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Applied Finance Project

Module description

This is a capstone module that provides you with the opportunity to apply the academic knowledge and practical skills you have acquired throughout the programme. This module offers a synoptic integration of the learning of the whole programme into a practical project related to the chosen topic in the field of finance. Guest lectures by academic experts and industry practitioners are built into the module to engage you with real-world contemporary issues. The module aims to help you develop a critical orientation towards the chosen topic and an understanding of how the relevant financial principles are applied in practice. You will produce a carefully designed research project with the guidance of a supervisor. Demonstrating wider consideration of the financial services industry and its global, economic and environmental context, you will research the opportunities and limitations within your idea.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This final year project builds on the knowledge and skills you have learnt in the previous years. It allows you to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities by applying a range of skills that you have acquired throughout your degree programme. During the project, you will undertake a practical piece of work in your chosen area under the guidance of a project supervisor. You will gain an insight into the real world of research in applied finance, including obtaining and/or analysing data in a research setting, analysis of real-world case study or performing a systematic literature review. The module will consolidate your skills in collection, interpretation, formulation and presentation of evidence, and enhance your organisational, communication and personal reflective behaviours and employability skills. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Plan and manage significant individual research or applied exercise from conception through to design, execution and delivery.
• 2. Select appropriate methods of investigation and capacity to produce sound conclusions based on research findings.
• 3. Apply a detailed knowledge of relevant financial theories, methods and problem-solving techniques.
• 4. Develop skills to handle complex qualitative and/or quantitative data sets.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Critically evaluate aspects of current research in finance discipline.
• 6. Apply skills of critical thinking, problem-formulation, problem-solving, and rigorous scientific data/ information analysis to finance practice.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Manage own time and personal development planning, reflecting on skill development
• 8. Develop relevant employability skills such as effective report writing and ability to harness creative ideas, turning them into tangible and strategic products/solutions.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:

Preliminary planning for the project takes place at the beginning of Year 3, with the project proposal submitted by Week 1 of Term 1. Supervisory meetings will be held by arrangement.

A progress report will be submitted at the beginning of Term 2, and the written final report is normally due in Term 3.

The process will involve the following stages:

Introduction Lecture:

• Choice of topic
• Development of proposal

Guided by Supervision:

• Preliminary project proposal
• Literature search and review
• Progress Report
• Data collection
• Empirical analysis
• Writing up
• Submission of draft project
• Feedback and correction
• Submission of final project

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Bell, E., Harley, B., & Bryman, A. (2022). Business Research Methods. 6^th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2024). Research Methods for Business Students. 9^th ed. Harlow: Pearson.

Key words search

Project, Capstone, research