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FinanceUndergraduate information

Capital markets and financial institutions Investments and financial planning

Corporate finance

Finance is the study of money management. As a finance student, you will learn how to raise funds, choose investments and grow wealth.

Commerce major in Finance

I have secured an investment banking analyst position for next year. I am excited to apply the technical and analytical skills I’ve developed, and I feel confident that studying Commerce has prepared me well for my career.

Anna Kilmartin, BCom 2013, currently doing Honours

1QS World University Rankings by Subject 20142Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2013-14

3QS World University Rankings 20132

Am I A good FIt?To excel in finance, you need to be inquisitive, commercially aware, mature, efficient, and detail-oriented. You need to be a strategic thinker with excellent people skills, who is comfortable with technology and change.

Is the FInAnce mAjor For me?Do your friends come to you for advice? Do you do well in stressful situations? Are you good at maths? If you are a confident decision maker who can work independently and process information quickly, you should consider finance.

WhAt WIll I leArn?Studying finance will help you understand stocks and bonds, banking, budgeting, debt, and how markets function. You will learn how to value assets, find opportunities to save, and analyse investment options.

exciting student experience opportunities

There’s more to uni than lectures, assignments and exams. Get involved outside the classroom – there’s something for everyone.

ranked 10th in the world for graduate employability3

Our graduates are known for their perceptive understanding of business issues, skilful communication and strong leadership.

recognised as a cFA Program Partner of the cFA Institute

The finance major is ideal preparation for the CFA exams, a requirement for designation as a Chartered Financial Analyst®.

ranked 8th in the world and 1st in the Asia-Pacific for Finance1

Study at Australia’s best university.2 Learn from internationally renowned academics, with some of the world’s brightest students.

Why choose melbourne?

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Aditya singh Technology and innovation, Australia

Ange cheang Financial services, Macau

Alexander lau Management consulting, Australia

yuta hirose Trade and development, Japan

lizzie reid Wealth management, Australia

evangeline ho Real estate, Singapore

renata rejas Private equity and venture capital, Peru

Where could the FInAnce mAjor tAKe you?

Kyle sutcliffe Investment banking, USA

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My dream job is to work in the asset management field, investing ethically in sustainable businesses and ideas that can benefit society well into the future.

ewe jin tan, majors in Finance and Economics

our graduates receive high-level finance training, combined with exposure to complementary disciplines and opportunities for development outside the classroom. they enjoy excellent career outcomes, including high starting salaries, outstanding job satisfaction and exceptional employment rates.

Careers in finance

Where do FInAnce grAduAtes WorK?Some of our most recent graduates are now working at:

A.C. NielsenANZ Banking GroupA.T. KearneyAustralian Administration ServicesAustralian Customs and Border Protection ServiceAustralian Taxation OfficeBell Potter SecuritiesBHP BillitonBoston Consulting GroupCameron HarrisonCBRECitigroupClayton UtzDBA LawyersDixon AdvisoryErnst & YoungGoldman SachsGrant ThorntonHaddington AccountantsIBM AustraliaJPMorgan & ChaseJones Lang LaSalleKPMGKraft FoodsLazardLongriver InvestmentsMAP Capital AdvisorsMinter EllisonMorgan StanleyNational Australia BankNewcrest MiningOCBC BankOz Property GroupPitcher PartnersPricewaterhouseCoopersSingapore AirlinesSuncorp-MetwayTarget AustraliaTowers WatsonUBSUnileverUnited Overseas BankWestpac

cAreer ProgressIon In FInAnceSample job titles

Adviser

Analyst

Associate

Banker

Graduate

Planner

your first job

Broker

Consultant

Manager

Senior Planner

Trader

Vice President

In 5-10 years

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Managing Director

Partner

Financial Controller

Treasurer

In 15-20 years

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Studying the finance major

the finance major is extremely popular, both as a single major and in combination with other disciplines. It is a versatile major that sharpens your problem solving skills and provides valuable training for any industry.

The Bachelor of Commerce consists of 24 subjects, usually taken over three years of full-time study. The degree is very flexible and allows you to choose subjects across a range of disciplines. As part of the BCom, you must complete at least one major.

The Bachelor of Commerce major in finance is made up of a sequence of subjects that builds progressively on your knowledge in the discipline. Upon completion of the major, you will have developed expertise in the core areas of finance and enjoyed opportunities to expand your knowledge in specialist areas.

sample course plan – bachelor of commerce1

Major in Finance

Year 1Semester 1 Introductory

MicroeconomicsQuantitative Methods 1

Semester 2 Introductory Macroeconomics Finance 1

Year 2Semester 1 Quantitative

Methods 22 Business Finance

Semester 2 Organisational Behaviour

Year 3Semester 1 Investments Derivative Securities

Semester 2 Corporate Finance

1 This is a sample course plan only. Subjects offered may change from year to year. You will be advised of current subject offerings prior to subject selection and enrolment.

2 There is a choice of Level-2 subjects available to fulfil the quantitative requirement for BCom. Consult with a course adviser to find out which one suits you best.

3 You need to complete a specified amount of Commerce and breadth subjects at particular levels to meet BCom course requirements. A course adviser can help you select subjects to ensure that you don’t neglect these requirements.

