Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook
This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Postgraduate Handbook 2019-2020 (archived)

Module BUSI45T15: CORPORATE FINANCE (ONLINE)

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI45T15: CORPORATE FINANCE (ONLINE)

TypeLevelCreditsAvailabilityModule CapLocation
Tied 4 15 Available in 2019/2020 Durham

Tied To

  • N1KY07: Entrepreneurship (Part-time) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2012-2013 for details)
  • N1N107: Entrepreneurship (for students entering in April 2014 only) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2017-2018 for details)
  • N2K307: Management (Part-Time) (for students entering between Oct 2010 - Oct 2012) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2018-2019 for details)
  • N2K507: Management (for students entering between Oct 2013 - Oct 2014) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2018-2019 for details)
  • N5K107: Marketing (Part-Time) (for students entering between Oct 2010 - Oct 2012) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2017-2018 for details)
  • N5K407: Marketing (for students entering in April 2013 only) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2016-2017 for details)
  • N5K507: Marketing (for students entering from April 2014) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2016-2017 for details)
  • N6K107: Human Resource Management (Part-time) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2012-2013 for details)
  • N6K207: Human Resource Management (for students entering from October 2013) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2016-2017 for details)

Pre-requisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations

  • 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 via online learning, divided up into study weeks with specially produced resources within each week. Resources vary according to the learning outcomes but normally include: video content, directed reading, reflection through activities, opportunities for self-assessment and peer-to-peer learning within a tutor-facilitated discussion board. Tutors provide feedback on formative work and facilitate discussion board communication as well as being available for individual consultation as necessary (usually by email and Skype). ï‚§
  • The summative assessment of the module is designed to test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge and critical understanding, and skills of application and interpretation within the business context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
Video content, directed reading, self-assessed assignments and guidance for further reading 150
Total 150

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Takeaway assessment 100% Takeaway assessment 3000 words (maximum) 100% Same

Formative Assessment

A written assignment of 1,500 words, or its multimedia equivalent, which may involve some group work.


Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.