# Principles of Finance (N1560)

**Source**: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/modules/undergraduate/2026/86399-principles-of-finance
**Parent**: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/banking-and-digital-finance-bsc-hons

**15 credits, Level 4**

**Autumn teaching**

You are introduced to financial markets, instruments and concepts. 

You are given an overview of the roles of different financial institutions, and the products they most commonly provide and trade.

During the module you discuss historical events in the financial markets and how this illustrates their importance in the wider economy. \
\
You focus on finance concepts related to equity and bond markets, beginning with:

- interest rates
- returns
- time value of money
- discounting
- present value.

Other topics include:

- LIBID and LIBOR
- cost of capital
- bid ask spreads
- no-arbitrage relationships, for example between stocks and futures or forwards.

You are also given an insight into the idea of hedging with derivative products.

### Teaching

67%: **Lecture**\
 33%: **Seminar**\

### Assessment

25%: **Coursework** (Test)\
 75%: **Examination** (Computer-based examination)\

### Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 117 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these
modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to
our curriculum.

**We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.**

### Courses

This module is offered on the following courses:

- [Accounting and Finance (with a professional placement year) BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/accounting-and-finance-with-a-professional-placement-year-bsc-hons)
- [Accounting and Finance BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/accounting-and-finance-bsc-hons)
- [Banking and Digital Finance (with a professional placement year) BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/banking-and-digital-finance-with-a-professional-placement-year-bsc-hons)
- [Banking and Digital Finance BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/banking-and-digital-finance-bsc-hons)
- [Economics (with a professional placement year) BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/economics-with-a-professional-placement-year-bsc-hons)
- [Economics BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/economics-bsc-hons)
- [Economics and Finance (with a professional placement year) BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/economics-and-finance-with-a-professional-placement-year-bsc-hons)
- [Economics and Finance BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/economics-and-finance-bsc-hons)
- [Finance and Business (with a professional placement year) BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/finance-and-business-with-a-professional-placement-year-bsc-hons)
- [Finance and Business BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/finance-and-business-bsc-hons)
- [Finance and Technology (FinTech) (with a professional placement year) BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/finance-and-technology-fintech-with-a-professional-placement-year-bsc-hons)
- [Finance and Technology (FinTech) BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/finance-and-technology-fintech-bsc-hons)
- [Mathematics with Finance BSc](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/mathematics-with-finance-bsc-hons)
- [Mathematics with Finance MMath](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/mathematics-with-finance-mmath)