PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

The programme a comprehensive foundation in finance and digital banking and equips students with relevant skills to excel in the banking and finance industry.

2. CAREER PROSPECTS

The Bachelor of Commerce Banking and Finance Honours degree provides employment opportunities in the following sectors, Banking Institutions, Finance Houses, Discount Houses, Asset Management Companies, Micro Finance Companies, Financial Analysis, Financial Advisory Services, Investment Management Companies, Credit Guarantee Companies, etc.

3. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Normal Entry

To qualify for normal entry into the Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Finance and Digital Banking programme, a candidate, in addition to satisfying the minimum requirements as prescribed under the General Regulations and the Faculty Regulations for English and Mathematics at Ordinary Level, should have “A” Level Mathematics or Economics and any other 2 commercially related subjects such as Accounting, Business Studies or Computer Science.

2.2 Mature Entry

Over and above the requirements stipulated in the General Regulations, students who get into the Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Finance and Digital Banking through mature entry should at least have a ‘B’ in Ordinary Level Mathematics.

2.3 Visiting School/Harare Weekend School Programme

To qualify for entry into the Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree in Finance and Digital Banking (Visiting School) programme, a candidate, in addition to satisfying the minimum conditions prescribed under the General Regulations must have

either:

A Higher National Diploma or National Diploma in Banking and Finance related field, Education, or any equivalent tertiary qualification

or:

At least two (2) passes in relevant “A” level subjects

and

Proof of employment in the relevant field.

Two (2) years of working experience.

3. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

The Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree in Finance and Digital Banking provides employment opportunities in the following institutions; Commercial Banks, Merchant Banks, Building Societies, Discount Houses, Finance Houses, Asset Management Companies, Stock Exchanges, Stock Broking Firms, Insurance Companies, Microfinance Institutions, Central Banks and Academic institutions. The programme hence enables careers in the above institutions as Executive Bank Managers, Retail Banking Managers, Treasury Managers, Treasury Dealers, Financial Advisors and Financial Analysts, Bank Examiners, Risk Managers, Personal Bankers, Customer Relationship Managers, Credit Analysts, Business Development Managers and Lecturers.  There is also a possibility for entrepreneurship in the form of micro-financing and financial consultancy.

5. ASSESSMENT

Refer to Section 6 of the General Regulations and Section 5 of the Faculty Regulations.

6. FAILURE TO SATISFY THE EXAMINERS

Refer to Section 9 of the General Regulations.

7. PROVISION FOR PROGRESSION

Refer to Section 6 of the Faculty Regulations

8. WORK RELATED LEARNING GENERAL GUIDELINES

Refer to Section 8 of the Faculty Regulations.

9. GRADING AND DEGREE CLASSIFICATION

Refer to Section 10 of the Faculty Regulations.

10. DEGREE WEIGHTING

Refer to Section 11 of the Faculty Regulations.

11. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Level 1 Semester 1

Code	Module Description	Prerequisite	Credits
EC131	Economics Principles 1		12
CS131	Basic Communication Skills		12
BM131	Principles of Management		12
HCS135	Introduction to Information Technology		12
FDB101	Money, Banking and Blockchain Technologies		12
FDB102	Financial Mathematics		12
ACC140	Accounting, Concepts, Principles and Procedures		12

Level 1 Semester 2

Code	Module Description	Prerequisite	Credits
FDB103	Financial Markets and Regulation		12
FDB104	Marketing of Financial Services		12
ACC143	Introduction to Applied Financial Reporting		12
FDB105	Foundations of Fintech		12
ACC144	Quantitative Analysis for Business		12
EC134	Economics Principles II		12

Level 2 Semester 1

Code	Module Description	Prerequisite	Credits
FDB203	Corporate Finance 1		12
ENT131	Entrepreneurship 1		12
GSB211	Gender Studies for Business		12
FDB201	Personal Financial Management		12
FDB202	Digital Banking and Financial Technology		12
ACC241	Applied Financial Reporting for Companies		12

Level 2 Semester 2

Code	Module Description	Prerequisite	Credits
FDB204	Corporate Finance II		12
FDB206	Programming in Finance and Banking		12
FDB209	Research Methods		12
ACC252	General and Distinctive Financial Reporting	ACC140, ACC143	12
FDB205	Banking Law and Practice		12
FDB207	Financial Econometrics and Data Analysis		12
FDB208	Foreign Exchange Markets and International Finance		12

