Msc Corporate Finance Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			Msc Corporate Finance
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024			Award type			MSc
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9	What level is this qualification?			7(M)			Length of programme			1 Year
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full Time
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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15	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			Finance BoS
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17	Lead department			School for Busines and Society			Other contributing departments			Department for Economic and Related Studies.
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19	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus Based
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
25	N/A
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27	Reference points
28	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
29	Consideration the QAA benchmark statement for finance has been considered and the Business and Management benchmark has been considered at the masters 7(M) level.
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31	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
32	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
33	N/A
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35	Exceptions to Regulations
36	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
37	N/A
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39	Internal Transfers
40	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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42		Transfers in:	Yes - if the admission criteria is the same for the programme.				Transfers out:	Yes - if the admission criteria is the same for the programme.
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45	Statement of Purpose
46	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
47	The MSc in Corporate Finance is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in a finance function (such as in a corporate treasury team) within a private sector organisation, in venture capital, or as a corporate finance (mergers & acquisitions / initial public offering) specialist for an investment bank or management consulting firm. It will study: (i) how corporations select projects to ensure that they maximise shareholder value; (ii) the different ways in which a firm can raising funding in order to finance itself; (iii) how money is returned to investors through a corporate dividend policy and corporate bond coupon payments; (iv) how investors ensure that corporate managers act in their interests (corporate governance), and how they manage their portfolio of investments; (v) how information in financial statements can be used to value stocks, corporate bonds and businesses; (vi) how sustainable and ethical corporate behaviour co-exists with value maximisation; and (viii) how corporate finance operates within an international business, economic and financial market environment. Anchoring this real-world behaviour in rigorous academic study, students will study a variety of relevant mathematical and statistical methods that underpin many corporate finance techniques that are applied in industry, and they will undertake a substantive individual research project where they can apply their knowledge to a real-world corporate finance problem. Students will also gain a range of employability and personal transferrable skills that can be directly applied within a corporate finance career. This Masters degree will embody the interdisciplinary culture of the University of York by bringing together a wide range of faculty based in different academic departments, chosen on the basis of their specialist knowledge within their cognate discipline, to best inform the student experience.
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56	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
57	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
58	Masters (MSc) Corporate Finance			Exit Only	All Eight PLOs to be completed				Modules normally Level 7(M). At least 150* credits at Level 7(M); maximum 30 credits at Level 6(H)
59	Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) Corporate Finance			Exit Only	PLO 1 - 7 inclusive to be compeleted				Modules normally Level 7(M). At least 90*credits at Level 7(M); maximum 30 credits at Level 6(H)
60	Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert) Corporate Finance			Exit Only	PLO 1 - 7 inclusive to be compeleted				Modules normally Level 7(M). At least 40 credits at Level 7(M); maximum 20 credits at Level 6(H).
61	*Note: these award requirements reflect the minimum requirements set out in the QAA’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. For programmes using the 20-credit common modular currency, the expectation for design would be at least 160 credits at Level 7(M) for Masters and at least 100 credits at Level 7(M) for Postgraduate Diplomas.
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63	Programme Learning Outcomes
64	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
65	1	Display a systematic and critical understanding of the behaviour and operations of the finance function in major non-financial organisations, the environments in which they operate, and the role they play in the wider economic system.
66	2	Apply the main techniques used by corporate finance and investment managers, and display a critical awareness of their relevance for the operations of a range of non-financial organisations including multinational corporations, potential problems and issues within the application of those techniques in practice, and how investors ensure that corporate managers act on their behalf (corporate governance).
67	3	Analyse and interpret corporate financial statements for the purposes of equity, corporate bond, and overall corporate valuation.
68	4	Appraise and evaluate the major theories underlying the study of corporate finance, be able to describe the assumptions and mathematics methods behind these theories and communicate clearly to academic and managerial audiences the advantages and limitations of applying these theories to specific practical contexts.
69	5	Solve complex corporate finance problems by locating, downloading and cleaning the most appropriate financial and related data, and applying the most relevant statistical and computational techniques to these data to address the problem at hand.
70	6	Explain how sustainable and ethical corporate behaviour can co-exist with maximising shareholder wealth, and display a critical understanding of how such a balanced management approach can be implemented.
71	7	Produce well-reasoned written communications based on analytical reasoning and supported, where necessary, by data-based evidence, and display other personal transferable skills including: the ability to work positively within a group; act inclusively within a diverse academic community; reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses; identify areas for growth in their own knowledge and practice by engaging in continuing professional development.
72	8	Formulate a corporate finance or related project proposal; identify the relevant academic and practitioner literature that best inform the project; identify and obtain the most appropriate data and methodologies for undertaking the project; independently carry out the project efficiently and to deadline; and effectively communicate results in a way that will persuade both expert and non-expert audiences.
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74	Diverse entry routes
75	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
76	The programme has entry requirements established to allow entry for graduates with an upper second-class overall grade from any discipline. The one key requirement stated in the entry criteria is that the applicant should have evidence of past quantitative skills. This should be evidenced by a module in the second or third years of a degree which has a strong quantitative element. This might include yet not exclusively statistics, econometrics, mathematics, engineering, physics or a similar quantitative field. Within this programme aimed at all graduates we have two foundation core modules (Finance and Investment Management and Quantitative Methods for Finance) which introduce all students into finance and investments and enhances current quantitative skills and techniques required for study. The first semester of the programme is developed to include only core modules which are deemed appropriate for those studying corporate finance for the first time.
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82	Inclusion
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84	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.										TRUE
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86	Employability
87	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
88	Our MSc Corporate Finance provides the solid foundations required for building a future career in finance. This course will help build your qualifications for a career in financial management or accountancy. Throughout this programme you will hone skills associated with the financing of non-financial firms and the management of financial resources in a commercial environment. The MSc is also an ideal basis for progression to a PhD. The programme will assist in building a career in commerce and particularly in occupations such as an accountant, financial manager, business analyst, banker, economist, financial advisor and as a teacher in higher education.
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94	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
95	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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97	Year abroad			FALSE		Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				Inappropriate for the programme
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99	Year in industry			FALSE		Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				Inappropriate for the programme
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