ETC5550 Applied forecasting
Faculty of Business and Economics
ETC5550 Applied forecasting is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It needs ETF2100, FIT5197, ETC2420, ETF2121, ETC2560, ETC3440, ETF5910, ETC5256, ETC5242, ETF5912, EPM5003 or ETC2410 and unlocks 3 units.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 60%
- and 1 other task
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisites
Before ETC5550
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
- ETF2100Introductory econometricsNo reviews yet
- FIT5197Statistical data modellingNo reviews yet
- ETC2420Statistical thinkingNo reviews yet
- ETF2121Data analysis in businessNo reviews yet
- ETC2560Statistical modelling for actuarial studiesNo reviews yet
- ETC3440Introductory econometricsNo reviews yet
- ETF5910Introductory applied econometricsNo reviews yet
- ETC5256Statistical modelling for actuarial studiesNo reviews yet
- ETC5242Statistical thinkingNo reviews yet
- ETF5912Data analysis in businessNo reviews yet
- EPM5003Principles of statistical inferenceNo reviews yet
- ETC2410Introductory econometricsNo reviews yet
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After ETC5550
3 units list ETC5550 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Where FIT5197 is the prerequisite unit completed, you must have achieved at least a 70% score to undertake this unit.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
Business and economic data are collected over time against a backdrop of a changing environment. This unit introduces data wrangling and exploratory data analysis for such temporal context data. You will learn how to analyse, model and forecast time series data in diverse applications. Methods to be covered include the decomposition of time series, exponential smoothing methods, ARIMA modelling, and regression with auto-correlated disturbances. You will enhance your computational skills with exercises using R.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Blended |
Assessment
- Within semester assessment40%
- ExaminationThreshold hurdle60%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
provide an understanding of common statistical methods used in business and economic forecasting
- 2
develop computer skills for forecasting business and economics time series data
- 3
provide insights into the problems of implementing and operating large scale forecasting systems.
Workload and teaching
- Seminars12 hours
- Tutorials12 hours
- Workshops12 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where you engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.
This unit includes case-based teaching, where you apply your knowledge and engage in analytical and reflective thinking to solve complex contextual scenarios. Activities are often designed so that there is not one clear answer, but you need to work together to examine, analyse and make decisions to resolve the situation.
Learning resources
Required resources
Hyndman, R.J., & Athanasopoulos, G. (2019) Forecasting: principles and practice, 3rd edition, OTexts: Melbourne. Available online: OTexts.com/fpp3.
Technology resources
Open-source software: R, RStudio.
There may be an additional cost associated with purchasing a physical and/or virtual calculator. Specific details will be provided in the Learning Management System by commencement of Orientation week.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Rob Hyndman
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ETC5550?
You need ETF2100, FIT5197, ETC2420, ETF2121, ETC2560, ETC3440, ETF5910, ETC5256, ETC5242, ETF5912, EPM5003 or ETC2410 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
What can I take after ETC5550?
ETC5550 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 3 units, including ETC4500, ETC5450 and ETF5500.
When is ETC5550 offered?
In 2025, ETC5550 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is ETC5550?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ETC5550 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 60% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.