Undergraduate informationFinance

Capital markets and financial institutionsInvestments and financial planning

Corporate finance

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“I want to be in a position where I can wake up and not feel like I’m working when I go to work, but that I’m pursuing something I care about – something that feels totally feasible thanks to the Bachelor of Commerce.”

Sam Steiner, Bachelor of Commerce, major in Finance and Marketing

IS THE FINANCE MAJOR FOR ME?Do your friends come to you for advice? Do you do well in stressful situations? Are you good at maths? If you are a confident decision maker who can work independently and process information quickly, you should consider finance.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?Studying finance will help you understand stocks and bonds, banking, budgeting, debt and how markets function. You will learn how to value assets, find opportunities to save and analyse investment options.

AM I A GOOD FIT?To excel in finance you need to be inquisitive, commercially aware, mature, efficient and detail-oriented. You need to be a strategic thinker with excellent people skills, who is comfortable with technology and change.

WHY CHOOSE MELBOURNE?

Ranked 14th in the world and 3rd in the Asia-Pacific region for FinanceQ

Study at Australia’s best university.W Learn from internationally renowned academics, with some of the world’s brightest students.

Exciting student experience opportunitiesAs part of your degree you can join a student club, volunteer in communities, travel overseas, and build your professional skills.

Ranked 13th in the world for graduate employabilityE

Our graduates are known for their perceptive understanding of business issues, skilful communication and strong leadership.

Recognised as a CFA Program Partner of the CFA InstituteThe finance major is ideal preparation for the CFA exams, a requirement for designation as a Chartered Financial Analyst®.

Generous scholarship opportunitiesThe Faculty of Business and Economics offers a number of scholarships to domestic and international students commencing the Bachelor of Commerce. Additional scholarships and subject prizes are available to current students, so you have the opportunity to be rewarded for your hard work throughout your degree by one of Australia’s most generous scholarship programs.

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014–2015

#1in Australia

#33in the world

ContentsBachelor of Commerce major in finance 2

Careers in finance 4

Studying the finance major 5

Study options for finance majors 6

Studying finance as breadth 7

Contact us Back cover

Q QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015

W Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015

E QS World University Rankings 2015

Finance is the study of money management. As a finance student, you will learn how to raise funds, choose investments and grow wealth.

Bachelor of Commerce major in Finance

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WHERE COULD THE FINANCE MAJOR TAKE YOU?

Kyle Sutcliffe Investment banking, New York

Renata Rejas Private equity and venture capital, Lima

Evangeline Ho Real estate, Singapore

Harrison Fenton Investment banking, Melbourne

Becky Tang Financial planning and Analysis, Melbourne

Lizzie Reid Wealth management, London

Heath Jamieson Management consulting, Singapore

Dhanu Narenthiran Financial Services Consultant, Perth

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Careers in finance

Our graduates receive high-level finance training, combined with exposure to complementary disciplines and opportunities for development outside the classroom. They enjoy excellent career outcomes, including high starting salaries, outstanding job satisfaction and exceptional employment rates.

CAREER PROGRESSION IN FINANCESample job titles

Your first job

�� Adviser�� Analyst�� Associate�� Banker�� Graduate�� Planner

In 5-10 years

�� Broker�� Consultant�� Manager�� Senior Planner�� Trader�� Vice President

In 15-20 years

�� Chief Executive Officer�� Chief Financial Officer�� Financial Controller�� Managing Director�� Partner�� Treasurer

WHERE DO FINANCE GRADUATES WORK?Some of our most recent graduates are now working at:

�� A.C. Nielsen�� A.T. Kearney�� ANZ Banking Group�� Australian Administration Services�� Australian Customs and Border

