Students

ACST1001 – Finance Fundamentals

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Shane Magee
shane.magee@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit focuses on the fundamental finance skills that are essential for any successful business.
Students will examine the roles and interaction of participants in the financial system and apply financial decision-making tools to value and evaluate investment and financing opportunities. Students will also learn about risk and return, the importance of cash flows and the various financial instruments traded in global financial markets.
Students will develop fundamental finance knowledge and apply this in authentic real-world problems.
Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

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: Explain how the financial system supports and influences business decisions.
  • ULO2: Apply time value of money techniques to value financial instruments.
  • ULO3: Explain the relationship between risk and return.
  • ULO4: Use critical thinking and problem solving to make investment and financing decisions for a business

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments) 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.  

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Skills development: Financial decision-making 30% No Week 10
Skills development: Financial decisions with Excel 30% No Week 8
Formal and observed learning: Exam 40% No University examination period

Skills development: Financial decision-making

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 30%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to build an important foundational layer of expertise in financial decision making through continuous engagement with real-world financial problems.   You will reflect on your learning journey, analyse your engagement with weekly problem sets and demonstrate your ability to apply financial techniques to practical scenarios.   Skills in focus: - Discipline knowledge - Self-reflection - Time management - Goal setting   Deliverable: Reflective report [max 1,200 words excluding appendices with supporting evidence] Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain how the financial system supports and influences business decisions.
  • Apply time value of money techniques to value financial instruments.
  • Explain the relationship between risk and return.
  • Use critical thinking and problem solving to make investment and financing decisions for a business

Skills development: Financial decisions with Excel

Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 30%

 

The purpose of this assessment is to develop your proficiency in using Excel for financial analysis, enhancing your ability to apply various Excel functions and techniques to solve real-world financial problems effectively. Excel is a fundamental tool in many industries. Strong Excel skills remain a highly desirable requirement for many employers.   Students will complete Excel workshops and analyse spreadsheets with data on real-world financial problems.   Skills in focus: - Digital skills [Excel] - Analytical skills - Problem solving   Deliverable: Online workshops and Spreadsheet analysis Individual assessment.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain how the financial system supports and influences business decisions.
  • Apply time value of money techniques to value financial instruments.

Formal and observed learning: Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: University examination period
Weighting: 40%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to formally demonstrate the expertise you have gained in this unit.   You will participate in a 2-hour exam held during the University Examination period. Important information about the exam will be made available on the unit iLearn page. You should also review the MQ Exams website for general tips.   Deliverable: Formal exam Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain how the financial system supports and influences business decisions.
  • Apply time value of money techniques to value financial instruments.
  • Explain the relationship between risk and return.
  • Use critical thinking and problem solving to make investment and financing decisions for a business

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

Textbook:

Berk, J., DeMarzo, P., Harford, J., Ford, G., & Mollica, V., 2025, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 4rd Edition, Pearson, ISBN: 9780655713395. This book can be purchased from the publisher, Pearson, and is also available from the Macquarie University library.

 

Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel:

Microsoft Excel will be used in ACST1001. All Macquarie University computer labs have Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel. You can also install Microsoft Office (including Microsoft Excel) on your own devices (for free!) by following these instructions: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/software/microsoft.

 

Unit web page:

Course materials will be available on the learning management system (iLearn). It is essential that you regularly visit the unit’s web page. You will have access to the Unit Guide, announcements, supplementary reading materials, lecture and tutorial materials, and staff consultation hours here.

The web page for this unit can be found at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au. To access the web page, you need to enter your username and password and use second-factor authentication. You should contact IT Helpdesk if you need any assistance at: at: https://students.mq.ed u.au/support/technology/service- desk

 

Learning and teaching activities:

Classes for ACST1001 in Session 1 2025 comprise (1) weekly 90-minute face-to-face on-campus/live stream lectures and (2) weekly 90-minute face-to-face on-campus tutorials/online Zoom tutorials.

Unit Schedule

Week Topic
1 Introduction to financial decisions
2 The financial system
3 Tools for financial decision-making: Time value of money 1
4 Tools for financial decision-making: Time value of money 2
5 Tools for financial decision-making: Time value of money 3
6 Valuation of financial assets: Bonds
7 Valuation of financial assets: Shares
8 Risk and return
9 Firm financial decisions: Investment decisions 1
10 Firm financial decisions: Investment decisions 2
11 Firm financial decisions: Financing decisions
12 Special topics in finance
13 Revision

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:

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
13/02/2025 Update to assessment information.

Unit information based on version 2025.05 of the Handbook