Bachelor of Commerce Guide 2017

University
of Queensland
Bachelor of Commerce Guide

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 1

Contents
About the FMAA .................................................................................................................................... 4
2017 Executive ....................................................................................................................................... 5
2017 Sponsors ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... 7
Welcome to the Bachelor of Commerce ............................................................................................... 8
Compulsory Courses ............................................................................................................................. 12
ACCT1101: Accounting for Decision Making .................................................................................... 13
ACCT2101: Financial Reporting ........................................................................................................ 14
ACCT2102: Principles of Management Accounting .......................................................................... 15
ECON1010: Introductory Microeconomics ...................................................................................... 16
ECON1020: Introductory Macroeconomics ..................................................................................... 17
ECON1310: Quantitative Economic & Business Analysis A .............................................................. 18
FINM2401: Financial Management .................................................................................................. 19
LAWS1100: Business Law ................................................................................................................. 20
BISM1201: Transforming Business with Information Systems ......................................................... 21
MGTS1301: Introduction to Management ....................................................................................... 22
MKTG1501: Foundations of Marketing ............................................................................................ 23
RBUS3904: Integrated Commerce in Practice .................................................................................. 24
Accounting Major ................................................................................................................................. 25
ACCT3101: Auditing & Public Practice .............................................................................................. 26
ACCT3102: External Reporting Issues ............................................................................................... 27
ACCT3103: Accounting for Corporate Structures ............................................................................. 28
ACCT3104: Management Accounting .............................................................................................. 29
ACCT3105: Advanced Management Accounting .............................................................................. 30
LAWS3100: Corporate Law ............................................................................................................... 31
LAWS3101: Income Tax Law ............................................................................................................. 32
BIS Major .............................................................................................................................................. 33
BISM3222: Information Analysis & System Design .......................................................................... 34
BISM2202: Data Analytics & Information Management .................................................................. 35
BISM3203: Managing Business Data ............................................................................................... 36
BISM3208: Information Systems Strategy ....................................................................................... 37
BISM3201: Accounting Information Systems .................................................................................. 38
BISM2233: eBusiness Systems & Strategy ....................................................................................... 39
BISM2203: Business Process Management ..................................................................................... 40
BISM3205: Business Information Security ...................................................................................... 41

BISM3206: Advanced Data Analytics ............................................................................................... 42

BISM3207: Managing Work in Virtual Environments ...................................................................... 43
Finance Major ...................................................................................................................................... 44
ECON2300: Introductory Econometrics ........................................................................................... 45
ECON3210: Financial Markets & Institutions ................................................................................... 46
FINM3401: Corporate Finance ......................................................................................................... 47
FINM3402: Investments & Portfolio Management .......................................................................... 48
FINM3403: International Financial Management ............................................................................ 49
FINM3404: Banking & Lending Decisions ......................................................................................... 50
FINM3405: Derivatives & Risk Management ................................................................................... 51
Elective Courses ................................................................................................................................... 52
ECON1320: Quantitative Economic & Business Analysis B .............................................................. 53


About the FMAA

The Financial Management Association of Australia (FMAA) was founded in 1990 with its first branch
at the University of Melbourne. Four years later, in 1994, a second branch at the University of
Sydney was established. The dynamic student body continued to enjoy strong support from its
members for its highly professional reputation and in 1995, a third branch was established at the
University of Queensland, followed by branches at the University of New South Wales (2009) and
Monash University (2012).
Today, with the continuing support of Gold and Founding Sponsor, the Macquarie Group, FMAA
members continue to enjoy the genuine value that the society has strived to offer and maintain. The
continued growth of FMAA has allowed it to hold the position as Australias largest professionally
focused student organisation.
At the University of Queensland (UQ), the FMAA is a student society that is affiliated with the UQ
Union and hosts a number of events, with the support from a vast number of sponsors, including:
Down-to-Business Luncheon Professional Services Evening

Corporate Cocktails Women in Leadership Forum
Careers in Accounting Evening Firm Specific On Campus Events

These events are held throughout the year to benefit students of all levels of their tertiary education
studying Commerce, Economics, Law, Information Technology, Science, Business Management and
Engineering.
The FMAA also facilitates competitions such as:
The UBS investment Banking Challenge

FMAA Management Consulting Case Competition
Cornell Real Estate Competition

These serve as a valuable opportunity for students to present to industry professionals and to work
in teams with likeminded students. These competitions also provide constructive feedback and
exposure for students to prepare them for life after graduation.
For more information about the FMAA and our events and competitions, please refer to our website
or Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/fmaabrisbane

2017 Executive

President Anthony Whyte anthony.whyte@fmaa.com.au
Vice-President (Sponsorship) Brandon Mein brandon.mein@fmaa.com.au
Vice-President (Operations) Jennifer Lo jennifer.lo@fmaa.com.au
Treasurer Liam Duggan liam.duggan@fmaa.com.au
Secretary Samantha Jenkins samantha.jenkins@fmaa.com.au
Events Director Samantha Scheid samantha.scheid@fmaa.com.au
Marketing Director Annabelle van der Jagt annabelle.vanderjagt@fmaa.com.au
Publications/IT Director Ravi Lakhani ravi.lakhani@fmaa.com.au
Diversity Director Brody MacGinley brody.macginley@fmaa.com.au
Sponsorship Directors Alysha Zimmermann alysha.zimmermann@fmaa.com.au
Andrew Kilner andrew.kilner@fmaa.com.au
Angus Kizil angus.kizil@fmaa.com.au
Jack Hardy jack.hardy@fmaa.com.au
Manny George manny.george@fmaa.com.au
Sub-Executive Committee Pranav Nagarkar pranav.nagarkar@fmaa.com.au
Joshua Kong joshua.kong@fmaa.com.au
Patrick Egstorf patrick.egstorf@fmaa.com.au
Isaac Naumann isaac.naumann@fmaa.com.au
Rene Arunakumaren rene.arunakumaren@fmaa.com.au
Alex Harris alex.harris@fmaa.com.au
Lex Dracakis lex.dracakis@fmaa.com.au
Sean McBurnie sean.mcburnie@fmaa.com.au
Pranav Venkatachalam pranav.venkatachalam@fmaa.com.au

2017 Sponsors

Financial Services

Professional Services

Management Consulting Other Professional Services &
Organisations


Acknowledgements

The FMAA (UQ) would like to thank all those who have contributed to the guide with special
mention to the following:

Sean McBurnie
Annabelle van der Jagt
Patrick Egstorf
Brody MacGinley
Andrew Kilner
Caitlin Chan
Samantha Scheid
Alex Harris
Brandon Mein
Andre Silva

Publications Team:
Ravi Lakhani
Patrick Egstorf
Alex Harris
Josh Kong
Marie To
Rene Arunakumaren
Isaac Naumann

The FMAA (UQ) would also like to thank Mrs Sandra Lazzarini for taking the time to add her
invaluable input to the 2017 Edition of the Bachelor of Commerce Guide.


Welcome to the Bachelor of Commerce

Welcome to the Bachelor of Commerce. The UQ Business School (UQBS) is committed to
graduating high quality professionals. Our degree programs provide not only knowledge
content and technical skills but also help students develop communication skills, analytical
thinking, problem solving and team skills, as well as knowledge and respect of ethical
standards. For this reason, your courses and assessment tasks will not only focus on your
knowledge of the field but your ability to demonstrate capabilities in this broader range of
skills. We encourage you to make the most of the opportunities to learn, enjoy the journey
throughout your degree and embrace the learning activities and many resources available to
you.

