PGR Contemporary Topics in Finance
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BUSI4702 | Business | 4 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- BUSI4702
- School
- Business
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
Corporate Financing and Investment Decisions;
Takeovers and Mergers and Acquisitions
Board structure and Corporate Governance
The Role of Asymmetric Information and Agency Costs in Corporate Finance;
Asset Pricing Models and the Valuation of Securities; Measuring Portfolio Performance
Market Microstructure
Behavioural Finance
Target Students
PhD students in Finance, Risk and Banking (compulsory). PhD students in Industrial Economics
Classes
- One 2-hour workshop each week for 5 weeks
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 2 weeks
- One 3-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Total of 200 hours. There are 44 contact hours, including 30 hours of lectures and 10 hours of workshops and 4 hours of seminars. The remaining 156 hours are made up of independent study time involving 60 hours background reading, 50 hours coursework preparation, and 46 hours group work outside of lectures.
Assessment
- 60% Coursework: Individual coursework 3,000 words
- 20% Presentation: Individual Presentation (20 mins plus 5 mins Q&A)
- 20% Assignment: Group work: (Answering set of research problems)
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to cover a wide range of topics that provide the basis for theoretical and empirical research in all areas in finance. It goes in-depth underlying theoretical structure of modern Finance theories and topics and cover arbitrage principles, agency costs, asymmetric information and application of Game theory in Finance and Financial markets. It will also cover modern banking models including bank runs, securitizations and role of bank and financial intermediaries in managing risks.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: This module develops a knowledge and understanding of:
Tools and techniques for transforming (big) data into useful information for business analysis and decision support
Intellectual Skills: This module develops:
Being able to think critically and be creative: manage the creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise. This includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately
Being able to solve complex problems and make decisions: establish criteria, using appropriate decision-making techniques including identifying, formulating and solving business problems; and the ability to create, identify and evaluate options; the ability to implement and review decisions
Using information and knowledge effectively in order to abstract meaning from information and to share knowledge, including the use of quantitative skills
Other:
Being able to learn and use specialised statistical software.
Professional Practical Skills: This module develops:
The ability to conduct research and enquiry into business and management issues either individually or as part of a team through research design, the collection and analysis of quantitative data, synthesis and reporting
Effective performance within team environments and the ability to recognise and utilise individuals' contributions in group processes and to negotiate and persuade or influence others; team selection, delegation, development and management. Leadership and performance management: selecting appropriate leadership style for different situations; setting objectives, motivating, monitoring performance, coaching and mentoring
Transferable (key) Skills: This module develops:
High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self-management; time management; conflict resolution, displaying commercial acumen, the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and experience