Unit information: International Corporate Finance in 2027/28

Unit name	International Corporate Finance
Unit code	ACFIM0042
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Hua
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

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

The unit aims to provide an understanding of the corporate financial decision making, including both investment decisions and financing decisions. Building on the basic tools introduced in TB1 pre-requisite units, this unit explores various topics in corporate finance, with a deliberate inclusion of an international perspective. The unit offers fundamental knowledge and establishes a strong base for individuals aiming to pursue careers as advisors in the corporate division of investment banks, consultants specialising in corporate finance at consulting firms, and/or finance managers in non-financial industries, among other possibilities.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study

This unit enables students to progress from TB1 Financial management/ Finance to a more advanced level in corporate finance areas. It designed for students study on a programme with a Finance element (but not focus on finance), e.g. Accounting, finance and management and/or Economics, finance and management. This unit offers appropriate level of corporate finance content and is also beneficial for students who wish to explore a corporate finance topic for their dissertation, as it includes specific techniques and methodologies relevant to corporate finance research.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

The unit covers corporate investment and financing decisions, with a deliberate inclusion of an international perspective.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

Students will be equipped with essential corporate finance knowledge, the investment appraisal tools and the critical thinking ability, and further develop their transferable and employability skills.

Learning Outcomes

1. To discuss the key aspects of project evaluation, to demonstrate a good command of valuation methods including real-option approach, and to understand the role played by exchange rate.
2. To explain market imperfections and their implications for firms’ investment and financing decisions drawing on appropriate theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence.
3. To discuss important issues and institutional details surrounding international corporate activities, such as mergers and acquisitions and security offerings, and to analyse related issues.
4. To explain the empirical challenges in corporate finance studies in general, to recognise such challenges in some specific corporate finance related topics, and to identify the tools that can mitigate such issues.

How you will learn

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions including lectures, exercise lectures, tutorials, drop-in sessions, discussion boards and other learning opportunities.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

A group coursework (maximum 2 pages): ILO4.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

A 100% exam (2 hours): ILO1, ILO2, ILO3, and ILO4.

When assessment does not go to plan

Re-assessment is a 100% exam (2 hours), a like for like assessment.

Resources

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. ACFIM0042).

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.