| Unit name | Fundamentals of Finance |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ACFIM0020 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Hill |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Accounting and Finance - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will combine topics from the core areas of finance, Corporate Finance and Asset Pricing. A grounding in these areas is fundamental to an understanding of topics in finance at a more advanced level. The course will combine theory with practical exercises using MS Excel Data Analysis add-in. The intention of the empirical exercises is to help students to understand not just the theory, but also the relevance of this theory in practice.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This new course covers both asset pricing and corporate finance on the MSc. Accounting & Finance Programme. It will provide the foundation for an understanding of topics in finance covered at a more advanced level later in the course.
The course will incorporate empirical analyses to support later work on dissertations.
An overview of content
The course begins with an Introduction to important questions in finance. We then examine key aspects of both corporate finance and asset pricing: Corporations, Project Evaluation, Equity (Valuation, Return and Risk), Bonds (Valuation, Return and Risk), Capital Structure, The Impact of Financing on Value, Payout Policy
Workshop Topics
Workshops will follow the subject matter of the lectures. They will involve a mixture of practical assignments in excel, case studies and questions requiring calculation and/or discussion.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
This course provides students with knowledge of basic finance theory from connected perspectives of both corporations and investors. It allows students to apply the theory to practical exercises based in excel. Students will have access to eBooks that will provide additional exercises.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the unit students will be able to
The learning approach is interactive and applied. Workshops allow students to apply theory taught in the lectures.
The library will purchase licences to allow all students simultaneous access to the course textbooks. Exercises are available within these.
Formative assessment provides a valuable opportunity to both give and receive feedback.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
50% one-hour examination which will require students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of finance. The exam will contain a combination of qualitative and quantitative questions, which will require students to demonstrate that they understand the various models that are used to quantify credit risks. In addition, the exam will test the students’ ability to think critically and communicate effectively in writing under exam conditions (ILO1, ILO2 and ILO3).
50% coursework where students will work in teams to undertake an analysis and critically evaluate the output (ILO1, ILO2, ILO3 and ILO4).
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed by the following:
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ACFIM0020).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
