Stream

Finance - FINSAH4501

Stream Summary

Faculty: UNSW Business School

School: School of Banking and Finance

Contact:  UNSW Business School Student Centre

Program: 4501 - Commerce (Honours)

Award(s):

Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)

View stream information for previous years

Stream Outline

The Honours year will provide students with an opportunity to learn the necessary skills to tackle the financial issues and challenges that they will encounter throughout their careers. These skills include analytical skills in problem solving (identification of problems, mapping out solutions and executing them) and financial (both practical and academic) research skills.

To satisfy the Honours requirements, students undertake an additional year of study, completing Honours level courses (both compulsory and elective) and undertaking a research thesis. Students must have completed the prerequisite courses prior to their Honours year.

This stream is only offered on a full-time basis with commencement in session 1 each year.

Stream Structure

This stream consists of 48 UOC of coursework and thesis as specified below.

Compulsory courses:

Plus one elective from the following list:
More details on the requirements of the thesis and information on topics and supervisors, please refer to the Finance Honours Program page.

Honours mark and Class of Honours

The Honours mark will be calculated using all components completed in the honours year, based upon on 50% weight to coursework and 50% weight to the thesis. This mark will be used to award the class of honours according to the classifications below:

First Class Honours 85 and above
Second Class Division I 75 – 84
Second Class Division II 65 – 74
Third Class 50 – 64

The following baseline requirements apply for admission to the Honours program. The applicant must have:
  • Completed a single business degree including all requirements for a major in Finance OR completed 144 UOC of a dual business degree including all requirements for a major in Finance. Students with comparable qualifications from Australian and overseas institutions are also welcome to apply.
  • Never failed a course (i.e. no FL grade on the Transcript);
  • Completed a major in Finance which contains as least 8 finance course including, or the equivalent to, FINS1612, FINS1613, FINS2624, FINS3616, FINS3775 or ECON3206. In a double major one of three optional course may be an accounting course either ACCT3563 or ACCT3573.
  • Achieved an overall average of at least 75 for all finance courses with no grade below 65 in any of the Finance courses.
Applicants should be aware that the number of places on the program is limited and entry is competitive. Meeting the baseline entry requirements does not guarantee a place on the program.

There is no mid-year (semester 2) entry for Honours in Finance.

How to Apply

All (internal and external) students intending to apply to the Honours programs must first discuss their eligibility and study program with the Honours Coordinator in the relevant discipline prior to submitting an application.

Domestic applicants:

All domestic applicants should complete a UNSW Honours application form, plus the supporting documents.


This supporting documentation may include all or a selection of the following:
  • A cover letter highlighting the academic background and other strengths of the applicant
  • A copy of the applicant’s CV (with at least one academic referee)
  • An academic transcript from the relevant tertiary institution
  • A statement of research interest/proposal not exceeding 1,000 words
  • Other relevant supporting documents (e.g. awards, research papers), if any.
(originals or certified true copies) are to be submitted to the UNSW UAC Admissions Office.

International applicants:

Internal international applicants should contact the UNSW Business School Student Centre for details of the application process.

External international applicants should apply directly through UNSW Apply Online attaching all relevant additional documentation.

For more information about the application procedure, applicants should contact the Honours Coordinator for the relevant discipline.

Further Information

Please note that these requirements may be subject to change.

Students are advised to follow requirements according to the year they commenced. Please refer to previous editions of the Online Handbook for your program requirements.

Contact the UNSW Business School Student Centre for advice.
tel: + 61 2 9385 3189
location: Level 1, room 1028, Quadrangle Building
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