Overview 2022
Location
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students
View archived years for this course
For years prior to 2015, please view the Course and Unit Handbook Archive
View the current year's course page
“It is allowing me to broaden my world view and connect to different students and people around the world. I am acquiring the professional skills required to break into the corporate world and finance industry.”
The Master of Finance Specialisation is a 24 month full-time or part-time equivalent course offered by the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics. The course is full fee-paying, which means that you will be charged at the full fee-paying rate listed for each unit.
The UTAS MFinS is grounded in a philosophy based on two major premises: to facilitate the acquisition of life-long financial knowledge and skills through sharing and building on the diverse experiences of all stakeholders within the course and to foster empowerment and personal responsibility by encouraging students to challenge the conventional paradigms in finance.
Our MFinS will engage students using teaching materials that link the lectures and workshops to local, national and global case studies. This approach will facilitate self-actualisation and the notion ‘doing and thinking are one’; it will also equip our students with the theories, concepts, and knowledge in finance that are necessary to deal with the rapid changes in finance worldwide by covering a variety of perspectives, including, but not restricted to, the theoretical, empirical, behavioural, ethical, economic, environmental and statistical/mathematical.
Key contacts
| Current student enrolment questions and advice | UConnect |
| Course Coordinator | Joaquin Vespignani |
Learning Outcomes
Career outcomes
The MFinS will instill in students financial knowledge and skills that they can utilise throughout their future professional careers in the broader finance community both at the personal and institutional level including; financial planning, financial institutions, insurance, superannuation funds, not-for-profit organisations, government and local authorities as well as individuals.
Course structure
The Master of Finance (Specialisation) consists of 12 core units and 4 specialisation units (200 credit points).
Specialisations
- Business Research
- Data Management
- Environmental Management
Please note: You may be required to complete BFA526 Financial Reporting if you have not completed the Graduate Certificate of Business Studies or can not demonstrate sufficient related study to BFA526 in your undergraduate degree. If this is the case your study plan will be adjusted to include BFA526 in the place of one of your degree electives.
Special note for students doing the Business Research specialisation
Entry into the Business Research specialisation is by invitation only. To be eligible you must have achieved a Distinction (DN) or higher average in the following core units: BEA602, BEA651, BEA652, BEA653, BEA705 and BEA706. The Course Coordinator will make contact with eligible students to discuss their intentions at the conclusion of their second semester of study.
The Business Research specialisation contains two options:
- Option A: Minor Research Project – in this option you will complete a 25 credit point weighted project as well as undertaking BAA710 and BAA704.
- Option B: Major Research Project – in this option you will complete a 50 credit point weighted project and will undertake BAA710 and BAA704 in place of the MFINS degree electives. This option is aimed at students intending to go on to a Higher Degree by Research.
Compulsory Units
Derivatives or derivative securities are (as the name suggests) derived from other securities. Derivatives are used for a number of purposes, including insuring against price movements (hedging), increasing one’s exposure to price movements (speculation) or getting access to an otherwise…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
This Unit is concerned with Corporate Finance. In Corporate Finance the central issues are how to acquire and employ or invest funds efficiently. The central issues in Corporate Finance are how to acquire and employ or invest funds efficiently. Concepts…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
There are two main objectives in applied quantitative finance. First, is to understand how asset prices behave. Future asset prices are uncertain and, therefore, must be described by a probability distribution. This means that statistical and econometric methods can be…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
Managers need an understanding of statistics for five key reasons: To properly collect, present, describe and interpret information. To draw valid conclusions from incomplete data - typically about large populations based only on information obtained from samples. To obtain reliable…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for BEA674 Data and Business Decision Making
This unit provides managers with an introduction to a comprehensive range of key microeconomic and macroeconomic topics. The emphasis is on the practical application of basic economic concepts and models to real world business oriented problems. The unit will develop…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
Financial market shocks often spread rapidly across different asset classes and between countries. This unit examines the structural reasons for these interrelationships, including financial intermediation, risk management products and regulatory structure. Attention is paid to the challenge of accurate measurement…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for BEA705 Financial Institutions and Markets
Most businesses operate in a global financial market, and very few facets of financial management are as important as managing exchange rate risk. This unit will provide you with the skills necessary to understand and address some of the multi-faceted…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
View all details for BEA706 International Financial Management
