Bachelor of Commerce Guide 2017

University of Queensland

Bachelor of Commerce Guide

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Contents About the FMAA .................................................................................................................................... 4 2017 Executive ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2017 Sponsors ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... 7 Welcome to the Bachelor of Commerce ............................................................................................... 8 Compulsory Courses ............................................................................................................................. 12 ACCT1101: Accounting for Decision Making .................................................................................... 13 ACCT2101: Financial Reporting ........................................................................................................ 14 ACCT2102: Principles of Management Accounting .......................................................................... 15 ECON1010: Introductory Microeconomics ...................................................................................... 16 ECON1020: Introductory Macroeconomics ..................................................................................... 17 ECON1310: Quantitative Economic & Business Analysis A .............................................................. 18 FINM2401: Financial Management .................................................................................................. 19 LAWS1100: Business Law ................................................................................................................. 20 BISM1201: Transforming Business with Information Systems ......................................................... 21 MGTS1301: Introduction to Management ....................................................................................... 22 MKTG1501: Foundations of Marketing ............................................................................................ 23 RBUS3904: Integrated Commerce in Practice .................................................................................. 24 Accounting Major ................................................................................................................................. 25 ACCT3101: Auditing & Public Practice .............................................................................................. 26 ACCT3102: External Reporting Issues ............................................................................................... 27 ACCT3103: Accounting for Corporate Structures ............................................................................. 28 ACCT3104: Management Accounting .............................................................................................. 29 ACCT3105: Advanced Management Accounting .............................................................................. 30 LAWS3100: Corporate Law ............................................................................................................... 31 LAWS3101: Income Tax Law ............................................................................................................. 32 BIS Major .............................................................................................................................................. 33 BISM3222: Information Analysis & System Design .......................................................................... 34 BISM2202: Data Analytics & Information Management .................................................................. 35 BISM3203: Managing Business Data ............................................................................................... 36 BISM3208: Information Systems Strategy ....................................................................................... 37 BISM3201: Accounting Information Systems .................................................................................. 38 BISM2233: eBusiness Systems & Strategy ....................................................................................... 39 BISM2203: Business Process Management ..................................................................................... 40 BISM3205: Business Information Security ...................................................................................... 41 FMAA (UQ) – Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 2

BISM3206: Advanced Data Analytics ............................................................................................... 42 BISM3207: Managing Work in Virtual Environments ...................................................................... 43 Finance Major ...................................................................................................................................... 44 ECON2300: Introductory Econometrics ........................................................................................... 45 ECON3210: Financial Markets & Institutions ................................................................................... 46 FINM3401: Corporate Finance ......................................................................................................... 47 FINM3402: Investments & Portfolio Management .......................................................................... 48 FINM3403: International Financial Management ............................................................................ 49 FINM3404: Banking & Lending Decisions ......................................................................................... 50 FINM3405: Derivatives & Risk Management ................................................................................... 51 Elective Courses ................................................................................................................................... 52 ECON1320: Quantitative Economic & Business Analysis B .............................................................. 53

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About the FMAA The Financial Management Association of Australia (FMAA) was founded in 1990 with its first branch at the University of Melbourne. Four years later, in 1994, a second branch at the University of Sydney was established. The dynamic student body continued to enjoy strong support from its members for its highly professional reputation and in 1995, a third branch was established at the University of Queensland, followed by branches at the University of New South Wales (2009) and Monash University (2012). Today, with the continuing support of Gold and Founding Sponsor, the Macquarie Group, FMAA members continue to enjoy the genuine value that the society has strived to offer and maintain. The continued growth of FMAA has allowed it to hold the position as Australia’s largest professionally focused student organisation. At the University of Queensland (UQ), the FMAA is a student society that is affiliated with the UQ Union and hosts a number of events, with the support from a vast number of sponsors, including: • • •

• • •

Down-to-Business Luncheon Corporate Cocktails Careers in Accounting Evening

Professional Services Evening Women in Leadership Forum Firm Specific On Campus Events

These events are held throughout the year to benefit students of all levels of their tertiary education studying Commerce, Economics, Law, Information Technology, Science, Business Management and Engineering. The FMAA also facilitates competitions such as: • • •

The UBS investment Banking Challenge FMAA Management Consulting Case Competition Cornell Real Estate Competition These serve as a valuable opportunity for students to present to industry professionals and to work in teams with likeminded students. These competitions also provide constructive feedback and exposure for students to prepare them for life after graduation. For more information about the FMAA and our events and competitions, please refer to our website or Facebook page.

www.facebook.com/fmaabrisbane

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2017 Executive President

Anthony Whyte

[email protected]

Vice-President (Sponsorship)

Brandon Mein

[email protected]

Vice-President (Operations)

Jennifer Lo

[email protected]

Treasurer

Liam Duggan

[email protected]

Secretary

Samantha Jenkins

[email protected]

Events Director

Samantha Scheid

[email protected]

Marketing Director

Annabelle van der Jagt [email protected]

Publications/IT Director

Ravi Lakhani

[email protected]

Diversity Director

Brody MacGinley

[email protected]

Sponsorship Directors

Alysha Zimmermann

[email protected]



Andrew Kilner

[email protected]



Angus Kizil

[email protected]



Jack Hardy

[email protected]



Manny George

[email protected]

Sub-Executive Committee

Pranav Nagarkar

[email protected]



Joshua Kong

[email protected]



Patrick Egstorf

[email protected]



Isaac Naumann

[email protected]



Rene Arunakumaren

[email protected]



Alex Harris

[email protected]



Lex Dracakis

[email protected]



Sean McBurnie

[email protected]



Pranav Venkatachalam [email protected]









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2017 Sponsors





Financial Services



















Professional Services























Management Consulting







Other Professional Services & Organisations









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Acknowledgements The FMAA (UQ) would like to thank all those who have contributed to the guide with special mention to the following: Sean McBurnie Annabelle van der Jagt Patrick Egstorf Brody MacGinley Andrew Kilner Caitlin Chan Samantha Scheid Alex Harris Brandon Mein Andre Silva Publications Team: Ravi Lakhani Patrick Egstorf Alex Harris Josh Kong Marie To Rene Arunakumaren Isaac Naumann The FMAA (UQ) would also like to thank Mrs Sandra Lazzarini for taking the time to add her invaluable input to the 2017 Edition of the Bachelor of Commerce Guide.



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Welcome to the Bachelor of Commerce Welcome to the Bachelor of Commerce. The UQ Business School (UQBS) is committed to graduating high quality professionals. Our degree programs provide not only knowledge content and technical skills but also help students develop communication skills, analytical thinking, problem solving and team skills, as well as knowledge and respect of ethical standards. For this reason, your courses and assessment tasks will not only focus on your knowledge of the field but your ability to demonstrate capabilities in this broader range of skills. We encourage you to make the most of the opportunities to learn, enjoy the journey throughout your degree and embrace the learning activities and many resources available to you. How can we at UQBS help you succeed? The School has a number of access points for you to seek help. Through the Business, Economic and Law (BEL) Faculty, you will have access to a student advisor. Each semester you will also get to know the lecturers and tutors teaching into your courses. You are encouraged to seek their help promptly if you are having trouble with course material or other course related issues. This year the School has appointed a First Year Co-ordinator – Dr Karen Alpert. Please see Karen if you have any general issues with respect to the first year of your degree. Karen has many years’ experience at UQ, especially in teaching our undergraduates; she is friendly, approachable and a great source of information. Each discipline (referred to as ‘Clusters’) has a Cluster Leader who is also happy to meet with students. Finally, as your Bachelor of Commerce Program Leader, I am also available to assist you with any course and Program related issues as is the UQBS Director of Education. (see Contact details below) What student strategies are most likely to lead to success? 1. Enrol in courses that are required in the study plan for your degree. It is important to undertake courses in the prescribed order to ensure all prerequisite courses and skills required for subsequent courses have been undertaken. (https://bel.uq.edu.au/program-plans) 2. Attend all of your classes. It is easy to skip a class but much harder to catch up. Most classes are progressive in nature so if you miss one you are then behind for the next. Lectures are recorded however, we encourage you to use these recordings as a resource for reviewing (to help you understand details you may have missed in the lecture), or to make up for a class where you were ill. It is more time efficient to attend the lecture. 3. Read and review the lecture material within a day of the lecture. It will be a lot easier to remember the concepts, techniques introduced, and your notes if you start your revision promptly. 4. Prepare for tutorials by undertaking the required reading and doing the assigned tasks even if you are not exactly sure how. This makes for a much more interesting class and you will learn a lot more if you have tried to do the assigned tasks first. 5. Be organised - map out your contact hours and assessment dates. Plan when to start assignments and exam revision so that you can reduce your ‘time’ stress and maximise your results. Ideally, treat your degree as a full time job requiring 40 hours per week. This equates to spending 10 hours per week per course. With 3-4 hours allocated to lectures and tutorials, this leaves approx. 6 hours per week to do required reading, study and assignment preparation. FMAA (UQ) – Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 8



6. See your lecturer or tutor promptly if you do not understand the course content/material. Remember, we do not expect you to understand everything immediately. Getting things wrong initially is part of the learning process. It can take extra reading and a lot of practice of practical examples to grasp the material. 7. Make sure to check Blackboard announcements and your UQ email on a regular basis (daily). Official notices are communicated through these channels. 8. Make a habit of reading the financial press (e.g., the business section in the newspaper) – just a quick browse will help keep you informed. As you progress through your degree, you will soon appreciate just how much your understanding has improved. 9. Engage with your fellow students, form study groups, join student clubs/societies/committees, attend employment related events, have coffee and socialise. University life offers much more than just courses and programs. Fellow students form your network of peers in the future. How and when do I select a major? Your first year contains ‘core’ courses that provide you with knowledge from a range of disciplines including accounting, finance, business information systems, economics and law as well as core skills that are required in your higher-level courses. During this year, you will get a better idea of what BCom disciplines you are more interested in, you should try to attend careers events provided by the BEL Student employability Team (SET), and discuss your options with family, colleagues and advisors. Together these may inform your choice of major (Accounting, Business Information Systems, or Finance) that you will then start in your second year. (A major comprises 6 courses and the details of these choices can be found by selecting the relevant link at: https://www.uq.edu.au/study/program.html?acad_prog=2024) How can you have greater input into your program? Each degree program in the School has its own Program Student Committee e.g., the Commerce Student Committee. Through this new initiative supported by the UQBS, your nominated student representatives work closely with the relevant Program Leader sharing their collective insights and feedback regarding the overall student experience in the program, as well as other program related matters, with a view to continuously improve the program. Perhaps you would like to consider joining this student led committee. (For more information, refer to the details below) What will I do when I graduate? You have a very high chance of securing employment on your graduation, but there are ways to improve your odds. Use the first year of your degree to find your passion then undertake your major(s) in accounting, finance or business information systems and make sure to take advantage of the additional training and assistance provided by the BEL Faculty Student Employability Team (SET) and the UQ Advantage program. BEL SET is available to help you with career choice, internships, and job placement. The team organises a variety of events that provide you with first-hand information on alternative career paths, developing networking skills and interview techniques etc. (see: https://bel.uq.edu.au/team/studentemployability-team)

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I hope you all enjoy the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to seeing you on campus. Feel free to email me with any queries. Sandra Lazzarini Program Leader, Bachelor of Commerce Key Contacts: 1st year co-ordinator: Dr Karen Alpert Room 39-348 Email: [email protected] Accounting Cluster Leader: Professor John Lyon Room: 39-408 Email: [email protected] Finance Cluster Leader: Associate Professor Barry Oliver Room: 39-349 Email: [email protected] Business Information Systems Cluster Leader: Associate Professor Marta Indulska Room 37-514 Email: [email protected] Program Leader BCom: Sandra Lazzarini Room 39-424 Email: [email protected] Director of Education (Acting Sem 1/2017): Associate Professor Lisa Ruhanen Room 39a-455 Email: [email protected] Director of Education: Professor Polly Parker Room 39-326 Email: [email protected] Student Program Committee details: Website: https://business.uq.edu.au/program-committees Email: [email protected]

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2017 Program Restructure Since 2016, some courses have undergone a restructuring process. In particular, the BIS major has been undergoing a curriculum redevelopment. As a result, several courses are no longer offered and other, new courses have been added to the major. Students are urged to check their program requirements in regards to core subjects and prerequisites for continuing in their Commerce studies. In the interest of providing the Bachelor of Commerce Guide in time for subject sign-ons, FMAA strongly advises students to check the relevant course profiles and carefully read the requirements for the subjects they are undertaking. Please note some subject information is based on 2016 profiles and reviews. These subjects are indicated with a notice on the bottom of the left panel titled “Course Details”.

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Compulsory Courses

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ACCT1101: Accounting for Decision Making Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: None. Incompatible: • ACCT7020 or 7101 or 7700 or 7804 • MEBS7101 Assessment: • 2 x Online quizzes (10% each) • Project (30%) • Final Exam (50% Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator: • Ms R. Parry

Based on the 2017 Course Profile

Overview ACCT1101 provides an introduction to the accounting environment, analysis and interpretation of financial statements and other business information for the purpose of decision making. For those with no prior accounting experience, the course will introduce accounting concepts at a very manageable pace. Those with previous accounting knowledge may find content repetitive and slow. Advantages As an introductory course it can be easily learnt with consistent practice. Additionally, being confident with the material in this course will create a strong foundation for ACCT2101 and ACCT2102. In particular, being well acquainted with the different types of financial statements. This subject is a formal prerequisite for ACCT2101. Disadvantages A large bulk of the course is methodical so it can be repetitive at times. Lectures can be quite theory heavy, a fair amount of which is not required for the final exam. Tips and Tricks A lot of theory is covered in lectures, however the tutorial questions and the final exam are much more focused on practical questions, so tutorial attendance is crucial. It is easy to make mistakes in practical questions, so attention to detail is required. Also, it is essential to understand the different types of reports as the assignment and exam rely on this knowledge. Don't underestimate the amount of work required for the group assignment – make sure to get good group members and start early as the financial plan section can take some time (especially when things don't balance). In all semesters students commented that the past exam papers were very useful for final exam revision. Furthermore, the lecture slides were comprehensive and the textbook offered little value apart from for the online quizzes.

