2018 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) (Dean's Scholar) | 2018

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) (Dean's Scholar)

Abbreviation:

BMathFin(Hons)(Dean'sSchol)

UOW Course Code:

362

CRICOS Code:

085501J

Total Credit Points:

192

Duration:

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences

Intake Session(s):

Autumn

Delivery Mode:

On-campus (Face-to-face)

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / 756520

Overview 

Advanced skills in mathematics are essential to good decision making in the world of finance. Graduates of this course have the skills to apply sophisticated mathematical and statistical techniques to real world problems and are also encouraged to develop computing and communication skills, which are an asset in the employment market.

The degree allows students to specialise through one of five optional majors:

  • Financial Planning
  • Mathematical Economics
  • Quantitative Corporate Finance and Investments
  • Quantitative and Computational Trading
  • Risk Management and Insurance.

All graduates from this degree working in the finance industry qualify for Associate membership of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA).

Dean's Scholars degrees are highly recognisable, giving students the edge in competitive employment. The degree offers a challenging and enriched educational experience for high-achieving students who want to perform above the level normally expected. Students are also encouraged to continue their studies through the completion of Honours and research programs. 

Students complete the normal course requirements for the degree with the addition of an early research subject. Dean’s Scholars are also encouraged to contribute to the scholarly life of the Faculty through events in the Faculty's postgraduate program.

Places are limited each year. Current students who have achieved a weighted average mark (WAM) of 80 at the end of one year of full-time study in a relevant degree may apply to transfer to the Dean’s Scholar degree. 

Entry Requirements & Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to demonstrate:

CLO Description
1 Demonstrate advanced theoretical and technical knowledge in mathematics, statistics and finance.
2 Integrate knowledge derived from finance and mathematics.
3 Demonstrate advanced cognitive and technical skills in mathematics, statistics and finance to select and apply mathematical or statistical methods to analyse and generate solutions to complex problems in finance.
4 Transmit mathematical, statistical and financial knowledge, skills and ideas to others.
5 Apply mathematical and statistical knowledge to professional practice in finance.
6 Apply professional, social and ethical approaches in learning to demonstrate autonomy and well-developed judgement as a financial mathematician or statistician.
7 Plan and compose a research-based project or piece of scholarship that demonstrates understanding and critical analysis in financial mathematics or financial statistics.

Course Structure 

Course programs for the Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) (Dean's Scholar) degree consist of the current (non-Dean's Scholar) Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) program, with the following changes. 

  • Students may replace MATH407 with a 400 level subject from the List of Electives.

Continuation in the Dean's Scholar degree will normally be dependent on the student achieving a WAM of at least 80 in each year of study. Students who do not meet the required average will be transferred to the equivalent non-Dean's Scholars degree.

Students who enrol in Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) (Dean’s Scholar) are required to satisfactorily complete at least 192 credit points of subjects, consisting of:

  1. all compulsory subjects listed in the course structure table below,
  2. one of Dean’ Scholar core subjects, i.e. either MATH235 Mathematics Project A or STAT235 Statistics Project A.
  3. INFO401 Mathematics and Finance Honours Project (12 credit points); 
  4. at least 54 additional credit points of 300- and/or 400-level subjects; which must include:
    • 18 credit points of MATH/STAT/INFO* subjects,
    • 18 credit points of ACCY/FIN/ECON subjects,
    • 18 credit points of 400-level subjects, and
  5. at least one 400-level 6 credit point MATH, STAT or INFO* subject, other than MATH407.

*Refers to INFO subjects in the List of Electives.

In order to progress to the fourth Dean's Scholar version of the Honours program, students must attain an average of at least 65% in the first 144 credit points completed. Students who do not meet this requirement will be transferred to the Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) degree.

The classes of Honours awarded are defined in the General Course Rules Section 8. The Honours grade will be calculated in accordance with Method 2.