How can we at UQBS help you succeed? The School has a number of access points for you
to seek help. Through the Business, Economic and Law (BEL) Faculty, you will have access to
a student advisor. Each semester you will also get to know the lecturers and tutors teaching
into your courses. You are encouraged to seek their help promptly if you are having trouble
with course material or other course related issues. This year the School has appointed a
First Year Co-ordinator Dr Karen Alpert. Please see Karen if you have any general issues
with respect to the first year of your degree. Karen has many years experience at UQ,
especially in teaching our undergraduates; she is friendly, approachable and a great source
of information. Each discipline (referred to as Clusters) has a Cluster Leader who is also
happy to meet with students. Finally, as your Bachelor of Commerce Program Leader, I am
also available to assist you with any course and Program related issues as is the UQBS
Director of Education. (see Contact details below)

What student strategies are most likely to lead to success?
1. Enrol in courses that are required in the study plan for your degree. It is important to
undertake courses in the prescribed order to ensure all prerequisite courses and skills
required for subsequent courses have been undertaken.
(https://bel.uq.edu.au/program-plans)
2. Attend all of your classes. It is easy to skip a class but much harder to catch up. Most
classes are progressive in nature so if you miss one you are then behind for the next.
Lectures are recorded however, we encourage you to use these recordings as a
resource for reviewing (to help you understand details you may have missed in the
lecture), or to make up for a class where you were ill. It is more time efficient to
attend the lecture.
3. Read and review the lecture material within a day of the lecture. It will be a lot easier
to remember the concepts, techniques introduced, and your notes if you start your
revision promptly.
4. Prepare for tutorials by undertaking the required reading and doing the assigned
tasks even if you are not exactly sure how. This makes for a much more interesting
class and you will learn a lot more if you have tried to do the assigned tasks first.
5. Be organised - map out your contact hours and assessment dates. Plan when to start
assignments and exam revision so that you can reduce your time stress and
maximise your results. Ideally, treat your degree as a full time job requiring 40 hours
per week. This equates to spending 10 hours per week per course. With 3-4 hours
allocated to lectures and tutorials, this leaves approx. 6 hours per week to do
required reading, study and assignment preparation.

6. See your lecturer or tutor promptly if you do not understand the course
content/material. Remember, we do not expect you to understand everything
immediately. Getting things wrong initially is part of the learning process. It can take
extra reading and a lot of practice of practical examples to grasp the material.
7. Make sure to check Blackboard announcements and your UQ email on a regular basis
(daily). Official notices are communicated through these channels.
8. Make a habit of reading the financial press (e.g., the business section in the
newspaper) just a quick browse will help keep you informed. As you progress
through your degree, you will soon appreciate just how much your understanding
has improved.
9. Engage with your fellow students, form study groups, join student
clubs/societies/committees, attend employment related events, have coffee and
socialise. University life offers much more than just courses and programs. Fellow
students form your network of peers in the future.

How and when do I select a major?
Your first year contains core courses that provide you with knowledge from a range of
disciplines including accounting, finance, business information systems, economics and law
as well as core skills that are required in your higher-level courses. During this year, you will
get a better idea of what BCom disciplines you are more interested in, you should try to
attend careers events provided by the BEL Student employability Team (SET), and discuss
your options with family, colleagues and advisors. Together these may inform your choice of
major (Accounting, Business Information Systems, or Finance) that you will then start in your
second year. (A major comprises 6 courses and the details of these choices can be found by
selecting the relevant link at:
https://www.uq.edu.au/study/program.html?acad_prog=2024)

How can you have greater input into your program? Each degree program in the School has
its own Program Student Committee e.g., the Commerce Student Committee. Through this
new initiative supported by the UQBS, your nominated student representatives work closely
with the relevant Program Leader sharing their collective insights and feedback regarding
the overall student experience in the program, as well as other program related matters,
with a view to continuously improve the program. Perhaps you would like to consider joining
this student led committee. (For more information, refer to the details below)

What will I do when I graduate?
You have a very high chance of securing employment on your graduation, but there are ways
to improve your odds. Use the first year of your degree to find your passion then undertake
your major(s) in accounting, finance or business information systems and make sure to take
advantage of the additional training and assistance provided by the BEL Faculty Student
Employability Team (SET) and the UQ Advantage program. BEL SET is available to help you
with career choice, internships, and job placement. The team organises a variety of events
that provide you with first-hand information on alternative career paths, developing
networking skills and interview techniques etc. (see: https://bel.uq.edu.au/team/student-
employability-team)


I hope you all enjoy the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to
seeing you on campus. Feel free to email me with any queries.

Sandra Lazzarini
Program Leader, Bachelor of Commerce

Key Contacts:

1st year co-ordinator: Dr Karen Alpert
Room 39-348
Email: k.alpert@business.uq.edu.au

Accounting Cluster Leader: Professor John Lyon
Room: 39-408
Email: j.lyon@business.uq.edu.au

Finance Cluster Leader: Associate Professor Barry Oliver
Room: 39-349
Email: b.oliver@business.uq.edu.au

Business Information Systems Cluster Leader:
Associate Professor Marta Indulska
Room 37-514
Email: m.indulska@business.uq.edu.au

Program Leader BCom: Sandra Lazzarini
Room 39-424
Email: s.lazzarini@business.uq.edu.au

Director of Education (Acting Sem 1/2017):
Associate Professor Lisa Ruhanen
Room 39a-455
Email: l.ruhanen@uq.edu.au

Director of Education: Professor Polly Parker
Room 39-326
Email: p.parker@business.uq.edu.au

Student Program Committee details:
Website: https://business.uq.edu.au/program-committees
Email: student.committee@business.uq.edu.au

2017 Program Restructure

Since 2016, some courses have undergone a restructuring process. In particular, the BIS major has
been undergoing a curriculum redevelopment. As a result, several courses are no longer offered and
other, new courses have been added to the major. Students are urged to check their program
requirements in regards to core subjects and prerequisites for continuing in their Commerce studies.

In the interest of providing the Bachelor of Commerce Guide in time for subject sign-ons, FMAA
strongly advises students to check the relevant course profiles and carefully read the requirements
for the subjects they are undertaking. Please note some subject information is based on 2016
profiles and reviews. These subjects are indicated with a notice on the bottom of the left panel titled
Course Details.


Compulsory Courses


ACCT1101: Accounting for Decision Making
Course Details Overview

ACCT1101 provides an introduction to the accounting environment,
analysis and interpretation of financial statements and other business
information for the purpose of decision making.
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2
For those with no prior accounting experience, the course will introduce
accounting concepts at a very manageable pace. Those with previous
accounting knowledge may find content repetitive and slow.
Prerequisites: None.
Advantages
As an introductory course it can be easily learnt with consistent practice.
Additionally, being confident with the material in this course will create a
Incompatible: strong foundation for ACCT2101 and ACCT2102. In particular, being well
ACCT7020 or 7101 or 7700 acquainted with the different types of financial statements.
or 7804
MEBS7101 This subject is a formal prerequisite for ACCT2101.

Disadvantages
Assessment: A large bulk of the course is methodical so it can be repetitive at times.
2 x Online quizzes Lectures can be quite theory heavy, a fair amount of which is not required
(10% each) for the final exam.
Project (30%)
Final Exam (50% Tips and Tricks
A lot of theory is covered in lectures, however the tutorial questions and
the final exam are much more focused on practical questions, so tutorial
Contact Hours: attendance is crucial.
Lecture (2hrs)
Tutorial (2hrs) It is easy to make mistakes in practical questions, so attention to detail is
required. Also, it is essential to understand the different types of reports as
the assignment and exam rely on this knowledge.
Course Co-Ordinator: Don't underestimate the amount of work required for the group
Ms R. Parry assignment make sure to get good group members and start early as the
financial plan section can take some time (especially when things don't
balance).

In all semesters students commented that the past exam papers were very
useful for final exam revision. Furthermore, the lecture slides were
comprehensive and the textbook offered little value apart from for the
online quizzes.

Based on the 2017 Course Profile

ACCT2101: Financial Reporting

This course aims to familiarise students with the accounting treatment for a
range of common business transactions. It also teaches students how to
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 prepare financial statements for companies in accordance with the Australian
Accounting Standards. The course begins with the fundamental introduction of
the double entry accounting system that is utilized throughout the course. It
then covers topics such as the income statement, current assets, noncurrent
Prerequisites: ACCT1101 assets, liabilities, equity and the cash flow statement.

Advantages
Content is well taught and the lectures follow a logical progression.
Incompatible: The bulk of the course is very methodical and easy to master with practice.
ACCT2111, 7020, 7101, Skills and knowledge gained from the course are invaluable for future courses
7700, 7804 and careers in all areas of business, finance and accounting.
MEBS7101
Disadvantages
Content is cumulative so if you do not understand one part it can be difficult to
move through the course.
Assessment: Content can be very dry and tutorial questions can become tedious
Online Quiz (10%)
Mid Semester Exam (35%) Tips and Tricks
Final exam (55%) Practice is key. Make sure you complete all of the lecture activities, preparation
questions, and then go to the tutorial each week, to ensure you get to complete
as many questions of each type as you can. This will be beneficial for both the
mid semester and final exams.
Contact Hours:
It is easy to lose motivation and get behind in the work try as hard as you can
Lecture (2hrs)
to avoid this as the topics build upon each other each week.
Tutorial (2hrs)
Reading the textbook complements the lectures and tutorials but isnt needed
as a main source of information.

