Foundations of FinTech (FNCE30012)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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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

On completion of the subject, students should be able to:

  • 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

Option 1 - required subjects

One of

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
FNCE20001 Business Finance No longer available

AND

One of

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
ECOM20001 Econometrics 1
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ECON20003 Quantitative Methods 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ECON20005 Competition and Strategy
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

OR

Option 2 - alternative enrolment

Students wishing to enrol into FNCE30012 Foundations of FinTech who have not met the listed prerequisite subjects are to email the subject coordinator listed on the Dates and times page, with evidence supporting how they meet requirements. If enrolment is approved, students will be contacted. Please note, waivers are not guaranteed and the decision from the Faculty is final.

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
FNCE90084 Fintech: Foundations and Applications
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Recommended background knowledge

Investments analysis; hands‐on experience with programming; exposure to computing (e.g. through taking COMP10001 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

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 600 words each)

  • 1200 words
From Week 4 to Week 930%

One individual term project papers (not more than 800 words each)

  • 800 words
From Week 8 to Week 1220%

End-of-semester examination

  • 2 hours
Hurdle requirement: To pass this subject students must pass the end of semester examination.		During the examination period30%

Last updated: 13 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    Principal coordinatorNitin Yadav
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hoursOne 2‐hour lecture per week plus one 1‐hour tutorial per week
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period24 July 2023 to 22 October 2023
    Last self-enrol date 4 August 2023
    Census date31 August 2023
    Last date to withdraw without fail22 September 2023
    Assessment period ends17 November 2023

    Semester 2 contact information

    Nitin Yadav: nitin.yadav@unimelb.edu.au

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 13 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 13 March 2025