This unit introduces foundational concepts in capital markets and corporate finance, equipping students for further studies in the discipline. The firm and the role of financial institutions are explored before developing important skills in financial mathematics. The unit then moves to the valuation of tradable securities and their pricing in the capital markets. The decisions firms make around capital structure and payout policy are studied. The unit concludes with an exploration of information and market efficiency. The tools of finance allow decision makers to navigate risk and uncertainty.

This unit builds on the fundamental concepts introduced in FINC5001 Foundation in Finance. The central theme in this unit is the allocation problem. Corporate investment, funds management, asset allocation and risk management all require machinery for making an allocation decision - and these decisions are often made by teams or committees. The unit begins with more advanced aspects of corporate finance leading to Excel-based applications. After considering some interesting issues in social finance and corporate governance, students study advanced bond and stock pricing models. With these techniques in hand, securities trading is then considered, and the challenges around selecting active fund managers. The unit then moves to asset management, where large pools of capital are deployed across a range of asset classes, from equity and fixed interest to private markets and commodities. After considering risk pooling and risk management, the unit finishes with a discussion of group decision making and negotiation.

Modern financial markets are at the heart of the global economy. Thus, an understanding of finance requires a global perspective. This unit of study focuses on three core ideas. First, it provides a description of the role of financial markets within the global economy using modern methods. Next, it focuses on the tools which are needed to understand finance from a global perspective. Finally, it focuses on the behaviour of market participants and how they interact in a global setting. On completion of this unit students have an understanding of financial markets and their participants and how they interact in an integrated world.

This unit covers the fundamentals of asset pricing and valuation, under equilibrium conditions and under no-arbitrage restrictions. It reviews the main themes in modern asset pricing, and introduce ideas of importance to the evolution of the discipline, and consequently of relevance to a practitioner's long term perspective. The unit emphasises quantitative methods, so students are required to have fairly strong mathematical skills. Nevertheless, the mathematical tools needed in the unit are adequately reviewed.

This unit provides an introduction to derivative securities like options, futures and swaps. These securities are derived from fundamental securities such as equities and bonds. The unit examines the nature of each type of derivative security before a thorough treatment of the pricing and use of these securities for investment management and risk management purposes.

In our highly globalised and integrated world economy, understanding international dimensions of financial management is essential for businesses. This unit provides a greater understanding of the fundamental concepts and the tools necessary for effective financial decision making by business enterprises, within a global setting.

This unit covers the concepts required for investment in fixed income securities, managing bond portfolios and understanding debt markets. Topics covered include duration, convexity, interest rate risk, bond volatility and the term structure of interest rates. The more complex types of debt securities studied include mortgage backed securities, corporate bonds with embedded options such as convertible bonds and interest rate derivatives.

This unit introduces students to the core concepts of fundamental market design and structure, focussing on the processes that turn orders into trades in securities markets, and the forces that mould and effect order flow and execution. The unit provides insights into how the study of securities market microstructure can improve our understanding of today's global financial markets in order to: (a) facilitate better financing and investment decisions; (b) understand when, where and how to transact in financial instruments; and (c) make better use of the ever increasing flow of market information. An improved understanding of today's diverse financial markets allows for successful trading strategies to be developed in different instruments and across many markets, today and in the future.

Mergers and acquisitions are a fundamental component of the corporate landscape. Through this unit students study the economic and strategic drivers of corporate restructuring activity and their use in the design and analysis of restructuring transactions; evaluate the outcomes from restructuring transactions, both the theory based explanations and the empirical tests of the theories; learn to identify and value synergies in a restructuring transaction using several valuation methods; develop a detailed understanding of the design and economic impacts of deal structures used to effect corporate restructuring transactions; and analyse the process of merger arbitrage and its contribution to the outcome of restructuring transactions. Where possible this unit integrates learning outcomes in an academic and applied context, and develops an appreciation of the regulatory environment for restructuring transactions and the impact of these regulations on the process and outcomes of restructuring transactions.

This unit applies all aspects of finance theory to the general problem of valuing companies and other financial assets. This requires a synthesis of the fundamental concepts of present value, cost of capital, security valuation, asset pricing models, optimal capital structures, derivative pricing and some related accounting concepts. The unit aims to reach a level of practical application that allows students to understand both the theoretical frameworks and institutional conventions of real-world corporate valuations. Basic valuation concepts from accounting are reconciled with the finance theory on which firm value ultimately stands. Students are asked to make extensive use of Excel or similar software in valuation exercises.

Risk is an integral part of financial decisions. Following the rapid evolution of the discipline of financial risk management, analysts must be prepared to access the level of risk in the marketplace. This unit explores the basic concepts of modelling, measuring and managing financial risks within the regulatory framework. Topics covered include market risk (value-at-risk and expected loss), credit risk (single name, portfolio, ratings and market based models, credit derivatives), liquidity risk and operational risk. To overcome the rather quantitative nature of the topics, the unit relies heavily on practical based lab exercises with emphasis on simulations, real life examples and case studies.

This unit explores the considerations when planning the financial needs of new ventures and young companies. An overview of entrepreneurial finance reviews the concepts of valuation for entrepreneurial ventures and possible funding sources from the standpoint of the founder, management team and the funder. Fundamental valuation approaches considered in corporate finance are extended to model the opportunities and the capital structure relevant to a new venture. This unit examines the process of venture capital funding and the challenges of managing and funding growth. New topics are covered in relation to the growth and exit strategies employed by entrepreneurial ventures, as well as later stage financing, including mezzanine financing and buy-outs.

The unifying theme in this unit is the application of modern finance theory to financial decision making in the management of banks and non-bank financial institutions. The subject of bank and financial institution decision-making is approached from a risk perspective. The unit objectives are to provide students with an understanding of the modern model of financial institutions and the economic functions that they perform; identify the main types of risk confronted by financial institutions; apply relevant techniques to measure and manage those risks; to provide students with the ability to critically assess the effectiveness of the techniques used by banks to manage their risks; and to provide students with an understanding of international bank management and financial services.