Course Co-Ordinator Ensure you study the accounting equation intensely in the first two weeks, as
A/Prof J. Birt (Sem 1); this will make all later content much easier to pick up when you have one less
Dr M. Russell (Sem 2) thing to worry about.

There will be no surprises in the final exam, but ensure you practice the cash
flow statements thoroughly as making a small error can lead to a big difference

in the final answer which can cause unneeded stress in the exam.

Based on 2016 Course Profiles


ACCT2102: Principles of Management Accounting
This course gives an introduction to cost accounting concepts and the

Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 systems and techniques used to provide decision-making information to
managers. It is divided into three parts beginning with an introduction to
cost accounting. This section teaches the vocabulary used and why
managerial accounting is used in todays workplaces. The Cost Volume
Profit model is also introduced. The second section teaches the various
Prerequisites: ACCT2101 or 2111 types of costing systems such as job, process, joint and activity based
costing. Finally the course goes into the planning and control systems that
are used by organisations. Here students learn how to prepare and
interpret budgets.

Incompatible: ACCT7107
Advantages
The skills developed in this course are very useful and applicable in
workplaces and real life. The course is very enjoyable especially if you have
prior experience working in a small business
Assessment:
Assignment This course is a prerequisite for ACCT3401.
Mid Semester Exam
Final Exam

Tips and Tricks
The content in this course builds on itself so it is important not to fall
Contact Hours: behind. Buying the textbook for this course is important, particularly for
Lecture (2hrs) those wishing to undertake an accounting major as it also used for
Tutorial (2hrs) ACCT3104. All of the tutorial questions are sourced from the textbook,
which makes it a useful point of reference for exam preparation.

Course Co-Ordinator
Mrs S. Lazzarimi (Sem 1
and 2)

(Based on 2015 Profiles)

ECON1010: Introductory Microeconomics

ECON1010 is the introductory course in Microeconomics. In order to
understand the workings of markets and the economy, one has to take on
an economic mindset. This introductory course covers the fundamental
Semesters Offered: 1, 2 & principles that economists use to understand and analyse economic
Summer behaviour. Understanding these basic principles equips students for
further studies in economics and business. Topics and issues covered in
this course include how individuals or firms make decisions about the
Prerequisites: None. demand or supply of a particular product, how we can judge the relative
efficiency of different types of markets, how we explain why governments
may need to intervene in a particular type of market but not in others, and
Incompatible: how some government policies are more efficient than others.
EC101 or 1101 or 121
Advantages
ECON1010 provides a great underlying economic base - supply, demand
Assessment: and equilibrium form the basis for almost every economics course that
Videogame (20%) follows. The course is very well structured and has been taught for many
In Class Test (20%) semesters. Similarly, tutorials are excellent and the provided answers are
Mid Semester Exam (20%) thorough and very useful for the final exam. A low level of mathematics is
Final Exam (40%) required which may provide a useful warm up/refresher for more
quantitative, later courses. Both of the lecturers are very passionate and
Contact Hours: keep lectures engaging the video game is also a unique change from
Lecture (2hrs) other courses and not just a gimmick
Tutorial (1hr)
Disadvantages
Those who have studied economics at high school may find the course very
Course Co-Ordinator: boring similarly those coming from quantitative backgrounds
Dr M. Faravelli (Sem 1 and Tips and Tricks
Summer) The textbook that accompanies the video game can be very useful, but
Dr A. Peyrache (Sem 2) lecture attendance is the best way to understand the concepts involved
and technical elements of the game.

Having a strong knowledge of high school mathematics - linear functions in

particular - will make this course very easy.

Only attend PASS if struggling with the graphs or if seeking consolidation
tutorials are sufficient and represent the exams very well.


ECON1020: Introductory Macroeconomics

ECON1020 aims to provide a grasp of essential macroeconomic theory and
how this informs, or provides a critique of, the decisions made by
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 governments, central banks and the private sector. Whether you are a
Central Bank official striving to control inflation, a Treasury official
considering the implications of a tax cut, an investment banker evaluating
Prerequisites: None. a debt funded acquisition, or simply an interested observer of the
economic commentary appearing in the press, a firm grasp of
macroeconomic theory is essential. Although this course is a stepping-
Incompatible: EC100, 110 or 122 stone to more advanced studies, the aim is to provide a useful set of skills
to people not intending further study in macroeconomics.

Due to high failure rates (for a first year subject), course content has been
Assessment: revised to focus on fewer topics but in more depth than in previous years.
Mid Semester Exam
Advantages
Final Exam Students found ECON1020 to be more interesting because it incorporates
real world applications of the theory it can improve your dinner table
conversation ability, and help you to understand economic articles and
Contact Hours: government policy decision more clearly. The course also provides an
Lecture (2hrs) excellent foundation for future macroeconomic courses.
Tutorial (1hr)
Disadvantages
Course Co-Ordinator The final exam has a heavy weighting and can be challenging. At times,
Prof. I King (Sem 1) lecture slides can be convoluted and confusing, so attendance or listening
to the recordings is crucial.
Dr B. Littleboy (Sem 2)
Tips and Tricks
Lecture, PASS Class and Tutorial attendance are all musts as different
content is covered in each one, and the textbook is highly suggested.
Rote learning is not possible - ensure you have a thorough understanding
of all the topics and are able to analyse and explain each model well, not
simply reproduce it on the page. For this reason, PASS classes are the best
form of exam practice they are very well structured and the discussion of
answers with peers is very helpful.

Lectures for this subject are important however weekly textbook readings
and even exploring news articles is highly recommended in order to gain a
full understanding of each topic. It may also be useful to pause lectures as
they are delivered very well, but content heavy.

ECON1310: Quantitative Economic & Business Analysis A

ECON1310 is an introductory course in quantitative analysis for business
and economics. The course covers a variety of techniques applicable to the
Semesters Offered: 1, 2 & presentation, interpretation and use of data. The main emphasis is
Summer inferential statistics with estimation and hypothesis testing techniques
being an important part of the course. Inferential statistics is continued in
the simple linear regression topic. There is an emphasis on the use of Excel
Prerequisites: for analysis and presentation.
Maths B or
Maths C or Advantages
MATH1040 The content is interesting and clearly explained in lectures the slides
contain all the information needed. Further, the lecturer is highly engaging,
and will ensure that even students who struggle with mathematics are able
Incompatible: to grasp all of the content.
EC134, 135
CHEE3010 The topics covered form the basis for all subsequent statistics and
econometric courses, and are also essential for broader applications in
MINE3214
finance and beyond.
STAT1201, 2201

MS101 + (MS102 OR 112)
Questions posed can be methodical, making it easy to practice. Tutorial
or 103, 113, 204
questions tended to be similar to exam questions and are structured in a

logical order.

Assessment: This subject is a prerequisite for ECON2300 an elective or option in the
Mid Semester Exam (25%) Finance Major.
CML Quiz (Best 5 of 6
worth 4% each) Tips and Tricks
Final Exam (55%) Revision of probability from High School Math B can make the early weeks
of the course very easy don't underestimate the difficulty of these topics
as they do extend beyond previous teachings.
Contact Hours:
Practice a range of questions to prepare for exams, including the CML
Lecture (2hrs)
questions these are good practice for the final exam.
Tutorial (1.5hrs)
Tutorials are excellent practice for the final exam - ensure you understand
Course Co-Ordinator the distributions well and do not get confused between the different
Mr C. Sherwood symbols for populations and samples.

Paying attention in the first few weeks can make the end of the course
much easier don't underestimate the simple elements and all of the
(Based on 2017 Profiles) symbols.

FINM2401: Financial Management

FINM2401 aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to financial
management and financial analysis. Students will be introduced to financial
management through exploring the principal decisions confronting the
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 financial manager of a firm, namely the acquisition and utilisation of funds
for profit, and adding value to the firm. Additionally, this course will
provide a core upon which intermediate and advanced aspects of
corporate finance and asset pricing can be developed.
Prerequisites:
ACCT1101 Advantages
Overall, FINM2401 provides a comprehensive knowledge base for future
courses in the Finance major. The topics are quite diverse, with a wide
Incompatible: range of quantitative and qualitative elements, which helps to maintain
FINM2411 or 7065 or interest consistently throughout the semester, particular the latter topics.
7401 or 7805
MEBS7106 This subject is a prerequisite for all FINM courses.

