This course focuses on tools and techniques used in modern financial management. Material in the course has an applied focus and is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required for understanding, exploring and analysing financial management issues. The course draws upon topical material in order to contextualise theoretical discussion, and present students with examples in practice.

Specific topics to be covered include: financial mathematics, security valuation, techniques for capital investment decisions, financial decision making, corporate capital structure, cost of capital, dividend decision and policy, leasing decision and the analysis of mergers and acquisitions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Explain the key issues facing financial managers;
2. Perform asset valuation and project evaluation; and,
3. Explain the finance theory underlying financial management.

Research-Led Teaching

Although students do not conduct research themselves in this course, the lectures are grounded in cutting-edge academic research and will regularly showcase recent findings in the field. This research-led approach ensures that students are exposed to the latest developments and theories, and emphasizes the vital connection between academic research and real-world industry practices. By exploring how research informs and shapes current professional standards, students will gain a deeper understanding of the subject’s relevance and practical application. The relevance and practical application of the concepts introduced in the course will be further reinforced by the discussion of real-world examples throughout.

Field Trips

Not applicable.

Additional Course Costs

A non-programmable scientific calculator (NB: graphics and financial calculators are not permitted).

Examination Material or equipment

A non-programmable scientific calculator (NB: graphics and financial calculators are not permitted).

Required Resources

The textbook for the course is Corporate Finance, Global Edition (6th Edition) by Jonathan Berk and Peter DeMarzo (ISBN: 9781292446356). Students can access an electric copy of the text at https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/anu/reader.action?docID=31755806&c=UERG&ppg=1. A summary of the Chapters covered in each week of lectures will be posted on the class Canvas site.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Week 1 Lectures: Course Overview and The Corporate FormNo Tutorial
2	Week 2 Lectures: Project Evaluation ITutorial 1: Tutorial 1 Questions (Week 1 Lecture content)
3	Week 3 Lectures: Project Evaluation IITutorial 2: Tutorial 2 Questions (Week 2 Lecture content)
4	Week 4 Lectures: Equity and Debt FinancingTutorial 3: Tutorial 3 Questions (Week 3 Lecture content)	In-Tutorial Quiz 1
5	Week 5 Lectures: Risk, Return and the Cost of Capital ITutorial 4: Tutorial 4 Questions (Week 4 Lecture content)
6	Week 6 Lectures: Risk, Return and the Cost of Capital IITutorial 5: Tutorial 5 Questions (Week 5 Lecture content)
7	Week 7 Lectures: Capital Structure ITutorial 6: Tutorial 6 Questions (Week 6 Lecture content)	In-Tutorial Quiz 2
8	Week 8 Lectures: Capital Structure IITutorial 7: Tutorial 7 Questions (Week 7 Lecture content)
9	Week 9 Lectures: Payout PolicyTutorial 8: Tutorial 8 Questions (Week 8 Lecture content)	In-Tutorial Quiz 3
10	Week 10 Lectures: LeasingTutorial 9: Tutorial 9 Questions (Week 9 Lecture content)	In-Tutorial Quiz 4
11	Week 11 Lectures: Corporate RestructuringTutorial 10: Tutorial 10 Questions (Week 10 Lecture content)
12	Week 12 Lectures: Corporate Governance and Course ReviewTutorial 11: Tutorial 11 Questions (Week 11 Lecture content)

Tutorial Registration

Tutorials will begin in Week 2 and will be held in person on campus. Each tutorial will discuss questions related to content covered in the previous week’s lectures. Tutorial questions for each week are listed on the class Canvas page; students are expected to attempt these questions before attending and come prepared to discuss their responses during the class. ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
In-Tutorial Quiz 1	10 %	11/08/2025	22/08/2025	1,2,3
In-Tutorial Quiz 2	10 %	15/09/2025	26/09/2025	1,2,3
In-Tutorial Quiz 3	10 %	29/09/2025	10/10/2025	1,2,3
In-Tutorial Quiz 4	10 %	06/10/2025	17/10/2025	1,2,3
Final Examination	70 %	30/10/2025	03/12/2025	1,2,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Course content will be delivered via:

• Twice-weekly on-campus lectures, all of which will be recorded and accessible via echo360 on the course Canvas site. Lecture Slides provide a summary of the main concepts discussed in each lecture and will be published in advance on the class Canvas site. These concepts are expanded upon in the prescribed textbook readings. Students are expected to have read these materials before attending the corresponding lecture; and
• Weekly on-campus tutorials, none of which will be recorded. Students are expected to have attempted all prescribed tutorial questions before attending the corresponding tutorial and come to class prepared to discuss their answers.

