Personal Finance Short Course

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About this course

What is the Personal Finance Short Course?

The ASDAN Personal Finance Short Course is a flexible, portfolio-based financial education course for learners aged 13 and over. It accredits between 10 and 60 hours of practical activities and financial skills development.

Learners develop their financial awareness, confidence and wellbeing by exploring everyday money management. Topics include income and expenditure, budgeting, bills and statements, saving, investing, credit and borrowing, financial planning, consumer choices and wider economic issues.

Activities can include understanding payslips, creating a monthly budget, reading bills and financial statements, recognising errors or possible fraud and comparing credit offers. Learners can explore how APR, fees and repayment terms affect the total cost of borrowing, as well as how purchasing decisions and international trade can affect people, prices and the environment.

Through practical, real-world challenges, learners develop the knowledge and critical thinking needed to make informed financial decisions. They also develop ASDAN’s six core skills: learning, communicating, decision making, thinking, team working and self-awareness.

Challenges can be interpreted and adapted to suit learners’ individual abilities, needs, interests and learning environments.

Delivery format: Personal Finance Short Course is available through Equitas, ASDAN’s digital learning platform, or in student book format. Some Equitas challenges differ from the student book version. Use one format per learner group. Equitas challenges can be downloaded.

Learner age 13+, 14+, 14–16, 14–25, 16+, 16–19, 19+, Adults
Level (indicative for non-regulated courses) Entry 3, Level 1
Key Stage Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 5
Education setting Mainstream school, Justice system (including youth offending), Further education, Community Education, EOTAS, PRU, Academy / Multi-academy trust, Voluntary sector, Training provider, Adult education, Independent school, Social services, Secondary
Guided learning hours 10–20 hours, 20–60 hours
Regulated Non-regulated course
Certification Externally certificated, digital or hard-copy (additional fee)
Location England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, International (including Channel Islands and Ireland)
UCAS points No UCAS points available
Available on Equitas No, Yes
Pathway Personal Effectiveness

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Helpful information
Equitas information booklet
Equitas how to guide
Equitas FAQs
Equitas sample challenges

Who is the Personal Finance Short Course for?

Short Courses are widely used in formal and non-formal settings, for learners aged 13 and over. Although ASDAN’s Short Courses are designed for learners working at Entry level 3 to Level 1, they can be adapted for learners working above or below these levels. The focus is on completing challenges and developing skills. 

Facts and figures 

  • Flexible programmes of learning accessible to learners at a range of levels
  • Internally moderated
  • Accredits 10–60 hours of activities
  • Can count towards up to three credits for the Personal Development Programmes
  • Can support skills development for ASDAN’s Personal Effectiveness Qualifications and may contribute to recognition of prior learning where standards are met in full 

Requirements

Each learner must have their own registration. Learners must present evidence of their activities in an organised portfolio.

This should include:

  • a record of the challenges completed, with supporting evidence
  • recording documents showing how the learner planned and reviewed their activities
  • a summary of achievement highlighting skills development
  • a personal statement.

Equitas organises evidence against each challenge within the platform.

We have created guidance for members delivering ASDAN Short Courses, including planning, requirements, quality assurance and certification.

Course content

The Personal Finance Short Course features five modules, covering:

  • Managing finances
  • Income and expenditure
  • Planning for the future
  • Making financial choices
  • International issues

Download sample pages from the Personal Finance Short Course student book

Download sample pages from the Personal Finance Short Course on Equitas

For guidance on running ASDAN Short Courses, please see our step-by-step guides:

ASDAN training supports educators to deliver this course successfully. Sessions provide an introduction, alongside guidance on planning, delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance. Training is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.

Training is included in ASDAN membership for organisations joining or renewing after 1 April 2026, excluding tailored INSET.

Book training in the members area

ASDAN members can also take part in our special interest groups. These online sessions focus on specific areas of practice and provide opportunities for discussion, collaboration and networking with other members.

All registration costs are per learner. Each learner must have their own registration. Registrations are valid for three years from the date of purchase.

Item Price
Short Course student book  £12
Short Course Equitas learner registration and digital learning platform login £12
Short Course PDF certificate  Free
Short Course printed and foiled certificate (optional, per learner, per Short Course) £3.75

Volume pricing for Equitas Short Courses

We offer scalable pricing for Short Courses on Equitas. This pricing applies only to new registrations made together in a single transaction for the same Equitas Short Course:

  • 1–9 learners: £12 per registration
  • 10–19 learners: £8 per registration
  • 20–29 learners: £6 per registration
  • 30+ learners: £4 per registration
Products

Course resources

Personal Finance Short Course - 1A3: Pay packets

This worksheet can be used to support challenge 1A3 of the Personal Finance Short Course. Learners are asked to find out the meaning of pay-related terms and explain them in their own words.

Personal Finance Short Course - 1B2: Cost of living

This worksheet can be used to support challenge 1B2 of the Personal Finance Short Course. Learners are asked to find out the cost of living in different types of accommodation.

Personal Finance Short Course - 2A4: Monthly budget

This worksheet can be used to support challenge 2A4 of the Personal Finance Short Course. It provides a template for a monthly budget and an example of a completed budget.

Personal Finance Short Course - 2A9: Plastic cards

This worksheet can be used to support challenge 2A9 of the Personal Finance Short Course. Learners are asked to find out about the different types of plastic cards.

Personal Finance Short Course - 4A6: Holidays

This worksheet can be used to support challenge 4A6 of the Personal Finance Short Course. Learners are asked to research the costs of a holiday for a family of four.

Evaluation chart (individual)

This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week individual activity. Learners are asked to mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt; at the end of the project the learner should join up the marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.

Evaluation chart (group)

This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week group activity. Each member of the group should choose a different colour and mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt. At the end of the project, each group member then joins up their marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.

Planning a group or team task

This resource can be used when planning a group or team task. It links particularly well to ASDAN's Short Course programmes.

Self-evaluation template

This generic self-evaluation template can be used by learners to evaluate almost any group activity. Learners are asked to record how they felt about the activity and pick out the best and worst bits, before reflecting on what they could do better next time. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.

Teamwork health check

This generic teamwork health check template can support a wide range of group activities. Learners are asked to come up with a list of agreed ground rules for good teamwork, then rate each group member's performance against these criteria. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.

Progression pathway
Personal Development Programmes
Personal Effectiveness Qualifications
Project Qualifications