IC104: Introductory Quantitative Techniques for Business and Finance

Module code: IC104

Module provider: ICMA Centre; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Nikolaos Antypas, email: n.antypas@icmacentre.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Mohd Pisal Zainal, email: m.p.zainal@henley.edu.my

Additional teaching staff 1: Ms Nur Amalina Borhan, email: n.borhan@henley.edu.my

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to a range of quantitative techniques that are commonly applied in business, finance and management. The module covers both introductory statistics and mathematical techniques that are necessary for a good understanding of financial theories and to be able to develop and understand the models used in business and finance both in academia and the industry.

The module lead at the University of Reading Malaysia is Mohd-Pisal Zainal and Nur Amalina Borhan.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

• Apply the key mathematical techniques that are routinely used in the academic literature in business and finance

• Select the best approach to summarising data and describing its main characteristics

• Use hypothesis testing to solve problems

• Use a spreadsheet to analyse data and to interpret the results from such analysis 

Module content

The module content covers algebra and statistics. In more detail, it covers functions including logarithms and exponentials, calculus, optimisation, elementary matrix algebra, summarising and describing data; probability theory and random variables; correlation; statistical distributions and hypothesis testing.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be primarily lecture based with directed textbook based supplementary reading. There will be a number of tutorial/seminar sessions – both classroom-based and computer lab-based – to aid students in developing more depth and in understanding the linkage between topics.

This module may be taught in a different Semester if you are studying at our campus in Malaysia.

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

In addition to the total 200 hours, students studying at the Malaysian campus will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of independent study totalling 240 hours of student learning time per semester per module in compliance with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA). The breakdown of study hours may differ at the Malaysian campus. For further details please refer to the module handbook.

Study hours

At least 28 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve a weighted average of at least 40% to successfully pass the module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs