Module ECOS1021: PERSONAL FINANCE

Department: Economics, Finance and Business (Economics and Finance) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

ECOS1021: PERSONAL FINANCE

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• Provide students with knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of personal finance.
• Inform students of key concepts and issues relevant to personal financial management.
• Provide the opportunity for students to relate these concepts and issues to personal experience.
• Offer the opportunity to develop key skills.

Content

• Introduction to Personal Finance – Personal Financial Planning
• Income
• Taxes
• Expenditure and Budgeting
• Debt and Banking
• Credit Cards and Credit Scores
• Student Debt
• Savings and Investments
• Housing: Rent and Mortgages
• Pensions and Planning for Retirement
• Sharing and Caring
• Insurance
• Estate Planning
• Change and Future Trends

Learning Outcomes

• Understanding of the key theoretical and practical concepts and issues in personal finance.
• Appreciation of the impact of the functions of financial markets on personal finance.
• Knowledge and understanding the relevant regulatory environment.
• Understanding the impact of personal financial decisions on other individuals.

• Ability to manage personal finance under common constraints.
• Ability to construct a coherent financial plan.
• Ability to interpret and use relevant information provided by the financial services sector.

• Examples are provided to demonstrate how students will have the opportunity to develop the following key skills:
• Written Communication – by completing formative and summative assignments.
• Interpersonal Communication – using email to communicate with tutors and other students; discussing concepts and issues in classes with tutors and the student group.
• Oral Presentation – by active participation in class discussions and contributing to class presentations.
• Planning and Organising – by timely preparation for classes, adhering to deadlines, downloading relevant material and preparing for lectures and assessment.
• Problem Solving – by applying the necessary analytical techniques in addressing class problems and preparing assignments.
• Initiative – by searching relevant literature and other information in preparation for the formative assignment and personal portfolio.
• Computer Literacy – by word-processing the formative assignment and personal portfolio; accessing and downloading teaching material from DUO; using email to communicate with tutors and other students.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching is by leactures and seminars. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, prepearation for and participation in seminars, and private study. Formative assessment is by means of an assignment. Summative assessment is by means of a Personal Portfolio.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One assignment of not more than 1500 words.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University