Master of Applied Finance in Financial Services

at University of Wollongong - Southern Sydney Campus Australia

The Master of Business allows you to be the Master of your degree, choosing the subjects that are of most interest to you and of most relevance to your career. You will be equipped with fundamental business knowledge and skills through a set of core subjects, as well as a research capstone.

Graduates of the Master of Business will have knowledge across a broad range of business areas that will allow you to move into a variety of business careers.

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance is an introductory course designed to provide a general understanding of areas in Applied Finance such as financial statement analysis, managerial finance, statistics and corporate governance.

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance, you may enrol in a Master of Applied Finance and be eligible for credit for the four subjects completed within the Graduate Certificate. Progression with credit to other Masters programs, including the MBA, may also be possible.

We value the importance of prior learning and work experience in this course and understand that not all mature age working professionals have completed an undergraduate degree. If you fit this profile, still apply for the course, as we will assess your other relevant tertiary qualifications or substantial relevant professional or managerial experience.

The Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) is designed for students who want a career in the accounting profession. The learning experience and knowledge areas for this program are focused on the practice of accounting.

The course first introduces the fundamental principles of accounting, economics, and aspects of the economic system and then proceeds to the study of specific knowledge areas which are vital for accounting professionals. You will develop knowledge and skills to apply accounting principles in the preparation and interpretation of financial statements and, enable you to research current accounting issues. You will also have an understanding of the differences between accounting principles and taxation law and the tax implications of business activities.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) Advanced is designed for experienced professionals with ambition and drive who wish to develop their responsible and sustainable leadership skills. You will gain a holistic strategic business point-of-view required to operate effectively in an increasingly competitive and changing global business world.

The course has been designed to cover three stages:

• Diagnostics, where you learn to diagnose issues in real organisations with a focus on marketing, employee engagement, talent management and accounting.
• Exploration, where you explore the latest thinking and practices in organisations and research worldwide, while developing skills in innovation and business transformation.
• Integration and Application, where you develop your strategic decision-making skills, undertake a real-world business project and enhance your personal effectiveness as a responsible leader.

The MBA Advanced offers students the opportunity to specialise further in their area of interest by completing four additional subjects from a specialisation of their choice. Specialisations are available in Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Project Management, or Supply Chain Management.

Your learning approach will include real-world case studies, experiential learning including planning and executing an integrated and live business project towards the end of the course, and teamwork, with an emphasis on peer learning.

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting is an introductory course that provides a general understanding of accounting and related areas in business, including finance, statistics and economics.

Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting provides a pathway to the Master of Professional Accounting or Master of Professional Accounting Advanced, with credit of four subjects towards the Master's degree.

The Master of Computer Science will provide you with the skills and ability to solve complex real world problems by integrating computer science methods with effective management strategies, and by developing and deploying computer applications. During this degree you will be able to put theory into practice with an individual capstone project.

What you will study
You will study subjects in IT project management, advanced programming, algorithms and data structures. You can choose to complete subjects from the below four areas:

• Computational intelligence, and reasoning and learning
• Machine learning algorithms and big data
• Advanced network security and computer security
• Software requirements and specifications, and service-oriented software engineering

The Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop ideas into sustainable business opportunities and to foster innovation in your workplace. You will learn how to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, experiment with design thinking, and learn to use tools and techniques to convert your ideas into reality.

Throughout your degree, our academics will equip you with knowledge in innovative leadership, financial skills for entrepreneurs, how to navigate the complexities of innovation and entrepreneurship, business innovation planning, and creating and marketing new products. You will understand how to raise capital and gain detailed knowledge of the complexities of initiating, developing, managing and exploiting innovation.

The Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship will allow you to explore the potential exploitation of your own business idea. You will learn to evaluate opportunities from a range of perspectives, including financial, technical and legal, as well as gain a thorough understanding of the processes associated with the development and marketing of a new product in today’s complex environment.

You will then complete your degree with an industry-based research project that will enable you to apply the skills developed into a practical project.

The Master of Supply Chain Management gives professionals working in logistics, supply chain management, and operations management the skills to manage the flow of materials and information within and between organizations and other relevant stakeholders.

You will learn how to diagnose existing processes and supply chains and how to implement a supply chain strategy within an organization. Skills and capabilities are developed on topics such as forecasting, sales, and operational planning and procurement to name a few.

Finance is about money and investments. People on their own, people in partnerships, companies and other entities (including state and federal governments), have a common objective of profitable investment. What is a government-secured bond? What is a share? What are the reasons for investing in either and when is the right time? These are some of the questions answered in the domain of finance.

This degree
You will undertake a foundation year that covers all core disciplines of business, giving you a solid understanding of issues facing organisations today. From your second year, you will begin your major in Finance. The degree has an emphasis on practical applications and real-world financial management. Careers include finance manager, research analyst, management reporting manager, equity trade analyst, stockbroker, bank officer, investment operations analyst and venture capitalist.
You will also undertake a final-year capstone subject that lets you apply everything you have learned in collaboration with students from other disciplines. Plus, you have the option of applying for an internship to gain valuable experience whilst receiving credit towards your degree.

What you will study
You will learn the theoretical knowledge and tools demanded by employers in all sections of the world economy: investment, financial markets, financial modelling and portfolio analysis. You will utilise state of the art technology to learn advanced statistical techniques for analysis, including the classical linear regression model, model diagnostics, univariate time series modelling and forecasting. You will explore corporate finance, including financial strategies, security analysis and portfolio management.

Management is the art and science of planning, coordinating and leading group efforts. It is the mobilising of human and material resources to achieve organisational goals. Effective managers make socially responsible decisions both in the short and long term whilst providing inspiring and motivating leadership that can affect all levels of the organisation.

This degree
You will undertake a foundation year that covers all core disciplines of business, giving you a solid understanding of issues facing organisations today. From your second year, you will major in Management to understand the framework of organisational structures, be able to examine quality and risk management, and analyse business strategies. Careers in management include company manager, operations manager, workforce planner, general manager, and strategic development executive.

You will also undertake a final-year capstone subject that lets you apply everything you have learned in collaboration with students from other disciplines. Plus, you have the option of applying for an internship to gain valuable experience whilst receiving credit towards your degree.

What you will study
You will learn how to manage – strategically and ethically – both physical and intangible assets for organisational success and employee wellbeing. You will do this by gaining a sound understanding of the framework of organisational structures, including the local and international environments in which they operate. Final year subjects enable you to identify and analyse quality management systems, strategically manage risk and develop international business strategies.