Module manager: Dr Efthymia Symitsi
Email: E.Symitsi@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
| LUBS1035 | Foundations of Finance |
| LUBS2035 | Finance for Small Business |
| LUBS2206 | Corporate Financial Management |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Corporate Finance is an intermediate-level module designed to develop a a critical understanding of fundamental theories and concepts in corporate finance. It serves as a pre-requisite for more specialised finance topics and advanced financial market studies covered in Level 3 modules. The module bridges theoretical frameworks with real-world corporate practices, equipping students with the skills to confidently apply financial formulas and interpret numerical data in a corporate context.
The module aims to provide students with a strong foundation in the fundamental concepts and theoretical principles of corporate finance. It also seeks to develop their ability to apply this knowledge to explore emerging frontiers in the field. Additionally, the module fosters a practical understanding of how financial theory is utilized in business decision making and financial markets.
Upon completion of the module, students will be able to:
- Understand corporate governance as a mechanism for risk management, internal control, stakeholder accountability, and corporate responsibility, including environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations.
- Critically appraise the key theoretical concepts underpinning corporate debt, investment risk appraisal, and asset pricing, and apply them to evaluate investment opportunities and risk.
- Assess theoretical explanations of corporate dividend policy and compare them with actual business practices.
- Understand the relationship between asset pricing theories and the cost of capital, and their implications for corporate financial strategy.
- Estimate and interpret the value and strategic importance of mergers and acquisitions for corporate growth and restructuring.
- Evaluate investment projects and financial opportunities in an international context, considering currency risks, global markets, and regulatory environments.
- Research and critically assess contemporary theories and empirical evidence on corporate dividend policy identifying key debates and knowledge gaps.
- Recognise and explain the importance of ethics in financial decision-making, corporate social responsibility, and their implications for corporate governance.
Upon completion of the module students will be able to:
Transferable
- Independently extract, synthesise and effectively communicate complex and conflicting information
- Critically evaluate and appropriately reference academic and industry research sources
Subject Specific
- Apply financial theories and analytical tools to solve complex financial problems
- Identify and extract relevant information from both structured and unstructured data to inform financial decision-making
- Apply core mathematical and statistical techniques to analyse and address a wide range of financial challenges.
Indicative content
The syllabus covers fundamental concepts and theories underpinning modern corporate finance and indicative content includes: corporate governance, Portfolio theory and the Capital Asset pricing model, Efficient Market Hypothesis, corporate capital structure and the practicalities of debt and equity financing, advantages and limits on the use of corporate debt, capital budgeting, dividend policy, mergers and acquisitions, an introduction to international corporate finance, financial distress, and sustainable investing, corporate responsibility and ethics in finance decisions.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 17 | 0.5 | 8.5 |
| Lecture | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Lecture | 17 | 1.5 | 25.5 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Independent online learning hours | 20 | ||
| Private study hours | 133 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 47 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students are expected to engage in specified pre-reading and question preparation before attending classes based on the material introduced in lectures. This includes textbook reading and practicing with formative questions (online MCQ practice) designed to reinforce key concepts. Additionally, students are required to undertake further personal study on contemporary academic debates in finance.
Students will have multiple opportunities to monitor their progress and enhance their understanding. First, they can undertake weekly multi-choice question practice on Minerva, providing immediate feedback on responses. Second, fortnightly seminars, where students can engage in discussions and receive guidance on complex topics. Third, model answers for seminar and exam practice questions allow students to self-assess their performance. Fourth, formative feedback will also be provided through the form of an MCQ test to help students’ understanding of the concepts introduced in the first semester and identify gaps for further revisions and improvements. Finally, students can receive feedback during consultation hours and drop-in sessions.
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 3.0 Hrs 0 Mins | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 100 | |
The resit for this module will be 100% by 3 hour examination.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team