This unit covers a wide range of interesting legal topics and teaches students how to analyse, and solve legal problems, all essential skills for those wishing to work in both the fields of accounting and business management. The unit combines…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
In this unit, you will be introduced to the basic principles of investing. A discussion will be made of the main characteristics of investments with an emphasis on risk and return and the trade-off between the two. The unit focuses…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
In this unit you will develop and apply the skills necessary to succeed in obtaining employment and a career in accounting and finance. As a graduate, it is essential to be able to demonstrate capability in applying technical skills in…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
View all details for BFA746 Pathway to Accounting and Finance Careers
Choose from the following
Electives
This unit studies the role of markets and financial incentives in addressing environmental and natural resource issues. It introduces the concept of ecosystem services, the role of markets in the provision of ecosystem services, different sources of market failure, and…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
A comprehensive financial plan will contribute towards the quality of a person's life by reducing the uncertainty about their future needs and the resources that will be available to meet them. This unit is an introductory course examining what is…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | 5 Week Session Mar | ||||
View all details for BFA508 Introduction to Financial Planning
Risk management is a complex, progressive and demanding industry based on the protection of individuals, businesses and governments against risk and financial catastrophe. Insurance is the foundation of our lives and the social and economic fabric of our society.This unit…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
The study of ethics, from the Greek meaning ‘character’, may be defined as the philosophical enquiry into theories of human conduct: establishing what is morally right as opposed to what is morally wrong. Ethics may be simply described as moral…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental regulatory framework within which international trade is conducted and with a grasp of the core topics and practices. Students will develop knowledge of the interaction of domestic…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
View all details for BFA603 International Trade Regulation and Practice
This unit provides background information on the demographic trends in Australia and gives an overview of the compulsory superannuation system that operates within Australia. Within the financial planning industry, retirement planning forms an important part of advisory services.This unit will…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
This unit introduces students to the core concepts in Australian taxation and identifies the framework (both legal and administrative) behind those concepts. The knowledge gained through this exploration enables the application of the framework to current issues faced by individuals…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
The aim of this unit is to explore HRM and employee relations concepts, themes, policy and practice within an international context. To assist your study of IHRM, this unit is divided into six sections. Modules 1 and 2 introduce the…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for JNB513 International Human Resource Management
Electives - Business Research specialisation - Major Project only
This unit supports students completing MBA Research or Workplace Projects to develop and implement a research program. Seminars and practical activities develop an understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of research, the purpose of research methodology and the evaluation of research…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit explores the management and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. Seminars and practical sessions explore the principles and practices of organising and analysing data using software support. The qualitative component explores computer-supported analysis using NVivo. Topics include data…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Winter school | ||||
Choose from the following
Business Research
Compulsory Units
Option A - Minor Project
This unit supports students completing MBA Research or Workplace Projects to develop and implement a research program. Seminars and practical activities develop an understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of research, the purpose of research methodology and the evaluation of research…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit provides you with the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in core units to a significant research project in a relevant setting. It provides you with the opportunity to apply appropriate research techniques to a contemporary management issue.…
Credit Points: 25
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit explores the management and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. Seminars and practical sessions explore the principles and practices of organising and analysing data using software support. The qualitative component explores computer-supported analysis using NVivo. Topics include data…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Winter school | ||||
Option B - Major Project
In this unit, students individually undertake a finance related research project (dissertation) under the supervision of a member of academic staff in the discipline of Economics and Finance. The supervision of the research involves regular meetings between the student and…
Credit Points: 50
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
Data Management
Continuing students (students who commenced the course in 2021 and earlier) should complete KIT709 and KIT710 and two additional units.
Students commencing in 2022 should complete BFA747, BMA708, KIT515 and a choice of KIT729 or KIT735.
