Corporate finance
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Middle and senior managers meet a multiplicity of financial problems in their organisations. This course will help you develop your knowledge of this area. It introduces finance problems that organisations face at board level, and equips you with the fundamentals of corporate financial theory enabling you to challenge finance experts. You will learn how to tackle the main financial problems you are likely to encounter, in particular, how best to finance a company, what dividend policy to choose, how to appraise both public and private sector projects, and how to value a company for takeover or flotation.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Business and Management.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | B831 |
| Credits | 0 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
The course starts with an introduction to corporate finance and culminates by relating finance to the other activities of an organisation. The topics covered are the relationship between finance and accounting, corporate governance, the time value of money, finance tools, project appraisal and company appraisal.
By the end of the course you should:
- appreciate the financial strategy issues that affect organisations
- understand the relevance of finance and accounting both within the organisation and to stakeholders
- be aware of the financing choices available to organisations, and how financial structure should be determined
- be able to make investment decisions, both for projects and for companies.
Most finance courses in business schools treat accounting and finance as separate topics, failing to exploit the relationships that the two have in practice. For example, managers might be judged on their ability to achieve the financial objective of maximising shareholder value through internal accounting performance measures. This course explains how accounting and finance interact, as well as giving you the key techniques applicable to financial analysis. Another difference between this module and more conventional courses is that it considers both public and private sector finance issues. The boundary between public sector and private sector is, in any case, increasingly blurred as public sector organisations are forced to compete in the private sector or are privatised, while private sector organisations are made to be accountable to society as a whole, not just to shareholders.
Many managers are apprehensive at the thought of taking a finance course because they expect it to be dull and difficult. This course is neither. It includes case studies and examples that show how relevant finance is to all aspects of management. It also uses multimedia to get the concepts of financial theory across. From video, podcasts, spreadsheets, and related readings you will have substantial support in learning the key concepts of finance. Online discussion forums and a course website are also included. By the end of the course you should have no difficulty with financial jargon and you will be more than able to hold your own in the world of finance.
Vocational relevance
This course will help you develop the knowledge needed to tackle the main financial issues that you are likely to encounter in your organisation.
Residential school
You will cover elements of this module at a five-day residential school that takes place towards the latter part of your study of The dynamics of strategy (B835), and which puts these modules into a real-life context. Satisfactory participation in either this compulsory five-day residential school or in the 21-day online equivalent is required. The school is an opportunity to meet other managers and tutors and to work in small groups on strategic management and corporate finance issues.
Both versions of the residential school (face-to-face and online) have been devised to deliver the same essential learning outcomes. Feedback from previous MBA students suggests that those who have attended the face-to-face school have particularly valued the face-to-face contact and the networking opportunities available. The cost of the residential school (excluding travel) is included in the module fee. See our Residential Schools website for more information.
Entry
This course is a compulsory module in stage 2 of the MBA (F61) and will be one of the first stage 2 modules that you study. Please see MBA (F61) for full details of the entry requirements for this qualification.
The course requires 150 hours of study over six months. It is designed to be studied alongside the twelve month course The dynamics of strategy (B835). (You can study this course before the strategy course if you wish to study at a slower pace i.e. 6-8 hours per week rather than 12-16 hours.)
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
B831 is a compulsory module in our:
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publications Meeting Your Needs and Meeting your residential school needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Study text and online materials, including B831 website, study guide and online discussion forums.
You will need
There are activities that require Microsoft Excel.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
You will need a headset, with a microphone and earphones, to talk to your tutor and other students online during some of the course activities.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your assignments and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. You can contact your tutor by telephone, email or via your tutor group forum on the B831 website.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details can be found in the facts box above. You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).
After you have successfully completed both this module and The dynamics of strategy (B835) you will have gained 450 study hours. You then complete this part of the MBA by taking a three-hour examination covering both these modules. This exam takes place at the end of B835. On passing this examination you will gain 45 credits.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and November 2012. We expect it to be available twice a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Business and Management.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | B831 |
| Credits | 0 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credits
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
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Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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