The following program of study is recommended to satisfy the requirements in minimum time. The subjects listed are compulsory unless otherwise stated.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
ACCY111 Accounting Fundamentals In Society 6 Autumn, Spring
ACCY112 Accounting In Organisations 6 Autumn, Spring, Summer 2017/2018
MATH187 Mathematics 1: Algebra and Differential Calculus 6 Autumn
MATH188 Mathematics 2: Series and Integral Calculus 6 Spring
MATH100 Introduction to Mathematics 6 Autumn
MATH123 Discrete Mathematics and Difference Equations 6 Spring
STAT101 Introduction to Statistics 6 Spring
CSIT111 Programming Fundamentals 6 Autumn, Spring
Year 2
FIN 222 Corporate Finance 6 Autumn, Spring
ECON100 Economic Essentials for Business 6 Autumn, Spring
MATH201 Multivariate and Vector Calculus 6 Autumn
MATH202 Differential Equations 2 6 Spring
FIN 223 Investment Analysis 6 Autumn, Spring
STAT231 Probability and Random Variables 6 Autumn
STAT232 Estimation and Hypothesis Testing 6 Spring
Plus ONE subject chosen from List of Electives
Year 3
FIN 322 Advanced Corporate Finance 6 Spring
FIN 323 Portfolio Analysis 6 Autumn
ECON331 Financial Economics 6 Spring
MATH203 Linear Algebra 6 Autumn
MATH317 Financial Calculus 6 Autumn
STAT332 Linear and Generalised Linear Models 6 Spring
Plus ONE subject chosen from List of Electives 6  
Plus ONE of the Dean's Scholar core subjects below
MATH235 Mathematics Project A 6 Autumn, Spring
STAT235 Statistics Project A 6 Spring
Year 4
MATH407 Research Methods 6 Autumn
INFO401 Mathematics and Finance Honours Project 12 Annual, Spring 2017/Autumn 2018
Plus subjects chosen from the List of Electives 30  
List of Electives
Any MATH, STAT, FIN or ECON subject plus the subjects below.
ACCY200 Financial Accounting IIA 6 Autumn, Spring
ACCY201 Financial Accounting IIB 6 Spring, Summer 2017/2018
ACCY228 Taxation for Financial Planners 6 Spring
CSIT113 Problem Solving 6 Autumn
CSIT121 Object Oriented Design and Programming 6 Autumn, Spring
CSCI251 Advanced Programming 6 Autumn, Spring
CSCI235 Database Systems 6 Autumn, Spring
ISIT301 Professional Practice & Ethics 6 Not offered in this year
INFO411 Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery 6 Autumn
INFO412 Mathematics for Cryptography 6 Autumn
CSIT115 Data Management and Security 6 Autumn
LAW 101 Law, Business and Society 6 Autumn
MARK101 Marketing Principles 6 Autumn, Spring, Summer 2018/2018
MGNT110 Introduction to Management 6 Autumn, Spring, Summer 2018/2018
MGNT208 Introduction to Management for Professionals A 6 Autumn

Majors

All Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) (Dean's Scholar) students wishing to qualify for one of the major studies must satisfy all the Course Rules specified above. To qualify for a major, additional requirements must be met, which are detailed below together with suggested programs of study. The possible majors are:

Please note that the Quantitative and Computational Trading major requires more than 192 credit points to complete this major. 

Professional Recognition/Accreditation

Completion of this degree provides 'points' towards membership of Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA). (Their membership system allocates points based on a person's qualifications and industry experience. See their website for more details).

The Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) (Dean's Scholar) major "Financial Planning" has been placed on the Australian Securities and Investment Commission's (ASIC) training register. This means that students completing this major will satisfy Tier 1 of ASIC's training requirements relevant to a range of advisory activities. Such accreditation is very important for those wishing to pursue quantitative careers in the financial services industry.

Students who complete the "Risk Management and Insurance" major and who wish to pursue a professional actuarial qualification are eligible for entry to the Master of Actuarial Studies (1.5 years) at the University of New South Wales (minimum credit average 65% grade), the Master of Actuarial Practice (1.5 years) at Macquarie University (minimum GPA of 3), and the Master of Actuarial Statistics (1 year) or Master of Actuarial Studies (2 year) programs at the Australian National University (minimum 65% grade in last two years of study). Students may also qualify for exemptions in these courses and should contact program directors about the level of professional qualification offered in each Masters degree.

Other Information

For further information email: eis@uow.edu.au or Academic Program Director

Last reviewed: 24 November, 2017