Finance Honours
For requirements for admission, completion and the award of honours in the Bachelor of Advanced Studies, please refer to the Faculty resolutions and the resolutions of the degree.
Table A - The University of Sydney Business School
Finance
Honours in Finance
Achievement of Honours in Finance requires 48 of credit points from this table comprising:
(i) 48 credit points of 4000-level unit
Units of study
The relevant units of study are listed below.
4000-level units of study
Core
BUSS4000 Honours in Business
Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Prerequisites: BUSS4001 AND 2 x Honours coursework units in the specialisation area ((BUSS4112 and BUSS4113) or (BUSS4212 and (BUSS4013 or BUSS4213)) or (BUSS4312 and BUSS4313) or (BUSS4412 and BUSS4413) or (BUSS4512 and (BUSS4013 or BUSS4513)) or (BUSS4612 and (BUSS4013 or BUSS4613)) or (BUSS4712 and BUSS4713) or (BUSS4812 and (BUSS4013 or BUSS4813))). Corequisites: BUSS4104
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit is administrative only and serves as a consolidation for all marks to represent a single final mark for students undertaking Honours. Marks will be calculated as follows: BUSS4001 (20%); BUSS4X12 (10%); BUSS4X13 (10%); BUSS4104 (60%).
BUSS4001 Business Honours Research Methods
Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1 Prerequisites: Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area Assessment: being a researcher essay (20%); discipline and cluster based assessments (40%); research proposal (30%); research proposal presentation (10%)
This unit is an introduction to research methods used in business disciplines. The unit provides students with an understanding of the range of methods that may be used to answer research questions, their strengths and weakness and underlying philosophical assumptions. Key elements of the research process are addressed, including the purpose of the research; devising the research questions and hypotheses; selecting a research strategy; methods and procedures for data collection and analysis; and interpreting and reporting the results. Students learn important research terminology, how to write a research proposal and ethical considerations in conducting research. The first component of this unit is delivered to the whole Business School Honours cohort and covers obligations as a researcher. The second component of the unit splits into Disciplinary areas and covers issues related to research design.
BUSS4412 Finance Honours A
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Prerequisites: Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area Corequisites: BUSS4001: BUSS4413 Assessment: assignment 1 (20%), mid-semester exam (30%), assignment 2 (20%), final exam (30%)
This unit covers advanced research-integrated coursework topics in asset pricing, derivative pricing, portfolio management theory and behavioural finance. Students develop numerical and analytical/discursive skills to demonstrate their depth of understanding of finance theory and how it applies to the real world. Through research-led teaching, students also learn to apply behavioural finance concepts in current research and communicate complex analysis in a succinct format.
BUSS4413 Finance Honours B
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Prerequisites: Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area Corequisites: BUSS4001 and BUSS4412 Assessment: individual presentation (20%), assignment 1 (30%), and assignment 2 (50%)
This unit covers literature in the fields of advanced corporate finance (and market microstructure). The research led teaching in this unit is designed to help students to form research questions, develop testable hypotheses, identify and apply appropriate research methods to test these hypotheses. Armed with advanced research skills, students are able to critically review both empirical and theoretical papers within the research fields of advanced corporate finance and market microstructure.
BUSS4104 Business Honours Thesis
Credit points: 24 Session: Semester 2 Prerequisites: BUSS4001 + 2 x Honours coursework units in the specialisation area Corequisites: BUSS4000 Assessment: individual thesis (100%), oral thesis communication (0%)
This unit comprises the research and writing of a supervised thesis on an approved topic in business. A written Honours Thesis and presentation of the research work is undertaken.