Postgraduate Study in Finance
Finance is a decision-oriented discipline that is complex, challenging and dynamic.
It’s about managing money and capital in the real world: making practical financial decisions that can add value to a business and the economy.
Finance focuses on investments (including portfolio theory); corporate finance (how businesses make internal financial decisions); derivatives (the study of financial securities deriving their value from other assets’ values); and international finance (finance across borders).
An understanding of Finance is essential to business, and Finance majors succeed in rewarding and highly-paid careers.
Why study Finance?
Every person and every organisation raises and spends money. Finance examines the theory and practice of this process, with particular attention to the measurement and management of risk. It's about deciding how money is allocated in the real world.
Finance is both a science and an art – a science because it systematically analyses information and uses it to make and test
predictions; an art because these activities are not exact and there is frequently no “right” answer.
Finance deals not only with the measurable, “quantitative” aspects, but also with the unmeasurable, in which intuition and experience play a strong role. Skills in these areas are invaluable in the workplace.
Above all, Finance is exciting. You will often have to make swift decisions concerning large amounts of money and resources.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Finance as an undergraduate at Otago.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, Master’s, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a Master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Postgraduate Certificate in Business (PGCertBus)
A coursework programme, typically consisting of three papers, that can be completed with full-time study (half year) or part-time study (full year)
Postgraduate Diploma in Business (PGDipBus)
A two-semester (at full-time), coursework programme, offering specialisation in a variety of subjects and a possible entry pathway into the MBus
Master of Business (MBus)
A coursework degree with an optional research component, awarded in a chosen specialist subject, completed in one-year's full-time or equivalent part-time study
Master of Commerce (MCom)
A one-year thesis-only master's degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Engage in original research leading to a doctoral thesis, supported by comprehensive academic and social networks
Graduate Qualifications
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
The Master of Business in Finance will be awarded on successful completion of 180 points from one of the three options (Dissertation, Project or Coursework) outlined in the schedule below.
| Option | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | Compulsory papers: | |
| BSNS 411 Business Principles for the 21st Century | 10 | |
| BSNS 412 Research Skills and Methods 1 | 10 | |
| BSNS 590 Dissertation | 60 | |
| ACFI 406 Advanced Financial Econometrics | 20 | |
| Plus papers to the equivalent of 80 points from: | 80 | |
| ACFI 525, BSNS 413, FINC 502, FINC 503, FINC 505, FINC 510, FINC 511 , FINC 512, FINC 520, FINC 544, FINC 598, FINC 599 | ||
| Total | 180 | |
| Project | Compulsory papers: | |
| BSNS 411 Business Principles for the 21st Century | 10 | |
| BSNS 412 Research Skills and Methods 1 | 10 | |
| BSNS 580 Applied Project | 40 | |
| ACFI 406 Advanced Financial Econometrics | 20 | |
| Plus papers to the equivalent of 100 points from: | 100 | |
| ACFI 525, BSNS 413, FINC 502, FINC 503, FINC 505, FINC 510, FINC 511 , FINC 512, FINC 520, FINC 544, FINC 598, FINC 599 | ||
| Total | 180 | |
| Coursework | Compulsory papers: | |
| BSNS 411 Business Principles for the 21st Century | 10 | |
| BSNS 412 Research Skills and Methods 1 | 10 | |
| ACFI 406 Advanced Financial Econometrics | 20 | |
| Plus papers to the equivalent of 140 points from: | 140 | |
| ACFI 525, BSNS 413, FINC 502, FINC 503, FINC 505, FINC 510, FINC 511 , FINC 512, FINC 520, FINC 544, FINC 598, FINC 599 | ||
| Total | 180 |
| Thesis |
|---|
|
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
FINC papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT299 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ACFI406 | 2025 | Advanced Financial Econometrics | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| ACFI525 | 2025 | Governance Issues in Accounting and Finance | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| FINC102 | 2025 | Business Mathematics | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| FINC202 | 2025 | Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| FINC203 | 2025 | Financial Data Analysis | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| FINC204 | 2025 | Personal Finance | 18 points | Summer School |
| FINC206 | 2025 | Fundamentals of Corporate Finance | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| FINC299 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC302 | 2025 | Applied Investments | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| FINC303 | 2025 | Financial Management | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| FINC304 | 2025 | Financial Markets and Institutions | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC305 | 2025 | International Financial Management | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| FINC306 | 2025 | Derivatives | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| FINC308 | 2025 | Financial Econometrics | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC309 | 2025 | Financial Modelling | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC310 | 2025 | Fixed Income Security Analysis | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC320 | 2025 | Sustainable Investing | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| FINC399 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC480 | 2025 | Dissertation or Case Study | 40 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC502 | 2025 | Advanced Corporate Finance | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| FINC503 | 2025 | Studies in Capital Markets | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| FINC505 | 2025 | Mathematical Finance | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| FINC510 | 2025 | Advanced International Financial Management | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC511 | 2025 | Financial Risk Management | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC512 | 2025 | Financial Analytics | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC520 | 2025 | Climate and Energy Finance | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| FINC544 | 2025 | Behavioural Finance | 20 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| FINC598 | 2025 | Special Topic | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| FINC599 | 2025 | Special Topic | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
Contacts
Department of Accountancy and Finance
Otago Business School
Email accountancyfinance@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/accountancyfinance
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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