Course coordinator
Dr Chris Bell
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Brisbane City
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This course will allow students to build an intuitive understanding of the key financial concepts, tools and frameworks to better communicate with key stakeholders to further your career. Emphasis is placed on placing rigour in an impactful and practical context to analyse financial problems and devise solutions. Real world and real-time examples of events and developments are analysed and interwoven throughout the course to enhance skills relevant to managing financial problems in challenging environments.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are assumed to have a basic level of capability in accounting, mathematics and statistics as follows:
Accounting: Working knowledge of financial statements, the difference between cash flows and accounting entries and using accounting statements to undertake stock price evaluations as taught in ACCT7804.
Mathematics: Basic algebra, powers and exponents, log functions. A maths primer/review workshop will be available prior to the commencement of the course.
Statistics: Basic concepts of mean, variance and correlation.ﾠ This will be covered in the pre-course maths workshop.
Before attempting this course, students are advised that it is important to complete the appropriate prerequisite course(s) listed on the front of this course profile. No responsibility will be accepted by the School of Business, the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law or the University of Queensland for poor student performance occurring in courses where the appropriate prerequisite(s) has/have not been completed, for any reason whatsoever.
A calculator will be required for course assessments.ﾠ Only school approved calculators may be used, and a financial calculator such as the TI BAII-Plus or HP 12C is strongly recommended.ﾠ Most non-financial calculators, unless specifically programmed to do so, cannot solve some of the problems that we will cover in class.
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ACCT7804
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
FINM2401 or 2411 or 2412 or 2415 or 3401 or 7401
Restrictions
GCBA, GDipBA, MBA
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Chris Bell
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 students with a set of mathematical, statistical and analytical tools that will enable them to value financial securities, construct portfolios of financial securities, and determine the price impact that a proposed corporate investment will have on shareholder value.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate an understanding of the key global influences and trends shaping the investment management industry.
LO2.
Analyse problems to formulate and defend solutions, to achieve financial goals and objectives.
LO3.
Apply core financial principles and investment management techniques to real world examples and experience.
LO4.
Comprehend the principles of risk within the realm of finance to evaluate and recommend different strategies for mitigating these risks.
LO5.
In teams, complete a portfolio analysis based on available financial data.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation |
A1: Oral Presentation
|
20% |
31/03/2025
During Class |
| Project |
A2: Financial Evaluation
|
40% |
19/05/2025 5:30 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
A3: Real-World Financial Problem Report
|
40% |
9/06/2025 5:00 pm |
Assessment details
A1: Oral Presentation
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
31/03/2025
During Class
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
- The oral presentation consists of a 5 minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of Q&A, which will be held in class.
- You will be assessed on your: (i) written memorandum (i.e., a summary of your financial analysis), (ii) ability to present your key findings, and (iii) ability to answer questions from the audiences.
- If you are unable to attend the oral presentation, you must apply for an extension. Otherwise, penalties will be applied accordingly.
- Further details about oral presentation will be discussed in class and posted to our course Blackboard site.
In-person assessment not permitting use of AI:
- 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.
Please Note: The presentation will be recorded for marking purposes per UQ Policy
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Extensions or deferrals are not available for this presentation due to the intensive nature of the course.
Late submission
Late submissions are not accepted for in-class presentations. Failure to present at the scheduled time will result in a mark of zero.
A2: Financial Evaluation
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
19/05/2025 5:30 pm
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor.
Task description
- For this project, you will be in a team of 4 or 5 members.
- Your task will be to undertake security valuation and portfolio analysis.
- Full details, and relevant materials will be provided on the course Blackboard site and discussed in class.
Peer Review: Group members are expected to contribute equally, fulfilling the tasks agreed on. If there are disagreements in relation to team members' contributions that cannot be resolved, students must bring the problem to the attention of their Course Coordinator as early as possible. Students can elect to undertake a Peer Review process, which can influence the marks of those who do not contribute to group work.
AI STATEMENT
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
Submit via Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
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.
A3: Real-World Financial Problem Report
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
9/06/2025 5:00 pm
Task description
- In this assessment, students are required to identify a real-world financial problem that pertains to the prescribed topic(s) as indicated on the task description page on Blackboard. The selected financial problem should be current, relevant, and associated with a specific firm, industry, or market. The task involves analysing the problem using financial theories and models covered in-class and providing practical recommendations for resolving the issue.
- You will be assessed on the accuracy and clarity of answers.
- More details will be provided on Blackboard prior to the assessment release date.
AI STATEMENT
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.
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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course 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 |
|---|---|---|
O-week |
Seminar |
Pre-course maths workshop |
Week 1 |
Seminar |
The Time Value of Money Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Tutorial |
The Time Value of Money Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 2 |
Seminar |
Bond Valuation and Credit Ratings Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Tutorial |
Bond Valuation and Credit Ratings Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 3 |
Seminar |
Stock Valuation Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Tutorial |
Stock Valuation Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 4 |
Seminar |
New Project Evaluation |
Tutorial |
New Project Evaluation |
|
Week 5 |
Seminar |
ESG and Finance |
Tutorial |
ESG and Finance |
|
Week 6 |
Seminar |
Oral Presentation |
Tutorial |
Oral Presentation |
|
Week 7 |
Seminar |
Portfolio Diversification Learning outcomes: L04 |
Tutorial |
Portfolio Diversification Learning outcomes: L04 |
|
Week 8 |
Seminar |
Capital Asset Pricing Model & Weighted Average Cost of Capital |
Tutorial |
Capital Asset Pricing Model & Weighted Average Cost of Capital |
|
Mid-sem break |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
In-Semester break Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 9 |
Seminar |
Capital Structure Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Tutorial |
Capital structure and Group assignment - help session Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
|
Week 10 |
Seminar |
Group Assignment |
Tutorial |
Group Assignment - Help Session |
|
Week 11 |
Seminar |
Derivatives and Risk Management I |
Tutorial |
Derivatives and Risk Management I |
|
Week 12 |
Seminar |
Derivatives and Risk Management II |
Tutorial |
Derivatives and Risk Management II |
|
Week 13 |
Seminar |
Course Review |
Tutorial |
Course Review |
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 - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.