MSc Finance & Business Analytics Programme Design. Academic Year 2014-15

MSc Finance & Business Analytics Programme Design Academic Year 2014-15

MSc Finance & Business Analytics The MSc Financial Management programme is divided into three distinct sections: The first semester of taught courses or modules (that runs from September to December with examinations in January) worth 75 credits The second semester of taught modules (that runs from February to April with examinations in May) worth 75 credits An independent study project (completed between June and July) worth 30 credits The specific modules that you take will use a wide range of different assessment methods that may include coursework, essays, multiple-choice tests, presentations and formal unseen examinations. In the second semester students have the freedom to pick an optional module from our extensive module catalogue. The School of Management is continually revising and seeking to improve the module and programme catalogue on offer. As such, this document should be taken as indicative rather than definitive and modules may be altered or withdrawn at any time. Programme Design Semester 1 Semester 2 MN-M002 Principles of Finance MN-M010 Principles of Law for Accounting & Finance MN-M003 International Financial Markets MN-M004 Financial Statement Analysis MN-M005 Quantitative Methods Part 2 MN-M502 Corporate Finance (double module) MN-M534 Data Mining MN-M535 Business Analytics MN-M501 Financial Modelling MN-D001 Independent Project

Module Code: MN-M002 Module Title: Principles of Finance Semester: TB1 Contact hours: 30 Contact Description: 10 x 2 hour lectures; 5 x 2 hour seminar fortnightly This module introduces the fundamental concepts and ideas in finance with an emphasis on the application of concepts and theories to real-world financial decisions. Students will also learn how to make use of financial databases such DATASTREAM. This module presents insights into basic principles of finance and emphasizes the application of theory to real-world financial decisions. The module provides the conceptual underpinnings for further study of finance. Time Value of Money in Business Applications Introduction to a financial system types of institutions and markets Asset valuation Equities Fixed-Income assets and markets Foreign Exchange markets and concepts Other asset classes Insurance Principal-Agent problem Adverse selection and moral hazard Efficient markets Individual coursework plan of no more than one side of A4 (5%) Individual coursework of 2500 words (25%) 2 hour unseen examination (70%)

Module Code: MN-M010 Module Title: Principles of Law for Finance Semester: TB1 Contact hours: 30 Contact Description: 10 x 2 hour lectures; 10 x 1 hour seminars The module is designed to introduce students to the key legal issues relating to companies and their sources of finance. This modules aims to develop knowledge and skills in the understanding the legal environment. Students will study legal areas relating to business in particular in relation to the formation, funding, management, administration and regulation of companies. Students will be encouraged to recognise the limitations of their knowledge and to identify those areas where specialist legal advice will be necessary. Introduction to the legal system including human rights law The law of obligations contract and tort Employment law The formation and constitution of business organisations Capital and the financing of companies Management, administration, regulation of companies The law relating to businesses in difficulties Governance and ethical issues Individual coursework plan of no more than one side of A4 (5%) Individual coursework of 2500 words (25%) 2 hour unseen examination (70%)

Module Code: MN-M003 Module Title: International Financial Markets Semester: TB1 Contact hours: 30 Contact Description: 10 x 2 hour lecture; 10 x 1 hour weekly seminar The financial sector is one of the most dynamic sectors of a modern economic system. Innovations within the financial system of developed economies have been increasingly important in recent years and they have been evolving continuously. It is, therefore, important to analyse and understand the main institutions in financial markets, and examine the nature of the financial instruments (securities) they use. This module aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of financial systems, institutions, markets and instruments. The module aims to provide: A thorough understanding of the composition of financial markets and comprehensive knowledge of the rationale behind the market structure and operations. Ability to apply theories and frameworks effectively in the analysis of contemporary financial problems at both market and firm levels; An in-depth knowledge of the various forms of financial instruments in terms of their design and use in the real market; An understanding of the key roles that financial institutions and systems play in maintaining market stability; Good understanding of risk and risk hedging principles; and The application of various models and techniques used for risk management and financial innovations. Introduction: The role of a financial system. Financial Intermediation. Risk Management Theory & strategy Central Banking and Monetary Policy. Financial regulation development of Basel committees and other regulatory bodies Financial Markets I: Conventional markets (Bond & Equity) Financial Markets II: Derivatives markets and the development Financial Markets III: The Lloyds of London Insurance Market Market structure: are markets more integrated or degraded? Revision Session Individual coursework plan of no more than one side of A4 (5%) Individual coursework of 2500 words (25%) 2 hour unseen examination (70%)

Module Code: MN-M004 Module Title: Financial Statement Analysis Semester: TB1 Contact hours: 30 Contact Description: 10 x 2 hour lecture; 10 x 1 hour seminar There is a limited amount of information available to external stakeholders of a company. It is therefore vital for the user to extract as much information as possible from a set of financial statements. Students on this module will learn the techniques used in financial statement analysis and will apply those techniques to evaluate company performance and to assess their value. The limitations of the techniques will be identified. This module aims to develop skills in interpreting financial statements and in using the information to make economic decisions and to prepare valuations. Weeks 1 3 An introduction to financial statements: The standard formats of financial statements; Elements and qualitative characteristics Recognition, measurement and presentation in the financial statements Limitations of financial statements Weeks 4 5 Accounting ratios Financial performance, financial position, gearing and investor ratios Analyse and interpret ratios to give an assessment of financial performance and financial position Limitations of ratio analysis Weeks 6 10 Valuation Discounted cash flow techniques Free cash flow Earnings Price/earnings Individual coursework plan of no more than one side of A4 (5%) Individual coursework of 2500 words (25%) 2 hour unseen examination (70%)

