Contents

We regularly review all our courses to keep them up-to-date on issues of both theory and practice. Therefore, there may be some change to the detailed content of the modules and occasionally to module titles.

To satisfy the requirements of the degree programme students must complete:

• nine core courses
  and
• five electives
  ortwo electives and a Business Research Project

Two Induction Weeks

The International Accounting & Finance course starts with two compulsory induction weeks, focused on:

• an introduction to careers in finance and the opportunity to speak to representatives from over 75 companies during a number of different industry specific fairs.
• a refresher course of basic financial mathematics, statistics, computing and electronic databases.

Five core modules (30 hours each, unless otherwise stated)

Corporate Finance (60 hours over terms 1 & 2)

Provides a thorough understanding of the key factors affecting the valuation of a company; the financing of new ventures through initial and seasoned equity offerings; the choice between various forms of short- and long-term financing; and the interaction between corporates and capital markets. Makes extensive use of real case studies to illustrate theory and compare with relevant academic research.

International Financial Reporting and Analysis (60 hours over terms 1 & 2)

Provides an understanding of the nature of, and assumptions implicit in, the preparation of financial statements and their interpretation. More specifically, enables students to appreciate the methods, rules and assumptions underlying the preparation of published financial statements and to appraise the role of financial accounting data in the measurement of management performance through time and across companies. Based on International GAAP.

International Financial Management

This course provides the student with an integrated view of international financial markets and the management of multinational firms. Students will study the markets for foreign exchange, currency forwards, options, swaps and international equities, studying how they operate and how the instruments traded in these markets are valued.

Principles of Finance

This module will introduce the principles of asset pricing (Portfolio Theory, Capital Asset Pricing Model, Market Efficiency) and financial instruments (Fixed income securities, futures and forwards, options). Students will also gain a basic understanding of financial mathematics and an introduction to regression analysis.

Strategic Cost Management

Provides an understanding how accounting is used to support decision-making, planning, control and performance measurement within organisations. After covering key management accounting tools such as costing and budgeting, students will progress to study management control within divisionalised companies as well as developing practices such as activity-based costing and strategic management accounting.

Corporate Finance (60 hours over terms 1 & 2)

Provides a thorough understanding of the key factors affecting the valuation of a company; the financing of new ventures through initial and seasoned equity offerings; the choice between various forms of short- and long-term financing; and the interaction between corporates and capital markets. Makes extensive use of real case studies to illustrate theory and compare with relevant academic research.

International Financial Reporting and Analysis (60 hours over terms 1 & 2)

Provides an understanding of the nature of, and assumptions implicit in, the preparation of financial statements and their interpretation. More specifically, enables students to appreciate the methods, rules and assumptions underlying the preparation of published financial statements and to appraise the role of financial accounting data in the measurement of management performance through time and across companies. Based on International GAAP.

Accounting Information and Capital Markets

The aim of this course is to develop an understanding of the use of financial statements in valuing securities in international markets. The course provides tools for financial analysts, corporate managers and investment bankers to assess the fundamental value of traded securities in different markets. The course puts significant emphasis on the interactions between global capital markets and the value of the underlying real assets.

Applied Empirical Accounting

This course consists of two parts. The first is dedicated to essential concepts in statistics and econometrics. The second part present students with seminal papers in accounting and finance that will be discussed in class. This will also provide a starting point for future dissertations. This course ensures that students:

• understand basic concepts in statistics and econometrics
• understand research papers in accounting and finance discussed in the course from a conceptual standpoint
• understand statistical distributions and hypothesis testing

Business Strategy

Setting your accounting and finance skills in their broader context, this module tackles issues of strategy and resources, ethics and values that senior managers face in achieving corporate goals. Taught mainly through case studies, topics include the role of the chief executive, strategy formulation, competitive strategy, strategy implementation, ethical problems and managerial styles and values.

Five electives from the list below (18 hours each)
OR
Two electives and a Business Research Project

Electives

You may choose from a wide variety of electives. For example:

• Advanced Financial Analysis
• Corporate Restructuring
• Credit Risk
• Entrepreneurial Finance
• Financial Derivatives
• Financial Risk Management
• Fixed Income Analysis
• Forecasting
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Project Finance
• Raising Capital Equity
• Risk Management
• Security Analysis
• Visual basic
• Corporate Governance

Research Methods module

This compulsory module trains students to undertake independent research either in the context of a single organisation or by using third-party sources. It provides the necessary tools and skills to initiate, research and write up a business project and includes training in research methodology, availability of data sources, project writing, time-management and presentation skills. These skills will be invaluable to students in their future career whether or not they choose to complete a project.

Update to finance courses for 2009

Our cluster of full time finance courses has been developed over time to offer students the necessary analytical skills to work in four major areas of the finance industry - Commercial Banking, Investment Banking, Fund Management and Accounting. There is a common core of learning which runs through all of the MScs but in each case this learning is geared to a particular financial area, which is explored further through course-specific modules in order to differentiate the degrees from one another.

Previously these degrees had different modules, assessment and credit structures. In 2009/10 the structure of these degrees will be rationalised and streamlined so that they all have the same module, assessment and credit structures. It will also ensure a sharper focus on, and closer alignment with, learning outcomes, a closer matching of module titles with syllabi, a more balanced work-load for students and more regular and rigorous assessment.

As a result of the changes, the four degrees will have:

• four 15 credit modules in term one and four 15 credit modules in term two
• assessment of all term one and two modules by coursework and examination
• a total of 180 credits
• a refocusing of content
• no change to learning outcomes
• no change to term three modules or credits. Students will continue to have the choice of completing a Business Research project and 2 electives or 5 electives