Protection Service�� Australian Taxation Office�� Bell Potter Securities�� BHP Billiton�� Boston Consulting Group�� Cameron Harrison�� CBRE�� Citigroup�� Clayton Utz�� DBA Lawyers�� Dixon Advisory�� Ernst & Young�� Goldman Sachs�� Grant Thornton�� Haddington Accountants�� IBM Australia�� Jones Lang LaSalle�� JPMorgan & Chase�� KPMG�� Kraft Foods�� Lazard�� Longriver Investments�� MAP Capital Advisors�� Minter Ellison�� Morgan Stanley�� National Australia Bank�� Newcrest Mining�� OCBC Bank�� Oz Property Group�� Pitcher Partners�� PricewaterhouseCoopers�� Singapore Airlines�� Suncorp-Metway�� Target Australia�� Towers Watson�� UBS�� Unilever�� United Overseas Bank�� Westpac

“I want to overcome gender inequality and become a role model for other females who want to pursue a career in finance; investment banking in particular.”

Aya Haruyama, major in Finance and Marketing

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The finance major is extremely popular, both as a single major and in combination with other disciplines. It is a versatile major that sharpens your problem solving skills and provides valuable training for any industry.

Studying the finance major

The Bachelor of Commerce consists of 24 subjects, usually taken over three years of full-time study. The degree is very flexible and allows you to choose subjects across a range of disciplines. You must complete at least one major within the Bachelor of Commerce. The finance major is made up of a sequence of subjects that builds progressively on your knowledge in the discipline. Upon completion of the major, you will have developed expertise in the core areas of finance and enjoyed opportunities to expand your knowledge in specialist areas.

BACHELOR OF COMMERCE24 subjects (usually 8 per year)

Compulsory subjects5 subjects to cover Business and Economics fundamentals

Major and elective subjects11-15 subjects to deepen your finance knowledge

Breadth subjects4-8 subjects from other disciplines

If you would like to deepen your finance knowledge, there are a variety of electives available throughout the degree.

Year 2 Electives

�� Introduction to Real Estate Analysis�� Introductory Personal Finance�� Management of Financial Institutions

Year 3 Electives

�� Asian Capital Markets�� Entrepreneurial Finance�� Ethics in Finance�� Intermediate Personal Finance�� International Finance�� Real Estate Finance

Sample course plan – Bachelor of Commerce Q

Major in Finance

Year 1

Semester 1 Introductory Microeconomics

Quantitative Methods 1

Semester 2 Introductory Microeconomics Finance 1

Year 2

Semester 1 Quantitative Methods 2 W

Business Finance

Semester 2 Organisational Behaviour

Year 3

Semester 1 Investments Derivative Securities

Semester 2 Corporate Finance

Compulsory subjects Finance Subjects Free elective subjects E

Q This is a sample course plan only. Subjects offered may change from year-to-year. You will be advised of current subject offerings prior to subject selection and enrolment.

W There is a choice of Level-2 subjects available to fulfil the quantitative requirement for the Bachelor of Commerce.

E You must complete a specified number of Business and Economics and breadth subjects at particular levels to meet Bachelor of Commerce degree requirements.

This sample course plan names compulsory subjects in the Bachelor of Commerce and minimum subjects required for the finance major. In total these comprise 10 of 24 subjects of the degree. If you intend to pursue Honours in Finance you will also need to study either Basic Econometrics or Econometrics in your final year.

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HONOURS IN FINANCEIf you intend to work in a sector of the industry that values the ability to synthesise diverse information – like investment banking, consulting, risk management and international finance – we recommend that you do an honours year.

Honours in Finance is completed over an additional year of study, usually taken immediately after the Bachelor of Commerce degree. It is an integrated program that features small classes, close interaction with your supervisor, and an emphasis on research and specialised subject areas.

Our honours graduates are extremely sought-after, and most are employed before they complete the degree.

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“Initially I hope to work in the financial services industry. Further down the track I want to work in microfinance in the Middle East, more specifically working with women in rural communities to become financially independent."

Rannia Al-Salihi, major in Finance and Economics, President of the Financial Management Association Australia (FMAA) 2015.