Disadvantages
Assessment: Examinations are challenging, but manageable if thorough preparation is
Team Project (15%) taken. Tutorials are intensive, long and very dry, but they do provide
Mid Semester Exam (30%) excellent preparation for the final exam.
Final Exam (55%)
Tips and Tricks
Lectures provide a good skeleton of the topics, and exam style questions
Contact Hours: are provided in each lecture, however the lectures can sometimes skim
Lecture (2hrs) over the core concepts of the topic. For this reason, access to the textbook
Tutorial (2hrs) and tutorial attendance are crucial for success. The textbook is fantastic,
and very useful towards the latter end of the course, as well as for
preparing for the essay questions in the final exam.
Course Co-Ordinator
Dr K. Hoang (Sem 1) A strong mathematics background is useful for this course, however
Dr A. Chun (Sem 2) ensure you understand the concepts behind each formula, and don't just
rote learn the procedures. The questions in the final are more difficult than
tutorial questions and have new elements that can be easily confused
without a proper understanding going into the exam.

It is recommended that FINM2401 be taken directly before FINM3401 as it
provides an excellent knowledge base for this difficult subject.
(Based on 2016 profiles)


LAWS1100: Business Law

This course provides an introduction to the legal rules regulating
businesses in Australia for accountants, business managers and other non-
legal professionals. Areas of focus include the Australian legal system, the
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 law of torts, the law of contract, consumer protection law, intellectual
property law and business structures. Students become familiar with the
laws associated with starting, managing, financing and closing a business
through solving simple legal problems.

Advantages

Incompatible: Lectures are well structured and led by knowledgeable lecturers.
CO121 or 122 or 812
COMM1201 or 7201 As a first year course, content is broad and lengthy, however generally
QB119 easy to follow.
LAWS7010
Not to be studied by LLB
Disadvantages
or LLB Dual students

Assessment: Many topics are covered but may not be assessed. This goes for weekly
readings as well.
Tutorial Participation
Mid Semester Exam Tips and Tricks
Final Semester
Exams are open book, which can lead to a false sense of security. In-depth
knowledge of content is still essential to save time and get through all the
Contact Hours: questions in the exam. Students should aim to prepare a concise set of
Lecture (2hrs) materials to take into the open book exam.
Tutorial (1hr)
It is important to actively participate in tutorial discussions, as tutorial
questions are nearly identical to the final exam.

Course Co-Ordinator
Mr A. Austin (Sem 1)
Mr. T. Thomas (Sem 2)

(Based on 2016 Course Profiles)


BISM1201: Transforming Business with Information Systems
This course was previously MGTS1201: Transforming Business with

Information System
Course Details

Overview
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 This course introduces students to the fundamental theories, practice and
strategies of information systems in organisations. Students will learn how

these concepts are incorporated to form complete business information

Prerequisites: None. systems that can be used to identify a business strengths and weaknesses,
and increase a business efficiency. Areas of focus include computer
hardware & software, information systems development and
implementation & operation. Practical experience is gained from using
Incompatible: spreadsheets, database management and other business applications
INFS1200 software. Those with an interest in information systems and computer
MGTS7202
science will enjoy this course.
MGTS1201
MGTS1200
BISM7201
Advantages

Contact Hours: Students find the excel component of the course quite useful due to the
Lecture (2hrs) fact that the skills learnt can be readily applied to other courses and in
Tutorial (2hrs) general tasks.

Lectures are comprehensive, but can be dry. Tutorials are more engaging
and focus more on the practical side of the course.
Course Co-Ordinator
Dr P Clutterbuck Disadvantages
Some aspects of the course can seem dull, repetitive or irrelevant. Some
topics may be covered but not assessed.

Tips and Tricks
Keep up to date during the semester so youre not trying to catch up on
reading during SWOTVAC. The textbook is useful for clarifying topics.
Communicate with your tutor about assessment and their expectations.
Add course profile year


MGTS1301: Introduction to Management

This course provides students with the principles of managing a business
organisation. It covers a broad range of topics that include planning,
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2.
leading, organising and controlling and spans classical to contemporary

approaches to management thinking. More specifically topics and themes

Prerequisites: None. include: ethics, rationality, strategic frameworks, international business,
HRM, and organisational change and innovation. By the end of the
courses, students will have acquired foundational knowledge and skills
Incompatible: None. necessary to become a more effective manager.

Advantages
Assessment:

Simulation
The concepts and theories taught in the course are applied to real world
Tutorial Exercise
examples helping students better understand the material. The broad
Written Analysis
range of concepts that are taught appear in a variety of later subjects.
Final Exam

Lectures are well presented and relatively straightforward. Students find
Contact Hours: that reading the textbook is an incredibly useful to complement the
Contact (3hrs) content of lectures.
This subject is a prerequisite for RBUS2900

Course Co-Ordinator
Disadvantages
Dr C. Gabriel (Sem 1)

Ms A. Kizeminska (Sem 2)
While the content of the course is not challenging, it is voluminous.

Lectures provided limited guidance for the assignment. There is a strong

focus on group work in the course.

Tips and Tricks

Attending tutorials is important in order to understand the analytical way

in which student are expected to answer questions in the final exam.

As groups are assigned randomly for assessment, it is important to be

prepared individually and limit reliance on others.


MKTG1501: Foundations of Marketing

This course provides students with a basic introduction to the field of
marketing exploring topics such as standard marketing theory, markets,
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2. consumer behaviour, pricing strategies, research and behavioural science.
It focuses on the role of marketing and its importance in contemporary
organisations in society. Students will explore marketing principles,
concepts and models and apply them to real world examples.

Advantages
Incompatible: Lectures are well structured and provide a good overview of theory.
MEBS7107 Students are given the opportunity to apply theory through to real-world
MGTS7806 examples, which effectively reinforces their understanding of concepts.
MKTG7040 or 7501 or The final exam mirrors the theories focussed on in lectures.
7708

Disadvantages
The course is extremely content heavy, although not particularly
Assessment: challenging. Some theory is quite unfamiliar and obscure; therefore
Oral Presentation students cannot rely on mere intuition.
Marketing Plan
Final Exam
Tips and Tricks

Most of the course requires rote learning so keep up to date with lectures

and readings. Many key words have different definitions to their literal
Contact Hours: meaning so its important to read through and understand them. As the
Lecture (2hrs) course is largely group-work based, it is important to team up with like-
Tutorial (1hr) minded individuals who are reliable.

Course Co-Ordinator
Mr O. Seamons


RBUS3904: Integrated Commerce in Practice

This course is a capstone course that incorporates knowledge learned from
a range of courses in the commerce program. Its aim is to facilitate the
integration of the content of many courses within the degree that appear

seemingly unrelated. The course provides an explanation of how the firm

Prerequisites: Final Year BCom fits into the economic system and creates value with the use of real world
Students case studies. Content in the course includes governance and ethics, the
structure of financial information, using financial information to analyse
value creation, accounting quality implications for valuations, valuation in
Incompatible: None. actions, IT systems and IT governance, the balanced scorecard and

property rights. It draws from material covered in the accounting,

Contact Hours: management, information systems and finance courses.
Seminar (3hrs)

Advantages
This course gives students the opportunity to integrate the knowledge they
Course Co-Ordinator
have learned from a range of courses in their commerce degree. They are
Prof A. Wyatt (Sem 1)
able to gain an insightful understanding of this theory by applying it to real
Prof J. Lyon (Sem 2)
world case studies.
Disadvantages
Due to this course being a capstone course, students may find they need to
refresh themselves on content they covered earlier on in their degree.
Tips and Tricks

Students are only able to take this course in their final year students
should plan their studies accordingly to ensure they are able to take this
course.

Accounting Major

ACCT3101: Auditing & Public Practice

This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction into the
environment and methodology of auditing. The intention of the course is
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 to provide the theoretical framework around which auditing knowledge
and skills can be developed by industry experience or further study. Areas
of focus include: the legal framework within which auditing is undertaken,
Prerequisites: ACCT3102 the professional and ethical responsibilities of the auditor, the conduct of
an audit, review of organisational systems and substantive audit testing;
statutory and other requirements in relation to audit reports and the
Incompatible: ACCT7103 concepts and impact of materiality and risk in auditing including the risk
of fraud.

Assessment:
Mid semester exam Advantages
Computer-based
Assessment The course content is well structured and lecturers are dedicated and
Final Exam helpful. Tutorial answers are supplied before every tutorial so rather than
simply answering questions, tutors use tutorials to have deeper discussions
Recommended: LAWS3100 about content.