Compulsory Units
Compulsory units
In today’s data economy, businesses are blessed and cursed with an abundance of data. This proliferation of data is creating new professions and changing existing professions. One profession that is witnessing a rapid change due to the explosion of data…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Marketing decision-making is growing in importance in the business world. More than ever before, organisations are placing greater emphasis on the marketers' ability to evaluate, anticipate, and illustrate the contribution of marketing to organisational performance. Increasingly, senior managers are requiring…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for BMA708 Marketing Insights into Big Data
This unit explores cybersecurity as it is managed in the business context. It covers the processes of threat and risk analysis, security policy development, incident prevention and response, issues around privacy, professional codes of conduct, and looks at legislative efforts…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
View all details for KIT515 Cybersecurity Policies and Practices
Choice of unit
This unit aims to present a coherent view on the role of knowledge and strategic information management in organisations from a multidisciplinary perspective. Students will gain an appreciation of the sources of information, unstructured and semi-structured knowledge and learn current…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
View all details for KIT729 Knowledge and Information Strategic Management
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) concerns itself with the research, design, implementation, and evaluation of computer systems that people interact with. HCI has an enormous impact on the technology industry, with companies of all sizes growing their commercial success through the successful…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for KIT735 Human Computer Interaction and User Experience Design
Environmental Management
Choose from the following
This unit develops an understanding of how instruments of power and organisation can be shaped through effective planning and management, to foster sustainable systems of production and consumption. We begin our journey by examining the concept and interpretations of sustainable…
Credit Points: 25
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for KGA514 Planning and Managing for Sustainable Systems
Ecosystem Conservation offers students a pathway to understanding the core ideas behind ecology and conservation biology. You will gain knowledge, skills and investigative abilities to discuss and write about the issues surrounding conservation management around the world. In practical work…
Credit Points: 25
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit provides students with a practical understanding of key systems for protected area planning and management. Terrestrial, freshwater and marine protected areas are considered. The global context of protected areas is analysed, including issues of definition, scope and governance.…
Credit Points: 25
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for KGA517 Protected Area Planning and Management Systems
Entry requirements
For Domestic students
For entry into the Master of Finance (Specialisation) students must meet the following criteria: Either: Completed undergraduate degree of an Australian higher education institution or the equivalent standard in any other institution OR Completion of the Graduate Certificate of Business Studies at the University of Tasmania, or an equivalent qualifying Graduate Certificate# #a qualifying Graduate Certificate is any Graduate Certificate from an Australian higher education institution, or the equivalent from any other institution. International students must provide one of the following: UTASAccess Level 7 with a minimum overall score of 65% and no individual skill below 60%; or an IELTS score with an overall Band of 6.5 and no band less than 6; or a TOEFL (iBT) overall score of 88 (no individual skill must be lower than: Reading 16; Listening16; Speaking 18; and, Writing 22) or a PTE Academic overall score of 58 with no score lower than 50, or provide evidence that you have studied for 2 years full-time with English as the sole medium of instruction and examination. These tests must not be more than 24 months old.
Articulation
Articulation from: Students who have completed a Master of Finance with the University of Tasmania may articulate in the Master of Finance (Specialisation) with full credit. Students may undertake a pathway via the Graduate Certificate in Business Studies, but the units completed therein do not provide credit toward the MFinS.
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
This is a full-fee course, which means you’ll need to pay the entire amount for your studies. Commonwealth supported places are not available in this postgraduate course. However, there are still support options available for eligible students to help you manage the cost of studying this course.
You may be able to fund all or part of your tuition fees by accessing a FEE-HELP loan from the Australian Government. FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that assists domestic full-fee students to pay for University, which is repaid through the Australian Tax System once you earn above a repayment threshold. This means you’ll only have to start repaying the loan once you start earning above a specific amount.
Our scholarships and prizes program also offers more than 400 scholarships across all areas of study. You can even apply for multiple scholarships in one easy application.
An important note on Youth Allowance and AustudyThe Department of Social Services has approved some accredited and professionally oriented Masters courses for student payments through Youth Allowance or Austudy. This means if you enrol in one of these courses, you may be eligible for student payments. However, please be aware that this is not the case for all Master courses. Please visit our Scholarships, Fees and Costs website for further information.
Further informationDetailed fee information for domestic students is available at Scholarships, fees and costs, including additional information in relation to the compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Domestic students enrolled in certain postgraduate coursework programs may not be eligible for student payments through Youth Allowance and Austudy. Visit the Department of Social Services website to find out more about eligibility for Centrelink support and the list of eligible courses
Scholarships
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
How can we help?
Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.
- Domestic
- 13 8827 (13 UTAS)
- International
- +61 3 6226 6200
- Course.Info@utas.edu.au
- Online
- Online enquiries