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ACCT2101: Financial Reporting Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: ACCT1101 Incompatible: • ACCT2111, 7020, 7101, 7700, 7804 • MEBS7101 Assessment: • Online Quiz (10%) • Mid Semester Exam (35%) • Final exam (55%) Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • A/Prof J. Birt (Sem 1); Dr M. Russell (Sem 2) Based on 2016 Course Profiles

Overview This course aims to familiarise students with the accounting treatment for a range of common business transactions. It also teaches students how to prepare financial statements for companies in accordance with the Australian Accounting Standards. The course begins with the fundamental introduction of the double entry accounting system that is utilized throughout the course. It then covers topics such as the income statement, current assets, noncurrent assets, liabilities, equity and the cash flow statement. Advantages Content is well taught and the lectures follow a logical progression. The bulk of the course is very methodical and easy to master with practice. Skills and knowledge gained from the course are invaluable for future courses and careers in all areas of business, finance and accounting. Disadvantages Content is cumulative so if you do not understand one part it can be difficult to move through the course. Content can be very dry and tutorial questions can become tedious Tips and Tricks Practice is key. Make sure you complete all of the lecture activities, preparation questions, and then go to the tutorial each week, to ensure you get to complete as many questions of each type as you can. This will be beneficial for both the mid semester and final exams. It is easy to lose motivation and get behind in the work – try as hard as you can to avoid this as the topics build upon each other each week. Reading the textbook complements the lectures and tutorials but isn’t needed as a main source of information. Ensure you study the accounting equation intensely in the first two weeks, as this will make all later content much easier to pick up when you have one less thing to worry about. There will be no surprises in the final exam, but ensure you practice the cash flow statements thoroughly as making a small error can lead to a big difference in the final answer which can cause unneeded stress in the exam.

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ACCT2102: Principles of Management Accounting

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: ACCT2101 or 2111 Incompatible: ACCT7107 Assessment: • Assignment • Mid Semester Exam • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Mrs S. Lazzarimi (Sem 1 and 2)

Overview This course gives an introduction to cost accounting concepts and the systems and techniques used to provide decision-making information to managers. It is divided into three parts beginning with an introduction to cost accounting. This section teaches the vocabulary used and why managerial accounting is used in today’s workplaces. The Cost Volume Profit model is also introduced. The second section teaches the various types of costing systems such as job, process, joint and activity based costing. Finally the course goes into the planning and control systems that are used by organisations. Here students learn how to prepare and interpret budgets. Advantages The skills developed in this course are very useful and applicable in workplaces and real life. The course is very enjoyable especially if you have prior experience working in a small business This course is a prerequisite for ACCT3401. Tips and Tricks The content in this course builds on itself so it is important not to fall behind. Buying the textbook for this course is important, particularly for those wishing to undertake an accounting major as it also used for ACCT3104. All of the tutorial questions are sourced from the textbook, which makes it a useful point of reference for exam preparation.

(Based on 2015 Profiles)

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ECON1010: Introductory Microeconomics

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1, 2 & Summer Prerequisites: None. Incompatible: • EC101 or 1101 or 121 Assessment: • Videogame (20%) • In Class Test (20%) • Mid Semester Exam (20%) • Final Exam (40%) Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator: • Dr M. Faravelli (Sem 1 and Summer) • Dr A. Peyrache (Sem 2)

(Based on 2017 Profiles)

Overview ECON1010 is the introductory course in Microeconomics. In order to understand the workings of markets and the economy, one has to take on an “economic mindset”. This introductory course covers the fundamental principles that economists use to understand and analyse economic behaviour. Understanding these basic principles equips students for further studies in economics and business. Topics and issues covered in this course include how individuals or firms make decisions about the demand or supply of a particular product, how we can judge the relative efficiency of different types of markets, how we explain why governments may need to intervene in a particular type of market but not in others, and how some government policies are more efficient than others. Advantages ECON1010 provides a great underlying economic base - supply, demand and equilibrium form the basis for almost every economics course that follows. The course is very well structured and has been taught for many semesters. Similarly, tutorials are excellent and the provided answers are thorough and very useful for the final exam. A low level of mathematics is required – which may provide a useful warm up/refresher for more quantitative, later courses. Both of the lecturers are very passionate and keep lectures engaging – the video game is also a unique change from other courses and not just a gimmick Disadvantages Those who have studied economics at high school may find the course very boring – similarly those coming from quantitative backgrounds Tips and Tricks The textbook that accompanies the video game can be very useful, but lecture attendance is the best way to understand the concepts involved and technical elements of the game. Having a strong knowledge of high school mathematics - linear functions in particular - will make this course very easy. Only attend PASS if struggling with the graphs or if seeking consolidation – tutorials are sufficient and represent the exams very well.

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ECON1020: Introductory Macroeconomics

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: None. Incompatible: EC100, 110 or 122 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Prof. I King (Sem 1) • Dr B. Littleboy (Sem 2) (Based on 2016 Profiles)

Overview ECON1020 aims to provide a grasp of essential macroeconomic theory and how this informs, or provides a critique of, the decisions made by governments, central banks and the private sector. Whether you are a Central Bank official striving to control inflation, a Treasury official considering the implications of a tax cut, an investment banker evaluating a debt funded acquisition, or simply an interested observer of the economic commentary appearing in the press, a firm grasp of macroeconomic theory is essential. Although this course is a steppingstone to more advanced studies, the aim is to provide a useful set of skills to people not intending further study in macroeconomics. Due to high failure rates (for a first year subject), course content has been revised to focus on fewer topics but in more depth than in previous years. Advantages Students found ECON1020 to be more interesting because it incorporates real world applications of the theory – it can improve your “dinner table conversation” ability, and help you to understand economic articles and government policy decision more clearly. The course also provides an excellent foundation for future macroeconomic courses. Disadvantages The final exam has a heavy weighting and can be challenging. At times, lecture slides can be convoluted and confusing, so attendance or listening to the recordings is crucial. Tips and Tricks Lecture, PASS Class and Tutorial attendance are all musts as different content is covered in each one, and the textbook is highly suggested. Rote learning is not possible - ensure you have a thorough understanding of all the topics and are able to analyse and explain each model well, not simply reproduce it on the page. For this reason, PASS classes are the best form of exam practice – they are very well structured and the discussion of answers with peers is very helpful. Lectures for this subject are important however weekly textbook readings and even exploring news articles is highly recommended in order to gain a full understanding of each topic. It may also be useful to pause lectures as they are delivered very well, but content heavy.

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ECON1310: Quantitative Economic & Business Analysis A

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1, 2 & Summer Prerequisites: • Maths B or • Maths C or • MATH1040 Incompatible: • EC134, 135 • CHEE3010 • MINE3214 • STAT1201, 2201 • MS101 + (MS102 OR 112) or 103, 113, 204 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam (25%) • CML Quiz (Best 5 of 6 worth 4% each) • Final Exam (55%) Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1.5hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Mr C. Sherwood (Based on 2017 Profiles)

Overview ECON1310 is an introductory course in quantitative analysis for business and economics. The course covers a variety of techniques applicable to the presentation, interpretation and use of data. The main emphasis is inferential statistics with estimation and hypothesis testing techniques being an important part of the course. Inferential statistics is continued in the simple linear regression topic. There is an emphasis on the use of Excel for analysis and presentation. Advantages The content is interesting and clearly explained in lectures – the slides contain all the information needed. Further, the lecturer is highly engaging, and will ensure that even students who struggle with mathematics are able to grasp all of the content. The topics covered form the basis for all subsequent statistics and econometric courses, and are also essential for broader applications in finance and beyond. Questions posed can be methodical, making it easy to practice. Tutorial questions tended to be similar to exam questions and are structured in a logical order. This subject is a prerequisite for ECON2300 – an elective or option in the Finance Major. Tips and Tricks Revision of probability from High School Math B can make the early weeks of the course very easy – don't underestimate the difficulty of these topics as they do extend beyond previous teachings. Practice a range of questions to prepare for exams, including the CML questions – these are good practice for the final exam. Tutorials are excellent practice for the final exam - ensure you understand the distributions well and do not get confused between the different symbols for populations and samples. Paying attention in the first few weeks can make the end of the course much easier – don't underestimate the simple elements and all of the symbols.

