Course coordinator
Dr Nicolas Eugster
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2026 (23/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This course provides an introduction to finance. It describes the role and function of stock markets, bond markets and foreign exchange markets. It develops an understanding of the time value of money and how organisations finance their operations, make investments and distribute profits.
This course covers a number of important concepts and provides an introduction to such topics as financial mathematics, debt and equity valuation, project evaluation with emphasis on the discounted cash flow techniques of net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR), the weighted-average cost of capital (WACC), risk, diversification and the capital asset pricing model (CAPM).
This course provides the necessary groundwork for the other finance courses offered by UQ Business School. Students should note well that theory and practical work cannot be separated. Students must understand the basics of each topic's theory in order to tackle practical problems. The course is progressive. For example, the introductory topic on the time value of money forms the necessary basis for stock and bond valuation models. Thus, the key to succeed in this course is to study consistently.
Course Changes in Response to Previous Student Feedback
In response to student feedback, the individual project has been replaced by a series of online mini-quizzes. This change is intended to reduce workload pressure, provide more regular formative feedback, and support continuous learning throughout the semester.
Course requirements
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ACCT1101 or 1110
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
FINM2401 or 2411 or 2412 or 7401 or 7805
Restrictions
Not to be studied by BAdvBus(Hons) and BAdvFin&Econ(Hons) students
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Yong Ming Chen
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full Name
- Student ID
- Course Code
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to financial management and financial analysis. Students will be introduced to financial management through exploring the principal decisions confronting the financial manager of a firm, namely the acquisition and utilisation of funds for profit, and adding value to the firm. Additionally, this course will provide a core upon which intermediate and advanced aspects of corporate finance and asset pricing can be developed.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain the objective of the firm, and apply appropriate approaches to making optimal financial decisions at individual security and portfolio levels.
LO2.
Apply the time value of money concept to various valuation problems including valuing financial assets (Shares, Bonds, Mortgages) and to make project investment decisions consistent with the firm's objective.
LO3.
Apply capital budgeting techniques and be able to critically evaluate the resulting analysis in achieving the firm's key objective.
LO4.
Understand the underlying operation of capital markets, and evaluate the risk and return in a financial context.
LO5.
Working collaboratively as a group in collecting and analyzing financial data.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation |
Team Project
|
30% |
Team presentation #1 Week 7 - Week 7 Team presentation #2 Week 12 - Week 12 Peer assessment - 2pm - 29/05/2026
Presentations will take place during class, in your allocated tutorial. Peer Assessment must be completed individually by 2:00 pm on Friday of Teaching Week 13. |
| Quiz |
Mini-Quizzes
|
20% |
Quiz 1 24/03/2026 1:00 pm Quiz 2 13/04/2026 9:00 am Quiz 3 12/05/2026 1:00 pm
The quizzes will be released approximately one week before their respective due dates, and only one attempt will be permitted for each. Your best two results out of the three quizzes will count toward your final grade. |
| Examination |
Final Exam
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026 |
Assessment details
Team Project
- Identity Verified
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
Team presentation #1 Week 7 - Week 7
Team presentation #2 Week 12 - Week 12
Peer assessment - 2pm - 29/05/2026
Presentations will take place during class, in your allocated tutorial. Peer Assessment must be completed individually by 2:00 pm on Friday of Teaching Week 13.
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed, Longitudinal, Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Students are required to work in teams of 4–5 people (preferably 5), formed with students from their allocated tutorial. Groups will be formed in Teaching Week 1.
Each team will be provided with practical issues that they must collaboratively analyse and solve outside of class time. The assessments will be introduced and explained during lecture time. Every team is expected to deliver two presentations in their allocated tutorial sessions: one in Teaching Week 7 and one in Teaching Week 12. One team member must submit the presentation slides and preparation notes to Blackboard by the end of the relevant presentation week. The specific topics and the detailed presentation schedule will be published on Blackboard.
Upon completing the team project, you must also complete the Peer Assessment individually by 14:00 on Friday of Week 13. The Peer Assessment will be used to calculate your final grade for the team project. Completing it is mandatory. If you do not submit a Peer Assessment form, you will receive a score of zero for the team project. The Peer Assessment will be completed on Blackboard and is integrated with the Blackboard teams. Further details will be discussed during the semester.
Please Note: The presentation will be recorded for marking purposes per UQ Policy.
