Study Finance at Otago
Overview
Finance is a modern and fascinating discipline dealing with money, markets and valuation, that is relevant to all aspects of business and personal and professional planning. Professionals in finance are involved with a myriad of issues in investments, planning and risk. The subject is often confused with accounting. However, while both deal with money and value, accounting is concerned with systems of control, and recording and reporting the results of historical transactions. By contrast finance is concerned with the relationship between investor expectations about the future and current market values. By focusing on markets the subject can also be confused with economics. However economics deals with broad issues of resource allocation, whereas finance focuses more narrowly on how markets value risk and the implications for investment, financial planning, shareholder wealth and corporate governance.
Two recent trends have fuelled the value of finance as a mature, globally recognised profession and underpin its relevance for the 21st century. The first is the world-wide move to deregulation and the opening of markets which has coincided with an almost universal appreciation of the importance of capital and investment for growth and prosperity. The second is the rush of theoretical developments in the discipline which has provided the tools to manage risk and return. The impact has been extreme. There are few businesses today that are not acutely aware of the significance of markets and financial planning for their viability.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
- Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons))
- Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom)
- Master of Business (MBus)
- Master of Commerce (MCom)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Papers
See the full list of Finance (FINC) papers.
Programme Requirements
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) majoring in Finance
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BSNS 103, BSNS 104, BSNS 105, BSNS 106 must normally be taken before enrolling in 300-level Commerce papers | 18 18 18 18 72 |
| 200-level | 18 18 18 | |
| 300-level | Two further 300-level FINC papers | 18 18 36 |
| Plus | 90 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. May be taken from outside Commerce | 90 |
Every BCom programme must include BSNS 102-108. 100-level BSNS papers need not all be taken in the first year of study; all 100-level BSNS papers must normally be passed before enrolling in 300-level Commerce papers. STAT 110 or STAT 115 will be accepted as an alternative to BSNS 102 as a required paper or as part of the major subject requirements or as a prerequisite when: (a) the paper has been passed before the student has enrolled for a BCom degree; or (b) a student is enrolling for both a BCom and another degree for which STAT 110 or STAT 115 is required. | ||
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons)) in Finance
| Stage | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st stage | BSNS 103, BSNS 105, BSNS 106 must normally be taken before enrolling in 300-level Commerce papers | 18 18 18 18 18 18 |
| 2nd stage | 36 further approved points | 18 18 18 18 18 36 |
| 3rd stage | FINC 301 FINC 308 One further 300-level FINC paper 36 further approved points | 18 18 18 18 18 36 |
| 4th stage | FINC 480 108 further 400-level FINC points An approved paper in another subject may be substituted for one 400-level FINC paper | 36 108 |
Every BCom(Hons) programme must include BSNS 102-108. 100-level BSNS papers need not all be taken in the first year of study; all 100-level BSNS papers must normally be passed before enrolling in 300-level Commerce papers. STAT 110 or STAT 115 will be accepted as an alternative to BSNS 102 as a required paper or as part of the subject requirements or as a prerequisite when: (a) the paper has been passed before the student has enrolled for a BCom(Hons) degree; or (b) a student is enrolling for both a BCom(Hons) and another degree for which STAT 110 or STAT 115 is required. |
Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom) in Finance
| Papers |
|---|
144 400-level FINC points or 108 400-level FINC points and 36 further 300- or 400-level ACCT, ECON, FINC, LAWS, MATH or STAT points |
Master of Business (MBus) in Finance
| Papers |
|---|
144 points from FINC 402, FINC 403, FINC 406, FINC 409, FINC 411 or other approved papers, plus FINC 5A (thesis, 90 points) |
Minor Subject Requirements
Finance as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc) or Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | 18 18 | |
| 200-level | Any two 200-level FINC or ACFI papers | 36 |
| 300-level | One 300-level FINC paper | 18 |
STAT 110 or STAT 115 will be accepted as an alternative to BSNS 102 as a required paper or as part of the minor subject requirements or as a prerequisite when: (a) the paper has been passed before the student has enrolled for a BCom degree; or (b) a student is enrolling for both a BCom and another degree for which STAT 110 or STAT 115 is more appropriate. | ||
| Total | 90 |
Further Information
Email us at accountancyfinance@otago.ac.nz or visit our home page http://www.otago.ac.nz/accountancyfinance
