MBA Online

Master of Finance Information Session
14th Jan., 2008 / 1st Feb., 2008

Program Mission

The HKU Master of Finance (MFin) Program is an interdisciplinary program aiming to provide motivated individuals with not only cutting-edge training in financial theory, but also the necessary mathematical, statistical and computer training, allowing them to apply the knowledge in a multitude of financial disciplines: pricing derivative instruments and securities, modelling and forecasting financial markets, hedging and financial risk management, credit risk management, insurance and reinsurance, quantitative trading and arbitrage training, asset allocation and investment management, and asset/liability management.

Successful graduates will enjoy a competitive advantage in a wide range of career opportunities in commercial and investment banks, brokerage and investment firms, insurance companies, treasury departments of non-financial corporations, regulatory agencies, and also consulting and accounting firms.

Program Overview

The MFin Program offered by the Faculty of Business & Economics represents an optimal mix of fundamental and cutting-edge knowledge in all areas of modern finance. The program includes four basic courses in Financial Analysis that are based on the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) curriculum, specifically designed to broaden the candidates’ knowledge of Quantitative Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Economics and Fundamentals of Asset Valuation, such as investment valuation and portfolio management. These four courses, which will allow students to gain a solid knowledge base to prepare for all levels of the CFA examination, make up the Fundamental Core Module.

After successful completion of the Fundamental Core Module, students will continue their studies in either the Risk Management Stream, or the Financial Engineering Stream. The Risk Management Stream has a core module of five courses, and the Financial Engineering Stream has a core module of six courses. Students will then take elective courses to make up a total of twelve courses in order to graduate.

Program Details

The Program offers two streams: 1) Financial Engineering, and 2) Risk Management. Students may concentrate in either one of the two areas according to their interests and career aspirations. Students can be awarded the degree with a Double Major in Financial Engineering and Risk Management provided that they have successfully completed the core courses in both areas plus 3 other electives.

The faculty of Master of Finance comes from a variety of educational backgrounds: finance, economics, statistics, mathematics, law, accounting, computer sciences as well as other quantitative disciplines. Successful graduates will enjoy a competitive advantage in a wide range of career opportunities in commercial and investment banks, brokerage and investment firms, insurance companies, treasury departments of non-financial corporations, regulatory agencies, and also consulting and accounting firms.

Who Should Apply

This Program is designed for professionals who have a keen interest in finance, preferably for those who have working experience in financial institutions, banks, or government regulatory bodies.

Admissions

- Requirements
Full-time Programme: HKU MBA in partnerships with London Business School and Columbia Business School/ HKU MBA in China business concentration:

1. Recognised undergraduate degree
2. Satisfactory GMAT score
3. Minimum TOEFL 550 (paper based)/ 213 (computer based)/ 80 (Internet based) or IELTS band 6.0, with no subtest lower than 5.5
4. Around three years of full-time work experience (as at July 2009)

Part-time Programme:

1. Recognised undergraduate degree
2. Satisfactory GMAT score
3. Minimum TOEFL 550 (paper based)/ 213 (computer based)/ 80 (Internet based) or IELTS band 6.0, with no subtest lower than 5.5
4. Around three years of full-time work experience (as at September 2009)

4 Success Skills Courses:

1. Business Communications (half course)
2. Business Law and Ethics (full course)
3. Creativity and Business Innovation (full course)
4. Leadership (half course)

9 Core Knowledge Courses:

1. Accounting for Business Decisions
2. Managerial Economics
3. Decision and Risk Analysis
4. Corporate Finance
5. Organisational Behaviour
6. Strategic Marketing Management
7. Strategic Information Systems
8. Competitive Strategy
9. Global Economy

Any 6 electives

Apart from those listed on our MBA website under ‘courses offered’ the following are the new electives to be offered in 2008/09:

‧ China Business Environment
‧ Doing Business in China
‧ Investment
‧ Multinational Corporations
‧ Strategies in Uncertainty and Change Management in China

Total no. of courses: 18 full courses

Course Exemption and Advanced Standing

‘Exemption and advanced standing of up to four courses may be granted if a candidate can produce evidence, such as transcript and course syllabus, that a course is equivalent in content to another course elsewhere for which a satisfactory grade has been obtained or is holding relevant professional qualifications. Unless explicit approval is given, no credits will be given for the exempted courses or advanced standing granted. Candidates will be required to take alternative courses in lieu of the exempted courses. Please contact the MBA Programme Management Office for details upon application.’

Introduction
The part-time MBA at HKU is designed to help you comprehend, come to grips with, manage and capitalise on the region’s dynamic and fast-evolving business environment. As the Asian economy continues to grow, it is vital that business leaders from the region are exposed to cutting-edge business education which is tailor-made for achieving success in the dynamic Asian arena.

The HKU MBA adopts an experiential-learning approach, with a strong focus on China and Asia. You will learn how to apply business principles and models to real-world business problems in China and the region. All the courses are taught using context-rich business scenarios and cases based on actual experiences at well-known Asian and global companies.

Five essential themes critical to the success of multinational and regional firms in Asia today are featured in our courses:

1. China and the Global Economy
2. Entrepreneurship and Innovation
3. Finance
4. Services and Marketing Management
5. Technology and Operations Management.

