The module aims to equip you with a range of techniques, skills and knowledge to enable you to make effective strategic decisions.
Unit 1: Decision-making techniques
This unit provides an overview of macroeconomics and financial forecasting considerations. Then, having learned some basic ideas around probability, you'll be introduced to the powerful technique of decision trees. Finally, you'll learn how to evaluate business investment cases.
Unit 2: Financial markets, institutions and instruments
In this unit, you'll discover how markets operate, who the key players are and what instruments are traded within them. This will include discussions on shares, bonds, derivatives and the foreign exchange market.
Unit 3: Introduction to strategic decision-making and statistical modelling
For the first half of this unit, you'll be introduced to game theory: a method of making decisions whilst trying to predict and take account of the reactions of others. The second half is an introduction to data analysis as you learn how to handle and interpret data.
These three units will require you to study for approximately seven hours per week.
The module is designed for professionals from a wide range of contexts and backgrounds who need to actively engage with the challenges of using financial and other quantitative information for making decisions.
Your learning will take place within a tutor-facilitated group of up to 15 students. Your tutor is responsible for providing individual tuition, professional advice and support, mentoring, assessment, and regular feedback on your performance throughout the module. Online tutorials and a Day School are provided to help you revise key concepts and prepare for assessments.
Course work includes:
As well as the individual tuition provision, you'll have access to regular opportunities for engagement with other students, university library access, an extensive variety of specially written resources, mainly online and designed exclusively for this module, audio-visual material, published articles, case studies help you develop your management thinking abilities.
You will need access to Microsoft Excel (or alternative spreadsheet software). As an OU student, you will have free access to Microsoft Office 365 for the duration of your studies and for up to two years after. Excel is included in this package along with other applications such as Word and Outlook mail and 1TB of online storage with OneDrive.
You can only study this module as part of specific Open University qualifications.
B874 is a compulsory module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
Finance for strategic decision-making starts twice a year, in May and November.
This page describes the module that will start in November 2025 and May 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in May 2028.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
This is a compulsory module in our MBA and Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration programmes. It can only be studied after successfully completing the first two modules Managing in a changing world (B870) and Creating and sustaining value (B872).
Elements of this module are delivered online and include the use of real-time online discussions and an interactive whiteboard space, so time spent using a computer and the internet will be extensive. If you use assistive technology or have a hearing or speech impairment and have concerns about accessing this type of virtual environment and materials, you can visit the system provider's website for information and contact The Open University to discuss it further before registering.
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
|---|
| 02 May 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | 16 Apr 2026 | £1,830 |
| 07 Nov 2026 | 30 Apr 2027 | 15 Oct 2026 | Not yet available* |
| 01 May 2027 | 31 Oct 2027 | 15 Apr 2027 | Not yet available* |
| *This start date is open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed. We’ll publish updated 2026/27 fees and funding information on the 25th of March. |
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate tuition fee loans in Northern Ireland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.
You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:
Joint loan applications
If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.
As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average, the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.
Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