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FINM2401: Financial Management

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: • ACCT1101 Incompatible: • FINM2411 or 7065 or 7401 or 7805 • MEBS7106 Assessment: • Team Project (15%) • Mid Semester Exam (30%) • Final Exam (55%) Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr K. Hoang (Sem 1) • Dr A. Chun (Sem 2) (Based on 2016 profiles)

Overview FINM2401 aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to financial management and financial analysis. Students will be introduced to financial management through exploring the principal decisions confronting the financial manager of a firm, namely the acquisition and utilisation of funds for profit, and adding value to the firm. Additionally, this course will provide a core upon which intermediate and advanced aspects of corporate finance and asset pricing can be developed. Advantages Overall, FINM2401 provides a comprehensive knowledge base for future courses in the Finance major. The topics are quite diverse, with a wide range of quantitative and qualitative elements, which helps to maintain interest consistently throughout the semester, particular the latter topics. This subject is a prerequisite for all FINM courses. Disadvantages Examinations are challenging, but manageable if thorough preparation is taken. Tutorials are intensive, long and very dry, but they do provide excellent preparation for the final exam. Tips and Tricks Lectures provide a good skeleton of the topics, and exam style questions are provided in each lecture, however the lectures can sometimes skim over the core concepts of the topic. For this reason, access to the textbook and tutorial attendance are crucial for success. The textbook is fantastic, and very useful towards the latter end of the course, as well as for preparing for the essay questions in the final exam. A strong mathematics background is useful for this course, however ensure you understand the concepts behind each formula, and don't just rote learn the procedures. The questions in the final are more difficult than tutorial questions and have new elements that can be easily confused without a proper understanding going into the exam. It is recommended that FINM2401 be taken directly before FINM3401 as it provides an excellent knowledge base for this difficult subject.

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LAWS1100: Business Law

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: None. Incompatible: • CO121 or 122 or 812 • COMM1201 or 7201 • QB119 • LAWS7010 • Not to be studied by LLB or LLB Dual students Assessment: • Tutorial Participation • Mid Semester Exam • Final Semester Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1hr)

Overview This course provides an introduction to the legal rules regulating businesses in Australia for accountants, business managers and other nonlegal professionals. Areas of focus include the Australian legal system, the law of torts, the law of contract, consumer protection law, intellectual property law and business structures. Students become familiar with the laws associated with starting, managing, financing and closing a business through solving simple legal problems. Advantages Lectures are well structured and led by knowledgeable lecturers. As a first year course, content is broad and lengthy, however generally easy to follow. Disadvantages Many topics are covered but may not be assessed. This goes for weekly readings as well. Tips and Tricks Exams are open book, which can lead to a false sense of security. In-depth knowledge of content is still essential to save time and get through all the questions in the exam. Students should aim to prepare a concise set of materials to take into the open book exam. It is important to actively participate in tutorial discussions, as tutorial questions are nearly identical to the final exam.

Course Co-Ordinator • Mr A. Austin (Sem 1) • Mr. T. Thomas (Sem 2) (Based on 2016 Course Profiles)



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BISM1201: Transforming Business with Information Systems

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: None. Incompatible: • INFS1200 • MGTS7202 • MGTS1201 • MGTS1200 • BISM7201 Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr P Clutterbuck Add course profile year

This course was previously MGTS1201: Transforming Business with Information System Overview This course introduces students to the fundamental theories, practice and strategies of information systems in organisations. Students will learn how these concepts are incorporated to form complete business information systems that can be used to identify a business’ strengths and weaknesses, and increase a business’ efficiency. Areas of focus include computer hardware & software, information systems development and implementation & operation. Practical experience is gained from using spreadsheets, database management and other business applications software. Those with an interest in information systems and computer science will enjoy this course. Advantages Students find the excel component of the course quite useful due to the fact that the skills learnt can be readily applied to other courses and in general tasks. Lectures are comprehensive, but can be dry. Tutorials are more engaging and focus more on the practical side of the course. Disadvantages Some aspects of the course can seem dull, repetitive or irrelevant. Some topics may be covered but not assessed. Tips and Tricks Keep up to date during the semester so you’re not trying to catch up on reading during SWOTVAC. The textbook is useful for clarifying topics. Communicate with your tutor about assessment and their expectations.

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MGTS1301: Introduction to Management

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2. Prerequisites: None. Incompatible: None. Assessment: • Simulation • Tutorial Exercise • Written Analysis • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Contact (3hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr C. Gabriel (Sem 1) • Ms A. Kizeminska (Sem 2) (Based on 2016 Course Profiles)

Overview This course provides students with the principles of managing a business organisation. It covers a broad range of topics that include planning, leading, organising and controlling and spans classical to contemporary approaches to management thinking. More specifically topics and themes include: ethics, rationality, strategic frameworks, international business, HRM, and organisational change and innovation. By the end of the courses, students will have acquired foundational knowledge and skills necessary to become a more effective manager. Advantages The concepts and theories taught in the course are applied to real world examples helping students better understand the material. The broad range of concepts that are taught appear in a variety of later subjects. Lectures are well presented and relatively straightforward. Students find that reading the textbook is an incredibly useful to complement the content of lectures. This subject is a prerequisite for RBUS2900 Disadvantages While the content of the course is not challenging, it is voluminous. Lectures provided limited guidance for the assignment. There is a strong focus on group work in the course. Tips and Tricks Attending tutorials is important in order to understand the analytical way in which student are expected to answer questions in the final exam. As groups are assigned randomly for assessment, it is important to be prepared individually and limit reliance on others.

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MKTG1501: Foundations of Marketing

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2. Prerequisites: None. Incompatible: • MEBS7107 • MGTS7806 • MKTG7040 or 7501 or 7708 Assessment: • Oral Presentation • Marketing Plan • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Mr O. Seamons

Overview This course provides students with a basic introduction to the field of marketing exploring topics such as standard marketing theory, markets, consumer behaviour, pricing strategies, research and behavioural science. It focuses on the role of marketing and its importance in contemporary organisations in society. Students will explore marketing principles, concepts and models and apply them to real world examples. Advantages Lectures are well structured and provide a good overview of theory. Students are given the opportunity to apply theory through to real-world examples, which effectively reinforces their understanding of concepts. The final exam mirrors the theories focussed on in lectures. Disadvantages The course is extremely content heavy, although not particularly challenging. Some theory is quite unfamiliar and obscure; therefore students cannot rely on mere intuition. Tips and Tricks Most of the course requires rote learning so keep up to date with lectures and readings. Many key words have different definitions to their literal meaning so it’s important to read through and understand them. As the course is largely group-work based, it is important to team up with likeminded individuals who are reliable.