AI use policy:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task.. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
The presentation slides and preparation notes are submitted using the course Blackboard site. For more details, refers to the "Assessment Guidelines" on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
An extension may be available for the submitted material only.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Late submissions are not accepted for the final in-class presentation. Failure to present at the scheduled time will result in a mark of zero for the presentation portion of this assessment. 10% Late Penalty applies to submitted material only
Mini-Quizzes
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Quiz 1 24/03/2026 1:00 pm
Quiz 2 13/04/2026 9:00 am
Quiz 3 12/05/2026 1:00 pm
The quizzes will be released approximately one week before their respective due dates, and only one attempt will be permitted for each. Your best two results out of the three quizzes will count toward your final grade.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
This assessment consists of three online mini quizzes, delivered as Blackboard tests. Each quiz will be available during a specified time window and may be completed from home, the library, or any other suitable location.
Each quiz will contain a mix of theory-based and calculation-based questions and will assess specific content covered earlier in the course. Only your best two quiz results will count toward your final grade for this assessment.
Further details, including availability periods, and the content and structure of each quiz, will be provided on Blackboard.
AI Statement
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
No extensions available due to the best 2 of 3. A missed Quiz will be given a result of 0.
Late submission
Exams submitted after the end of the submission time will incur a late penalty.
Final Exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
This exam is a closed book, invigilated exam, paper-based exam invigilated by UQ appointed invigilators as required by UQ and Professional Accounting organisations.
Your final exam will consist of problem-solving and short-answer questions.
More details about the final exam will be provided on Blackboard at the appropriate time.
AI use policy:
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of Generative AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Lecture |
L1: Introduction to Financial Markets/Instruments Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 2 |
Lecture |
L2: Time Value of Money (I) - Basic Mathematical Operations of Finance Learning outcomes: L02 |
Tutorial |
T1: Introduction to Financial Markets/Instruments Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 3 |
Lecture |
L3: Time value of Money (II) - Interest Rate Learning outcomes: L02 |
Tutorial |
T2: Time Value of Money (I) - Basic Mathematical Operations of Finance Learning outcomes: L02 |
|
Week 4 |
Lecture |
L4: Valuation of Shares Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Tutorial |
T3: Time value of Money (II) - Interest Rate Learning outcomes: L02 |
|
Week 5 |
Lecture |
L5: Valuation of Debts Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Tutorial |
T4: Valuation of Shares Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 6 |
Lecture |
L6: Case Study 1 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
T5: Valuation of Debts Good Friday - Public Holiday - Friday 3 April 2026 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
|
Mid-sem break |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
In-Semester Break There are no lectures or tutorials this week. |
Week 7 |
Lecture |
L7: Capital Budgeting (I) - Investment Decision Rules Learning outcomes: L03 |
Tutorial |
T6: Group Presentation Assessment: Group Presentation 1 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
|
Week 8 |
Lecture |
L8: Capital Budgeting (II) - Fundamentals of Capital Budgeting Learning outcomes: L03 |
Tutorial |
T7: Capital Budgeting (I) - Investment Decision Rules Learning outcomes: L03 |
|
Week 9 |
Lecture |
L9: Risk and Return (I) - Capital Markets and the Pricing of Risks Learning outcomes: L04 |
Tutorial |
T8: Capital Budgeting (II) - Fundamentals of Capital Budgeting Learning outcomes: L03 |
|
Week 10 |
Lecture |
L10: Risk and Return (II) - Optimal Portfolio Choice Learning outcomes: L04 |
Tutorial |
T9: Risk and Return (I) - Capital Markets and the Pricing of Risks Labour Day - Public Holiday - Monday 4 May 2026 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes. Learning outcomes: L04 |
|
Week 11 |
Lecture |
L11: Case Study 2 Learning outcomes: L04, L05 |
Tutorial |
T10: Risk and Return (II) - Optimal Portfolio Choice Learning outcomes: L04 |
|
Week 12 |
Lecture |
L12: CAPM and Estimating the Cost of Capital Learning outcomes: L01, L04 |
Tutorial |
T11: Group Presentation Assessment: Group Presentation 2 Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L05 |
|
Week 13 |
Lecture |
Revision Lecture Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Tutorial |
T12: CAPM and Estimating the Cost of Capital Learning outcomes: L01, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
- Recording of Teaching Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.