Best A Level Combinations for Finance

Choosing the right A Levels is an essential step if you’re thinking about a future in finance. Whether you’re aiming for investment banking, accounting, financial technology, or corporate finance, your subject choices can shape your university applications and career opportunities.

In this guide, we’ll look at the best A Level combinations for finance, including the core subjects most universities prefer, strong supporting options, and tailored subject mixes depending on your goals.

Key Takeaways

• Mathematics is essential for almost all finance-related degrees.

• Economics and Further Maths are highly valued, especially for competitive courses.

• Supporting subjects such as Business, Accounting, Computer Science, or a language can strengthen your profile, depending on your career goals.

• If undecided, choose a balanced mix (numeracy, essay, and science/social science) to keep options open.

• Strong A Level choices, combined with effective revision, set you up for university, apprenticeships, or finance careers.

Why Your A Level Subjects Matter

Finance is a broad field with many career paths, from investment banking and corporate finance to accountancy, fintech, and financial analysis. While the roles differ, they all demand strong numerical ability, analytical thinking, and clear communication.

Your A Level choices also influence your university applications: many finance-related degrees require Mathematics, and some prefer subjects like Economics or Further Maths. Even if you choose an apprenticeship or direct-entry route, having the right subject mix shows employers you have the foundations to succeed.

If you’re still weighing up your options, it’s worth reading our guide to the best A Level combinations, which explains how subject choices can shape your future opportunities.

Core A Level Subjects That Build Finance Skills

Some A Levels are particularly valuable for finance because they build the numerical and analytical skills that universities and employers expect.

• Mathematics: Essential for most finance degrees and highly valued in the workplace. Maths develops logical thinking, quantitative problem-solving, and data analysis, all of which are central to financial modelling and decision-making.

• Economics: While not always required, Economics helps you understand markets, financial systems, and how organisations make decisions. It also sharpens essay-writing and evaluation skills.

• Further Mathematics: Recommended if you’re applying to top universities or aiming for quantitative finance roles. Further Maths demonstrates advanced numerical ability and can give you an edge in competitive applications.

Together, these subjects form a strong foundation for any finance-related pathway.

Strong Supporting A Level Subjects for Finance

Alongside the core subjects, several other A Levels can strengthen your preparation and broaden your options. Certain subject choices complement Maths and Economics by building communication, commercial awareness, or technical skills.

• Business Studies: Offers practical insights into organisations and management. While some universities value Business Studies, others prefer Economics, so check the entry requirements of the institutions you’re considering.

• Accounting: Provides useful background knowledge for careers in finance, particularly for accountancy careers. However, most universities don’t require it, since they teach Accounting from scratch.

• Computer Science: Increasingly valuable in areas like financial technology and data analysis. Coding and problem-solving skills are in high demand.

• Geography: Helps in fields like global finance, development economics, and sustainability. Builds data-handling and essay-writing skills.

• Languages: French, Spanish, German, or Mandarin can be a huge asset in international finance or multinational companies.

Choosing one or two supporting subjects can make your A Level combination stand out, especially if they show skills relevant to your chosen career path.

Best A Level Combinations Based on Career Goals

Different finance careers call for different strengths. Here are some subject mixes tailored to common pathways:

For Investment Banking or High Finance

• Maths, Further Maths, Economics: Builds strong numerical and analytical ability.

• Add an essay subject (e.g. History, English Literature): Demonstrates clear written communication and critical thinking.

Top universities and competitive banking employers especially value this combination. It demonstrates strong numeracy and the ability to construct clear, persuasive arguments.

For Accounting and Auditing

• Maths, Accounting, Business Studies: Develops numerical accuracy, business awareness, and practical accounting knowledge.

• Economics: A useful alternative or addition if available.

This combination of numerical skills with business awareness keeps both university options and possible apprenticeship routes into accounting firms open.

For Financial Technology (FinTech)

• Maths, Computer Science, Economics: Combines numeracy, coding, and market knowledge.

With finance increasingly shaped by technology and data, this combination develops the technical and analytical skills required for fintech and data-intensive roles.

For Corporate or International Finance

• Maths, Economics, and a Language or Business Studies: Combines quantitative skills with commercial awareness.

A modern language is particularly valuable if you want to work in multinational companies or international finance.

What If I’m Not Sure About Finance Yet?

It’s completely normal not to know precisely which finance career you want to pursue at 16. If you’re still exploring, the best approach is to keep your options open with a balanced set of A Levels that develop a mix of transferable skills.

A safe choice is:

• Mathematics: Keeps finance, economics, and many science and social science degrees open.

• One essay subject (e.g. History, English, Geography): Builds communication, analysis, and structured argument skills.

• One science or social science (e.g. Economics, Biology, Psychology): Adds breadth and flexibility, while showing you can handle data and reasoning.

This kind of combination demonstrates numeracy, communication, and critical thinking - all transferable skills, whether or not you ultimately choose a career in finance.

Entry Requirements for Finance Degrees

Universities vary in their entry requirements for finance-related courses. Here’s a snapshot of typical preferences from leading UK universities offering finance or finance-related degrees:

Course requirements are subject to change; therefore, always check the current entry requirements for your chosen course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is A Level Economics Required for a Finance Degree?

Not always. Many universities don’t require Economics, though it’s often recommended. 

Mathematics is usually the essential subject, while Economics is a strong complement that gives you a useful context.

Can I Study Finance Without Further Maths?

Yes. Most universities do not require Further Maths, though it can give you an edge for highly competitive courses, such as Finance at LSE or Economics at Cambridge. 

If your school doesn’t offer Further Maths, universities usually take that into account.

Do Universities Prefer Accounting or Economics for Finance?

Economics is generally more widely respected, particularly by competitive universities, because it develops analytical and theoretical skills that are highly valued. 

Accounting can still be useful, especially if you’re aiming for an accountancy or auditing career path, but it’s rarely essential since most degrees teach Accounting from the ground up.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best A Level combinations for finance involves balancing your interests, university requirements, and career goals. Mathematics is essential, with Economics and Further Maths strong complements. Supporting subjects like Business, Accounting, or Computer Science can add practical or technical skills.

If you’re unsure about your exact direction, choose a balanced mix that shows flexibility — for example, combining numeracy with an essay-based and a science or social science subject. This keeps doors open for university, apprenticeships, and a wide range of finance careers.

To make your revision as effective as your subject choices, explore Save My Exams. With exam-board-specific notes, practice questions, and past papers, you’ll build the knowledge and exam technique needed to succeed, whatever finance path you ultimately take.

References:

LSE – BSc Finance (official course page) (opens in a new tab)

University of Warwick – BSc Accounting & Finance (UCAS NN34) (opens in a new tab)

University of Manchester – BA Economics & Finance (2025 entry requirements) (opens in a new tab)

University of Bath – BSc Finance (official course page) (opens in a new tab)

UCL – BSc Economics (official course page) (opens in a new tab)