These five themes identify the various challenges faced by firms in Asia as they build their sustainable corporate advantage. We believe that by acquiring up-to-date knowledge, analytical tools and management skills related to these themes, MBA students would be well prepared for their careers as senior executives in Asia.

Weekday and Weekend Modes

HKU MBA is now offered both in weekday and weekend modes. Students may choose the most suitable study mode depending upon their work commitments. Upon approval, a certain degree of flexibility between weekday and weekend mode courses may be allowed. Weekday or weekend mode applies to core courses only, while electives are offered from a common pool which consists of weekday and weekend mode courses.

Weekday Mode

Students study at the heart of the city in our Town Centre located in Admiralty. Classes meet twice a week on weekday evenings. Evening classes will be held from 6:30pm to 9:45pm.

Weekend Mode

Classes will be held on Saturdays at our Town Centre located in Admiralty, HKU main campus in Pokfulam or our new centre located at Cyberport. As classes will be conducted only once a week on Saturday, students will be expected to dedicate the entire day from 10am to 7pm.

4 Success Skills Courses:
Business Communications (half course)
Business Law and Ethics (full course)
Creativity and Business Innovation (full course)
Leadership (half course)

9 Core Knowledge Courses:
Accounting for Business Decisions
Managerial Economics
Decision and Risk Analysis
Corporate Finance
Organisational Behaviour
Strategic Marketing Management
Strategic Information Systems
Competitive Strategy
Global Economy

Electives :

Any six electives under the following five categories, with two electives to be taken at HKU and four electives at CBS/ LBS (Students in the China Focus Stream will take all six electives in Hong Kong and/ or Shanghai):
China and the Global Economy
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Finance
Services and Marketing Management
Technology and Operations Management

Apart from those listed on our MBA website under ‘courses offered’, the following courses are new electives to be offered in 2008/09:
China Business Environment
Doing Business in China
Investment
Multinational Corporations
Strategies in Uncertainty and Change Management in China

1 Capstone Project

Throughout their course of studies in the China concentration, our full-time MBA students are required to form teams and solicit short-term ‘capstone’ projects with business organisations and enterprises in Hong Kong, China, and even throughout the region. Under the supervision and with the advice of the Faculty, students can integrate theories and technical knowledge gained in the classroom with their practical applications in real-world business environments. The capstone project is expected to begin in spring every year and will be completed by August as a graduation requirement. In previous years, HKU MBA students have successfully completed projects with Nike, Financial Times, Mercedes Benz, Samsung, Maxim’s Group, etc.

Total no. of courses: 18 full courses

Course Exemption and Advanced Standing

‘Exemption and advanced standing of up to four courses may be granted if a candidate can produce evidence, such as transcript and course syllabus, that a course is equivalent in content to another course elsewhere for which a satisfactory grade has been obtained or is holding relevant professional qualifications. Unless explicit approval is given, no credits will be given for the exempted courses or advanced standing granted. Candidates will be required to take alternative courses in lieu of the exempted courses. Please contact the MBA Programme Management Office for details upon application.’

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Full-time MBA
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and its unique MBA Programme is a major participant in, and contributor to, the business culture of Hong Kong and Mainland China.
MBA students today demand an approach that can set them up for success both regionally and across a wider world; a learning experience that bestows upon them a first-class education, real-world experience, and a deep understanding of international business, and cultural differences and nuances. Our MBA Programme is specifically designed to produce those outcomes. The Asia-Pacific and China focus gives our students a unique advantage to build their career in the region and beyond.

Learn business where the business is
Mainland Chinese come to HKU to look at their country from the outside, and to learn the business methodologies of the West; while overseas students get to experience China and Asia firsthand. Both are able to relate their knowledge to a global playing field.

Diversity is key
Our location in a city with such a rich business and entrepreneurial heritage is an immense advantage for students.

Not surprisingly, Hong Kong has become a magnet for MBA students from all over the world. A significant percentage of our student body is from overseas and the PRC, which, combined with local students, produces an exciting and stimulating mix of backgrounds. Our professors are all distinguished in their fields and come from different countries, creating a truly international experience.

Partnerships
The unique partnerships with world-renowned business schools such as London Business School and Columbia Business School offer our students unmatched opportunities in terms of educational experience and networking. Our existing partnership with Fudan University in China further complements the overall experience.

Managerial Negotiations
When managing human resources in an organisation, many outcomes and decisions are determined by the process of negotiation. This course uses actual negotiating experiences to enhance your skills as a negotiator. Concepts developed in the behavioural sciences, economics and game theory are used as guides to improve your negotiating.

Capital Markets and Investments
This course introduces market and portfolio perspectives, starting with the discounted cash flow methodology and continuing to the concept of term structure in the valuation of risk-free cash flows, including forward rates and the general problem of valuing risky or uncertain cash flows. You will then look at the classical theoretical problems of portfolio diversification, the efficient frontier and two-fund separation.

Decision Models
This half course introduces computer-based models and their use in structuring information and supporting managerial decisions. You examine linear programming, multi-period planning models under uncertainty, non-linear programmes and Monte Carlo simulations.

Operations Management
This course provides a fundamental understanding of manufacturing and service operations and their role in the organisation. You look at topics including process flow analysis, inventory management, capacity planning, facilities location, total quality management, human resource management, technology management, and manufacturing and service strategy.