Contact Hours:
Lecture (2hrs) The assessment tended to reflect the course content
Tutorial (1hr)
Tips and Tricks

Course Co-Ordinator
All the means to succeed are supplied to students in this course. The
Dr G. Hsu (Sem 1)
course remains manageable if students put in effort in the early stages of
Mr D. Jeffrey (Sem 2)
the semester, so as to achieve a good understanding of the audit process.
Final exam questions are generally identical to that which was hinted to in
the last teaching weeks of the semester. Mid semester assessment is the
most challenging aspect of this course.


ACCT3102: External Reporting Issues

ACCT3102 focuses on the effect of accounting standards issued by the

Australian Accounting Standards Board, the International Accounting
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 Standards Board and other accounting regulations on disclosure in the
published financial reports of Australian listed companies. It incorporates
detailed knowledge of the requirements of regulations affecting a range of
topics that concern particular accounting transactions and/or particular
Prerequisites: ACCT2101 industries.

Incompatible: ACCT7102 Advantages
This course is relatively straightforward, and one of the easier courses in
the accounting major. Many practice problems are given each week, which

is helpful in the lead-up to exams. Assessment tends to be similar to the
Assessment:
Mid Semester Exam tutorials and there were no curve balls in the exams.
Case Study

Final Exam
Tips and Tricks

Completing tutorial questions is the most important factor in succeeding in

Contact Hours: ACCT3102. The lectures give information on the course, but it is
Lecture (2 hrs) recommended to complete all questions to get a thorough understanding
Tutorial (2 hrs) of the content.

Additionally, there are several accounting processes that need to be
Course Co-Ordinator remembered and well-understood. Deferred tax assets/liabilities are a
Dr. T. Artiach particular focus of the course.


ACCT3103: Accounting for Corporate Structures

ACCT3103 is concerned with advanced accounting issues in financial

reporting by public companies. The course focuses on the necessary
financial accounting treatments and reporting requirements of growing

companies.

Prerequisites: ACCT3102,
LAWS3100 (recommended)
Advantages

Tutors take the time to explain difficult concepts and are engaging.
Additionally, this course has CPA and CA elements to it, making it good
Incompatible: ACCT7104 preparation for attaining these certifications in the future.

Assessment: Disadvantages
Mid Semester Exam Widely considered to be the most challenging undergraduate accounting
Project course in a commerce degree.
Final Exam

Tips and Tricks
Contact Hours: It is helpful to complete tutorial questions before attending the tutorial.
Lecture (2hrs)
Tutorial (2hrs) Content is largely focussed on consolidation.

Course Co-Ordinator
Mr P. Woollard


ACCT3104: Management Accounting

ACCT3104 has a consistent focus on improving organisational performance

and creating value for businesses. This course covers relevant information
for decision-making and explores issues relating to costing systems and

cost management and how these may affect management decisions.
Content is conceptually driven (with few accounting processes required)
Prerequisites: ACCT2102 and is similar to that in a finance or microeconomics course.

Incompatible: ACCT7107 Advantages
There is little rote learning that has to be remembered for exams. The
textbook is helpful for understanding a concept further, and contains
plenty of questions for each topic.
Assessment:
Mid Semester Exam
Online Quizzes
Final Exam Tips and Tricks
This course teaches new material up until the final week of classes. It is
important to keep up with the content and ensure you understand the
Contact Hours: new material each week to avoid falling behind. To ensure a good result,
Lecture (2hrs)
smash the quizzes throughout the semester. They may only be worth 15%
Tutorial (2hrs)
but they cover the same material that will be on the final exam. The

quizzes act as a good barometer for your progress and build up to the final
Course Co-Ordinator exam.
Dr. M. Turner (Sem 1)
Dr. H. Frick (Sem 2) The quizzes throughout the semester are good preparation for the final
exam. There are two attempts for each quiz, making it relatively easy to

get very good marks for this component of the courses assessment.


ACCT3105: Advanced Management Accounting

The emphasis in this course is to draw upon and extend the knowledge

acquired in previous management accounting courses. This is achieved
Semesters Offered: 1
predominantly through the application of management accounting

concepts, techniques and principles to real world cases. The course will
provide students with the ability to analyse a range of management
Prerequisites: ACCT3104 accounting problems and issues that face both the organisation and the
individuals that manage them, and develop workable solutions.

Incompatible: ACCT7108

Assessment:
Group Project
Case Study
Final Exam

Contact Hours:
Lecture (3hrs)
Tutorial (1hr)

Course Co-Ordinator
Prof D. Smith

(Based on 2016 Course Profile)

LAWS3100: Corporate Law

This course is a critical analysis of companies and partnerships, and their

regulation in Australia. Content focuses on aspects of the law concerning
companies, including the nature of corporate bodies, shareholder rights,

corporate finance and external administration.
Prerequisites:

COMM1201 or 1202 or
LAWS1001 or 1100 or
Advantages
1101
This is an informative and relatively enjoyable course. Tutorials are very

engaging and helpful.
Incompatible:

COMM3205 or 7202
LAWS7011 or 5017 or
Disadvantages
7117 or 7317
Like most law subjects, there is a large amount of content and rote
Not for LLB students
learning. Not all content can be included in the lecture, so reading the
textbook is an essential supplement to understanding the topics. Answers
Assessment: to tutorials are not uploaded on Blackboard, so it is important to note
Tutorial Participation down correct answers and relevant legislation each week.
Mid Semester Exam
Take Home Exam

Contact Hours: Tips and Tricks
Lecture (2hrs) It is important to keep up with topics as they are taught; due to the
Tutorial (1hr) amount of content, it is difficult and inadvisable to cram for exams. The
exam is open book, so being organized and taking notes throughout the
semester is crucial.
Course Co-Ordinator
Dr. P. Harpur (Sem 1) Tutorial participation has been altered for 2017 so that students are
Dr. R. Ivory (Sem 2) graded on 8 out of 10 tutorials (1.25% each for a total of 10% of the

courses overall mark). Additionally, students are required to prepare

written answers to tutorial questions and hand them in to the tutor at

each tutorial.

(Based on 2017 S1 Course Profile)

LAWS3101: Income Tax Law


This course is an introductory level examination of the basic principles of

taxation law in Australia, with particular emphasis on the topics required
by professional accounting bodies for accreditation purposes. It takes a

practical approach to income tax law.
Prerequisites:

COMM1202 or LAWS1000
or LAWS1100
Advantages

Lectures are engaging, and content is relevant and enjoyable. Exam
Incompatible: questions were often discussed in class (though not specifically referred to
LAWS5144 as exam questions). The textbook is incredibly useful should students wish
LAWS7012 to gain a better understanding of the concepts explained. Dr. Thea Voogt
LAWS7144 wants her students to succeed, and structures the assessment accordingly.
LAWS7344
Not for LLB students Disadvantages
Like most law subjects, this course involves rote learning, a lot of reading,
and remembering a large amount of content. There are a few tricky
Assessment: concepts, and some ambiguity across the course.
Mid Semester Exam
Tutorial Exercise Tips and Tricks
Final Exam It is important to work week to week and keep up with each topic

throughout this course, in order to attain a good mark. Being organised

and taking notes is also essential, since the exam is open book.
Contact Hours:
Lecture (2hrs)
Tutorial (1hr)

Course Co-Ordinator
Dr. Thea Voogt

(Based on 2017 S1 Course Profile)

BIS Major


BISM3222: Information Analysis & System Design
Course Details
Overview
Semesters Offered: 1 This course provides students with an understanding of systems
development approaches and knowledge and experience of analysis and
modelling. These skills can then be incorporated into system design and
Prerequisites: implementation.
MGTS1201 or
2 units of The overall object of this course is to provide the concepts and skills
COMP/COMS/INFS required to design information systems by concentrating on the front end
courses of systems development processes. This course also briefly touches on the
implementation of computer programs and the required testing and
maintenance to ensure their correct operation.
Incompatible: INFS7255
Learning objects includes: Structured analysis & design for business; data
analysis & design; object-oriented analysis & design; testing & quality
Contact Hours: assurance; practical group experience with computer-assisted software
Lecture (2hrs) engineering tools for business applications.
Practical/Lab (2hrs)

Course Co-Ordinator
Dr S. Chung


BISM2202: Data Analytics & Information Management
Course Details
Overview
Semesters Offered: 2 The course introduces the concepts and principles of data and information
management. This includes data and information
as organisational resources, costing and valuing data; managing data,
Prerequisites: None. information, & knowledge; quality issues; data warehousing and data
mining.