Level 3 Semester 1 Work-Related Learning

Code	Module Description	Prerequisite	Credits
FDB340	Work-Related Learning Preliminary Report		40

Level 3 Semester 2 Work-Related Learning

Code	Module Description	Prerequisite	Credits
FDB341	Work-Related Learning Continuous Assessment		40
FDB342	Work-Related Learning Report		40

Level 4 Semester 1

Code	Module Description	Prerequisite	Credits
FDB401	Corporate Finance III	FDB203, FDB	12
FDB402	Treasury Management	FDB208	12
FDB403	Financial Risk Management		12
FDB404	Development Finance		12
FDB405	Financial Modelling		12

Level 4 Semester 2

Code	Module Description	Prerequisite	Credits
FDB408	Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management		12
FDB407	Bank Lending and Credit Risk Management		12
FDB406	Financial Engineering and Asset Pricing		12
FDB409	Dissertation/Research Project		12

12. MODULE SYNOPSES

FDB101 Money, Banking and Blockchain Technologies

The module deals with the role played by money and financial institutions within Zimbabwe. It serves as an introductory module to the broader field of banking and finance. It deals with practical aspects of the economy such as the role of money in economic activity, the role of the central banks, money supply and money demand, interest rates, monetary policy, exchange rates the issues relating to banking structures and systems, the Zimbabwean financial system and issues in the international banking business.

FDB102 Financial Mathematics

This module will examine theories and concepts of Financial Mathematics. The emphasis of this module will be placed on the computations of simple and compound interest, nominal and effective rates, future value, present value, discount factors, interpolation and extrapolation and cash flow analysis techniques, money market calculations, discount instruments, CDs and general pricing of assets. It also covers bond markets, equity markets, derivative markets, Macaulay duration and the Capital Asset Pricing model.

FDB103 Financial Markets & Regulation

The module covers the financial system framework, the role and uses of money markets, the stakeholders in money markets, money market securities and their derivative products. It also considers the nature and scope of capital markets as well as the role of the following capital market participants: Investors, depository institutions, non-depository institutions, investment banking firms, central banks, government and other stakeholders. The module further equips students to be conversant with the regulation of financial institutions and markets. Topics covered include elements of financial supervision, theories and structure of regulation banking risk, capital regulation, banking crises, lender of last resort and deposit insurance, banking and financial crises, insolvency and systemic risk, central banking, central banking law, the independence and accountability of central banks, institutional organization of supervision, regulation of securities markets; regulation of insurance companies, pension funds, mutual funds, hedge funds and alternative investment funds, regulation of derivatives markets, takeovers and mergers, international financial regulation and cross-border bank insolvency.

FDB104 Marketing of Financial Services

The module examines the need for marketing by Financial Institutions, and the formulation of marketing strategies that take into consideration the special circumstances and problems of financial services.  The module looks at Services Marketing in general and Financial Services Marketing in particular focusing on the uniqueness of financial services products and hence the need to have a special approach to their marketing.  It examines the marketing building blocks such as advertising, distribution, product development and pricing and how these are dealt with in the context of financial services marketing.

FDB105 Foundations of Fintech

The module focuses on fintech transformation and evolution as well as fintech typology. It looks at the collaboration between financial institutions and start-ups. The foundations of the fintech module also seek to explore the opportunities and challenges that emerging economies are likely to face. The module basically seeks to give an introduction and solid background on the programme.

ACC140 Accounting Concepts, Principles and Procedures

This module is intended to equip students with the necessary skills and should enable the student to apply the basic principles of accounting and keep proper records required to ascertain the financial results and financial position of sole proprietors and non-profit organizations, as well as prepare proper books for incomplete records.

ACC144 Quantitative Analysis for Business

The module introduces students to the mathematical tools relevant for application to the business environment. Students are expected to recognize the value of quantitative methods in analysing data and interpreting it in order to make relevant business decisions. The purpose of the module is to provide a comprehensive exposition of basic mathematical concepts that are used in the business world.  At the end of the module, learners will be in a position to apply mathematical tools to business decision-making processes.

ACC143 Introduction to Financial Reporting            

The module builds on the foundation laid in accounting concepts, principles and procedures. The module aims at developing a thorough understanding of the practical framework of Accounting and an ability to prepare, analyse and interpret financial statements. It covers the following areas of study: Accounting for limited companies, published accounts analysis and interpretation of final accounts, cash flow statements as well as the latest developments of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) applications in relationship to the areas covered.

