Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2025-2026

Module FINN42315: Corporate Finance and Operational Risk

Department: Finance

FINN42315: Corporate Finance and Operational Risk

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2025/2026 Module Cap None.
Tied to N2P209

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

    Aims

    • To provide a rigorous grounding in the theory and practice of corporate finance at an advanced level, and a thorough synthesis of the most important current research in corporate finance, with an emphasis on the applications of the principles. Both normative and positive aspects of the theory are examined, together with supporting descriptive and empirical evidence. Develop students' ability to master the knowledge and understanding at an advanced level of the means by which technology and operational risks can be managed.

    Content

    • An Introduction to Corporate Finance and Corporate Governance;
    • Capital Structure;
    • Cost of Capital;
    • Payout Policy;
    • Company Valuation;
    • Operational and Technology Risks
    • Operational risks and effective versus ineffective management
    • Cyber/physical threats and the threat environment

    Learning Outcomes

    Subject-specific Knowledge:
    • have advanced knowledge and critical understanding of essential components of modern corporate finance and associated current research;
    • have explored, understood and appreciated the complexity and contradictions of the current relevant academic literature and its implications for professional practice, and be able to identify open questions for their own research.
    • Advanced knowledge and critical understanding of technology and operational risks, cyber/physical threat landscape.
    Subject-specific Skills:
    • have the ability to learn and work independently in corporate finance, exercising critical judgement and discrimination in the resolution of complex problematic situations;
    • be able to use highly specialised and advanced technical, professional and academic skills in the analysis of relevant specific problems in corporate finance;
    • be able to apply problem solving and analytical skills to issues in corporate finance in a complex specialised context.
    • be able to holistically understand the governance and managerial aspects of tech, cyber/physical and operational risks.
    Key Skills:
    • Written Communication;
    • Planning, Organising and Time Management;
    • Problem Solving and analysis;
    • Using initiative;
    • Numeracy;
    • Computer Literacy

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

    • A combination of lectures, workshops and guided reading will contribute to achieving the aims and learning outcomes of this module.
    • The summative assignment will test students' knowledge and critical understanding of the material covered in the module, their analytical and problem-solving skills.

    Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

    Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
    Lectures 10 1 per week 2 hours 20
    Workshops 4 1 per fortnight 1 hour 4
    Preparation and Reading 126
    Total 150

    Summative Assessment

    Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
    Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
    Written Assignment 2500 words 100% same

    Formative Assessment:

    Work prepared by students for workshops; answers to questions either discussed during a workshop, or posted on Blackboard. Verbal formative feedback will be given to students as a group throughout the workshops.


    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