Bachelor of Business (Financial Services)
Course code/s: LBBFS Melbourne
Course Description
This degree is designed to provide students with an introduction to the financial services industry. Its aim is to provide students with a set of skills, abilities and broad technical knowledge in financial services and enable students to sample a wide range of financial disciplines such as wealth management, investments, financial risk management, banking, international banking and finance, and corporate finance.
The curriculum covers the theory and the practical knowledge base required of a professional within financial services but also seeks to develop important problem-solving and decision-making skills relevant to any business professional. The course consists of a general business core and subjects across a broad range of financial services discipline areas leading to possible careers in corporate finance, banking, financial planning, superannuation, funds management and stockbroking.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements are VCE Units 3 and 4 -- a study score of at least 25 in English (ESL) or 20 in any other English. Applicants with comparable qualifications will be considered. A limited number of students may also be considered under Special Entry Schemes.
Course Requirements
- This degree is designed to be completed within three years of full-time study, although part-time study is possible. The maximum time allowed for a student to complete this degree is seven years.
- Students must complete the course set out below, comprising 360 credit points (24 subjects).
- At least 300 credit points (20 subjects) must be subjects offered by the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law.
- No more than 150 credit points (10 subjects) MAY be at first year level.
- At least 120 credit points (8 subjects) MUST be at third year level.
- A student may choose to complete a minor in addition to the major, in which case the minor must comprise four subjects additional to all other subjects completed within the degree, including at least one subject from each of second and third years.
- Students must complete all prerequisite subjects prior to enrolling in a core or elective subject.
Course Structure
From 2013, this degree will share a business foundation and first year framework with all other undergraduate degrees offered by the La Trobe Business School, which enhances the flexibility available to students. Students who commenced this degree prior to 2013, should refer to the edition of the on-line handbook relevant to the year of their commencement, or seek advice from student services.
The first year framework comprises four business foundation subjects, two discipline-specific subjects and two elective subjects.
The four business foundation subjects, Business Foundations, Accounting and Finance for Business, Business Economics, and Business Analytics, offer students a broad introduction into the key disciplines and work-ready skills of business.
The two discipline specific subjects, Marketing: Defined, Planned and Delivered, and Fundamentals of Finance, introduce students to the principles of finance and marketing.
The two elective subjects broaden the students’ learning experience by offering them the opportunity to study subjects chosen from across the faculty and the university.
Commencing with the two discipline-specific subjects in first year, students complete thirteen core subjects, which define the major.
The degree includes one finance elective, two second and third year faculty elective subjects, drawn from any discipline of the faculty, including economics, finance, law, management and marketing, and two elective subjects which may be drawn from any faculty of the university.
The degree is also designed to allow for an optional four-subject minor. For more information on majors and minors and the subjects on offer within them link to Business Minors.
Variations to this structure are subject to approval by a Faculty of Business, Economics and Law course adviser.
First year
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Academic Integrity Module (online) | MGT1AIM |
| TE-SEM-1 | Business Foundations | BUS1BUF |
| TE-SEM-1 | Accounting and Finance for Business | BUS1AFB |
| TE-SEM-1 | Marketing: Defined, Planned and Delivered | MKT1MDP |
| TE-SEM-1 | Either an FBEL or LTU free elective# | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Business Economics | BUS1BUE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Business Analytics | BUS1BUA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Fundamentals of Finance | FIN1FOF |
| TE-SEM-2 | Either an FBEL or LTU free elective# |
# Unless taking a sequence of two language subjects, students are limited to one LTU elective in first year.
Note: MGT1AIM is a not-for-credit subject which students are required to complete at the commencement of their first semester. The subject is designed to enhance the students' knowledge and awareness of issues concerning academic integrity.
Second year
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Financial Planning | FIN2FPL |
| TE-SEM-1 | Introduction to Quantitative Analysis | ECO2IQA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Principles of Economics* | ECO2PEC |
| TE-SEM-1 | FBEL level 2 elective | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Banking and Financial Institutions | FIN3BFI |
| TE-SEM-2 | Finance Law* | LST2FLA |
| TE-SEM-2 | FBEL level 2 elective | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Level 2 elective |
* If Schools of Economics and Law supply only one instance of these subjects per semester, students should choose the relevant subject for that semester.
Third year
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | International Financial Management | FIN3IFM |
| TE-SEM-1 | Financial Risk Management | FIN3FRM |
| TE-SEM-1 | Corporate Finance | FIN3CFI |
| TE-SEM-1 | FIN coded level 3 elective | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Investment and Portfolio Management | FIN3IFM |
| TE-SEM-2 | Retirement and Estate Planning | FIN3REP |
| TE-SEM-2 | Case Studies in Financial Planning | FIN3CFP |
| TE-SEM-2 | Level 3 elective |