Module Code: MN-M005 Module Title: Quantitative Methods Semester: TB1 Contact hours: 30 Contact Description: 10 x 3 hour computer lab The module is the first embedded independent study element of the MSc Accounting and Finance suite. Quantitative Financial Analysis aims to provide students with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the quantitative techniques required in the analysis of financial data, with the skills required to perform advanced financial analysis are developed also. Practical examples and practical sessions are used to illustrate the concepts involved, and particular emphasis is given to using real data in examining and testing hypotheses concerning the properties of, and relationships between, financial series. Students will undertake an individual independent project and perform a series of analysis on a given data set. This module aims to provide students with a state-of-the-art understanding of econometric tools and their applications to real world financial data. Descriptive statistics and types of data; Distributions and hypothesis testing; The simple and multiple linear regression model: Hypothesis testing and diagnostic testing; Dynamic modelling; Examining volatility and risk. 2 x 50% individual coursework exercise on data based analysis.

Module Code: MN-M502 Module Title: Corporate Finance Level: M Credits: 30 Semester: TB2 Contact hours: 60 Contact Description: 20 x 2 hour lectures; 10 x 1 hour weekly seminars This module covers the conceptual, technical and computational aspects of corporate finance. The course provides an introduction to the key topic areas of corporate finance including portfolio analysis; the Capital Asset Pricing Model; investment appraisal; corporate governance. The aim of the module is to examine the key concepts underpinning corporate financial decision making. This module aims to enhance the students knowledge of the decisions in corporate finance to be undertaken in the business world and the role of financial markets The role and functions of a financial system The role and characteristics of financial markets and intermediaries Nature and characteristics of financial securities Capital markets and Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) Time Value of Money, Annuity and Perpetuity Investment Appraisal Methods Revision of basic statistical concepts applicable to portfolio theory Portfolio Theory - Portfolio management and simple optimisation Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) Cost of Capital - Introduction to Discounted Cash Flow Analysis Bond & Equity Valuation Capital Structure of a firm Dividends and Dividend Policy Real options and Project risk management 2 x in-class test held under exam conditions (20% each) 3 hour unseen examination (60%)

Module Code: MN-M534 Module Title: Business Analytics Semester: TB2 Contact hours: 30 Contact Description: 10 x 2 hour lectures; 10 x 1 hour seminars Business analytics as applied to big data is a game-changing opportunity for business practice. The last decade has seen an explosion in the volume of data collected by business and government providing opportunities to analyse behaviours at individual and macro- levels. The purpose of this module is to inform students as to the major concepts of business analytics both in theory and in practice from a strategic perspective. The module aims to prepare students for the analysis of large data sets in business organisations. What is big data and why is it important Big data technology Business analytics models Business analytics at the strategic level Development and deployment at the functional level Business analytics at the analytical level Data sourcing and collection Embedding an analytic approach across the organisation Information management Business analytics modelling in practice Data privacy and ethics Individual coursework plan of not more than one side of A4 (5%) Individual coursework of 2500 words (25%) 2 hour unseen examination (70%)

Module Code: MN-M535 Module Title: Data Mining Semester: TB2 Contact hours: 30 Contact Description: 10 x 2 hour lecture; 10 x 1 hour seminar The module is designed to provide students with practical and applied knowledge of how to conduct data mining activities for business and management purposes. This includes conceptual approaches and key concepts in data mining as well as the statistical and modelling techniques necessary to analyse large data sets to generate meaningful business intelligence. The module takes a data driven approach to operation of data analysis. The module aims to prepare students for undertaking analysis of large data sets, and to make students aware and informed on the benefits and applications of data mining for business or management. Introduction to data mining Data Input: concepts, instances and attributes Data output: knowledge representation (linear models, rules, trees) Simple Algorithms Statistical modelling Validation and evaluating output Applied data mining: decision trees, classification rules, association rules Extended linear modelling and prediction Data transformation 2 x Individual coursework plans of not more than one side of A4 - project report on data mining exercise (5% each) 2 x Individual coursework project report on data mining exercise (45% each)

Module Code: MN-M501 Module Title: Financial Modelling Semester: TB2 Contact hours: 30 Contact Description: 10 x 3 hour workshops This module serves as the second embedded independant study module on the MSc Accounting/Finance suite. The module aims to extend the quantitative methods module in the first semester and to provide students with practical skills relating to financial modelling and the quantitative analysis of financial data and issues. The module will support and develop the understanding of a range of financial issues covered on other modules. Students will undertake an independent analysis of a given data set. This module aims to provide an appreciation and mastery of a range of financial modelling relevant to the analysis of financial data and information. An introduction to financial modelling. An introduction to the use of Excel functions in financial modelling. The modelling of financial statements. What if analysis. Modelling risk. Visual Basic Applications (VBA) in Excel. Individual coursework plan of no more than one side of A4 (5%) Individual coursework of 2500 words (25%) 2 hour unseen examination (70%)

Module Code: MN-D001 Module Title: Independent Project Level: D Credits: 30 Semester: TB3 Contact hours: 6 Contact Description: 4 x 1-hour briefing session; 4 x 30 minute individual supervision meetings The module requires an independently researched analysis of a finance/accounting related topic (as appropriate to the programme the student is undertaking). It is intended to provide a degree of synthesis of the various course components. The student should be able to demonstrate he/she is able to apply knowledge and skills gained and that he/she has an understanding of the wider context of the programme of study undertaken. The project provides students with an opportunity to engage in independent study. Briefing/introduction The project structure/process Conducting a literature review Report writing 5% Project Proposal submitted in June. 95% Individual report of 7500 words; this is a maximum limit and is for the main text. The word limit excludes appendices (if any), and essential footnotes, but includes introductory parts and statements, the bibliography and index.

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