Difficulty:

Year Completed: Semester 1, 2026

Prerequisite: N/A

Master Elective for B6060 (Bachelor of Actuarial Science / Master of Actuarial Studies)

SETU Survey Results (Satisfaction Levels)

Very High: 52.29%

High: 34.86%

Medium: 6.42%

Low: 6.42%

Subject Content:

Lecture(s) and Tutorial(s):

Textbook(s):

Assessments:

BFF5926 covered how money, banks, and financial markets work together; including interest rates, exchange rates, and how businesses raise finance.

1 x 2 hour lecture

1 x 2 hour tutorial

During tutorials we worked through the week's lecture content with worked examples and case-study style questions; a mix of applying financial maths/theory concepts (like yield curves, exchange rates) to practical scenarios, rather than pure lecture repetition.

Fundamentals of Financial Markets and Institutions in Australia (not required)

2 group case study assesments (40%), Mid sem test (20%), Final exam (40%)

General Overview:

Lectures:

Tutorials:

Assessments/Other Assessments

Exam

Concluding Remarks

Overall it was a solid, content-heavy unit that gives a good foundation in how financial markets and institutions operate. It's fairly technical and exam-focused, so it suits students who don't mind a content-heavy semester, but it wasn't the most engaging or hands-on subject.

The lectures were mostly theory and concept based, covering things like interest rate determination, exchange rates, and the role of financial institutions. They were recorded, so it was manageable to catch up if you missed one, though the material builds week on week so falling behind made it harder to follow later topics.

Tutorials worked through applied questions and case studies based on the week's lecture content. Attendance wasn't strictly compulsory, but they were useful for testing whether you actually understood the concepts, since a lot of the material only clicks once you work through practice questions.

Assessment included a group case-study assignment and an in-semester test, with the final exam carrying most of the weight. The assignments were reasonable practice for the exam style, but the exam ultimately tests a broader range of content than the assignments alone cover.

The exam covered content from across the whole semester rather than just the second half, so it's worth reviewing early topics (like the flow of funds and financial intermediation) as well as the later material on rates and currency. Calculator and double sided A4 sheet was allowed.

Keep on top of the weekly content rather than cramming, since the exam draws from the entire semester. Doing the tutorial questions properly (not just skimming through them) helps a lot with exam prep, and it's worth revisiting the early weeks on financial institutions and flow of funds since they're easy to forget by exam time.