Otago’s BCom Finance curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to students preparing to sit CFA exams. Department and Business School staff can provide assistance planning your course, and make sure you meet all the requirements for BCom and CFA requirements - You don’t want to delay your graduation through poor paper choices!
Whether you are looking to study for a single major, double major – or even a double degree – we can help. And yes, communications skills are important!
- Otago BCom (Finance) academic requirements
- BCom (Finance) planning advice
- Please contact the Department for individual course advice.
Otago BCom (Finance) academic requirements (2017 start)
Otago’s Finance curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to students preparing to sit CFA exams. The degree chart below outlines the requirements for a single major BCom (Finance).
| Level | S1 = Semester One, S2 = Semester Two | Points | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | BSNS 111 S1 or S2 | BSNS 112 S1 or S2 | BSNS | BSNS 114 S1 or S2 | BSNS 115 S1 or S2 | FINC 102 S1 or S2 | Other S1 or S2 | Other S1 or S2 | 144 |
| BSNS 112, 114, 115 and FINC 102 (grade of at least C+ in the BSNS papers are needed in order to proceed to 200-level FINC papers); All BSNS 100 level papers should normally be taken in first year of study. It is recommended to take two papers that are relevant to a minor for “Other” papers) | |||||||||
| 200 | FINC 202 S1 or S2 | FINC 203 S1 | FINC 206 S2 | 54 | |||||
| FINC 202, 203 and 206 are typically completed in year 2 | |||||||||
| 300 | FINC 302 S1 | FINC 303 S2 | FINC 300 S1 or S2 | FINC 300, or ACFI 300, or ACCT 300 S1 or S2 | 72 | ||||
| FINC 302 and 303, plus one more 300 level FINC paper, as well as one further 300 level FINC, ACFI, or ACCT paper is typically completed in year 3 | |||||||||
200 | Other | Other | Other | 54 | |||||
| Any Level | Other | Other | 36 | ||||||
| Total | 360 | ||||||||
Note: Finance students require at least a C+ in BSNS 102 before attempting FINC 203, and at least a C+ is required in BSNS 102 and BSNS 108 before attempting FINC 202. Finally FINC 206 requires at least a C+ in all of BSNS 102, BSNS 107 and BSNS 108. If you started your BCom in 2011 or earlier, this C+ requirement does not apply to you, and any level of pass in the prerequisite papers is adequate.
Otago BCom (Finance) academic requirements (started prior to 2017)
The degree chart below outlines the requirements for a single major BCom (Finance).
| Level | S1 = Semester One, S2 = Semester Two | Points | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | BSNS 108 S1 or S2 | BSNS 102 S1 or S2 | BSNS | FINC 102 S1 or S2 | BSNS 103 S1 or S2 | BSNS 104 S1 or S2 | BSNS 105 S1 or S2 | BSNS 106 S1 or S2 | 144 |
| BSNS 102, 107, 108 and FINC 102 are typically completed in year 1. A grade of at least C+ in the BSNS papers is needed in order to proceed to 200-level FINC papers. All BSNS 100 level papers should normally be taken in first year of study. It is recommended to take two papers that are relevant to a minor for “Other” papers) | |||||||||
| 200 | FINC 202 S1 or S2 | FINC 203 S1 | FINC 206 S2 | 54 | |||||
| FINC 202, 203 and 206 are typically completed in year 2 | |||||||||
| 300 | FINC 302 S1 | FINC 303 S2 | FINC 300 S1 or S2 | FINC 300, or ACFI 300, or ACCT 300 S1 or S2 | 72 | ||||
| FINC 302 and 303, plus one more 300 level FINC paper, as well as one further 300 level FINC, ACFI, or ACCT paper is typically completed in year 3 | |||||||||
200 | Other | Other | Other | 54 | |||||
| Any Level | Other | Other | 36 | ||||||
| Total | 360 | ||||||||
BCom (Finance) planning advice
During the course approval period of each year a course advisor will assist you in planning your study programme. To help you plan your Otago studies, degree planning sheets are available from Reception for a BCom with a single or double major, and double degrees.
Students are advised to:
- Take at least one other required paper in their first year to ensure greater flexibility in their second year of study
- Complete the 100-level requirements for at least one other BCom major to provide more options for future study
- Ensure you achieve at least a C+ passing grade if a 200- or 300- level paper you wish to enroll in requires this as a prerequisite.
Essential communication skills
Writing skills are an important part of both university study and later employment. The Department strongly encourages you to enhance your oral and written communication abilities.
We recommend that Finance students take either:
- ENGL124 OR
- LING121
The Department’s Written Communication Officer is available to discuss any issues you may have with written English.
Marianne Lown
Written Communication Officer
Location: Room 5.09
Tel: 64 3 479 9138
Email: marianne.lown@otago.ac.nz