Students should use the lecturer's and / or tutors' consultation times to seek clarification on concepts they are unsure of. Consultation sessions may be in person or on Zoom and, in the case of the latter, will take place via the link posted on the class Canvas site.

Examination(s)

The final examination will be held on campus in person and will be scheduled centrally by the Examinations, Graduations, Academic Progression and Prizes Office. Information relating to the:

• Timing and location of the final examination will be timetabled ahead of the examination period. Please refer to ANU Timetabling for further information; and
• Structure of the final examination, and the subject matter tested, will be discussed in lectures and summarised on the class Canvas site.

Assessment Task 1

In-Tutorial Quiz 1

In-Tutorial Quiz 1 is the first of 4 in-tutorial tests students will be required to sit during the semester. Unless otherwise stated by the lecturer, the timing for completion, grading and return for In-In-Tutorial Quiz 1 will be as detailed in the "Class Structure and Content" and "Assessment Summary" sections of this document. Importantly:

• In-Tutorial Quiz 1 will be closed-book, 15 minutes in duration and held at the end of Tutorial 3;
• Students MUST sit In-Tutorial Quiz 1 in the tutorial they are enrolled in, otherwise the quiz will not count towards their final grade for the course;
• Examinable content for In-Tutorial Quiz 1 will be limited to the material covered in Tutorial 3 (i.e. Week 3 Lecture content);
• Students must complete In-Tutorial Quiz 1 in pen (NOT PENCIL);
• Students will need to bring their non-programmable scientific calculator to use when completing In-Tutorial Quiz 1. The use of dictionaries will not be permitted; and
• In-Tutorial Quiz 1 solutions will be discussed at the start of the first lecture in Week 5.

At the end of the semester, each student's marks for In-Tutorial Quizzes 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be ranked in descending order, with their lowest performance discarded. Their remaining three In-Class Quizzes will each be worth 10% but will be redeemable against the final exam, meaning they will each count towards either 0% or 10% of a student's overall course grade (this will be calculated automatically to the benefit of the student).

Assessment Task 2

In-Tutorial Quiz 2

In-Tutorial Quiz 2 is the second of 4 in-tutorial tests students will be required to sit during the semester. Unless otherwise stated by the lecturer, the timing for completion, grading and return of In-Tutorial Quiz 2 will be as detailed in the "Class Structure and Content" and "Assessment Summary" sections of this document. Importantly:

• In-Tutorial Quiz 2 will be closed-book, 15 minutes in duration and held at the end of Tutorial 6;
• Students MUST sit In-Tutorial Quiz 2 in the tutorial they are enrolled in, otherwise the quiz will not count towards their final grade for the course;
• Examinable content for In-Tutorial Quiz 2 will be limited to the material covered in Tutorial 6 (i.e. Week 6 Lecture content);
• Students must complete In-Tutorial Quiz 2 in pen (NOT PENCIL);
• Students will need to bring their non-programmable scientific calculator to use when completing In-Tutorial Quiz 2. The use of dictionaries will not be permitted; and
• In-Tutorial Quiz 2 solutions will be discussed at the start of the first lecture in Week 8.

At the end of the semester, each student's marks for In-Tutorial Quizzes 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be ranked in descending order, with their lowest performance discarded. Their remaining three In-Class Quizzes will each be worth 10% but will be redeemable against the final exam, meaning they will each count towards either 0% or 10% of a student's overall course grade (this will be calculated automatically to the benefit of the student).