FDB201 Personal Financial Management

This module empowers students with knowledge and skills pertaining to personal finance which consists of the following: financial planning, budgeting, managing personal finances, financial assets, protecting assets, retirement planning, investing and taxes. It also includes a range of retirement concepts, principles and theories.

FDB202 Digital Banking and Finance

This course is about digital economics and how the digital economy influences markets and society. It looks at how the internet, mobile communications, the sharing economy, social media and cryptocurrencies impact global businesses. It looks at basic theory in digital economics covering network effects, value creation models and market modelling. It also looks at how the digital economy influences privacy, regulations and strategy.

FDB203 Corporate Finance I

The module examines corporate decisions pertaining to the utilization of long-term financial resources for the benefit of the ultimate risk-takers. It specifically examines the concepts of the agency problem, inflation, risk, value additively, present value, internal rate of return, payback period, and accounting rate of return and relates them to the Corporate Capital Budgeting Process. It further examines the valuation techniques for various financial assets and develops the efficient market theory.

ACC241 Applied Financial Reporting for Companies

The module is intended to enable students to gain knowledge and insight into the drafting of financial statements of companies so as to comply with the requirements of the Companies Act Chapter 24:03 and International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRSs].  The module also introduces the student to different types of financial instruments and their characteristics.

FDB204 Corporate Finance II

This module, which builds on Corporate Finance A, further examines the Corporate Capital budgeting Process valuation in the presence of Leverage by looking at the Cost of Capital, Single Asset and Portfolio Evaluation, Dividend Policy, and Real Options. It also evaluates the Capital structure theories and working capital management issues.

FDB205 Banking Law and Practice

This module examines the law and practice relating to Banking in Zimbabwe and at the international level. It covers the history and development of the Zimbabwean banking system, the role of regulators, the relationships between banker and customer, accounts of customers, banking instruments, different types of banks, principles of lending, deposits, advance securities, exchange controls and bank supervision and control are covered in the module.

FDB206 Programming in Finance and Banking

This module concentrates on helping students to appreciate and use programming languages important in the banking and finance industry. It concentrates on the following languages: Python, Java, Scala, C++ and SQL

FDB207 Financial Econometrics and Data Analysis

This module aims to introduce students to the fundamental techniques used in the analysis of financial data and to provide the necessary econometric background to carry out empirical investigations. It covers the classical linear regression model, multiple regression models, econometric problems, time series analysis, distributed lag and autoregressive models, and interpretation and presentation of key econometric findings.

FDB208 Foreign Exchange Markets and International Finance

The module provides students with a forum for understanding the theoretical and practical issues in international finance foreign exchange markets. It specifically looks at foreign exchange quotations, foreign exchange transactions, foreign exchange regimes, foreign exchange forecasts, parity conditions in money and forex markets, forex foreign exchange risk management, arbitraging and speculating in the forex market and the role played by both the Central and other financial institution in the forex market as well as in import and export financing.

FDB209 Research Methods

This course covers how they are used to examining relating to their studies. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed measures are all differentiated in this course. Students will be practically exposed to the main components of a research framework, i.e., problem definition, research design, data collection, ethical issues in research, report writing, and presentation. Once equipped with this knowledge, participants would be well‐placed to conduct disciplined research under supervision in an area of their choosing.

ACC252 General and Distinctive Financial Reporting

The module is intended to equip the student with the knowledge and skills required to enable the student to prepare consolidated financial statements of a simple group of companies. By the end of the module, the student should also be able to analyse financial statements in a way useful for decision-making and be able to value financial instruments.

FDB301 Work-Related Learning Continuous Assessment

Approved industrial attachment of not less than eight (8) months and not more than twelve (12) months is aimed at providing third year students with a practical exposure to Banking and Finance Industry. The candidate is expected to rotate the various departments of the organization to which he/she will be attached to enable them to be exposed to all functions of that organisation. The candidate must be appraised by each departmental supervisor who assigns the student day to day duties and a percentage score should be given before leaving for the next department.