Incompatible: INFS7233 The course teaches the use of SAS visual analytics, an essential part of any
role that requires analytics including finance and risk
management. BISM2202 content is very relevant for subsequent courses
on information systems and forms the foundation knowledge for much of
these subjects
Contact Hours:
Lecture (2hrs) Learning objectives include: Management of data, information &
Tutorial (2hrs) knowledge; data integrity & quality issues; data warehousing, data mining
and business intelligence. Management issues of security, security, privacy,
ethics for information & knowledge resources.
Course Co-Ordinator
Dr S. Cockcroft


BISM3203: Managing Business Data
Course Details
Overview
Semesters Offered: 2 This course involves the study of business issues in relation to database
management, conceptual modelling and data modelling in business
applications.

Prerequisites: MGTS1201 + 2 units This course also involves the use of a Structured Query Language (SQL) to
of INFS courses. uncover critical information for decision-making in the business
environment.

Learning objectives include: Business issues in relation to database
Incompatible: management, conceptual modelling & data modelling in business
INFS1200 or 7900 applications. Using structured Query Language (SQL) to uncover critical
MGTS7206 information for business decision making. Applications of database
systems in a business context.

Contact Hours:
Lecture (2hrs)
Tutorial (2hrs)

Course Co-Ordinator
N/a


BISM3208: Information Systems Strategy
Course Details
Overview
This course is concerned with managing and leading the information

systems function within organizations. This subject focuses on

management issues and problems, and issues such as the strategic
Prerequisites:
alignment of IT services and infrastructure where
MGTS2202 or the organisation's objectives are emphasised rather than details of the
INFS2244 computing and communications technology that underlie information
systems.

Incompatible: MGTS7208

Contact Hours:
Contact (3hrs)

Course Co-Ordinator
Dr S. Chung

BISM3201: Accounting Information Systems
Course Details

Overview
Semesters Offered: 1 This course enables students to understand the factors that need to be
monitored to ensure a business runs smoothly and answers the question
of which system will provide you with the information your business
Prerequisites: ACCT2101 needs.

During this course, students are introduced to major financial business
Incompatible: ACCT7209 information systems used by managers to run their business effectively
and efficiently.

Assessment: This course includes BPMN and includes guidance on the most commonly
Mid Semester Exam used notations. Interactive financial data enabled by XBRL is demonstrated
Project in this course using Calcbench.
Final Exam
Learning objectives include: Nature of systems in the real world; nature &
Contact Hours: functions of computer-based information systems used to support the
Lecture (2hrs) processes & management of a business; practical experience with business
Tutorials (2hrs) applications software.

Course Co-Ordinator
Dr A. Robb

BISM2233: eBusiness Systems & Strategy
Course Details
Overview
Semesters Offered: 1 This course covers the fundamental concepts and principles of electronic
commerce. BISM2233 introduces students to managerial, technical, social,
and regulatory aspects of modern e-Commerce and provides students with
Prerequisites: MGTS1201 experience in the development and publication of websites.

Some of these concepts include infrastructure, security, privacy,
Incompatible: INFS7210 management, censorship, intellectual property, payment methods, and the
roles of customers, stakeholders, suppliers and employees.

Contact Hours:
Contact (4 hours)

Course Co-Ordinator
Dr D. Xu

BISM2203: Business Process Management
Course Details
Overview
Semesters Offered: 1 Improving organisational efficiency and effectiveness is a top priority for
senior management. To enable such improvements, it is crucial that the
organisation be viewed from a process perspective.
Prerequisites: 8 units of BusMan This course provides students with an introduction to Business Process
courses Management and enables them to develop skills in business process
modelling using the international BPMN modelling
Recommended: MGTS 1201 standard. The course also introduces students to concepts of Lean Thinking
and facilitates the development of process improvement skills using
Incompatible: MGTS7216 several process improvement techniques.

Contact Hours:
Lecture (2 hrs)
Tutorial (1hr)

Course Co-Ordinator
Dr M. Indulska


BISM3205: Business Information Security
Course Details
Overview
Semesters Offered: 1 A managerial perspective of controls & audit procedures associated with
preserving authenticity, accuracy, completeness, timeliness & privacy of
business electronic transactions over the Internet; quality assurance for

electronic commerce/online business applications for business managers.
Prerequisites: INFS2233


Contact Hours:
Contact (4hrs)

Course Co-Ordinator

Dr P. Clutterbuck


BISM3206: Advanced Data Analytics
Course Details

Semesters Offered:1 Overview
Modern business collects large volumes of raw data through its daily
operations. This data can come from business transactions, sensors, or
Prerequisites: external sources, for example, social media feeds. Competitive advantage
8 units of BBusMan or
can be obtained through unlocking insights from such data to develop
8 units of BCom
information that can be used to support decision-making. This course

builds on the data mining and decision support system knowledge and
Incompatible: MGTS7217 skills developed in MGTS2202, and introduces students to advanced
predictive analytics techniques and their application in multiple settings
(eg social media analysis). The course also develops evidence-based
problem solving skills.
Contact Hours:
Lecture (2hrs)
Tutorial (1hr)

Course Co-Ordinator
Dr S. Chung


BISM3207: Managing Work in Virtual Environments
Course Details
Overview
Semesters Offered: 2 In depth understanding of the processes, practices, features and issues
arising from operating in a virtual corporate environment. Managerial
perspective on organisation structures, managing technology and

communication procedures in a virtual organisation. Hands-on experience
Prerequisites:
with virtual teams software. Legal implications & associated policy &
MGTS2202 or
INFC2244 strategy issues.


Contact Hours:
Contact (3hrs)

Course Co-Ordinator
Dr P. Clutterbuck


Finance Major

ECON2300: Introductory Econometrics

ECON2300 is an introductory course in applied economics and
quantitative analysis. The concepts studied in this course will
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2 have invaluable applications in economics, finance, management and
related areas.

Prerequisites:
ECON1310 Advantages
For BInfTech students Based on reviews, the lecturer is very passionate about the subject which
ECON1010 + STAT2004 is evident in her teaching. The course is structured well and is generally
very interesting. She is eager to ensure students have access to as many
resources as possible. It is an excellent introduction into how to assess
Incompatible: EC230 or 735 economic data and statistics. The expectations of this course and clear,
and theory is concise and repeated in tutorials to aid understanding.

Assessment: Overall the course is very hands on- with continued practice of using the E-
Mid Semester Exam Views prescribed tool in tutorials. Both the lecturer and tutor are
Online Assignments knowledgeable, engaging and supportive.
Final Exam

Disadvantages
Contact Hours:
ECON2300 is a subject that will be a struggle if you are not on top of the
Lecture (2hrs)
work.
Tutorial (2hrs)
Tips and Tricks

In this course, it is crucial to keep up week-to-week.

Course Co-Ordinator Get your head around hypothesis testing early as it forms the basis of the
Dr E. Eisenstat (Sem 1)
course.
Prof P. Rao (Sem 2)
Tutorials are a must because the course is geared around using E-views.

The tutorials are the how to of the course and reinforce the lecture

materials.


ECON3210: Financial Markets & Institutions

This course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of financial markets
and institutions. It aims to present students with material that is directly
linked to the current financial environment. Topics of this course are likely

to have featured in recent media outlets.

Prerequisites:
ECON1010 + FINM2401 or Advantages
ECON1010 + FINM2400 or ECON3210 engages students by providing relevant lessons with links to the
ECON2200
real-world environment. The course gives an understanding of the

relationship between various financial institutions as well as the

Recommended: ECON3550 ramifications of 1day-to-day life. Combined with recent examples, the
lectures are delivered in a way that keeps the audience engaged and
interested.
Incompatible: EC302

Assessment: Disadvantages
Mid Semester Exam The course is extremely content heavy and conceptual and while there is
Tutorials no official textbook the amount of required reading was often extremely
Online tests difficult for students to keep up with.
Final Exam

Contact Hours: Tips and Tricks
Lecture (2hrs) The course becomes easier in the later weeks if students have a strong
Tutorial (1.5hr) foundation in the first half of the semester. However, the quizzes are tricky
and content will catch up if study is not done regularly.
Course Co-Ordinator
Dr F. Bracoud


FINM3401: Corporate Finance

This course aims to provide a deep understanding of the theory of corporate finance and the
application of this theory to real world issues (both quantitative and qualitative applications). It

focuses on five major topics including transactions (IPOs, convertible securities, and M&A),
Semesters Offered: 2 capital structure, discounted cash flow valuation, risk management, and real options valuation.

The content in this course expands heavily upon basic topics covered in FINM2401. A large
amount of time is spent on the topic of capital structures. That is, the relationship between and
optimising of equity and debt financing (something fundamental to understanding the
Prerequisites: FINM2401 mechanics of corporate finance). The course also focuses on mergers, acquisitions and
corporate governance via giving real world examples of reasons for and defences against
takeovers. These topics give students a break from the heavy calculations involved with capital
structure problems.