Assessment Task 3

In-Tutorial Quiz 3

In-Tutorial Quiz 3 is the third of 4 in-tutorial tests students will be required to sit during the semester. Unless otherwise stated by the lecturer, the timing for completion, grading and return of In-Tutorial Quiz 3 will be as detailed in the "Class Structure and Content" and "Assessment Summary" sections of this document. Importantly:

• In-Tutorial Quiz 3 will be closed-book, 15 minutes in duration and held at the end of Tutorial 8;
• Students MUST sit In-Tutorial Quiz 3 in the tutorial they are enrolled in, otherwise the quiz will not count towards their final grade for the course;
• Examinable content for In-Tutorial Quiz 3 will be limited to the material covered in Tutorial 8 (i.e. Week 8 Lecture content);
• Students must complete In-Tutorial Quiz 3 in pen (NOT PENCIL);
• Students will need to bring their non-programmable scientific calculator to use when completing In-Tutorial Quiz 3. The use of dictionaries will not be permitted; and
• In-Tutorial Quiz 3 solutions will be discussed at the start of the first lecture in Week 10.

At the end of the semester, each student's marks for In-Tutorial Quizzes 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be ranked in descending order, with their lowest performance discarded. Their remaining three In-Class Quizzes will each be worth 10% but will be redeemable against the final exam, meaning they will each count towards either 0% or 10% of a student's overall course grade (this will be calculated automatically to the benefit of the student).

Assessment Task 4

In-Tutorial Quiz 4

In-Tutorial Quiz 4 is the last of 4 in-tutorial tests students will be required to sit during the semester. Unless otherwise stated by the lecturer, the timing for completion, grading and return of In-Tutorial Quiz 4 will be as detailed in the "Class Structure and Content" and "Assessment Summary" sections of this document. Importantly:

• In-Tutorial Quiz 4 will be closed-book, 15 minutes in duration and held at the end of Tutorial 9;
• Students MUST sit In-Tutorial Quiz 4 in the tutorial they are enrolled in, otherwise the quiz will not count towards their final grade for the course;
• Examinable content for In-Tutorial Quiz 4 will be limited to the material covered in Tutorial 9 (i.e. Week 9 Lecture content);
• Students must complete In-Tutorial Quiz 4 in pen (NOT PENCIL);
• Students will need to bring their non-programmable scientific calculator to use when completing In-Tutorial Quiz 4. The use of dictionaries will not be permitted; and
• In-Tutorial Quiz 4 solutions will be discussed at the start of the first lecture in Week 11.

At the end of the semester, each student's marks for In-Tutorial Quizzes 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be ranked in descending order, with their lowest performance discarded. Their remaining three In-Class Quizzes will each be worth 10% but will be redeemable against the final exam, meaning they will each count towards either 0% or 10% of a student's overall course grade (this will be calculated automatically to the benefit of the student).

Assessment Task 5

Final Examination

The Final Examination will be a closed-book test and will be held in-person on campus during the exam block (i.e. between 30/10/2025 and 15/11/2025). Importantly:

• The Final Examination will be scheduled centrally by the Examinations, Graduations, Academic Progression and Prizes Office, with the timing and location of the exam timetabled ahead of the examination period (the dates referenced in the "Assessment Summary" section capture the exam period in its entirety). Please refer to ANU Timetabling for further information;
• The Final Examination will include a mix of theoretical and numerical questions that test students' understanding of all concepts introduced during the course. Further information regarding the structure of the exam, and the subject matter tested, will be discussed in lectures and summarised on the course Canvas site;
• Students will be given 15 minutes reading time and 2 hours of writing time to complete the Final Examination;
• Students must complete the Final Examination in pen (NOT PENCIL);
• Students will need to bring their non-programmable scientific calculator to use when completing the Final Examination. The use of dictionaries will not be permitted; and
• Exam scripts will not be returned to students.

The Final Examination will count towards at least 70% of students' overall course grade and, in the event In-Tutorial Quiz/zes are redeemed, could be worth as much as 100%.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

There are no online assignment submissions in this course.

Hardcopy Submission

There are no hardcopy assignment submissions in this course.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks is not permitted in this course. Assessments that are not completed by the due date and time will be awarded a mark of 0.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Not applicable.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Not applicable.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students