(Based on 2016 Course Profiles)

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RBUS3904: Integrated Commerce in Practice

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: Final Year BCom Students Incompatible: None. Contact Hours: • Seminar (3hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Prof A. Wyatt (Sem 1) • Prof J. Lyon (Sem 2)

Overview This course is a capstone course that incorporates knowledge learned from a range of courses in the commerce program. Its aim is to facilitate the integration of the content of many courses within the degree that appear seemingly unrelated. The course provides an explanation of how the firm fits into the economic system and creates value with the use of real world case studies. Content in the course includes governance and ethics, the structure of financial information, using financial information to analyse value creation, accounting quality implications for valuations, valuation in actions, IT systems and IT governance, the balanced scorecard and property rights. It draws from material covered in the accounting, management, information systems and finance courses. Advantages This course gives students the opportunity to integrate the knowledge they have learned from a range of courses in their commerce degree. They are able to gain an insightful understanding of this theory by applying it to real world case studies. Disadvantages Due to this course being a capstone course, students may find they need to refresh themselves on content they covered earlier on in their degree. Tips and Tricks Students are only able to take this course in their final year – students should plan their studies accordingly to ensure they are able to take this course.

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Accounting Major

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ACCT3101: Auditing & Public Practice

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: ACCT3102 Incompatible: ACCT7103 Assessment: • Mid semester exam • Computer-based Assessment • Final Exam Recommended: LAWS3100 Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr G. Hsu (Sem 1) • Mr D. Jeffrey (Sem 2)

Overview This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction into the environment and methodology of auditing. The intention of the course is to provide the theoretical framework around which auditing knowledge and skills can be developed by industry experience or further study. Areas of focus include: the legal framework within which auditing is undertaken, the professional and ethical responsibilities of the auditor, the conduct of an audit, review of organisational systems and substantive audit testing; statutory and other requirements in relation to audit reports and the concepts and impact of materiality and risk in auditing including the risk of fraud. Advantages The course content is well structured and lecturers are dedicated and helpful. Tutorial answers are supplied before every tutorial so rather than simply answering questions, tutors use tutorials to have deeper discussions about content. The assessment tended to reflect the course content Tips and Tricks All the means to succeed are supplied to students in this course. The course remains manageable if students put in effort in the early stages of the semester, so as to achieve a good understanding of the audit process. Final exam questions are generally identical to that which was hinted to in the last teaching weeks of the semester. Mid semester assessment is the most challenging aspect of this course.

(Based on 2016 profiles)

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ACCT3102: External Reporting Issues

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: ACCT2101 Incompatible: ACCT7102 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Case Study • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2 hrs) • Tutorial (2 hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr. T. Artiach

Overview ACCT3102 focuses on the effect of accounting standards issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board, the International Accounting Standards Board and other accounting regulations on disclosure in the published financial reports of Australian listed companies. It incorporates detailed knowledge of the requirements of regulations affecting a range of topics that concern particular accounting transactions and/or particular industries. Advantages This course is relatively straightforward, and one of the easier courses in the accounting major. Many practice problems are given each week, which is helpful in the lead-up to exams. Assessment tends to be similar to the tutorials and there were no curve balls in the exams. Tips and Tricks Completing tutorial questions is the most important factor in succeeding in ACCT3102. The lectures give information on the course, but it is recommended to complete all questions to get a thorough understanding of the content. Additionally, there are several accounting processes that need to be remembered and well-understood. Deferred tax assets/liabilities are a particular focus of the course.

(Based on 2016 Course Profiles)

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ACCT3103: Accounting for Corporate Structures

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: ACCT3102, LAWS3100 (recommended) Incompatible: ACCT7104 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Project • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Mr P. Woollard

Overview ACCT3103 is concerned with advanced accounting issues in financial reporting by public companies. The course focuses on the necessary financial accounting treatments and reporting requirements of growing companies. Advantages Tutors take the time to explain difficult concepts and are engaging. Additionally, this course has CPA and CA elements to it, making it good preparation for attaining these certifications in the future. Disadvantages Widely considered to be the most challenging undergraduate accounting course in a commerce degree. Tips and Tricks It is helpful to complete tutorial questions before attending the tutorial. Content is largely focussed on consolidation.

(Based on 2016 Course Profiles)

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ACCT3104: Management Accounting

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: ACCT2102 Incompatible: ACCT7107 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Online Quizzes • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr. M. Turner (Sem 1) • Dr. H. Frick (Sem 2) (Based on 2016 Course Profiles)

Overview ACCT3104 has a consistent focus on improving organisational performance and creating value for businesses. This course covers relevant information for decision-making and explores issues relating to costing systems and cost management and how these may affect management decisions. Content is conceptually driven (with few accounting processes required) and is similar to that in a finance or microeconomics course. Advantages There is little rote learning that has to be remembered for exams. The textbook is helpful for understanding a concept further, and contains plenty of questions for each topic. Tips and Tricks This course teaches new material up until the final week of classes. It is important to keep up with the content and ensure you understand the new material each week to avoid falling behind. To ensure a good result, smash the quizzes throughout the semester. They may only be worth 15% but they cover the same material that will be on the final exam. The quizzes act as a good barometer for your progress and build up to the final exam. The quizzes throughout the semester are good preparation for the final exam. There are two attempts for each quiz, making it relatively easy to get very good marks for this component of the course’s assessment.

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ACCT3105: Advanced Management Accounting

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 Prerequisites: ACCT3104 Incompatible: ACCT7108 Assessment: • Group Project • Case Study • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (3hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Prof D. Smith

Overview The emphasis in this course is to draw upon and extend the knowledge acquired in previous management accounting courses. This is achieved predominantly through the application of management accounting concepts, techniques and principles to real world cases. The course will provide students with the ability to analyse a range of management accounting problems and issues that face both the organisation and the individuals that manage them, and develop workable solutions.

(Based on 2016 Course Profile)

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LAWS3100: Corporate Law

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: • COMM1201 or 1202 or • LAWS1001 or 1100 or 1101 Incompatible: • COMM3205 or 7202 • LAWS7011 or 5017 or 7117 or 7317 • Not for LLB students Assessment: • Tutorial Participation • Mid Semester Exam • Take Home Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr. P. Harpur (Sem 1) • Dr. R. Ivory (Sem 2)

Overview This course is a critical analysis of companies and partnerships, and their regulation in Australia. Content focuses on aspects of the law concerning companies, including the nature of corporate bodies, shareholder rights, corporate finance and external administration. Advantages This is an informative and relatively enjoyable course. Tutorials are very engaging and helpful. Disadvantages Like most law subjects, there is a large amount of content and rote learning. Not all content can be included in the lecture, so reading the textbook is an essential supplement to understanding the topics. Answers to tutorials are not uploaded on Blackboard, so it is important to note down correct answers and relevant legislation each week. Tips and Tricks It is important to keep up with topics as they are taught; due to the amount of content, it is difficult and inadvisable to cram for exams. The exam is open book, so being organized and taking notes throughout the semester is crucial. Tutorial participation has been altered for 2017 so that students are graded on 8 out of 10 tutorials (1.25% each for a total of 10% of the course’s overall mark). Additionally, students are required to prepare written answers to tutorial questions and hand them in to the tutor at each tutorial.

(Based on 2017 S1 Course Profile)

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LAWS3101: Income Tax Law

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: • COMM1202 or LAWS1000 or LAWS1100 Incompatible: • LAWS5144 • LAWS7012 • LAWS7144 • LAWS7344 • Not for LLB students Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Tutorial Exercise • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr. Thea Voogt

Overview This course is an introductory level examination of the basic principles of taxation law in Australia, with particular emphasis on the topics required by professional accounting bodies for accreditation purposes. It takes a practical approach to income tax law. Advantages Lectures are engaging, and content is relevant and enjoyable. Exam questions were often discussed in class (though not specifically referred to as exam questions). The textbook is incredibly useful should students wish to gain a better understanding of the concepts explained. Dr. Thea Voogt wants her students to succeed, and structures the assessment accordingly. Disadvantages Like most law subjects, this course involves rote learning, a lot of reading, and remembering a large amount of content. There are a few tricky concepts, and some ambiguity across the course. Tips and Tricks It is important to work week to week and keep up with each topic throughout this course, in order to attain a good mark. Being organised and taking notes is also essential, since the exam is open book.

