Module FINN1011: Foundations of Finance

Department: Finance

FINN1011: Foundations of Finance

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• Introduce the key principles of corporate finance and their importance to firms.
• Provide students with a solid grounding in issues of finance as they relate to business and financial markets.
• Provide students with foundations to build on their knowledge and understanding in level 2.

Content

• An Introduction to Finance.
• Basic Mathematics of Finance.
• Sources and Valuation of Long-term Funds.
• Investment Appraisal.
• Risk.
• The Cost of Capital.
• Financing Decisions.
• Capital Structure.
• Dividends and Dividend Policy.
• Mergers and Acquisitions.

Learning Outcomes

• Understanding of the fundamental concepts of corporate finance. 
• Appreciation of the relationship between these fundamental concepts and decision-making by practitioners and participants in financial markets.
• Knowledge of methods and applications of quantitative techniques relating to essential issues in finance.
• Appreciation of the framework in which financial issues and problems are presented, providing a foundation for appropriate analysis.

• Ability to explain and interpret key implications of fundamental concepts in corporate finance, for example relating to capital structure and dividend policy.
• Practice in the application of core mathematical skills to foundational concepts in finance, such as the time-value of money and capital budgeting.
• Critical thinking in terms of core concepts in finance and their application to real-world issues.

• Problem Solving and Analysis, by applying the necessary analytical and quantitative skills, as well as the ability to demonstrate understanding and manipulate core concepts in finance.
• Numeracy, by applying core mathematical and statistical skills to answer a range of questions.
• Planning and Organisation and Time Management, by revising relevant material and preparing for the assessment.
• Computer Literacy, by accessing and downloading teaching material from Learn Ultra, undertaking bibliographical searches, and information retrieval for classes and assessment.

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

• Teaching is by lectures and seminars.
• Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in seminar classes and private study.
• Formative assessment is by means of an online multiple choice test and an online assignment.
• Summative assessment is by means of a multiple choice test in term and an assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Multiple choice tests and an online assignment

■ 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