BSP3001 Strategic Management
General overview: This module explores frameworks to analyze business decisions and strategy formulation. Real life cases after cases are used to analyze companies who succeeded and failed under the lens of various frameworks. Students will be able to appreciate how strategy can be developed and how to evaluate business strategies.
Format: This module is graded through an individual strategy critique paper (30%), a group based video presentation (40%) and class participation (30%). The individual strategy critique paper requires individuals to research a particular framework, highlight its weaknesses and propose ways to improve on it, with a reference company as context. On the other hand, the video presentation is a group project where students identify a company of interest with a particular business decision to be made and apply all the concepts taught in class to evaluate and decide on the best course of action.
My opinion: It was a really enriching module that was engaging and fun to be in. The class is all about analyzing real-life company issues and discussing them in class so you have to read up before class or try your hand at smoking some concepts to participate in class discussion. I really liked how we get to witness the rigor behind a company decision-making process and try our hands at it through our group project. Most people take this class overseas, but it really is quite useful and insightful.
Difficulty: Medium
Grade obtained: A
FIN3118 Financial Risk Management
General overview: An extension from FIN3103, this module basically zooms in on the risk management aspect of a financial institution (or bank). You get an understanding of the various concepts and tools used by financial institutions to manage risk in the business. This includes key concepts such as value-at-risk, fund transfer pricing, risk-adjusted return on capital (RAROC), credit risk, market risk, operational risk, liquidity risk, collateralized debt obligations, credit score, regulatory reforms and more.
Format: Grading consists of 2 closed book term test (2x 30%) and one group project (term paper [30%] + presentation [10%])
My opinion: A good module if you are looking to learn about how financial institutions manage risk in the business. This is especially relevant post-2008, where regulatory concerns regarding risk management are at an all-time high. These concepts are the backbone upon which financial institutions base their risk management tools on. I found it slightly dry as I wasn't very interested in this area of finance but it could be useful to understand some of the concepts if you are heading towards the finance industry. Workload-wise, it is rather relaxing as you basically do nothing but study for two term tests and work on one project.
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Grade obtained: A-
FIN4112 Applied Portfolio Management Techniques
General overview: This class is extremely intense and super challenging. Probably the hardest finance module I have taken in NUS Business School but really insightful and comprehensive. The module is taught by a very talented Professor Richard Yeh, completely in excel. It serves as a deep-dive into the quantitative techniques available and how they can be applied in portfolio management in the investment management industry. It takes on a risk-management approach to building a fund and imparts robust techniques if you are interested in this industry. You would be learning many different advanced technical methodologies so a typical business student would tend to avoid this class. In fact, the class size was only 20ish after week 2 (10+ students drop the class after the first two lessons).
Format: There is a mid-term test (30%) completely in excel (you submit your answer as an excel macro workbook - yes you need some coding). In addition, there is a homework assignment after EVERY class (20% in total) based on what is taught in class. These homework assignments are also submitted in excel workbooks and give severe head trauma every week. At the end of the course, you will be grouped to complete a group project together (40%) where you have to pitch a fund to a table of professional investors. Finally, class participation (10%) is also included.
My opinion: If you have a heavy semester (like me), this is a big warning sign for you to reconsider. Unless you are really interested in learning and giving your 110%. I almost failed my midterms (I got 50/100) even though I consistently followed through each class and put in the effort. I really love the classes as it was imparting practical skills and techniques rather than learning concepts after concepts in a typical finance class. Finance, after all, is not a spectator sport. You will be expected to use value stocks and companies, and put them in a portfolio using risk management techniques. If you miss any class, you are basically screwed because EVERY class is important and useful. If you think you are smart, willing to work hard, and want to learn useful quantitative techniques, this is the module for you.
Difficulty: REALLY HARD
Grade obtained: B+
FIN4113 Personal Finance and Wealth Management
General overview: A super practical class on managing YOUR finances. You will learn the ins-and-outs of financial planning in the context of Singapore. This includes concepts such as income taxes, CPF, housing finance (HDB, EC, Private property), car financing, Insurance planning, available investment products options and strategies. If you think that most of the classes in school are not useful in your life after college, this is probably one of the best ones to take because IT IS RELEVANT.
Format: This module consists of a final test (30%), a group assignment (25%), a group project (30%) and 15% worth of class participation. The group assignment comprises of a series of questions (open ended and closed ended) in relation to concepts taught in class and requires an extension from what is taught in class (it is not just a simple homework assignment). Each group is also assigned a topic to research and present to the class on the last two weeks. You are allowed a cheat sheet for the final quiz.
My opinion: The class is very useful and relevant to every individual because we all have to manage our finances one way or another. It is not very difficult to follow classes and the concepts are engaging. Professor Zhang Wei Qi makes discussions really free and easy, and a joy to partake in. It felt more like a personal improvement workshop rather than a class to clear, which is how learning should be like.
Difficulty: Easy
Grade obtained: A+
Cheatsheet for finals
FiN4123 FinTech Management
General overview: If you are interested in current and upcoming technologies that are changing the face of finance, this is the class for you. Concepts that are covered are constantly changing each semester to keep with the times, so it would probably be different for you. Nonetheless, during this semester, we get introduced to concepts such as blockchain, encryption, distributed applications and smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, big data, AI and machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing (NLP) and more.
Format: This module consists of two closed book MCQ quizzes (30% each), one group project (30%) and class participation (10%). The group projects basically involve 1 presentation at the end of the semester where you have to work in a group to pitch an innovative business idea that incorporates current technologies that are changing the industry.
