B6039 Master of Advanced Finance

The Master of Advanced Finance is structured in three parts: Part A. Core studies, Part B. Discipline studies and Part C. Elective studies

Part A. Core studies

These units will introduce current thinking and knowledge of new structures in the financial markets such as environmental finance, financial technology, behavioural finance and big data. It will provide the opportunity to pursue specialist studies and undertake units which will prepare you for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams. 

Part B. Discipline studies

These units will develop your understanding of the finance discipline and will enable you to provide discipline-based solutions within a business, professional or public context.

Part C. Elective studies

These units will enable you to further develop and consolidate your knowledge of your degree. Electives may be taken from study tours, consulting projects or industry placements.   Alternatively you can select units from across the University in which you are eligible to enrol.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry Level 1 you complete 72 credit points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C.

• If you are admitted at entry Level 2 you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part A and Part B.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete the higher credit-point option.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 72 credit points structured in three parts: Part A. Core studies (30 credit points), Part B. Discipline studies (18 credit points) and Part. C Elective studies (24 credit points).

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Core studies (30 credit points)

You must complete the following units:

Note: BFF5300 is a Capstone unit which incorporates the application of research principles including research methods applicable to the finance professional's field of work.

• ACF5130 Financial statement analysis and business valuation

• BFF5270 Funds management

• BFF5300 Case studies in finance

• BFF5520 Advanced foundations of finance

• BFF5525 Quantitative and data analysis in Python 

Part B. Discipline studies (18 credit points)

You must complete three units (18 credit points) from one of the following themes, which includes a compulsory unit.

Investment banking (18 credit points)

You must complete either Option A or Option B as outlined below:

Option A

- Either BFF5580 or BFF5250; and

-Two units from BFF5333, BFF5340 or ECC5901

Option B

You must complete 18 credit points, comprising:

-Both BFF5580 and BFF5250; and

- One additional unit from BFF5333, BFF5340 or ECC5901

• BFF5580 Merger and acquisitions

• BFF5250 Applied corporate finance 

• BFF5333 Infrastructure and project finance

• BFF5340 Applied derivatives

• ECC5901 Macroeconomics

Asset management (18 credit points)

You must complete either Option A or Option B as outlined below:

Option A

You must complete 18 credit points, comprising:

- Either BFF5340 or BFF5541; and

- Two from BFX5260, BFF5555 or ECC5901

Option B:You must complete 18 credit points, comprising:

- Both BFF5340 and BFF5541; and

- One from BFX5260, BFF5555 or ECC5901

• BFF5340 Applied derivatives 

• BFF5541 Fixed income investments  

• BFX5260 Treasury and financial markets

• BFF5555 Financial machine learning 

• ECC5901 Macroeconomics

Financial technology and sustainability (18 credit points)

- Both BFF5370 and BFF5510; and

- Either BEX5200 or BFF5555

• BFF5370 Fintech

• BFF5510 Sustainable finance

• BEX5200 Climate change and carbon management strategies

• BFF5555 Financial machine learning 

Part C. Elective studies (24 credit points)

You must complete 24 credit points of elective study. Electives can be chosen from:

- Either Level 4 or 5 units from the Faculty of Business and Economics, which could include study tours, consulting projects or industry placements or units from across the University, provided you have met the relevant prerequisites and there are no enrolment restrictions.

- Units not already completed in Part A, above.

- Units listed below, provided you have met the relevant prerequisites and there are no enrolment restrictions.

Note: These options are recommended to support professional practice and facilitate preparation for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams.

• BFF5280 Institutional assets and liability management

• BFF5910 Special topics in finance

• BFF5250 Applied corporate finance

• BTF5910 Corporate sustainability regulation

• ETF5231 Business forecasting

• ETX5500 High dimensional data analysis

• ETF5922 Data visualisation and communication

• ETF5930 Financial econometrics

• ETF5952 Quantitative methods for risk analysis

• MGF5020 Business ethics in a global environment