Course Title: Research Project in Finance
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Research Project in Finance
Credit Points: 36.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
BAFI2085 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
625H Economics, Finance and Marketing |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Spring2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2007, Spring2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 2 2008, Spring2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 2 2009, Spring2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 2 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 2 2011, Spring2011, Spring2012, Sem 1 2016 |
BAFI2086 |
Malaysia Institute of Managemt |
Postgraduate |
625H Economics, Finance and Marketing |
Face-to-Face |
Offsh 4 08, Offsh 1 09, Offsh 4 09 |
BAFI2087 |
Singapore Inst of Management |
Postgraduate |
625H Economics, Finance and Marketing |
Face-to-Face |
Offsh 1 09 |
Course Coordinator: Vijaya B Marisetty
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 1431
Course Coordinator Email: vijayabhaskar.marisetty@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 80.11.57
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
This course is a final year course offered to students enrolled in the Master of Finance Program and can only be taken in Stage D of the program.
The pre-requisite requirement for this course is a credit average with no fails in the Master of Finance program. Students who do not meet this requirement will not be permitted to enrol in this course and are advised to undertake BAFI3190 - Research Issues in Finance and three elective courses in Stage D of the program.
Course Description
This course will introduce you to the current research issues in finance and is designed to enable you to apply their academic learning to a contemporary workplace situation. The integration of work-based and academic learning, commonly referred to as Work Integrated Learning (WIL), will allow you to solve authentic business problems or address real issues faced in organisations. The course begins with an introduction to research methods followed by a discussion of some of the critical research areas in finance. You will undertake empirical research in this topic area culminating in the writing of a research paper that is submitted for assessment.
If you are undertaking this course in Melbourne from semester 2, 2012 onwards your teacher will advise you if you require access to a computer for the course. It is recommended that you have access to a mobile computing device to allow greater flexibility in terms of where you can work on campus outside class times.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course will help you develop your ability to:
1. Understand a range of tools of empirical research that are used in finance.
2. Formulate and apply these tools in the process of working on a research project.
3. Understand how to apply univariate modelling, cointegration and causality testing and forecasting techniques to problems encountered in financial decision making.
4. Elaborate on the key concepts, issues and ideas pertaining to empirical research in finance.
5. Use a range of statistical tests and measures, such as the Engle-Granger test, Granger’s Representation Theorem, the adjusted root mean square error, and others.
6. Use statistical and econometric packages, as well as Excel, to conduct hypothesis testing, estimate models, generate forecasts and derive inference from historical data.
7. Develop strong writing skills that enable them to illustrate the findings of empirical research in a lucid manner without any misrepresentation.
Overview of Learning Activities
The course begins with an intensive class which will introduce you to research methods and methodology in finance. The classes also present a synopsis of a number of topics on which you may base your research essay. This will be followed by a summary of the key research issues in finance today. The remainder of the course involves completion of the independent research project and research paper.
Overview of Learning Resources
All data are provided for you and are available for download on the learning hub though readings must be accessed from the RMIT library (particuarly as e-journals).
There is no prescribed text for this course. You should refer to the course notes, Eviews help files and EXCEL help files in addition to the prescribed readings.
Overview of Assessment
You will write a research thesis within an identified topic area which relates to a current issue. In undertaking this activity you may interact and receive feedback from industry and community, possibly including clients and practitioners. This is student-centred project. Formative feedback will be provided through grading of diary entries and informal drop in sessions. You are expected to contact the lecturer to discuss specific questions or problems concerning your project.