Foundations of FinTech (FNCE30012)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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As part of the University’s response to COVID-19 and the associated Government restrictions and guidelines, most subjects will continue to be delivered online in Winter and Semester 2.
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.

Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.

Overview

Availability
Semester 2
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Technology has been transforming the financial industry, with the potential to disrupt traditional industry structure and practice. The subject is organised around a number of real‐world issues, in order to introduce fundamental underlying economic (including money, moral hazard, property rights and bank runs) and psychological (including engagement, trust and privacy) problems, and how technology could provide transformative solutions to those problems (e.g., big data, distributed ledgers, artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing). Cases will illustrate the core concepts. The emphasis is on foundations, so students will be able to apply the learned concepts in novel situations.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Identify fundamental economic and psychological issues behind real‐world problems in the financial sphere
  • Determine how major advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are applicable to finance problems
  • Demonstrate basic knowledge of techniques in artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • Demonstrate knowledge of major trends in Fintech
  • Distinguish disruption from mere computerisation
  • Acquire skills to solve practical financial problems
  • Learn to think outside the box
  • Critically evaluate new ideas and their implementation
  • Recognise opportunities to innovate

Generic skills

  • High level of development: problem solving; critical thinking; interpretation and analysis
  • Moderate level of development: statistical analysis; algorithm development
  • Some level of development: programming

Last updated: 13 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
FNCE10002 Principles of Finance
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
or
Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
FNCE20001 Business Finance
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

and

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
ECOM20001 Econometrics 1
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
or
Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
No longer available
or
Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
ECON20005 Competition and Strategy
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Recommended background knowledge

Investments analysis; hands‐on experience with programming; exposure to computing (e.g., through taking COMP 10001 in CIS)

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 13 March 2025

Assessment

Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Eleven in‐class quizzes not more than 50 words each

  • 550 words
From Week 2 to Week 1220%

Two individual homework assignments not more than 400 words each

  • 800 words
From Week 4 to Week 920%

Two individual term project papers not more than 800 words each

  • 1600 words
From Week 8 to Week 1240%

Two-hour end-of-semester examination

  • 2 hours
Hurdle requirement: To pass this subject students must pass the end of semester examination.		During the examination period20%

Last updated: 13 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    Principal coordinatorFelix Fattinger
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hoursOne 2‐hour lecture per week plus one 1‐hour tutorial per week
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020
    Last self-enrol date14 August 2020
    Census date21 September 2020
    Last date to withdraw without fail16 October 2020
    Assessment period ends27 November 2020

Last updated: 13 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 13 March 2025