Incompatible: FINM3411 or
For aspiring corporate finance students, this is simply a must-do course with heavy relevance to
7402 work that goes on in corporate environments around the world.

Advantages
This course is highly relevant and insightful for students looking to specialise in corporate

finance and transaction advisory. It incorporates countless real world examples in lectures and
Assessment: tutorials. A double-sided set of notes was allowed into the final exam and was extremely
Group Assignment useful. The course builds on FINM2401, however content is of comparable difficulty (potentially
Mid Semester Exam due to familiarity gained from FINM2401). Tutorial questions and answers are in-depth and
provided weekly.
Final Exam
Disadvantages
Lectures often looked simplistic, however the exams were often more difficult. Dr Ragunathan
Contact Hours: does not use a microphone and as such was hard to hear at times (there is an advantage to
sitting up the front). Additionally, lecture recordings are hard to follow with large changes in
Lecture (2hrs)
volume.
Tutorial (2hrs)
There was criticism over the selection of exam questions in 2016, with some topics skimmed
over in lectures forming a large part of exams (only a small section of the course was assessed).
Further, the deferred mid-semester exam had a trick short answer question whereby full marks

was obtained by saying its a trick question. Exam questions often required thinking before
Course Co-Ordinator completing; dont fall into the trap of trying to race through a seemingly short paper!
Dr V. Ragunathan Otherwise you can fall into the planned traps in questions, resulting in severely reduced
grades (viewed as a lack of understanding).

Tips and Tricks
The course follows the textbook quite closely so it is highly recommended that students
complete all the relevant readings to gain the depth of knowledge required for higher grades
(textbook can be downloaded online).

Students found attending tutorials incredibly useful, although preparation is essential to keep

up with the depth of questions. The final exam is relatively straightforward but requires a lot of
attention to detail. Exam questions require attention to detail, noting additionally that tutorial
exam questions were generally easier than those found in the actual exam. The content in the
course is quite heavy so it is not a subject you can cram for overnight. It could be beneficial to
(Based on 2016 Profile) study this course towards the end of your degree because some questions can be tough and
require a good general understanding of finance.

The group assignment is not particularly difficult; however, the page limit is extremely difficult
to adhere to! Dr Ragunathan emphasises that the course is structured in a Harvard like manner,
and as such the assignment is marked harshly stick closely to the marking criteria! Attention
to detail in both exams and assignments is crucial.

It is advantageous to have a complete and accurate set of notes to take into the final exam. The
mid-semester exam is quite straightforward and doing well in such is crucial to getting a high
grade. Take advantage of having a mid-semester only covering 4-5 topics. Understand the
content and dont just regurgitate tutorial calculations there is a strong focus on qualitative
theory in the exam as well as the quantitative elements.

FINM3402: Investments & Portfolio Management

This course provides students with the techniques used to evaluate investments in
a portfolio and on an individual basis (expanding heavily on FINM2401). Topics
Semesters Offered: 1 & 2. covered are Financial Statement Analysis, Markets & Instruments, Equity
Investments, Debt Investments & Portfolio Management. The course aims to
provide students with the skills and techniques necessary to create a portfolio

which maximises expected return for a given level of risk. Topics have a strong

mathematical focus and are interrelated to other courses in the finance major.

Prerequisites: The course (especially under Barry Oliver) explored the nature of behavioural
FINM2401 finance, which attempts to offer alternative explanations and models to account
for a variety of irrational behaviours within investment markets. The scope of this
topic is particularly broad, and made for an enjoyable research assignment,
allowing students to research the academic literature on elements of behavioural
finance they found most interesting.
Incompatible: Advantages
FINM3412 or 7403 The material in this course provides fundamental knowledge that is relevant to
other finance courses and real world situations. It may be beneficial to complete
this course before later finance courses. Barry has been regarded as an excellent,
enthusiastic lecturer who is always approachable. He teaches students in a way
Assessment: that allows them to understand the course material with little or no prior
Mid Semester Exam knowledge of the subject.

Article Review
Disadvantages
Final Exam Lecture recordings often failed (three consecutive failures during Semester 1
2016), although not necessarily the fault of lecturers. Lecture slides were often
bombarded with information and then skimmed through in lectures. This made it
hard to know what was pertinent to study prior to assessments. Having a good
Contact Hours: tutor is essential to gaining knowledge in often tough topics.
Lecture (2hrs)
Tips and Tricks
Tutorial (2hrs)
The textbook is a must for the course, and can provide useful background

knowledge to the lectures and tutorials whilst giving students a depth of
knowledge required for high overall grades. The mid-semester exam was MCQ
while the final exam was made up of five problem questions that had both
Course Co-Ordinator mathematical and theoretical components. If you can understand the content of
Mr D. Rahman the course the final is more than manageable. Whilst there will be a few curve
balls, with a good foundation it shouldn't be too difficult.

The course is best taken after FINM2401, but before other harder finance majors.
The content is often cumulative and it is ideal to keep up to date each week.
(Based on 2016 Profiles) Additionally lecturers see straight through 'bluffs' on the exams, thus a depth of
knowledge is a must for a 7.

FINM3403: International Financial Management

This course extends financial decision-making into the international setting. It
showcases the economic and financial relationship between countries by focusing
Semesters Offered: 1 on topics such as: the benefits of international diversification, foreign exchange
market, exchange rates, the balance of payments, international capital budgeting,
foreign currency derivatives, global capital, political risk, determination of cost of

capital, benefits of international diversification, and the quantification & hedging
of economic exposure.

Prerequisites: FINM2401 or 2411 Advantages
International Financial Management is a valuable course for students interested in
the global financial markets. The course content extends on previous finance to
include financial decision-making in an international setting. Overall, the course is
enjoyable for any student looking to gain an insight into international
Incompatible: FINM7406 finance. Tutorial questions and answers were detailed and provided useful for self-
learning.

Disadvantages
Past students described the mid-semester and final exam as difficult, primarily due
to tutorial questions not indicative of the level of difficulty. Further important
Assessment: tutorial questions were often skimmed over making preparation for the final exam
Mid Semester Exam slightly more difficult. Lecture content was of a high standard, but the teaching
Final Exam methods were often dry and did not stimulate students. Students found that
independent learning was necessary, with tutors being hit and miss.

Tips and Tricks
Although there are no prerequisites, students should complete FINM3401 and
FINM3402 before attempting FINM3403.It is recommended that students
Contact Hours: understand payoff diagrams and the summary of Prices, Interest Rates & Exchange
Lecture (2hrs) Rates in Equilibrium. It is also important to show a deep understanding of the
Tutorial (2hrs) theory in the final exam.

Those with a quantitative background should enjoy all the topics particular
options and swaps. Noting the course also has many theory elements. Preparing
for tutorials is a must for trying to fully understand the theory behind the

calculations. Additionally the exam questions are more difficult.
Course Co-Ordinator
Mr Y. Li & Dr K. Hoang Textbook is good, but not necessary considering lecture coverage. Course material
is largely drawn from slides and the lecturer often hints of typical and likely exam
topics during lectures. The course is difficult; however, it is manageable if you
keep up to date with work. Don't let lectures and tutorials get ahead of you, as the
content is generally progressive! The mid semester and final exam are both
challenging and require study.
(Based on 2016 Profile)
This subject is best done as one of the later finance courses and potentially
following FINM3405 (due to an overlap of several topics).

Note: the course was taught by Dr Kelvin Tan in previous years, thus new course
coordinators may have varied: teaching approach, course coverage and
assessment requirements.

FINM3404: Banking & Lending Decisions

This course considers the uniqueness of the financial institutions,
assessment of credit risk, the principles of successful bank lending, and risk
Semesters Offered: 1 management in banks. At the end of this course, you will understand the
risk assessment of various types of loans, the mechanisms for predicting
financial distress, the principles of asset liability management,
securitization and its impact of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) 2007, bank
Prerequisites: FINM2401 or 2411 regulation, the role of central banks, bank profitability analysis and
international banking system.

The course provides a great overview of banking and lending decisions
Incompatible: None. relevant in both the domestic Australian environment and on a worldwide
scale. Additionally highlighting how the traditional role of banks and their
operation has changed dramatically in recent years.

