Finance is a dynamic field, focusing on the borrowing, lending and investing of money by individuals, financial institutions, business and government organisations. Professional financiers administer the finance function of organisations, analysing and interpreting information to assess their needs and provide advice.

With a degree in finance you will develop the skills to analyse business portfolios and provide recommendations for best financial returns. In this course you have the opportunity to listen to real-world practitioners as they explain how the value of investments changes over time.

You will learn core concepts and skills in finance related to project evaluation, capital structure, security analysis and pricing, portfolio management, international finance and risk management.

Throughout this course you will take part in hands-on projects including capital investment appraisal, firm valuation, portfolio allocations and risk management using up-to-date information from our Securities Dealing Room.

Students who are keen to gain a deeper understanding of finance should consider enrolling in one or both of the finance extensions. Empirical finance extension develops students’ advanced technical and research skills and is a useful foundation for students considering honours. Financial services extension is designed for students considering a career in the banking and financial services sectors.

If you are fascinated by foreign investment, exchange rates, stock market fluctuations or corporate finance, consider a career in finance.

Real-world learning

The major begins with units on quantitative analysis and economics that extend your learning from the core units of our Bachelor of Business degree. You will then be exposed to core concepts and skills in finance, including financial instruments, capital planning, funds acquisition, asset and debt management, financial analysis, and investments management.

The finance capstone unit integrates learning across the major by giving you the opportunity to apply your skills to a variety of simulations of real-world situations in the finance industry.

Securities Dealing Room

QUT’s Securities Dealing Room gives you access to data from Bloomberg, providers of financial data to many of the world’s financial institutions. This comprehensive set of data on companies, commodities and economies will allow you, in your final-year project work, to conduct real-world financial analysis with the theories you have learned.

Financial management skills are in demand by businesses of all kinds. The skills you develop in this course will prepare you for a variety of career paths including investment strategy, financial portfolio management, stock analysis or even corporate borrowing and managing foreign exchange risk.

Graduate positions include:

• financial analyst
• financial markets dealer
• commercial banker
• banking and finance professional
• corporate secretary
• investment manager
• stockbroker.

Professional recognition

Graduates of the finance major meet the academic requirements for associate membership of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.