Study options for finance majors

The Bachelor of Commerce degree is extremely flexible and is designed to help you explore your interests. Choosing the finance major still keeps you open to other possibilities – what subjects you choose is up to you.

Electives are available across the range of Bachelor of Commerce disciplines. With careful planning, you could complete a second major.

WHAT CAN I COMBINE WITH THE FINANCE MAJOR?Second major options: Accounting (including accreditation), Economics, Management and Marketing.

We do not recommend any particular combinations - the choice depends on your interests and career goals. You can wait until your second year to decide which discipline you wish to double major in.

WHAT BREADTH SUBJECTS CAN I DO?There is a wealth of study options available at the University. You can take all your breadth subjects in one discipline, or break them up to explore different interests.

Keep in mind that some subject areas have study prerequisites, and completing particular breadth subjects can lead to graduate study.

Breadth subjects are available in these study areas:�� Agriculture, animal studies, food

science and veterinary science�� Architecture, building and planning�� Education, teaching and training�� Engineering and geomatics�� Environment and natural resources�� Historical, philosophical, political and

social studies�� Information technology and systems�� Language, literature and

cultural studies�� Law, legal studies and criminology�� Medicine, dentistry, health and welfare�� Music�� Performing and visual arts, theatre,

film and television�� Sciences and mathematics

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Studying finance as breadthCan I do finance subjects even if I’m not a Bachelor of Commerce student?

ETHICS AND INVESTINGHow not to repeat the Global Financial Crisis and what you can do as an investor to help save the planet.�� Business Finance�� Ethics in Finance�� Finance 1

FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCE AND ACCOUNTINGProvides sufficient accounting and finance knowledge to gain a basic level of financial literacy, with an emphasis on the operation of financial markets.�� Accounting Reports and Analysis�� Business Finance�� Finance 1

Yes, you can. One of the cornerstones of Melbourne degrees is breadth studies – the opportunity for all students to take subjects from outside their major area of study.

Breadth studies in finance are available to students in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Environments, Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Science.

If you would like to take finance subjects first check the structure of your degree to see whether it's possible. Note that all finance subjects have prerequisites, usually a study score of 25 in VCE Mathematical Methods (CAS) Units 3 and 4 (or equivalent) plus an approved quantitative subject.

We recommend studying Finance 1 in your first year to start with. From there you can mix and match subjects based on your interests, or complete a sequence of subjects – called a breadth track – to progressively build your finance knowledge.

ECONOMICS & FINANCEFor non-Bachelor of Commerce students who wish to explore future careers in consulting or investment banking.�� Business Finance�� Finance 1�� Introductory Econometrics OR

Quantitative Methods 2�� Quantitative Methods 1�� Two of: Corporate Finance,

Derivative Securities, Investments

YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFEProvides insights into personal saving, and why a crisis is imminent in the retirement saving of our ageing population.�� Business Finance�� Finance 1�� Intermediate Personal Finance

(optional)�� Introductory Personal Finance

REAL ESTATE AND THE AUSTRALIAN DREAMExplores whether demographic changes explain trends in home ownership, and why retail areas succeed or fail.�� Business Finance�� Finance 1�� Introduction to Real Estate Analysis�� Real Estate Finance (optional)

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GRADUATE STUDY FOR NON-FINANCE MAJORSThe Master of Management (Finance) offered through Melbourne Business School is ideal for non-finance graduates who want to pursue a career in the finance industry. It is also a great option for Bachelor of Commerce students who wish to add finance to their portfolio.

The program will equip you with advanced competencies, professional skills and knowledge in the finance discipline to prepare you for immediate entry into the finance profession.

The Master of Management (Accounting and Finance) program is another option, and is designed for students who would like to combine studies in both disciplines.

FIND OUT MORE

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Finance Undergraduate Information brochure

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Authorised by: Executive Director, External Relations, July 2015

Published by: The Faculty of Business and Economics

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