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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Economics : Economics

Undergraduate Course: Introductory Financial Economics (ECNM08019)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Economics CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryFinancial markets have an important role in the allocation of resources in market economies. This course provides an introduction to how economists analyse behaviour in financial markets. A background in mathematics beyond GCSE level is recommended. Students with a weaker maths background will need to be prepared to work at developing their maths skills.
Course description Introductory Financial Economics aims to provide an understanding of the role of financial markets, the behaviour of asset prices and the economic causes and consequences of financial market imperfections. This is achieved through application of economic theory and examination of empirical evidence.

Topics covered include: the present value model and excess volatility; the term structure of interest rates; arbitrage conditions in foreign exchange markets; consumption, portfolio choice and the equity premium.

The course is taught through a programme of lectures and tutorials. Learning-by-doing, through problem solving and discussion of exercise sets, is an important ingredient of the course.
A background in mathematics beyond GCSE level is recommended. Students with a weaker maths background will need to be prepared to work at developing their maths skills.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  260
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 171 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 75 %, Coursework 25 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Tutorial Attendance and Participation: 5%
Mid-course Test: 20%
Degree Examination: 75%

Resit Exam (August Diet): 100%

Final mark for Visiting Students as above.
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. A knowledge and understanding of introductory financial economics, models and associated mathematical and statistical techniques, along with applications and policy implications of those models.
  2. Research and investigative skills such as problem framing and solving and the ability to assemble and evaluate complex evidence and arguments.
  3. Communication skills in order to critique, create and communicate understanding and to collaborate with and relate to others.
  4. Personal effectiveness through task-management, time-management, teamwork and group interaction, dealing with uncertainty and adapting to new situations, personal and intellectual autonomy through independent learning.
  5. Practical/technical skills such as, modelling skills (abstraction, logic, succinctness), qualitative and quantitative analysis and general IT literacy.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Keywordsfinancial markets,market economies,asset prices,economic theory
Contacts
Course organiserProf Andy Snell
Tel: (0131 6)50 3848
Email: a.j.snell@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Jiawen Chen
Tel:
Email: rico.chen@ed.ac.uk
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