(Based on 2017 S1 Course Profile)



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BIS Major

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BISM3222: Information Analysis & System Design

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 Prerequisites: • MGTS1201 or • 2 units of COMP/COMS/INFS courses Incompatible: INFS7255 Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Practical/Lab (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr S. Chung

Overview This course provides students with an understanding of systems development approaches and knowledge and experience of analysis and modelling. These skills can then be incorporated into system design and implementation. The overall object of this course is to provide the concepts and skills required to design information systems by concentrating on the front end of systems development processes. This course also briefly touches on the implementation of computer programs and the required testing and maintenance to ensure their correct operation. Learning objects includes: Structured analysis & design for business; data analysis & design; object-oriented analysis & design; testing & quality assurance; practical group experience with computer-assisted software engineering tools for business applications.

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BISM2202: Data Analytics & Information Management

Course Details Semesters Offered: 2 Prerequisites: None. Incompatible: INFS7233 Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr S. Cockcroft

Overview The course introduces the concepts and principles of data and information management. This includes data and information as organisational resources, costing and valuing data; managing data, information, & knowledge; quality issues; data warehousing and data mining. The course teaches the use of SAS visual analytics, an essential part of any role that requires analytics including finance and risk management. BISM2202 content is very relevant for subsequent courses on information systems and forms the foundation knowledge for much of these subjects Learning objectives include: Management of data, information & knowledge; data integrity & quality issues; data warehousing, data mining and business intelligence. Management issues of security, security, privacy, ethics for information & knowledge resources.

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BISM3203: Managing Business Data

Course Details Semesters Offered: 2 Prerequisites: MGTS1201 + 2 units of INFS courses. Incompatible: • INFS1200 or 7900 • MGTS7206 Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • N/a

Overview This course involves the study of business issues in relation to database management, conceptual modelling and data modelling in business applications. This course also involves the use of a Structured Query Language (SQL) to uncover critical information for decision-making in the business environment. Learning objectives include: Business issues in relation to database management, conceptual modelling & data modelling in business applications. Using structured Query Language (SQL) to uncover critical information for business decision making. Applications of database systems in a business context.



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BISM3208: Information Systems Strategy

Course Details Semesters Offered: 2 Prerequisites: • MGTS2202 or • INFS2244 Incompatible: MGTS7208 Contact Hours: • Contact (3hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr S. Chung

Overview This course is concerned with managing and leading the information systems function within organizations. This subject focuses on management issues and problems, and issues such as the strategic alignment of IT services and infrastructure where the organisation's objectives are emphasised rather than details of the computing and communications technology that underlie information systems.

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BISM3201: Accounting Information Systems

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 Prerequisites: ACCT2101 Incompatible: ACCT7209 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Project • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorials (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr A. Robb

Overview This course enables students to understand the factors that need to be monitored to ensure a business runs smoothly and answers the question of which system will provide you with the information your business needs. During this course, students are introduced to major financial business information systems used by managers to run their business effectively and efficiently. This course includes BPMN and includes guidance on the most commonly used notations. Interactive financial data enabled by XBRL is demonstrated in this course using Calcbench. Learning objectives include: Nature of systems in the real world; nature & functions of computer-based information systems used to support the processes & management of a business; practical experience with business applications software.

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BISM2233: eBusiness Systems & Strategy

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 Prerequisites: MGTS1201 Incompatible: INFS7210 Contact Hours: • Contact (4 hours) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr D. Xu

Overview This course covers the fundamental concepts and principles of electronic commerce. BISM2233 introduces students to managerial, technical, social, and regulatory aspects of modern e-Commerce and provides students with experience in the development and publication of websites. Some of these concepts include infrastructure, security, privacy, management, censorship, intellectual property, payment methods, and the roles of customers, stakeholders, suppliers and employees.

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BISM2203: Business Process Management

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 Prerequisites: 8 units of BusMan courses Recommended: MGTS 1201 Incompatible: MGTS7216 Contact Hours: • Lecture (2 hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr M. Indulska

Overview Improving organisational efficiency and effectiveness is a top priority for senior management. To enable such improvements, it is crucial that the organisation be viewed from a process perspective. This course provides students with an introduction to Business Process Management and enables them to develop skills in business process modelling using the international BPMN modelling standard. The course also introduces students to concepts of Lean Thinking and facilitates the development of process improvement skills using several process improvement techniques.

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BISM3205: Business Information Security

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 Prerequisites: INFS2233 Incompatible: MGTS7213 Contact Hours: • Contact (4hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr P. Clutterbuck

Overview A managerial perspective of controls & audit procedures associated with preserving authenticity, accuracy, completeness, timeliness & privacy of business electronic transactions over the Internet; quality assurance for electronic commerce/online business applications for business managers.





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BISM3206: Advanced Data Analytics

Course Details Semesters Offered:1 Prerequisites: • 8 units of BBusMan or • 8 units of BCom Incompatible: MGTS7217 Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr S. Chung

Overview Modern business collects large volumes of raw data through its daily operations. This data can come from business transactions, sensors, or external sources, for example, social media feeds. Competitive advantage can be obtained through unlocking insights from such data to develop information that can be used to support decision-making. This course builds on the data mining and decision support system knowledge and skills developed in MGTS2202, and introduces students to advanced predictive analytics techniques and their application in multiple settings (eg social media analysis). The course also develops evidence-based problem solving skills.

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BISM3207: Managing Work in Virtual Environments

Course Details Semesters Offered: 2 Prerequisites: • MGTS2202 or • INFC2244 Incompatible: MGTS7215 Contact Hours: • Contact (3hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr P. Clutterbuck

Overview In depth understanding of the processes, practices, features and issues arising from operating in a virtual corporate environment. Managerial perspective on organisation structures, managing technology and communication procedures in a virtual organisation. Hands-on experience with virtual teams software. Legal implications & associated policy & strategy issues.

(Based on 2015 Profiles)

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Finance Major



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ECON2300: Introductory Econometrics

Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Prerequisites: • ECON1310 • For BInfTech students ECON1010 + STAT2004 Incompatible: EC230 or 735 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Online Assignments • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr E. Eisenstat (Sem 1) • Prof P. Rao (Sem 2) (Based on 2016 Profiles)

Overview ECON2300 is an introductory course in applied economics and quantitative analysis. The concepts studied in this course will have invaluable applications in economics, finance, management and related areas. Advantages Based on reviews, the lecturer is very passionate about the subject which is evident in her teaching. The course is structured well and is generally very interesting. She is eager to ensure students have access to as many resources as possible. It is an excellent introduction into how to assess economic data and statistics. The expectations of this course and clear, and theory is concise and repeated in tutorials to aid understanding. Overall the course is very hands on- with continued practice of using the EViews prescribed tool in tutorials. Both the lecturer and tutor are knowledgeable, engaging and supportive.

Disadvantages ECON2300 is a subject that will be a struggle if you are not on top of the work. Tips and Tricks In this course, it is crucial to keep up week-to-week. Get your head around hypothesis testing early as it forms the basis of the course. Tutorials are a must because the course is geared around using E-views. The tutorials are the ‘how to’ of the course and reinforce the lecture materials.

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ECON3210: Financial Markets & Institutions

Course Details Semesters Offered: 2 Prerequisites: • ECON1010 + FINM2401 or • ECON1010 + FINM2400 or ECON2200 Recommended: ECON3550 Incompatible: EC302 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Tutorials • Online tests • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1.5hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr F. Bracoud

Overview This course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of financial markets and institutions. It aims to present students with material that is directly linked to the current financial environment. Topics of this course are likely to have featured in recent media outlets. Advantages ECON3210 engages students by providing relevant lessons with links to the real-world environment. The course gives an understanding of the relationship between various financial institutions as well as the ramifications of 1day-to-day life. Combined with recent examples, the lectures are delivered in a way that keeps the audience engaged and interested. Disadvantages The course is extremely content heavy and conceptual and while there is no official textbook the amount of required reading was often extremely difficult for students to keep up with. Tips and Tricks The course becomes easier in the later weeks if students have a strong foundation in the first half of the semester. However, the quizzes are tricky and content will catch up if study is not done regularly.

(Based on 2016 Profiles)

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FINM3401: Corporate Finance Course Details Semesters Offered: 2 Prerequisites: FINM2401 Incompatible: FINM3411 or 7402 Assessment: • Group Assignment • Mid Semester Exam • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr V. Ragunathan (Based on 2016 Profile)



Overview This course aims to provide a deep understanding of the theory of corporate finance and the application of this theory to real world issues (both quantitative and qualitative applications). It focuses on five major topics including transactions (IPOs, convertible securities, and M&A), capital structure, discounted cash flow valuation, risk management, and real options valuation. The content in this course expands heavily upon basic topics covered in FINM2401. A large amount of time is spent on the topic of capital structures. That is, the relationship between and optimising of equity and debt financing (something fundamental to understanding the mechanics of corporate finance). The course also focuses on mergers, acquisitions and corporate governance via giving real world examples of reasons for and defences against takeovers. These topics give students a break from the heavy calculations involved with capital structure problems. For aspiring corporate finance students, this is simply a must-do course with heavy relevance to work that goes on in corporate environments around the world. Advantages This course is highly relevant and insightful for students looking to specialise in corporate finance and transaction advisory. It incorporates countless real world examples in lectures and tutorials. A double-sided set of notes was allowed into the final exam and was extremely useful. The course builds on FINM2401, however content is of comparable difficulty (potentially due to familiarity gained from FINM2401). Tutorial questions and answers are in-depth and provided weekly. Disadvantages Lectures often looked simplistic, however the exams were often more difficult. Dr Ragunathan does not use a microphone and as such was hard to hear at times (there is an advantage to sitting up the front). Additionally, lecture recordings are hard to follow with large changes in volume. There was criticism over the selection of exam questions in 2016, with some topics skimmed over in lectures forming a large part of exams (only a small section of the course was assessed). Further, the deferred mid-semester exam had a trick short answer question whereby full marks was obtained by saying it’s a ‘trick question’. Exam questions often required thinking before completing; don’t fall into the trap of trying to race through a seemingly short paper! Otherwise you can fall into the ‘planned’ traps in questions, resulting in severely reduced grades (viewed as a lack of understanding). Tips and Tricks The course follows the textbook quite closely so it is highly recommended that students complete all the relevant readings to gain the depth of knowledge required for higher grades (textbook can be downloaded online). Students found attending tutorials incredibly useful, although preparation is essential to keep up with the depth of questions. The final exam is relatively straightforward but requires a lot of attention to detail. Exam questions require attention to detail, noting additionally that tutorial ‘exam’ questions were generally easier than those found in the actual exam. The content in the course is quite heavy so it is not a subject you can cram for overnight. It could be beneficial to study this course towards the end of your degree because some questions can be tough and require a good general understanding of finance. The group assignment is not particularly difficult; however, the page limit is extremely difficult to adhere to! Dr Ragunathan emphasises that the course is structured in a Harvard like manner, and as such the assignment is marked harshly – stick closely to the marking criteria! Attention to detail in both exams and assignments is crucial. It is advantageous to have a complete and accurate set of notes to take into the final exam. The mid-semester exam is quite straightforward and doing well in such is crucial to getting a high grade. Take advantage of having a mid-semester only covering 4-5 topics. Understand the content and don’t just regurgitate tutorial calculations – there is a strong focus on qualitative FMAA (UQ) – Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 47 theory in the exam as well as the quantitative elements.





FINM3402: Investments & Portfolio Management Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 & 2. Prerequisites: • FINM2401 Incompatible: • FINM3412 or 7403 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Article Review • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Mr D. Rahman (Based on 2016 Profiles)

Overview This course provides students with the techniques used to evaluate investments in a portfolio and on an individual basis (expanding heavily on FINM2401). Topics covered are Financial Statement Analysis, Markets & Instruments, Equity Investments, Debt Investments & Portfolio Management. The course aims to provide students with the skills and techniques necessary to create a portfolio which maximises expected return for a given level of risk. Topics have a strong mathematical focus and are interrelated to other courses in the finance major. The course (especially under Barry Oliver) explored the nature of behavioural finance, which attempts to offer alternative explanations and models to account for a variety of irrational behaviours within investment markets. The scope of this topic is particularly broad, and made for an enjoyable research assignment, allowing students to research the academic literature on elements of behavioural finance they found most interesting. Advantages The material in this course provides fundamental knowledge that is relevant to other finance courses and real world situations. It may be beneficial to complete this course before later finance courses. Barry has been regarded as an excellent, enthusiastic lecturer who is always approachable. He teaches students in a way that allows them to understand the course material with little or no prior knowledge of the subject. Disadvantages Lecture recordings often failed (three consecutive failures during Semester 1 2016), although not necessarily the fault of lecturers. Lecture slides were often bombarded with information and then skimmed through in lectures. This made it hard to know what was pertinent to study prior to assessments. Having a good tutor is essential to gaining knowledge in often tough topics. Tips and Tricks The textbook is a must for the course, and can provide useful background knowledge to the lectures and tutorials whilst giving students a depth of knowledge required for high overall grades. The mid-semester exam was MCQ while the final exam was made up of five problem questions that had both mathematical and theoretical components. If you can understand the content of the course the final is more than manageable. Whilst there will be a few curve balls, with a good foundation it shouldn't be too difficult. The course is best taken after FINM2401, but before other harder finance majors. The content is often cumulative and it is ideal to keep up to date each week. Additionally lecturers see straight through 'bluffs' on the exams, thus a depth of knowledge is a must for a 7.

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FINM3403: International Financial Management Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 Prerequisites: FINM2401 or 2411 Incompatible: FINM7406 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Mr Y. Li & Dr K. Hoang (Based on 2016 Profile)

Overview This course extends financial decision-making into the international setting. It showcases the economic and financial relationship between countries by focusing on topics such as: the benefits of international diversification, foreign exchange market, exchange rates, the balance of payments, international capital budgeting, foreign currency derivatives, global capital, political risk, determination of cost of capital, benefits of international diversification, and the quantification & hedging of economic exposure. Advantages International Financial Management is a valuable course for students interested in the global financial markets. The course content extends on previous finance to include financial decision-making in an international setting. Overall, the course is enjoyable for any student looking to gain an insight into international finance. Tutorial questions and answers were detailed and provided useful for selflearning. Disadvantages Past students described the mid-semester and final exam as difficult, primarily due to tutorial questions not indicative of the level of difficulty. Further important tutorial questions were often skimmed over making preparation for the final exam slightly more difficult. Lecture content was of a high standard, but the teaching methods were often dry and did not stimulate students. Students found that independent learning was necessary, with tutors being ‘hit and miss’. Tips and Tricks Although there are no prerequisites, students should complete FINM3401 and FINM3402 before attempting FINM3403.It is recommended that students understand payoff diagrams and the summary of Prices, Interest Rates & Exchange Rates in Equilibrium. It is also important to show a deep understanding of the theory in the final exam. Those with a quantitative background should enjoy all the topics – particular options and swaps. Noting the course also has many theory elements. Preparing for tutorials is a must for trying to fully understand the theory behind the calculations. Additionally the exam questions are more difficult. Textbook is good, but not necessary considering lecture coverage. Course material is largely drawn from slides and the lecturer often hints of typical and likely exam topics during lectures. The course is difficult; however, it is manageable if you keep up to date with work. Don't let lectures and tutorials get ahead of you, as the content is generally progressive! The mid semester and final exam are both challenging and require study. This subject is best done as one of the later finance courses and potentially following FINM3405 (due to an overlap of several topics). Note: the course was taught by Dr Kelvin Tan in previous years, thus new course coordinators may have varied: teaching approach, course coverage and assessment requirements.

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FINM3404: Banking & Lending Decisions Course Details Semesters Offered: 1 Prerequisites: FINM2401 or 2411 Incompatible: None. Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Case Study Assignment (group) • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1hr) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr M. Haq

Overview This course considers the uniqueness of the financial institutions, assessment of credit risk, the principles of successful bank lending, and risk management in banks. At the end of this course, you will understand the risk assessment of various types of loans, the mechanisms for predicting financial distress, the principles of asset liability management, securitization and its impact of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) 2007, bank regulation, the role of central banks, bank profitability analysis and international banking system. The course provides a great overview of banking and lending decisions relevant in both the domestic Australian environment and on a worldwide scale. Additionally highlighting how the traditional role of banks and their operation has changed dramatically in recent years. Advantages This course has received generally positive reviews in the past. The content is understandable, well-structured and logical. The lecturer uses real world examples to ensure students understand the actual applications of the content being taught. Overall, the course is enjoyable for any student looking to start a career in finance and the banking sector. Disadvantages Whilst the exam content is predictable, marking is very strict, requiring detailed answers for full marks. Some lectures are known to be content heavy and generally all material is assessable and required to be reproduced in the exam. Tutorials involve only simple calculations and tutors sometimes fail to expand much on the content from the lectures. Tips and Tricks Theory is important, but don’t get caught up in it. Know the basics well, and ensure you are able to perform the calculations covered in the lectures. The course content is very theoretical but crucial to understand for those wishing to pursue a career in finance. After taking this subject students are able to draw parallels between theory and practical application. Lecture attendance is suggested. Tutorials were very useful and relevant to gauge the expected difficulty of final exam questions. Purchasing the textbook is a must. To be successful in the course you need to have a strong depth of knowledge. This requires a large breadth of reading and learning topics from day one. Cramming for this subject is not advised as the exams required essay like answers. The marking rubric for exams can be strict so requesting to view your exam for clarification on marks could be useful. FMAA (UQ) – Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 50







FINM3405: Derivatives & Risk Management Course Details Semesters Offered: 2 Prerequisites: FINM3401 or 2411 Incompatible: None. Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (2hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • Dr K. Fong Chan (Based on 2016 Profiles)

Overview During this course students develop an understanding of the operation of derivatives markets and the range of products that are available. This understanding extends to knowledge of how derivative products are used to manage risk as well as the fundamental concepts in valuing them. The course introduces forwards, futures & options as securities for risk management & speculation. Exposures to equity, currency, interest rate & commodity risk are examined. Pricing derivatives using analytical & numerical techniques is undertaken. This course is designed to equip students with the essential frameworks and tools needed to understand and effectively manage financial risks. The primary focus will be on pricing derivatives using various stateof-the-art techniques. Arbitrage will be explored via discussing any deviation from the fair price of a derivative. Advantages Students found this subject extremely engaging, interesting and well structured, making it enjoyable and rewarding. Students found the teaching process very effective and concepts easy to master after some practice questions. A basic knowledge of finance is necessary (FINM2401). Lecture notes are comprehensive and additional course notes is provided (written by Kam for the purpose of extending on lecture topics). Lectures and tutorials were recorded, and watching them online with the ability to pause was often advantageous. The course provides fundamental finance knowledge for students wishing to pursue a career in finance and specifically risk management, securities and derivatives trading. The course as a whole offers an excellent insight into how simple (and immensely intricate) risk management and derivatives trading can be. Kam provides final exam practice questions which are extremely useful, giving students ample opportunity to practice exam like questions. Disadvantages The theory in the course is quite difficult at time, but once grasped relates well to the practical application of financial concepts of derivatives. Tutorials can be dull, but are important. At times is heavily mathematically based (final exam is solely extended calculation questions), thus is daunting for those who prefer theoretical finance. The mid-semester exam is notoriously challenging. Tips and Tricks The first half of the course is more intense and challenging than the second, so students should ensure they are up to date going in to the mid-semester exam in order to achieve a good grade and relieve pressure on the final. The course has difficult concepts, but if you keep up to date is very manageable. Do not expect tutorial questions and lectures to reflect assessment. Kam places huge emphasis on understanding the concepts he taught and not the questions he set for tutorials. There is a sufficient supply of real-world reading material, as well as an abundance of additional practical questions.

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Elective Courses These are subjects that are not compulsory for a particular major. Selected Electives only.

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ECON1320: Quantitative Economic & Business Analysis B Course Details Semesters Offered: 2. Prerequisites: • ECON1310 • EC135. Incompatible: • EC134 • EC136 Assessment: • Mid Semester Exam • CML Quizzes • Final Exam Contact Hours: • Lecture (2hrs) • Tutorial (1.5hrs) Course Co-Ordinator • A/Prof V. Zelenyuk (Based on 2016 profiles)

Overview ECON1320 deals with basic statistical models and methods used in business and economics, and is a continuation of ECON1310 (Quantitative Economic and Business Analysis A). It introduces students to several new statistical techniques for making informed and objective decisions in a range of economic and business environments. It provides a broad platform for the advanced study of econometrics, finance and operations research. Topics include multiple regression analysis, time series analysis, survey sampling, index numbers and decision theory. Problems & exercises are solved manually & using Microsoft Excel. Students will have the opportunity to use ANOVA tables, Chi-square tests, and look at simple and multiple regression models (which form the foundation of later-year econometrics courses). Advantages The course is an expansion of ECON1310 and adds to the knowledge base set out previously. It provides an excellent foundation for ECON2300. If you attend the tutorials, endeavour to understand the structures clearly, and differentiate carefully the requirements of the different tests. It is reasonably easy to get a high mark with no overly challenging topics and 100% in CML's being achievable. Disadvantages Students with an interest and ability in statistics find this course more enjoyable, while those without the same passion finding the course less interesting and engaging than 1320. The lectures were not particularly helpful, as they did not show due regard to the practical nature of the content being covered. The textbook, similarly, is not essential, and insufficiently practical. Tips and Tricks Students should memorise the formulas and be able to regurgitate and manipulate them in the exam. PASS is available and should be utilised in order to clarify any questions and to discuss assessment. For those who enjoy statistics and quantitative analysis, the course is highly recommended. For others, the course is far from essential. It is essential to attend the tutorials for this course as the content covered is relatively indicative of what will be explored on the mid-semester and final exams.





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