Assessment: Advantages
Mid Semester Exam This course has received generally positive reviews in the past. The content
Case Study Assignment is understandable, well-structured and logical. The lecturer uses real world
(group) examples to ensure students understand the actual applications of the
Final Exam content being taught. Overall, the course is enjoyable for any student
looking to start a career in finance and the banking sector.

Disadvantages

Whilst the exam content is predictable, marking is very strict, requiring
Contact Hours:
detailed answers for full marks. Some lectures are known to be content
Lecture (2hrs)
heavy and generally all material is assessable and required to be
Tutorial (1hr) reproduced in the exam.

Tutorials involve only simple calculations and tutors sometimes fail to
Course Co-Ordinator expand much on the content from the lectures.
Dr M. Haq
Tips and Tricks
Theory is important, but dont get caught up in it. Know the basics well,
and ensure you are able to perform the calculations covered in the
lectures.

The course content is very theoretical but crucial to understand for those

wishing to pursue a career in finance. After taking this subject students are

able to draw parallels between theory and practical application.

Lecture attendance is suggested. Tutorials were very useful and relevant to
gauge the expected difficulty of final exam questions. Purchasing the

textbook is a must.
To be successful in the course you need to have a strong depth of

knowledge. This requires a large breadth of reading and learning topics
from day one. Cramming for this subject is not advised as the exams
required essay like answers. The marking rubric for exams can be strict so
requesting to view your exam for clarification on marks could be useful.

FINM3405: Derivatives & Risk Management

During this course students develop an understanding of the operation of
derivatives markets and the range of products that are available. This
Semesters Offered: 2 understanding extends to knowledge of how derivative products are used to
manage risk as well as the fundamental concepts in valuing them.
The course introduces forwards, futures & options as securities for risk
Prerequisites: FINM3401 or 2411 management & speculation. Exposures to equity, currency, interest rate &
commodity risk are examined. Pricing derivatives using analytical & numerical
techniques is undertaken. This course is designed to equip students with the
essential frameworks and tools needed to understand and effectively manage
Incompatible: None. financial risks. The primary focus will be on pricing derivatives using various state-
of-the-art techniques. Arbitrage will be explored via discussing any deviation from
the fair price of a derivative.
Advantages
Assessment: Students found this subject extremely engaging, interesting and well structured,
Mid Semester Exam making it enjoyable and rewarding. Students found the teaching process very
Final Exam effective and concepts easy to master after some practice questions. A basic
knowledge of finance is necessary (FINM2401).

Lecture notes are comprehensive and additional course notes is provided (written

by Kam for the purpose of extending on lecture topics). Lectures and tutorials
Contact Hours: were recorded, and watching them online with the ability to pause was often
Lecture (2hrs) advantageous.
Tutorial (2hrs)
The course provides fundamental finance knowledge for students wishing to
pursue a career in finance and specifically risk management, securities and
derivatives trading. The course as a whole offers an excellent insight into how
simple (and immensely intricate) risk management and derivatives trading can be.
Course Co-Ordinator
Dr K. Fong Chan Kam provides final exam practice questions which are extremely useful, giving
students ample opportunity to practice exam like questions.

Disadvantages
The theory in the course is quite difficult at time, but once grasped relates well to
the practical application of financial concepts of derivatives. Tutorials can be dull,

but are important.

At times is heavily mathematically based (final exam is solely extended calculation
questions), thus is daunting for those who prefer theoretical finance.

The mid-semester exam is notoriously challenging.
Tips and Tricks
The first half of the course is more intense and challenging than the second, so
students should ensure they are up to date going in to the mid-semester exam in
order to achieve a good grade and relieve pressure on the final. The course has
difficult concepts, but if you keep up to date is very manageable.
Do not expect tutorial questions and lectures to reflect assessment. Kam places
huge emphasis on understanding the concepts he taught and not the questions he
set for tutorials. There is a sufficient supply of real-world reading material, as well
as an abundance of additional practical questions.

Elective Courses

These are subjects that are not compulsory for a particular major. Selected Electives only.

ECON1320: Quantitative Economic & Business Analysis B

ECON1320 deals with basic statistical models and methods used in
business and economics, and is a continuation of ECON1310 (Quantitative
Semesters Offered: 2. Economic and Business Analysis A). It introduces students to several new
statistical techniques for making informed and objective decisions in a
range of economic and business environments. It provides a broad
Prerequisites: platform for the advanced study of econometrics, finance and operations
ECON1310 research. Topics include multiple regression analysis, time series analysis,
EC135. survey sampling, index numbers and decision theory. Problems & exercises
are solved manually & using Microsoft Excel.

Incompatible: Students will have the opportunity to use ANOVA tables, Chi-square tests,
EC134 and look at simple and multiple regression models (which form the
EC136 foundation of later-year econometrics courses).

Advantages

The course is an expansion of ECON1310 and adds to the knowledge base
Assessment:
set out previously. It provides an excellent foundation for ECON2300. If
Mid Semester Exam you attend the tutorials, endeavour to understand the structures clearly,
CML Quizzes and differentiate carefully the requirements of the different tests. It is
Final Exam reasonably easy to get a high mark with no overly challenging topics and
100% in CML's being achievable.
Contact Hours:
Lecture (2hrs) Disadvantages
Tutorial (1.5hrs) Students with an interest and ability in statistics find this course more
enjoyable, while those without the same passion finding the course less
Course Co-Ordinator interesting and engaging than 1320.
A/Prof V. Zelenyuk
The lectures were not particularly helpful, as they did not show due regard
to the practical nature of the content being covered. The textbook,
similarly, is not essential, and insufficiently practical.
Tips and Tricks
Students should memorise the formulas and be able to regurgitate and
manipulate them in the exam. PASS is available and should be utilised in
order to clarify any questions and to discuss assessment.
For those who enjoy statistics and quantitative analysis, the course is
highly recommended. For others, the course is far from essential.
It is essential to attend the tutorials for this course as the content covered
is relatively indicative of what will be explored on the mid-semester and
final exams.

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University

Bachelor of Commerce Guide

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 2

BISM3206: Advanced Data Analytics ............................................................................................... 42

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 3

About the FMAA

Down-to-Business Luncheon Professional Services Evening

The FMAA also facilitates competitions such as:

The UBS investment Banking Challenge

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 4

President Anthony Whyte anthony.whyte@fmaa.com.au

Vice-President (Sponsorship) Brandon Mein brandon.mein@fmaa.com.au

Vice-President (Operations) Jennifer Lo jennifer.lo@fmaa.com.au

Treasurer Liam Duggan liam.duggan@fmaa.com.au

Secretary Samantha Jenkins samantha.jenkins@fmaa.com.au

Events Director Samantha Scheid samantha.scheid@fmaa.com.au

Marketing Director Annabelle van der Jagt annabelle.vanderjagt@fmaa.com.au

Publications/IT Director Ravi Lakhani ravi.lakhani@fmaa.com.au

Diversity Director Brody MacGinley brody.macginley@fmaa.com.au

Sponsorship Directors Alysha Zimmermann alysha.zimmermann@fmaa.com.au

Andrew Kilner andrew.kilner@fmaa.com.au

Angus Kizil angus.kizil@fmaa.com.au

Jack Hardy jack.hardy@fmaa.com.au

Manny George manny.george@fmaa.com.au

Sub-Executive Committee Pranav Nagarkar pranav.nagarkar@fmaa.com.au

Joshua Kong joshua.kong@fmaa.com.au

Patrick Egstorf patrick.egstorf@fmaa.com.au

Isaac Naumann isaac.naumann@fmaa.com.au

Rene Arunakumaren rene.arunakumaren@fmaa.com.au

Alex Harris alex.harris@fmaa.com.au

Lex Dracakis lex.dracakis@fmaa.com.au

Sean McBurnie sean.mcburnie@fmaa.com.au

Pranav Venkatachalam pranav.venkatachalam@fmaa.com.au

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 5

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 6

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 7

Welcome to the Bachelor of Commerce

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 8

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 9

Student Program Committee details:

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 10

2017 Program Restructure

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 11

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 12

ACCT1101: Accounting for Decision Making

Course Details Overview

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 13

ACCT2101: Financial Reporting

Course Details Overview

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 14

ACCT2102: Principles of Management Accounting

Course Details Overview

This course gives an introduction to cost accounting concepts and the

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 15

ECON1010: Introductory Microeconomics

Course Details Overview

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 16

ECON1020: Introductory Macroeconomics

Course Details Overview

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 17

ECON1310: Quantitative Economic & Business Analysis A

Course Details Overview

FMAA (UQ) Bachelor of Commerce Guide| 2017 Edition | 18

FINM2401: Financial Management