My opinion: Professor Aaron Low taught this class really well, and you get a comprehensive introduction to the current trends in the market. He is well positioned in the finance industry to keep a pulse on the latest happenings in the market and learning from him has been a privilege. Finance is changing drastically, and this class exposes students to what's out there. Moving away from traditional finance that could be possibly outdated, this class gives a taste of how technology and finance blend in an inspiring fashion.
Difficulty: Easy
Grade obtained: A-
General overview: An extension from FIN3103, this module basically zooms in on the risk management aspect of a financial institution (or bank). You get an understanding of the various concepts and tools used by financial institutions to manage risk in the business. This includes key concepts such as value-at-risk, fund transfer pricing, risk-adjusted return on capital (RAROC), credit risk, market risk, operational risk, liquidity risk, collateralized debt obligations, credit score, regulatory reforms and more.
Format: Grading consists of 2 closed book term test (2x 30%) and one group project (term paper [30%] + presentation [10%])
My opinion: A good module if you are looking to learn about how financial institutions manage risk in the business. This is especially relevant post-2008, where regulatory concerns regarding risk management are at an all-time high. These concepts are the backbone upon which financial institutions base their risk management tools on. I found it slightly dry as I wasn't very interested in this area of finance but it could be useful to understand some of the concepts if you are heading towards the finance industry. Workload-wise, it is rather relaxing as you basically do nothing but study for two term tests and work on one project.
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Grade obtained: A-
FIN4112 Applied Portfolio Management Techniques
General overview: This class is extremely intense and super challenging. Probably the hardest finance module I have taken in NUS Business School but really insightful and comprehensive. The module is taught by a very talented Professor Richard Yeh, completely in excel. It serves as a deep-dive into the quantitative techniques available and how they can be applied in portfolio management in the investment management industry. It takes on a risk-management approach to building a fund and imparts robust techniques if you are interested in this industry. You would be learning many different advanced technical methodologies so a typical business student would tend to avoid this class. In fact, the class size was only 20ish after week 2 (10+ students drop the class after the first two lessons).
Format: There is a mid-term test (30%) completely in excel (you submit your answer as an excel macro workbook - yes you need some coding). In addition, there is a homework assignment after EVERY class (20% in total) based on what is taught in class. These homework assignments are also submitted in excel workbooks and give severe head trauma every week. At the end of the course, you will be grouped to complete a group project together (40%) where you have to pitch a fund to a table of professional investors. Finally, class participation (10%) is also included.
My opinion: If you have a heavy semester (like me), this is a big warning sign for you to reconsider. Unless you are really interested in learning and giving your 110%. I almost failed my midterms (I got 50/100) even though I consistently followed through each class and put in the effort. I really love the classes as it was imparting practical skills and techniques rather than learning concepts after concepts in a typical finance class. Finance, after all, is not a spectator sport. You will be expected to use value stocks and companies, and put them in a portfolio using risk management techniques. If you miss any class, you are basically screwed because EVERY class is important and useful. If you think you are smart, willing to work hard, and want to learn useful quantitative techniques, this is the module for you.
Difficulty: REALLY HARD
Grade obtained: B+
FIN4113 Personal Finance and Wealth Management
General overview: A super practical class on managing YOUR finances. You will learn the ins-and-outs of financial planning in the context of Singapore. This includes concepts such as income taxes, CPF, housing finance (HDB, EC, Private property), car financing, Insurance planning, available investment products options and strategies. If you think that most of the classes in school are not useful in your life after college, this is probably one of the best ones to take because IT IS RELEVANT.
Format: This module consists of a final test (30%), a group assignment (25%), a group project (30%) and 15% worth of class participation. The group assignment comprises of a series of questions (open ended and closed ended) in relation to concepts taught in class and requires an extension from what is taught in class (it is not just a simple homework assignment). Each group is also assigned a topic to research and present to the class on the last two weeks. You are allowed a cheat sheet for the final quiz.
My opinion: The class is very useful and relevant to every individual because we all have to manage our finances one way or another. It is not very difficult to follow classes and the concepts are engaging. Professor Zhang Wei Qi makes discussions really free and easy, and a joy to partake in. It felt more like a personal improvement workshop rather than a class to clear, which is how learning should be like.
Difficulty: Easy
Grade obtained: A+
Cheatsheet for finals
FiN4123 FinTech Management
General overview: If you are interested in current and upcoming technologies that are changing the face of finance, this is the class for you. Concepts that are covered are constantly changing each semester to keep with the times, so it would probably be different for you. Nonetheless, during this semester, we get introduced to concepts such as blockchain, encryption, distributed applications and smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, big data, AI and machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing (NLP) and more.
Format: This module consists of two closed book MCQ quizzes (30% each), one group project (30%) and class participation (10%). The group projects basically involve 1 presentation at the end of the semester where you have to work in a group to pitch an innovative business idea that incorporates current technologies that are changing the industry.
My opinion: Professor Aaron Low taught this class really well, and you get a comprehensive introduction to the current trends in the market. He is well positioned in the finance industry to keep a pulse on the latest happenings in the market and learning from him has been a privilege. Finance is changing drastically, and this class exposes students to what's out there. Moving away from traditional finance that could be possibly outdated, this class gives a taste of how technology and finance blend in an inspiring fashion.
Difficulty: Easy
Grade obtained: A-
