Corporate finance examines ways in which managers can maximise the wealth of the organisation’s shareholders through selecting appropriate sources of finance consistent with its desired capital structure, managing the funds so raised and investing these in appropriate value-adding investment opportunities.

The aim of this module is to give you a critical awareness of the factors which need to be considered while selecting a source of finance to satisfy the organisations operational and investment needs, managing cash flows in order maintain optimum liquidity, making capital budgeting decisions and investment decisions under uncertainty and determining the dividend policy consistent with the needs of its investors.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

• Critically analyse the capital structure of a company
• Critically evaluate the feasibility of different investment opportunities by applying investment appraisal techniques
• Critically assess how the dividend policy of an entity effects its shareholders wealth

As a result of a range of recent corporate scandals an increased emphasis has been put on corporate social responsibility and the need for the board of directors to confirm to an ethical code of conduct while managing the affairs of an entity. Corporate governance examines the system of rules, principles and procedures through which a company is run to promote the best interest of its shareholders, other stakeholders and the wider society.

The aim of this module is to give you a critical awareness of corporate governance and ethics, their relevance within modern organisations and the mechanisms which can be adopted to improve corporate governance.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the relevance of corporate ethics, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility within contemporary business organisations
• Critically evaluate the role played by the board of directors and other regulators in implementing checks to ensure ethical compliance by a business
• Critically evaluate how emerging trends within corporate governance can help safeguard investor rights
• Propose methods to resolve ethical dilemmas within an organisation

Independent study normally forms a significant part of a masters programme. This is a major piece of independently researched work, providing an opportunity to carry out an in-depth investigation of a management problem or issue that should normally have a strategic dimension which addresses organisational issues and provides a process for solving management problems.

Independent study will provide you with the opportunity to use and enhance the knowledge and intellectual skills gained during the course, by means of an extensive investigation of a significant management area. The module provides an opportunity for those studying any of the specialist programmes to explore an in depth topic relevant to that programme. It also provides the opportunity for you to reflect on the research experience and use what you have learned to guide your future development via a reflective statement and development plan.

As a result of developing and applying an analytical framework based on a specialist issue, you will be able to enhance your own competencies for undertaking future business, management and finance research or analysis. You will be better able to evaluate the research analysis carried out by others and better able to plan your own development.

Module learning outcomes

On completion of the module you will be able to:

• Act autonomously in designing a research project that critically evaluates a problem or issue to a professional standard. The topic should be relevant to the title of the programme and should meet the University’s ethical guidelines
• Act autonomously in critically investigating a discipline relevant issue, employing appropriate research methods to collect data, analyse, compare and draw conclusions, providing recommendations where appropriate. The topic will be relevant to the title of your programme and demonstrate the ability to connect the theory and practice
• Reflect on the process of undertaking a significant piece of independent research using the ideas and concepts from the course and plan your future development

This module aims to equip learners with an understanding of the processes and ways in which knowledge is developed, understood, and applied. As such the module initially focuses on the social and scientific construction of knowledge from an ontological and epistemological perspective. The module then focuses on methodological issues of a more applied nature in terms of different types of ‘research’, selection of research ‘problems’ and construction of aims, and fundamental methodological strategies such as qualitative versus quantitative data, deduction versus induction etc.

The evaluation of a range of research techniques and development of research skills in terms of data collection and analysis and the management of a planned project is the final element of the module.

Module Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the application of a given research methodology in a case study context
• Consider the ethical issues that researchers may face in an applied context