
- Explore different institutional and non-institutional approaches to innovation
- Consider case studies from other industries
- Understand the importance and impact of getting the right culture
- Develop the key skills for innovation and entrepreneurship
- Explore ways to deal with disruption
- Learn how to develop business agility
- Understand the role of data in decision making
- Explore the applications of AI and ML in banking
- Learn how banks use data to provide targeted promotions, tailored services and recommendations.
- Learn how data can be used to identify and support vulnerable customers
- Understand the principles of blockchain and its use cases
- Explore various crypto applications
- Learn about central bank digital currencies

Fees

You can register to study FDFI throughout the year.

You can also call our Customer Services team on +44 (0) 1227 818 609 or talk to them on live chat.

This programme is exclusively for corporate clients and isn’t open for individual registrations.

Registration

£370

Progression

Once you have completed the Foundations of Digital Finance programme, you can take the next step with our Certified Fintech Practitioner programme. Certified Fintech Practitioner is for early to mid-career professionals, with some experience of either banking or financial technology.

View course

Questions about our professional qualifications?

If you have any questions about our professional qualifications in finance and banking, please contact our customer services team.

Our professional qualification customer services office is open:
Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm UK time.

Foundations of Digital Finance and Innovation (FDFI)