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Finance
Bachelor of CommerceMajorYear: 2020
Finance
Contact information
Coordinator
A/Prof. Sean Pinder
Email: finance-major@unimelb.edu.au
Currently enrolled students:
All course planning and enrolment queries must be directed to Stop 1. Major Coordinators cannot assist with these.
Future Students:
Overview
The finance major is the study of money management. Finance professionals manage assets to create wealth for investors or companies. When dealing with investments, it's about considering the time between investment and future payoff - and the risks attached to these future payoffs. The finance discipline examines how these organisations raise funds to implement investment strategies, and how they allocate these funds to a variety of investment opportunities. This involves the application of economic analysis, accounting concepts and quantitative methods to solve financial problems, assess risks and make financial decisions.
The discipline of finance covers three key areas:
- Capital markets and financial institutions refers to the operations and decisions of banks and other financial institutions, such as managed funds, and includes the optimal design of securities
- Investments and derivative securities involves financial decision making by investors; i.e., the valuation and risk characteristics of securities; the optimal construction and management of investment portfolios; and the role of financial markets in trading these securities
- Corporate finance consists of financial decision making by companies, project evaluation, capital structure (the mix of debt and equity to fund investment projects), and payout decisions (how much profit should be returned to shareholders)
These ‘core’ subject areas may be supplemented with elective subjects in financial planning (personal finance), banking, international finance, entrepreneurial finance, ethics in finance and FinTech. Studying finance will prepare you for a career in the finance sector and as finance specialists in industry and government.
Professional Recognition
The University of Melbourne is a Program Partner of the CFA Institute, which awards the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Recognition as a CFA Program Partner means the Commerce Finance major is tied to professional practice and helps prepare you for the CFA exams.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this major, students will be able to:
- Explain the rationale underpinning techniques used to make key financial decisions while employing finance theory, empirical evidence and observations from industry
- Apply theoretical and technical finance knowledge to critically analyse financial data to solve financial problems
- Exercise judgement, under guidance, to apply financial solutions
- Present and justify financial information and decisions in a manner suitable for specialist and non-specialist audiences
Last updated: 18 December 2020
Structure
37.5 credit points
To obtain a major in finance you will need to complete 25 points of level-3 core major subjects and 12.5 points of level-3 finance electives.
Subject Options
37.5 level-3 points comprising both:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNCE30001 | Investments |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| FNCE30007 | Derivative Securities |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
And one level-3 finance elective subject, chosen from:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNCE30003 | International Finance | Not available in 2020 | 12.5 |
| FNCE30004 | Asian Capital Markets | Not available in 2020 | 12.5 |
| FNCE30006 | Entrepreneurial Finance | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| FNCE30008 | Street Finance | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| FNCE30009 | Ethics in Finance | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| FNCE30010 | Algorithmic Trading | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| FNCE30011 | Essentials of Corporate Valuation |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| FNCE30012 | Foundations of FinTech | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Note:
This structure for the Finance major applies to 2017-commencing students. Students who commenced in 2016 or earlier and who have completed FNCE10001 Finance 1 and/or FNCE20001 Business Finance are required to complete FNCE30002 Corporate Finance (per the previous major requirements).
Last updated: 18 December 2020