Finance
Scholarships
Ranking
Top 150 in the world for Accounting and Finance (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2020)
Download Brochure
Scholarships
Ranking
Top 150 in the world for Accounting and Finance (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2020)
Download Brochure
Qualifications
Overview
Finance is a rapidly growing discipline that examines the acquisition and allocation of financial resources. Where financial accounting measures past performance, Finance as a discipline is forward focused. It is largely about future planning for firms or investors.
Finance consists of three interrelated subject areas:
- corporate finance studies how firms raise and efficiently utilise funds obtained from lenders and shareholders
- financial markets and institutions explores how the financial system facilitates the transfer of funds from savers and lenders to borrowers
- investment analysis studies how investors choose securities and asset classes for their investment portfolios.
All of these areas assess the trade-off between risk and reward and the valuation of financial and capital assets.
UC is ranked in the top 150 universities in the world for Accounting and Finance (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2020).
The Finance programme prepares students for a variety of jobs in the financial sector and business community. Extra opportunities while studying this subject at UC include:
- internships at a variety of organisations
- participation in case competitions such as the CFA (Chartered Financial Analysts) Institute Research Challenge
- preparation for the CFA exams. The Finance major at UC is part of the CFA Certified Financial Institute University Recognition Program. This means our degree programme incorporates at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK). This provides students with a solid grounding in the CBOK and positions them well to sit for the CFA exams to obtain the CFA qualification. The CFA Program provides a strong foundation of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills that will give you a career advantage
- the option to obtain the PRM (Professional Risk Manager) qualification. Risk management skills are highly sought after, particularly since the global financial crisis.
If you are intending to major in Finance, you are recommended to include maths, statistics, and modelling in your Year 13 programme. Although some previous study of accounting and economics can be useful preparation for the 100-level courses in these subjects, it is not essential to have studied them at secondary school.
Students with very good NCEA Level 3 results (or equivalent standard in another qualification framework) in mathematics, and either economics or accounting, may be offered direct entry to 200-level Finance courses at the discretion of the Head of Department.
You can study a major and minor in Finance as part of the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science.
You can also study this subject as a minor within the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Sport Coaching, and Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership.
Finance major
Bachelor of Commerce
To complete a major in Economics within the Bachelor of Commerce, you will need to take the following courses throughout the degree:
100-level
MATH 102 is recommended.
200-level
- FINC 201 Business Finance
- FINC 203 Financial Markets, Institutions and Instruments
- One 200-level FINC course
300-level
Plus at least two courses chosen from:
For the complete three-year Bachelor of Commerce Finance major degree plan, see the UC Business School | Te Kura Umanga website.
Bachelor of Science
To complete a major in Economics within the Bachelor of Science, you will need to take the following courses throughout the degree:
100-level
FINC 101 Personal Finance, ECON 104 Introduction to Microeconomics, and MATH 103 Mathematics 1B are also recommended.
200-level
- FINC 201 Business Finance
- FINC 203 Financial Markets, Institutions and Instruments
- One 200-level FINC course
FINC 205 Quantitative Finance and ECON 213 Introduction to Econometrics, or two 200-level STAT courses, are also recommended.
300-level
Finance minor
For the Finance minor in the Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Sport Coaching, or Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership, you will need to take these courses throughout your chosen degree:
Choose one of the following pathways:
- ACCT 102 Accounting and Financial Information
- STAT 101 Statistics 1
- MATH 101 Methods of Mathematics or MATH 102 Mathematics 1A
- FINC 201 Business Finance
- FINC 203 Financial Markets, Institutions and Instruments
- One course from FINC 301 Corporate Finance Theory and Policy or FINC 311 Investments or FINC 312 Derivative Securities
Or:
Today it would be rare for a person to rise to the position of chief financial officer (CFO) without a strong grounding in both Accounting and Finance.
There are also many other career opportunities for Finance graduates, with typical jobs including financial analyst, money market and foreign exchange dealer, loan analyst, equity analyst, risk analyst/manager, portfolio manager, financial planner, investment banker, and small-business manager.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Finance.
Contact us
Department of Economics and Finance
Phone +64 3 369 3888
Email studybusiness@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
Reception Level 2, Meremere Building – see campus maps
Postal address
College of Business and Law | Te Rāngai Umanga me te Ture
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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