This sample course plan names compulsory subjects in the BCom and minimum subjects required for the finance major. In total, these comprise 10 of 24 subjects in the degree. If you intend to pursue Honours in Finance, you will also need to do either Basic Econometrics or Econometrics in your final year.

bachelor of commerce24 subjects (usually 8 per year)

compulsory subjects

5 subjects to cover Commerce

fundamentals

major and elective subjects

11-15 subjects to deepen your

Commerce knowledge

breadth subjects

4-8 subjects from other disciplines

Compulsory subjects Finance subjects Free elective subjects3

yeAr 2 electIvesIntroductory Personal Finance

Introduction to Real Estate Analysis

Management of Financial Institutions

If you would like to deepen your finance knowledge, there is a variety of electives available throughout the degree.

yeAr 3 electIvesAsian Capital MarketsEntrepreneurial FinanceEthics in FinanceIntermediate Personal FinanceInternational FinanceReal Estate Finance

honours In FInAnceIf you intend to work in a sector of the industry that values the ability to synthesise diverse information – like investment banking, consulting, risk management and international finance – we recommend that you do an honours year.

Honours in Finance is completed over an extra year of study, usually taken immediately after the Commerce degree. It is an integrated program that features small classes, close interaction with your supervisor, and an emphasis on research and specialised subject areas.

Our honours graduates are extremely sought-after, and most are employed before they complete the degree.

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the commerce degree is extremely flexible and is designed to help you explore your interests. choosing the finance major still keeps you open to other possibilities – what subjects you choose is up to you.

Study options for finance majors

I love being able to choose different subjects from so many disciplines. Breadth has really been a highlight of my degree. I’ve taken Screen and Culture subjects through the Faculty of Arts and Creative Arts subjects at the VCA to indulge my creative interests.

bronte Payne, majors in Finance and Marketing

• Agriculture,animalstudies,foodscience and veterinary science

• Architecture,buildingandplanning

• Education,teachingandtraining

• Engineeringandgeomatics

• Environmentandnaturalresources

• Historical,philosophical,politicalandsocial studies

• Informationtechnologyandsystems

• Language,literatureandculturalstudies

• Law,legalstudiesandcriminology

• Medicine,dentistry,healthandwelfare

• Music

• Performingandvisualarts,theatre,film and television

• Sciencesandmathematics

WhAt breAdth subjects cAn I do?

There is a wealth of study options available at the University. You can take all your breadth subjects in one discipline, or break them up to explore different interests. Note that some subject areas have study prerequisites, which you can discuss with a course adviser. Keep in mind that completing particular breadth subjects can lead to graduate study – that’s another option for you to consider.

Breadth subjects are available in these study areas:

Electives are available across the range of Commerce disciplines. With careful planning, you could complete a second major.

WhAt cAn I combIne WIth the FInAnce mAjor?second major options: Accounting (including accreditation), Economics, Management, Marketing

We do not recommend any particular Commerce major combinations – the choice depends on your interests and career goals. You can wait until second year to confirm your major, so you can take a little time to decide what you want to do.

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Studying finance as breadth

Yes, you can. One of the cornerstones of Melbourne degrees is breadth studies – the opportunity for all students to take subjects from outside their major area of study.

Breadth studies in finance are available to students in the Bachelor of Arts, Biomedicine, Environments, Music or Science.

If you would like to take finance subjects, check the structure of your degree and consult with a course adviser. Note that all finance subjects have prerequisites, usually a study score of 25 in VCE Mathematical Methods (CAS) Units 3 and 4 (or equivalent), plus an approved quantitative subject.

As a start, we recommend doing Finance 1 in first year. From there, you can mix and match subjects based on your interests, or complete a sequence of subjects – called a breadth track – to progressively build your finance knowledge.

can I do finance subjects even if I’m not a commerce student?

economIcs & FInAnceFor non-Commerce students who wish to explore future careers in consulting or investment banking.• Finance 1• Quantitative Methods 1• Business Finance• Introductory Econometrics OR

Quantitative Methods 2• Two of: Investments, Corporate

Finance, Derivative Securities

your money or your lIFeProvides insights into personal saving, and why a crisis is imminent in the retirement saving of our aging population.• Finance 1• Business Finance• Introductory Personal Finance• Intermediate Personal Finance

(optional)

reAl estAte And the AustrAlIAn dreAmExplores whether demographic changes explain trends in home ownership, and why retail areas succeed or fail.• Finance 1• Business Finance• Introduction to Real Estate

Analysis• Real Estate Finance (optional)

ethIcs And InvestIngHow not to repeat the GFC, and what you can do as an investor to help save the planet.• Finance 1• Business Finance• Ethics in Finance

FundAmentAls oF FInAnce And AccountIngProvides sufficient accounting and finance knowledge to gain a basic level of financial literacy, with an emphasis on the operation of financial markets.• Accounting Reports and Analysis• Finance 1• Business Finance

grAduAte study For non-FInAnce mAjorsThe Master of Management (Finance), offered through Melbourne Business School, is ideal for non-Commerce graduates who want to pursue a career in the finance industry. It is also a great option for Commerce students who wish to add finance to their portfolio.

The course will equip you with advanced competencies, professional skills and knowledge in the finance discipline, to prepare you for immediate entry into the finance profession.

The Master of Management (Accounting and Finance) program is another option, and is designed for students who would like to combine studies in these two disciplines.

www.mbs.unimelb.edu.au

Finance Undergraduate Information brochureAuthorised by: ProvostPublished by: The Faculty of Business and EconomicsPhotography: Joe VittorioCRICOS Provider code: 00116KIntellectual Property: For further information refer to www.unimelb.edu.au/Statutescopyright: Copyright University of Melbourne 2014. Copyright in this publication is owned by the University and no part of it may be reproduced without the permission of the University.

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