Students
AFIN3010 – Issues in Applied Finance
2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Di Bu
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
10cp in ACST or AFIN units at 3000 level
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit gives students the opportunity to test how their finance skills can be applied in practice by exposure to leading industry professionals. The topics selected go beyond traditional corporate and investment finance, and include coverage of the latest issues and real world scenarios. Students will learn first hand from practitioners on current and future trends and skills required in finance to prepare them as they embark on their careers in the industry. The projects completed in the unit are carefully set in conjunction with the industry professionals, giving students the opportunity to show evidence of demonstrated learning and the application of finance knowledge from a broader perspective. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Apply theories and techniques in finance and be aware of the assumptions and limitations in practice.
- ULO2: Evaluate the real world business applications of financial concepts.
- ULO3: Work cooperatively in a group to conduct analysis and report the findings and recommendations.
- ULO4: Develop good understanding of contemporary developments in the financial sector.
General Assessment Information
Assessment criteria for all assessment tasks will be provided on the unit iLearn site.
It is the responsibility of students to view their marks for each within-session-assessment on iLearn within 20 days of posting. If there are any discrepancies, students must contact the unit convenor immediately. Failure to do so will mean that queries received after the release of final results regarding assessment tasks (not including the final exam mark) will not be addressed.
Late submissions and extensions
Tasks 10% or less – No extensions will be granted. Students who have not submitted the task prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
Tasks above 10% - No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Assignment | 25% | No | Week 5 |
| Group Assignment | 25% | No | Week 7 |
| Online Quiz | 0% | No | week 8 |
| Final Examination | 50% | No | Final Exam Period |
Individual Assignment
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 25%
The assignment will cover quantitative and qualitative analysis of a finance scenario or problem. Student will be required to submit a report of 1000 to 2000 words.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply theories and techniques in finance and be aware of the assumptions and limitations in practice.
- Evaluate the real world business applications of financial concepts.
- Develop good understanding of contemporary developments in the financial sector.
Group Assignment
Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 25%
The assignment will cover quantitative and qualitative analysis of a finance scenario or problem. Student will be required to work in a group and produce a report of 1500 to 2000 words.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply theories and techniques in finance and be aware of the assumptions and limitations in practice.
- Evaluate the real world business applications of financial concepts.
- Work cooperatively in a group to conduct analysis and report the findings and recommendations.
Online Quiz
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0.5 hours
Due: week 8
Weighting: 0%
The online quiz will consist of 5 to 10 multiple choice and / or short answer questions and will be available on iLearn. Please use the quiz result as an indicator of whether you are progressing satisfactorily in the unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply theories and techniques in finance and be aware of the assumptions and limitations in practice.
Final Examination
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Final Exam Period
Weighting: 50%
An open book online exam of 2 hours will be held during the University Examination Period.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply theories and techniques in finance and be aware of the assumptions and limitations in practice.
- Evaluate the real world business applications of financial concepts.
- Develop good understanding of contemporary developments in the financial sector.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
No prescribed textbook required
Unit Schedule
|
Week |
Lecturer |
Topic |
|
|
Week 1 |
Mahjabeen Zaman |
An overview of risks within the investments industry
|
Senior Investment Specialist - Citi Australia |
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Week 2 |
Mahjabeen Zaman |
Investment Trends in Wealth Management ES |
|
|
Week 3 |
Richard Lawson |
Quantitative investing – Part 1 |
Co-founder of InterValley Ventures an Australian venture capital firm |
|
Week 4 |
Richard Lawson |
Quantitative investing – Part 2 |
|
|
Week 5 |
Hamid Yahyaei |
Applied Fixed Income Analysis |
Specialised Lecturer & Senior Research Assistant
|
|
Week 6 |
Hamid Yahyaei |
Macro-Financial Analysis |
|
|
Week 7 |
Frank Li |
Multi Asset Portfolio Construction |
Portfolio Manager at MLC Super Fund |
|
Week 8 |
David Beaton |
Financial Modelling 1 |
Investment Director at John Laing an international originator, active investor and manager of infrastructure projects. |
|
Week 9 |
David Beaton |
Financial Modelling 2 |
|
|
Week 10 |
Anthony Passe-de silva |
Business and Industry Analysis |
Solutions Developer at ANZ |
|
Week 11 |
Mark Hancock |
Equity Analysis - 1 |
Managing Director of Precept Investment Actuaries Pty Ltd |
|
Week12 |
Mark Hancock |
Equity Analysis - 2 |
|
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook