BE302-4-SP-CO:
Introduction to Finance
2020/21
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Sunday 17 January 2021
Friday 26 March 2021
15
09 September 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC N233 Actuarial Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC N323 Actuarial Science,
BSC N324 Actuarial Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N325 Actuarial Science (Including Foundation Year),
BSC GN13 Finance and Mathematics,
BSC GN15 Finance and Mathematics (Including Placement Year),
BSC GN18 Finance and Mathematics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC GN1H Finance and Mathematics (Including Year Abroad),
MSCIN399 Actuarial Science and Data Science
The module is designed to give you an introduction to the finance subject area. In particular, the module gives an overview of the financial system, instruments and markets, and ideas about finance concepts and problems. The topics covered include investment companies, return and risk, and behavioural finance.
1. To develop and transmit knowledge about the financial system, instruments and markets and ideas about finance concepts and problems at an introductory level;
2. To make students aware, at an introductory level, of different ways of thinking about and analysing financial phenomena;
3. To give students an appreciation of the role that finance plays in society;
4. To provide students with a firm foundation for further studies in finance.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Discuss the various traditions, concepts and techniques within finance as a subject discipline;
2. Describe the major features of the financial system including markets and institutions;
3. Understand the relationship between risk and return and the concept of diversification;
4. Understand the role of present value in bond and equity valuation models;
5. Have an appreciation of the issues underlying the efficient market hypothesis.
Skills for Your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)
1. Improve your literacy and numeracy skills;
2. Develop your IT skills by learning to work on Excel to solve financial problems with the use of statistical tools;
3. Improve your commercial awareness by familiarising with the current developments in finance;
4. Enhance your communication skills in class discussions;
5. Develop your personal plan of setting targets and time management to undertake coursework and exam.
1. 2-hour weekly lecture
2. 1-hour weekly problem solving class
3. Extensive online support available
In academic year 2020-2021 the delivery is likely to be different and involve online learning.
- Smart, Scott B.; Gitman, Lawrence J.; Joehnk, Michael D. (2017) Fundamentals of investing, Harlow: Pearson Education.
- Casu, Barbara; Girardone, Claudia; Molyneux, Philip. (2015) Introduction to banking, Harlow: Pearson.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Spring Weekly Test 1 |
|
|
| Coursework |
Spring Weekly Test 2 |
|
|
| Coursework |
Spring Weekly Test 3 |
|
|
| Coursework |
Spring Weekly Test 4 |
|
|
| Coursework |
Spring Weekly Test 5 |
|
|
| Exam |
Main exam: 24hr during Summer (Main Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Anna Sarkisyan, email: asark@essex.ac.uk.
Anna Sarkisyan & Senyu Wang
ebsugcol@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
No
Dr Apostolos Kourtis
The University of East Anglia
Senior Lecturer in Finance
Available via Moodle
Of 1342 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
1342 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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