Module ASB-4910:
Financial Research and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Series

Module Facts

Run by Bangor Business School

60.000 Credits or 30.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 3

Organiser: Prof Owain ap Gwilym

Overall aims and purpose

This module is available as an alternative to the Dissertation for students on the programmes mentioned in Section 13.

The module has two main aims: - to familiarise students with current research topics and research methodologies relevant to their degree programme, while requiring them to complete an extended literature review plus an empirical study in an appropriate area of accounting, banking or finance. - to prepare students for the transition to a financial career, by covering the Level 1 syllabus of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification.

Course content

In the Research Seminar component, the precise content will vary from year to year. This will enable the programme to include staff research specialisms, to reflect current and topical research issues and to adapt to any staffing changes.

Indicative content for 2016 (labelling is consistent with the existing ASB4903/4896 module): A1. Corporate governance and executive compensation (Professor John Ashton). C1. Event studies and the measurement of abnormal returns (Dr Gwion Williams). D1. The role of rating agencies in financial markets (Professor Owain ap Gwilym).

Each student must attend two of the above research seminars, as follows: MSc Accounting, MSc Accounting and Banking, MSc Accounting and Finance:
Seminars A1, C1.

MSc/MA Banking and Finance, MSc International Banking, MSc/MA Islamic Banking and Finance, MSc/MA Finance, MSc International Finance, MSc Investment Management, MSc/MA Management and Finance. Seminars C1, D1.

MBA Banking and Finance, MBA Finance, MBA Islamic Banking and Finance. Seminars A1, D1.

This is applicable to September and January intakes.

Assessment Criteria

excellent

70%+ An outstanding performance, exceptionally able. The relevant information is accurately deployed. Excellent grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Very good integration of theory/practice/information in the pursuit of the assessed work’s objectives. Strong evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

threshold

50-59% No major omissions or inaccuracies in the deployment of information / skills. Some grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Integration of theory/practice/information is present intermittently in the pursuit of the assessed work’s objectives.

good

60-69% Much of the relevant information and skills are mostly accurately deployed. Adequate grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Good integration of theory/practice/information in the pursuit of the assessed work’s objectives. Some evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

Learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate awareness of a wide range of themes and topics which are relevant to a career in the financial industry.

  2. Demonstrate the ability to access and review a stream of literature which has relevance to a specific programme of empirical research.

  3. Demonstrate quantitative skills in solving problems in statistics, finance and economics.

  4. Demonstrate the ability to select empirical techniques appropriate for a programme of empirical research, and demonstrate competence in fundamental tasks of data handling and data analysis.

  5. Demonstrate awareness of current theoretical and applied research within the scope of their degree programme.

  6. Demonstrate reasoning skills in solving qualitative tasks of relevant to finance, economics and investment management.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Individual Literature Review 25.00
Individual Empirical Research Study 25.00
Final Examination Mark 50.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses: