BSc Hons Mathematics, Statistics & Finance (SCAU)

This class looks at the role of the treasurer in a multinational corporation and the main task of managing risk with respect to funding requirements, foreign exchange, liquidity and banking relationships. Also included is the management of country specific risks for multi-national firms.

We'll show you analytical methods for solving ordinary and partial differential equations, so you'll develop an understanding along with technical skills in this area.

This module will:

• review the concepts of probability distributions and how to work with these
• present approaches to parameter estimation, focusing on maximum likelihood estimation, bootstrap estimation, and properties of estimators
• demonstrate hypothesis testing procedures, including classical likelihood ratio tests and computer-based methods for testing parameter values, and goodness-of-fit tests
• introduce and provide understanding of the least squares multiple regression model, general linear model, transformations and variable selection procedures
• illustrate the use of R functions for regression and interpretation of R output

This class will cover financial markets, institutions, and instruments, process of financing of a corporate entity and some specialist topics (such as convertibles, real options, mergers and acquisitions international project appraisal) that are relevant for corporate decision making.

This module will introduce functions of a complex variable and define concepts like continuity, differentiability, analyticity, line integration and singular points. It’ll examine the important properties of such functions and consider some applications of them. For example, conformal mappings and the evaluation of real integrals using the Residue Theorem. We’ll also show you Fourier and Laplace transform methods for solving linear ordinary differential equations and convolution type integral equations.

Here, we’ll present basic algebraic structures, with particular emphaisis on those relating to finite dimensional linear spaces and deepen your understanding of linear mappings. We’ll also describe inner product spaces and bilinear forms.

This module will teach you to use numerical algorithms to approximate the solution of problems that can't be solved with pen and paper. It'll develop your skills in performing detailed analysis of the performance of numerical methods and will continue to develop your skills in the implementation of numerical algorithms using R.

You’ll learn about the basic concepts of random phenomena evolving in time, from two complementary points of view: modelling and data-driven analysis. We'll present the underlying ideas of simple stochastic processes, time series models, and the associated probability theory with statistical techniques. In addition to this, we'll cover how to apply the methods to financial and economic systems, including modelling, data analysis and forecasting.

This module will provide you with experience of the skills required to undertake project work and to communicate the findings in written and oral form. You’ll use a variety of sources like books, journals and the internet.

This module will provide you with a range of applied statistical techniques that can be used in professional life.

You’ll be introduced to a range of modern statistical methods and practices used in industry, commerce and research. You’ll also develop skills in your application and presentation.

You’ll learn new statistical methodology and apply it to real data from medical research studies. There will be an emphasis on how to interpret the statistical results in the context of the medical problems being investigated. This skill is necessary for the application of statistics to medical data and differs from the traditional, standard interpretation of statistical textbook problems.

Here, we’ll give you an introduction to ideas in mathematics and statistics that can be used to model real systems. There will be an emphasis on the valuation of financial derivatives. You’ll also learn about deterministic analysis (calculus, differential equations) and stochastic analysis (Brownian motion, birth and death processes). In both cases, in addition to theoretical analysis, appropriate computational algorithms are presented. The first half of the class focuses on general modelling and simulation tools, and the second half looks at the specific application of valuing financial derivatives. This will include the celebrated Black-Scholes theory.

Here you'll get an introduction to ideas in mathematics and statistics that can be used to model real systems, with an emphasis on the valuation of financial derivatives. This module places equal emphasis on deterministic analysis (calculus, differential equations) and stochastic analysis (Brownian motion, birth and death processes). In both cases, in addition to theoretical analysis, appropriate computational algorithms are introduced. The first half of the class introduces general modelling and simulation tools, and the second half focuses on the specific application of valuing financial derivatives, including the celebrated Black-Scholes theory.

This module will present the main results in Functional Analysis and give an introduction to linear operators on Banach and Hilbert spaces. You'll also study applications to integral and differential equations.

You’ll be introduced to the theory of Newtonian fluids, its application to flow problems, and the dynamics of waves on water and in other contexts.

You'll be presented with the basic theory and practice of finite element methods and polynomial and piecewise polynomial approximation theory.

