The University of New South Wales

go to UNSW home page

Handbook Home

PRINT THIS PAGE
Business Finance - ATAX0157
 Library

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
   
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: ATAX Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Restricted to students enrolled in Program 5541
 
 
Excluded: ATAX0057
 
 
CSS Contribution Charge:Band 3 (more info)
 
   
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
  

Description

Business Finance is an introductory course in financial management. It stresses the modern fundamentals of corporate financial decision making with special reference to investment, financing and dividend distribution. While building upon introductory courses in accounting, economics and quantitative analysis, the course develops distinctive conceptual frameworks and specialised tools for solving real world financial problems at both the individual and corporate level. The course is a blend of theory and practice. While diligent practice will make you competent in financial techniques, a good grasp of theory will help you think systematically about ways to solve problems for which no existing techniques are suitable or currently available.

Special topics to be covered include: financial mathematics, security valuation, techniques for capital investment decisions, financial decision making under uncertainty (portfolio theory and capital market theory), corporate capital structure, cost of capital and dividend decision and policy.


Recommended Prior Knowledge

This course assumes some knowledge of microeconomics, accounting and statistics.

Course Objectives

This course seeks to develop your skills and knowledge in the following areas of financial management:
  • Evaluating investment proposals
  • Financing the chosen investment projects
  • Deciding on the distribution of profits from operations
At the conclusion of the course students should be able to:
  • understand and apply discounted cash flow valuation
  • preform valuation of securities
  • understand and apply the principals and practice of investment decision making
  • understand risk and return from an investor perspective
  • understand the cost of capital
  • comprehend capital structure dividend policy decisions
  • understand management of financial risk

Main Topics

  • Introduction to corporate finance
  • Financial mathematics
  • Security valuation
  • Net Present Value and other investment decision criteria
  • Capital budgeting issues
  • Capital market history
  • Risk and return
  • Financing
  • Cost of capital
  • Capital structure and dividend policy
  • International corporate finance
  • Derivatives and risk management

Assessment

2 Assignments
1 Exam

Course Texts

Prescribed
Information regarding the Atax Textbook Lists for Semester 1 will be available on the UNSW Bookshop website from 1 February.

Information regarding the Atax Textbook Lists for Semester 2 will be available on the UNSW Bookshop website from 1 July.

Recommended
Refer to Course Profile supplied by Lecturer.

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.