Otago’s BCom Finance curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to students preparing to sit CFA exams. Staff in the Department of Accountancy and Finance, and Student Development 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!
BCom (Finance) academic requirements (starting 2022 or later)
| Level | S1 = semester 1, S2 = semester 2 | Points | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | BSNS 111 S1 or S2 | BSNS 112 S1 or S2 | BSNS 113 S1 or S2 | BSNS 114 S1 or S2 | BSNS 115 S1 or S2 | FINC 102 S1 or S2 | Other S1 or S2 | Other S1 or S2 | 144 |
| 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 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* and one further 300‑level FINC, ACFI, or ACCT paper are typically completed in year 3. | |||||||||
| 200 or 300 | Other | Other** | Other | 54 | |||||
| Any Level | Other | Other*** | 36 | ||||||
| Total | 360 | ||||||||
| *from FINC 304, FINC 305, FINC 306 and FINC 399 **could include FINC 299 ***Recommended to include one “liberal” paper. Suggested papers = any PHIL or POLS paper, ENGL 127, ENGL 128, ENGL 228, GLBL 101, MANT 222, MANT 331, ENVI 312. | |||||||||
BCom (Finance) academic requirements (starting 2017–2021)
| Level | S1 = semester 1, S2 = semester 2 | Points | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | BSNS 111 S1 or S2 | BSNS 112 S1 or S2 | BSNS 113 S1 or S2 | BSNS 114 S1 or S2 | BSNS 115 S1 or S2 | FINC 102 S1 or S2 | Other S1 or S2 | Other S1 or S2 | 144 |
| 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 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 or 300 | Other | Other | Other | 54 | |||||
| Any Level | Other | Other | 36 | ||||||
| Total | 360 | ||||||||
BCom (Finance) academic requirements (starting prior to 2017)
| Level | S1 = semester 1, S2 = semester 2 | Points | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | BSNS 108 S1 or S2 | BSNS 102 S1 or S2 | BSNS 107 S1 or S2 | 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. 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 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 are typically completed in year 3. | |||||||||
| 200 or 300 | Other | Other | Other | 54 | |||||
| Any Level | Other | Other | 36 | ||||||
| Total | 360 | ||||||||
Chartered Financial Accountant (CFA) academic preparation
The Finance major CFA programme course planner lists the combination of papers that will best prepare you for the Level 1 CFA exam. The course planner that applies to you will depend on when you started studying for your BCom (Finance).
For students starting study in 2022 or later:
- 2022 Course Planner (PDF)
For students who started study in 2017–2021:
- 2019 Course Planner (PDF)
For students who started study prior to 2017:
- 2015-2016 Course Planner (PDF)
Learn more about the CFA professional qualification
BCom (Finance) planning advice
Give yourself options
You can choose your “other” papers in your first year to give you the option of 200‑level study in a second subject (this can count towards a double major or a minor).
Pay attention to prerequisite requirement
- Information about each Finance paper and prerequisites can be found on this website and also on the Finance subject page. The Department requires prerequisite papers to be passed before attempting subsequent papers.
- From 2012 to 2021, students enrolling in ACCT 211, ACCT 222, ACCT 233, FINC 202, FINC 203 and FINC 206 were required to have achieved at least a C+ grade in the respective 100-level prerequisite papers. With effect from 2022, this requirement no longer applies – any level of pass (i.e. C- or higher) in the prerequisite papers is adequate.
- Make sure you complete the degree requirements for the type of career you wish to have, as you don’t want to delay your graduation through poor paper choices!
Essential communication skills
Communication 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 Accountancy and Finance students take either:
Alternatively, students can engage in writing workshops through the Higher Education Development Centre:
HEDC Student workshop programme
Contact a course adviser
For individual help planning your degree, make an appointment with a Student Adviser through Student Development, or contact the Department of Accountancy and Finance to be put in touch with a departmental course adviser.