Here, you’ll learn the application of mathematical models to a variety of problems in biology, medicine and ecology. For example, the use of mathematical modelling in biochemical reactions, the application of partial differential equations. The marine population modelling element will introduce the use of difference models to represent population processes through applications to fisheries, and the use of coupled ODE system to represent ecosystems. Practical work will include example class case studies that will explore a real-world application of an ecosystem model.

This module will demonstrate the central role network theory plays in mathematical modelling. It'll also show the intimate connection between linear algebra and graph theory and how to use this connection to develop a sound theoretical understanding of network theory. Finally, it'll apply this theory as a tool for revealing structure in networks.

This class explores the stochastic discount factor approach to asset pricing. The stochastic discount factor approach provides a general framework for evaluating issues in asset pricing. The aim of the class is to examine a number of theoretical and empirical issues in asset pricing.

This class will cover theories of capital structure, sources of capital (debt and equity), and corporate payout policy at an advanced level. The starting point for this class will be Modigliani-Miller assumptions introduced in Business Finance, and course material will highlight how the relaxation of these assumptions leads to formal models on corporate financing behaviour under imperfect capital markets. The emphasis will be upon the ideas necessary to analyse the firm’s financing decisions. It discusses financial structure and the alternative mechanisms for distributing corporate wealth to shareholders.

This class covers the main topics in the corporate investment and restructuring literature. It's primarily connected with corporate investment, otherwise referred to as real investment. It examines in more detail the theoretical foundations of the principles of optimal investment behaviour, restructuring and the strategic investment positions adopted by firms in practice. It builds significantly on the mergers and acquisitions theories and evidence and also examines the interface between investment and the financing decisions.

This class aims to develop a deep understanding of the main issues in the theory and practice of corporate investment and restructuring policies, and to develop students' initiative and ability to research the relevant literature. It'll emphasise the role of key concepts in finance in explaining and understanding observed corporate investment and restructuring policies, whilst also highlighting their limitations in this respect. This class is based mainly on academic articles that have influenced and directed the current level of understanding of Corporate Investment Policy. 

This class examines the problems associated with specifying financial models in forms which are amenable to estimation and testing with the available data. Consideration is given to the nature of financial data, the methods by which it's compiled and the problems it may present for applied financial analyst. Students are taught techniques of estimation, together with the methods for solving financial model problems. One coursework includes practical experience of applying the techniques to financial data using the econometric software PcGive.

The first aim of this class is to train students in the financial quantitative techniques used for the estimation and testing of financial models. The second aim is to build on and extend aspects of the models covered in other finance classes in order to provide students with skills required to evaluate advanced applied financial research. Therefore, it is assumed that students taking this class are familiar with basic statistics and simple least-squares methods of estimation.

This class builds on student knowledge of finance and their understanding of finance theory. It introduces students to behavioural finance and provides them with an understanding of the main flaws of traditional finance theory from a behavioural finance viewpoint. It'll allow students to develop the ability to discuss issues arising from violations of the rationality assumption and to enable them to evaluate new theoretical models based on research in psychology.

This class will allow students to appreciate the role of new developments in finance and their possible implications for established views of financial markets. It'll provide students with an understanding of the main ideas of behavioural finance. A particular emphasis is placed on understanding the roles of non-rational actions and the development of new financial models that incorporate these. Students will engage with up-to-date research and develop a critical view of existing and new finance theories and models.

This class considers financial issues associated with the operation of a firm in the international environment. It'll focus on complications that make corporate financial decision making harder for internationally oriented firms than domestic firms, like exchange rates and political risk.

Specifically, it'll focus on the following issues:

• exchange rate theories and implications for the multinational company
• management of corporate exchange rates exposure
• the evaluation and incorporation of political risk into project evaluation
• the array of corporate financing possibilities in a global market
• the basic issues in international investment analysis, like capital budgeting and cost of capital determination for foreign projects
• methods for evaluating the performance of foreign operations

While this class presents theoretical points of view on the various issues, it uses both empirical academic evidence and discussion of firms' real world activities to prepare students for careers dealing with financial issues of international corporate operations both at the banking and corporate level. It studies corporate financial decisions in an international setting.