FINANCE FOR BUSINESS 2 - 2025/6

Module code: MAN3171

Module Overview

One of the most important decisions in the life of a firm is the financing decision. This module builds on the concepts introduced in Finance for Business 1 (FHEQ Level 5) and focuses on the cost of capital and long-term financial policy of the firm. Additionally, the module discusses a range of important topics in corporate finance such as Mergers and Acquisitions.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

DIAS Fabio (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 120

Seminar Hours: 20

Captured Content: 10

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

MAN2165 - Business for Finance 1

Module content

Return, Risk and the Security Market Line
Cost of Capital - determining a firm’s cost of equity and cost of debt and weighted average cost of capital. Impact of cost of capital on investments
Financial Leverage and Capital Structure Policy - the effect of financial leverage. The impact of taxes and bankruptcy on capital structure choice
Company Valuation

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Online Scheduled Summative Class Test Online Mid-Term Test 30
Examination Online Online Open-Book Exam within 4H Period 70

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate a number of learning outcomes that are directly related to the topics delivered in various weeks. The assessments are designed to capture learning in all the topics and the summative assessment for this module consists of two parts: the Midterm test (30%) and the Closed-book exam (70%). Both types of examination are designed to assess the student’s ability to comprehend and critically discuss the relevant theoretical concepts. The midterm test will assess students on the theories and practical aspects of the first part of the course and will consist of short questions. The final exam consists of long questions where students have to answer theoretical questions and solve practical problems. This will assess the students in various theoretical and practical competencies in corporate finance.

Formative assessment and feedback

Tutorials provide a platform of frequent feedback in the topics covered preparing, thus, the student for his/her success in the Midterm test and final examination. Additionally, the module offers a platform for students to give and receive feedback via SurreyLearn. Finally, weekly office hours aim to provide additional feedback and assist students with the workload.

Module aims

  • Apply and expand on the knowledge from Finance for Business 1 by providing further knowledge of Corporate Finance topics covering their theoretical concepts as well as their practical aspects.
  • Provide a clear understanding of the various aspects of risk/return and costs which are inherent in every financing decision and how these attributes affect the capital structure choice.
  • Equip students with techniques for company valuation, provide them with knowledge of corporate restructuring, and enable them to use their understanding and insight gained throughout this module to make/evaluate capital investment and sourcing capital decisions.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Undertake effective investment appraisal by calculating the appropriate discount rate for investments while understanding the various aspect of risk and return. KCPT
002 Identify the most important elements of the firm's costs and how to correctly include flotation costs in capital budgeting projects. KCPT
003 Explain and critically analyse how firms finance their operations, how securities are sold to the public, what are rights issues and how they are being valued. KCPT
004 Evaluate capital structure decisions and the implications on firm value. KCPT
005 Perform valuation of companies based on different methods and develop an understanding of corporate restructuring. KCPT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to allow students to familiarise themselves with an essential mix of theory and practice of various aspects in corporate finance.


Weekly one two-hour lecture introducing the topic of discussion
Weekly tutorial sessions for solving problems and understanding the underlying theory introduced in lectures. Tutorials are an integral part of the module as they provide a critical review and an empirical assessment of each topic
Lectures and tutorials will be supported by directed reading in selected textbooks and relevant journal articles
SurreyLearn is used as the main pool of resources including lecture handouts, tutorial problems, and mock test/exams.
Feedback will be provided on a regular basis during lectures and tutorials as well as during weekly office hours


The learning and teaching methods include:

Total student learning time 150 hours.


Lectures =22 hours
Tutorials =11 hours
Out of class lecture reading =60 hours
Out of class tutorial reading =30 hours
Out of class academic journal reading =13 hours
Out of class relevant magazine/newspapers reading=14 hours

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN3171

Other information

N/A

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.