Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2011-2012 (archived)

Module BUSI45T15: CORPORATE FINANCE (PT)

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI45T15: CORPORATE FINANCE (PT)

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2011/12
Tied to N2K307
Tied to N5K107
Tied to N6K107
Tied to N1KY07
Tied to N1DN07
Tied to N1DP07
Tied to N1DR07
Tied to N1DS07
Tied to N1DM07
Tied to N1D707

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To develop skills in the applying of lessons learned from international financial markets to corporate financial management;
  • To facilitate an appreciation of the governance issues facing modern corporations and the opportunity to evaluate potential solutions;
  • To provide students with a critical understanding of key financial aspects of the corporate environment and the impact of changes in that environment in an international setting;
  • To provide students with critical knowledge and understanding of the use of valuation techniques;
  • To provide students with the knowledge and understanding necessary to evaluate information from international financial markets.

Content

  • The scope of corporate finance;
  • Corporate restructuring;
  • Funding gaps: private equity and venture capital;
  • Company valuation;
  • Risk management and derivative securities;
  • Islamic finance;
  • The foreign exchange market and managing currency risk;
  • Challenges to traditional finance;
  • Financial crises.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module, students will have:
  • a specialist knowledge and understanding of the importance of corporate governance issues to the overriding corporate objective;
  • a critical understanding and appreciation of the role of corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisition and private equity in the corporate finance environment;
  • a specialist knowledge and understanding of the use of accounting and market data in the valuation of companies;
  • a specialist knowledge and understanding of the challenges to traditional finance posed by limits to arbitrage and psychology;
  • a critical appreciation of the role of derivative securities in corporate policy;
  • a critical understanding of topical issues in finance including recent financial crises and the emergence of Islamic Finance.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module, students will:
  • be able to apply a variety of valuation techniques using market and accounting data.
Key Skills:
    Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy.

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

  • The module is delivered in discrete Units. These are designed to enable the learning outcomes to be achieved through a combination of specially produced resources, directed reading, reflection through self-assessed assignments and guidance for further reading. Module tutors provide feedback on formative work and are available for individual consultation as necessary (by email, telephone, post or fax).
  • The summative assessment will involve a series of questions that test students’ critical understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply and interpret what they have learned in the module. It will be in the form of a ‘takeaway assessment’ which will be issued to students only a short time (i.e. several days) before the submission date.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Units 9 108
Tutorials 5
Preparation and reading 37
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Takeaway assessment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Takeaway assessment 3000 words (maximum) 100%
Component: Component Weighting: %
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
%

Formative Assessment:

Written assignment of 1,500 words (maximum)


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