BSc Finance (Investments)

Title:

Introductory Securities and Markets

Code:

IC101

Convenor:

PROF Brian Scott-Quinn

Summary:

This module is delivered at the University of Reading and the University of Reading Malaysia

The module is in two halves. In the first half (first five weeks of term), we cover financial institutions, credit risk, maturity transformation and liquidity. We also cover the economics of banking and types of money including cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies. In the second five weeks, we focus on sustainable finance and its important contribution to achieving Net-Zero by 2050. Thus this second part focussed on the role of the finance industry in mitigating climate change impact and also covers social issues relevant to corporates and financial companies such as diversity, equality of pay for equal work, salary and bonus differentials etc.

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introductory Finance/Trading Simulation I

Code:

IC102

Convenor:

DR Gita Persand

Summary:

This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

This module aims to provide the student with an overview of the financial system. This will include an overview of the role that the financial system plays in the economy, a discussion of some of the main players in the system, the instruments they trade, and the trading prices. Part of the module will focus on capital markets and the private and public financial institutions participating in these markets. The remainder of the module covers the time value of money, longer-term securities like bonds, risky securities like stocks, and the way in which returns, and the values of real and financial assets relate to each other. The purpose of the trading simulation part of the module is to introduce students to computer simulation of securities dealing and spreadsheet modelling. Students are taught the relevant theory and will experience how this theory works in a virtual dealing environment.

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Practical 10%, Project 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introductory Economics for Business and Finance

Code:

IC103

Convenor:

PROF Carol Padgett

Summary:

The module provides an introduction to micro- and macroeconomics for business students. It assumes no prior knowledge, instead providing a grounding in the subject enabling students to see how businesses are affected by developments in specific markets as well as by changes at the level of the entire economy. Students who have studied the subject before have the opportunity to stretch themselves in the discussion-based activities included in the seminars. 

This module is delivered at University of Reading, University of Reading Malaysia and Beijing Institute of Technology. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 80%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introductory Quantitative Techniques for Business and Finance

Code:

IC104

Convenor:

DR Nikoloas Antypas

Summary:

This module introduces students to a range of quantitative techniques that are commonly applied in business, finance and management. 

This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

Assessment Method:

Exam 75%, Project 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Ethics in Investment Management

Code:

IC105

Convenor:

MS Deepa Govindarajan Driver

Summary:

Ethics in Investment Management offers a series of lectures that explore the key ethical conflicts encountered by the investment management industry and investment professionals as they invest other people’s money. The module will examine the causes and consequences of both ethical and unethical behaviour, giving students the chance to see how investment management firms’ and investment managers’ individual and collective decisions affect trading partners, clients, financial markets and civil society stakeholders. The implications for civil society and the real economy of ethical failures are also given particular attention. Some of the topics covered in this module feature in the CFA ethics syllabus, but this module should not be seen as an alternative to the specialist training for the CFA exams. 

This module also helps students develop key employability skills .

Assessment Method:

Exam 65%, Assignment 25%, Project 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Business in Practice: Accounting for managers

Code:

MM1F27

Convenor:

MS Sue Blackett

Summary:

This module is co-taught with Ms Sian Weatherburn.

This module is delivered at the University of Reading and the University of Reading Malaysia

Assessment Method:

Exam 55%, Portfolio 10%, Project 35%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Corporate Finance

Code:

IC201

Convenor:

MISS Dina Ghanma

Summary:

This module focusses on corporate value: its measurement, and its maximisation through corporate financial decisions, growth strategies, and governance practices. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 65%, Project 35%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Portfolio Management

Code:

IC204

Convenor:

DR Nikoloas Antypas

Summary:

The module examines the issues involved in understanding the investment market, constructing an optimal investment portfolio, evaluating the performance of that portfolio, and adjusting its composition through time.

This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 10%, Oral 40%, Class test 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introductory Econometrics for Finance

Code:

IC205

Convenor:

DR Lisa Schopohl

Summary:

This module introduces students to the econometric techniques that are used in the empirical finance literature. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 65%, Assignment 10%, Project 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

FX and International Debt Markets

Code:

IC211

Convenor:

Summary:

In this module students will study the international debt markets, equipping them with the tools to analyse and compare products and determine trading and hedging strategies.

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Practical 10%, Class test 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Financial Modelling

Code:

IC212

Convenor:

DR Gita Persand

Summary:

This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

This module aims to put various finance theories, which were studied at Part 1 Introductory Finance, into practice with the use of Microsoft Excel functions, hence providing students with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge, when using Excel, to solve some real-life financial problems.

Assessment Method:

Project 60%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Trends in Finance

Code:

IC207

Convenor:

DR Antony Moore

Summary:

This module encourages students to contextualise current issues and debates in finance by placing them within the historical evolution of finance, and to develop and express their own ideas through coursework essays and in-class discussions.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Programming for Finance

Code:

IC208

Convenor:

DR Vu Tran

Summary:

The module objective is to introduce the students to Object Oriented Programming using Python as the main programming language, and to use the learning outcomes for data processing and applications in Finance. It covers the basics of programming, including class, objects, datatypes, conditional statements and loops, processing data from files, receiving inputs and displaying relevant outputs. Students who complete this course should be able to write simple programming functions in Python, process data files including reading, and modifying and writing data to external files. Additionally, students should be able to read and write to Excel and CSV files, connect to databases, obtain and process data from the Web, as well as use Python for Finance and Econometrics.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Sustainable Finance

Code:

IC209

Convenor:

MR John Chessher

Summary:

This module covers the basics of Sustainable Finance, covering applications in financing and investment activities. The Environmental, Social and Governance factors are covered, and the relevant policies and international regulations are discussed. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Environmental Economics

Code:

IC210

Convenor:

PROF Carol Padgett

Summary:

This module has two broad parts: The first part covers the basics of climate science, including CO2 reduction targets, national and international-level commitments and international agreements. The relevant environmental issues are discussed separately for different sectors of Finance, and their importance is emphasized. The second part of the module deals with Climate Change. In this context, its impacts are discussed, as well as channels of adaptation to and mitigation of Climate Change. Finally, the related Risk Management techniques are covered.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Work Mini-Placement

Code:

MM285

Convenor:

MS Helen Slingsby

Summary:

A non-credit module that provides participating students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge and learning gained in their first one or two years in a business context through a mini placement, enhancing understanding and skills of working in a business environment, and reflecting on this experience to enhance awareness of the graduate employment market. For a mini placement to be accepted as having module status, it should be for a work experience period of a minimum of six weeks, and students will need to register for this module a minimum of two weeks prior to starting their mini placement. The deadline for registering for this module is the last day of the summer term. Students will not be able to register for this module retrospectively. Tier 4 (international and sponsored) students may take this module but may only start full-time work after the end of the summer term, and the placement must end before the start of the autumn term in the next academic year.

Assessment Method:

Report 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.