FDB302 Work-Related Learning Report

The module is a problem-based report developed by the candidate during internship. The thrust of the report is to relate theory covered in the university to practice. It follows a schematic report layout covering issues such as company background, departments attached, challenges encountered, new issues learnt, any gap between information covered in the University, review of related literature to issues covered, comparison of practical issues and reviewed literature, any gap and conclusions and recommendations to the company and the University. A guideline for the development of the report is issued to the candidates as a module outline.

FDB401 Corporate Finance III

The module endeavours to advance students’ knowledge of corporate finance. The following aspects will be covered: Equity valuation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, business and financial risks, private equity or venture capital, corporate financial distress or bankruptcies, structured finance and corporate financial strategies.

FDB402 Treasury Management

The module covers the treasury function with a particular focus on treasury strategies. These include money market; foreign exchange; capital market and derivatives trading strategies. Students are equipped with the pricing of securities in the various markets. In addition, the module aims to enable students to identify key customer relationships, internally and externally and develop strategies for improving them. Important aspects of liquidity management and operational risk are also presented. The module takes both strategic and perspectives of treasury management.

FDB403 Financial Risk Management

The module examines risks faced by the financial institution: market risk, operational risk, credit risk, and risks in the regulatory environment. Risk management frameworks, policies and implementation systems, in the financial and non-financial corporate sectors. Measuring financial risks and the implications of model risk for their measurement. Portfolio analysis, and the measurement of risks. Measuring risks in detail: market risk and the VaR and CFaR approaches. The management of risks: banks, non-bank financial institutions and non-financial corporations. It also includes infamous risk management disasters, options hedging strategies and interest rate option strategies as well as the future of risk management and the convergence of insurance risk management with financial risk management.

FDB404 Development Finance

The module’s main focal areas are on the international finance for development covering innovative approaches to enhance economic growth and development finance to contribute towards realizing global sustainable development goals. Development Finance from a ‘Financing for Development’ Perspective, domestic resource mobilization, debt relief, microfinance, financial sustainability, International Private Capital Flows, Remittances for Development for Development tax buoyancy, Foreign Direct Investment, foreign capital flows, and labour productivity, Microfinance roots, mechanisms, competition, legal, regulatory and governance issues, The Impact of Microfinance on Household Livelihoods, Debt Relief.

FDB405 Financial Modelling

This module equips students with skills to make projections of revenue and costs and on the basis of such projections, evaluate investment decisions. In a stock market analysis, financial modelling helps students to track the past performance of a company and project what the revenue, costs and profit of the company are likely to be and therefore if we should buy, sell or hold that share. The module concentrates on the following models; Discounted Valuation Model, Leveraged Buyout Model, Merger and Acquisition Model, Comparable Company Analysis and Credit Rating Model.

FDB406 Financial Engineering and Asset Pricing

Topics covered include major valuation techniques in a variety of contexts including arbitrage pricing, interest rate futures, forward rate agreements, swaps, equity options, fixed income and other exotic derivatives, and other fundamentals of financial innovation in quantitative finance.

FDB407 Bank Lending and Credit Risk Management

The module seeks to equip students with a thorough understanding of the principles of bank lending and credit risk management. To achieve this, the module covers lending policies used by banks and other financial institutions in the business of lending; credit risk analysis; credit execution and administration; loan syndication; securities in lending; loan pricing methodologies; credit review and finally how to deal with problems and non-performing loans.

FDB408 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

The module sets out to examine the design of investment policy statements, the creation of efficient portfolios guided by the modern portfolio theory and equilibrium capital market models such as the Capital Asset Pricing Model, the Single Index Model, Arbitrage Pricing Theory and other multifactor models; the Investment process, applying the fundamental and the technical techniques, Investment Management Strategies, distinguishing between Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA), Tactical Asset Allocation (TAA) and asset selection strategies. Investment performance measures for both broad portfolio and portfolio categories from both a theoretical and practical point of view will also be covered.

FDB409 Dissertation/Research Project

Students will be expected to complete a dissertation on a topic of their choice but limited to the taught modules. The dissertation is a consolidation of the theoretical knowledge gained in the taught modules and the practical experience gained from industrial attachment. This module aims to give students the opportunity to solve practical entrepreneurial problems through research. a research project of at least 10000 words on an approved banking and risk management-related topic is required. The dissertation will commence in 4th year’s first semester and the final document is expected to be submitted in final year second semester. The study must address contemporary/ topical issues in banking, finance and risk. The dissertation consists of 5 chapters and must meet the requirements set by the department.