25400 Financial Literacy
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 25300 Fundamentals of Business Finance
Description
This subject equips students with a comprehensive suite of financial literacy skills and knowledge, with an emphasis on practical financial analysis skills and proficient use of Microsoft Excel for financial modelling. This empowers them to make informed personal and business financial decisions. Students have the opportunity to work with real financial data and engage with realistic case studies. They explore key financial concepts essential for business professionals, such as the time value of money, personal financial management, financing choices for investments, investment performance, and portfolio analysis. Students gain exposure to emerging trends in the field, such as fintech and sustainable investing, ensuring that they stay up-to-date with the latest developments in finance.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 1. | Apply time-value of money principles and formulas to solve personal and business financial problems |
|---|---|
| 2. | Model financial problems using Microsoft Excel to make personal and business financial decisions |
| 3. | Describe the role and features of financial institutions, financial markets, and financial products |
| 4. | Collaborate with peers to agree on an approach to financial problems and possible solutions |
| 5. | Communicate the results of a financial analysis effectively and professionally, together with recommended actions |
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The subject contributes to the development of graduate attributes for Business School graduates by developing technical proficiencies in time-value of money analysis and the use of Microsoft Excel for financial modelling. In addition, the subject offers a broad overview of financial institutions, financial markets, and financial products, which is needed to make effective personal and business financial decisions. Overall, the technical proficiencies developed in the subject are linked to the graduate attributes associated with intellectual rigour and creative problem-solving, and with professional and technical competence. These technical proficiencies are assessed via two quizzes. The group financial analyst report and the individual financial analyst presentation assessment tasks are used to develop and assess the graduate attribute associated with communication and collaboration. This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attribute(s):
- Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving
- Communication and collaboration
- Professional and technological expertise
- Apply evidence, creativity and critical reasoning to solve business problems (1.1)
- Demonstrate ability to work independently and with others as a member of a team to achieve an agreed goal (2.2)
- Apply technical and professional skills to operate effectively in business (4.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
The subject is delivered via a combination of blended learning and hands-on in-class activities. Subject material is delivered via the LMS, and students are expected to work through the relevant material prior to each weekly seminar. This material includes lecture notes, assigned readings from the financial press, videos, worked examples, and assigned exercises and homework problems. The lecturer will use the weekly seminars to present brief overviews of the subject material for each week and to work through the assigned homework problems for the week. The remainder of each seminar will take the form of a collaborative hackathon, where students work in small groups using Excel to solve the assigned exercises for the week.
Content (topics)
- Time Value of Money I
- Time Value of Money II
- Personal Financial Management
- Banking and Loans
- Stocks and Bonds
- Financial Statements Analysis
- Cost of Capital and Capital Budgeting
- Investment Strategies and Portfolio Management
- Startups and ESG Investing
- Fintech and Crypto Assets
Assessment
Assessment task 1: In-Class Quizzes (Individual)*
| Intent: | Quiz 1: 30% Quiz 2: 30% |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 |
| Weight: | 60% |
| Length: | 90 minutes (each) |
| Criteria: |
*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero. |
Assessment task 2: Financial Model (Group)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Fully functional Excel workbook |
| Criteria: |
|
Assessment task 3: Financial Analyst Presentation (Individual)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 5 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 10% |
| Length: | A video recording of a 5-minute presentation |
| Criteria: |
|
Minimum requirements
Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.