COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Applied Finance curriculum is designed to equip students with advanced financial decision-making capabilities through a blend of analytical, theoretical, and practical subjects. The program begins by introducing the essential role of statistical analysis in organisational decision-making, enabling students to interpret financial and non-financial data for strategic insight. Building on this foundation, students explore financial statement analysis, learning to evaluate corporate performance using accounting information, industry trends, economic statistics, and stock market data. Through case studies, they develop analytical and creative problem-solving abilities essential for preparing business strategies. The curriculum also examines advanced corporate finance, focusing on how capital markets, information asymmetry, and agency conflicts influence firm decisions. Key areas such as corporate restructuring, governance, managerial compensation, mergers and acquisitions, risk management, and emerging market finance are explored in depth. Responding to global trends, the program integrates socially responsible investing, covering ethics, ESG principles, green bonds, environmental finance, corporate governance, and the role of finance in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Students also gain a strong understanding of the global financial system, the evolution of international markets, and the operations of Australian financial institutions, along with the effects of monetary and fiscal policy. A dedicated subject in risk management equips students to address portfolio and corporate risks through enterprise-wide frameworks encompassing market, credit, liquidity, operational, legal, and strategic risks. Specialisation subjects offer deeper expertise in bank management, covering regulatory structures, commercial lending, capital adequacy, and liquidity management. Students studying international finance gain insights into foreign exchange markets, currency risk management, global financing decisions, and political risk. The curriculum also explores the rapidly expanding field of alternative investments, introducing non-traditional financial markets, analytical tools, and trading strategies shaped by the unique characteristics of this growing sector. Together, these subjects ensure graduates are prepared for complex roles across corporate finance, banking, investments, and global financial markets.