Finance
The Discipline of Finance in the University of Sydney Business School is a leading research group currently ranked among the top five finance groups in the Asia-Pacific region. Discipline members are actively engaged with industry both nationally and internationally, which means students are exposed to high-level, market-specific knowledge that mixes theory with current relevant practice. This major takes an applied approach, teaching students how capital markets work and what they need to know to work in them.
Options for studying Finance
Finance is available as a Table A major option in the Bachelor of Commerce, the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws, the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce and the Bachelor of Advanced Computing and Bachelor of Commerce.
Pathway through the major
The requirements for a major in Finance are spread out over three years of the degree (four years if students are completing a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree).
To achieve a major in Finance, students must complete 48 credit points comprising:
- 12 credit points of 1000-level core units of study;
- 12 credit points of 2000-level core units of study;
- 12 credit points of 3000-level core units of study; and
- 12 credit points of 3000-level selective units of study.
A sample pathway for the Finance major (over three years of a degree) is listed below.
| Year | Session | Units of study | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Semester 1 | Core: BUSS1020 Quantitative Business Analysis * | |
| Semester 2 | Core: BUSS1040 Economics for Business Decision Making | ||
| Second | Semester 1 | Core: FINC2011 Corporate Finance I | |
| Semester 2 | Core: FINC2012 Corporate Finance II | ||
| Third | Semester 1 | Core: FINC3017 Investment and Portfolio Management | Selective: 3000-level unit listed for major |
| Semester 2 | Core: FINC3600 Finance in Practice ** | Selective: 3000-level unit listed for major | |
* This unit is also degree core for the Bachelor of Commerce and related combined degrees.
** Capstone unit for major – completed in final semester of study
Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete these units in a different sequence to that displayed in the table above.
For details of the core and selective units of study required for the major or minor please refer to the Finance section of the unit of study table, Table A, in this handbook.
Honours
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced studies who complete a major in Finance (within the first three years of their degree) may be eligible to complete honours in Finance as their fourth year of study in this program.
For details the requirements for admission to honours and the structure of the honours program, please refer to Business School Honours.
CFA® program partners
CFA Institute® partners with globally diverse, high profile institutions who cover a significant portion of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge TM and who embrace the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct in their degree programs. Recognition as a CFA Program Partner provides recognition that the university curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA exams.
The University of Sydney is recognised as a program partner through the Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Finance) degree program. In addition to the Finance major, it is also recommended that students complete the free online learning module, Ethics and Standards of Practice available through the CFA Institute.
For further information students should refer to the CFA Program® Partners information on the Business School website.
Further information
For further information regarding study in finance at the University of Sydney, please refer to the Discipline of Finance website.