Master of Advanced Finance - 2019

This course offers advanced expertise in quantitative and qualitative finance across a broad range of industry relevant and specific areas of finance. The course is designed for recent finance graduates and professionals within the finance industry. The aim of this qualification is for the student to develop applied competence in the mastering, interpretation, reflecting on and application of principles in the broader field of finance. For those who pursue the research pathway through the minor dissertation, a qualifying student shows evidence of scientific research, application of scientific research methodologies and an ability to reflect thereon in the holistic context of finance.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

1. be critical and creative scholars who:
   • produce innovative solutions to problems
   • apply research skills to business challenges
   • communicate effectively and perceptively
2. be responsible and effective global citizens who:
   • engage in an internationalised world
   • exhibit cross-cultural competence
   • demonstrate ethical values
3. show a comprehensive understanding of their discipline and be able to provide discipline based solutions relevant to the business, professional and public policy communities we serve.
4. demonstrate judgement, creativity and application of advanced quantitative finance theories and methods in an ethical manner in financial markets, related intermediaries and finance divisions of large corporations.

This course is accreditated by relevant Australian professional bodies. Refer to the Monash Business School professional recognitionprofessional recognition (https://www.monash.edu/business/future-students/graduate-study-options/after-you-graduate/professional-recognition) page.

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Mastery knowledge and Part B. Application studies. All students complete Part A. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part B.

Part A. Mastery knowledge

These units will develop your understanding of the finance discipline and will enable you to provide discipline-based solutions within a business, professional or public context.

Part B. Application studies

You may select to undertake an expert or research pathway.

The expert pathway will introduce current thinking and knowledge of new structures in the financial markets such as environmental finance, financial technology, behavioural finance and big data. It will provide the opportunity to undertake units which will prepare you for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams.

The research pathway will develop your skills and research methodology knowledge needed to carry out independent research in finance, and provides a pathway to higher degrees in research.

Note: If you are wishing to undertake the research pathway you must maintain at least a 80% WAM and be accepted for entry by the Course Coordinator and the Higher Degrees Research Director.

The course comprises 96 points structured in two parts: Part A. Mastery knowledge (48 points) and Part B. Application studies (48 points).

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part A and Part B.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 48 points, comprising Part A.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete the higher credit-point option.

TThe course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/maps/map-b6003.pdf) provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Mastery knowledge (48 points)

You must complete:

• BFF5220 Applied investments
• BFF5230 Global financial markets
• BFF5250 Corporate treasury management
• BFF5255 Modelling in finance
• BFF5270 Funds management
• BFF5300 Case studies in finance*
• BFF5915 Options, futures and risk management
• ETF5930 Financial econometrics

* This capstone unit incorporates the application of research principles including research methods applicable to the finance professional's field of work.

Part B. Application studies (48 points)

You must complete either a. or b. below:

a. Eight elective units (48 points) at either level 4 or 5 from the Faculty of Business and Economics or across the University as long as you have the pre-requisites and there are no restrictions on admission to the units.

To align with professional practice and facilitate sitting for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams, it is recommended that you complete electives from the following list:

• BFC5280 Institutional asset and liability management
• BFC5380 Credit risk modelling
• BFC5913 Financial planning
• BFC5914 Bank lending
• BFX5260 Treasury and financial markets
• BFF5333 Project finance
• BFF5370 Financial markets and technology
• BFF5580 Mergers and acquisitions
• BFF5910Not offered in 2019 Special topics in finance
• ETC5351 Modelling in finance and insurance
• ETF5231 Business forecasting
• ETF5300 Applied financial econometrics

Units can be identified using the browse unitsbrowse units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/search) tool and indexes of unitsindexes of units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/) in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

b. You must complete (30 points): **

• BFX5000 Research methods
• BFX5018 Research dissertation (24 points)

And three units (18 points) from the following:

• BFX4030 Advanced modelling in finance
• BFX4060 Issues in corporate finance
• BFX4080Not offered in 2019 Issues in banking
• BFX4120 Issues in investments

** If you wish to undertake the research pathway you must maintain at least a 80% WAM within Part A. Mastery knowledge. In addition to meeting the academic pre-requisities, selection into the research pathway is based on the outcome of a formal interview with a panel constituted by the Course Director.

You may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award during your enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Certificate of Business after successful completion of 24 credit points of study with a minimum of 18 credit points at level 4 or above
• Graduate Diploma of Business after successful completion of 48 credit points of study with a minimum of 36 credit points at level 4 or above.

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a higher degree by research if you are admitted at entry level 1 completing the research pathway (48 points). If you are admitted at entry level 2 you will normally already have an honours degree, however, if you are in this group and wish to complete a research dissertation you should discuss the option with the course coordinator.