FINA 202Introduction to Investments
An introduction to the institutions, markets and instruments of the financial system, as well as the theory and practice of asset valuation and portfolio selection.
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Course details
- Dates
- 7 Jul 2025 to 9 Nov 2025
- Starts
- Trimester 2
- Fees
- NZ$962.40 for
- International fees
- NZ$4,427.55
- Lecture start times
- Tuesday 9.30am
- Friday 9.30am
- Campus
- Pipitea
- Estimated workload
- Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
- Points
- 15
Entry restrictions
Taught by
School of Economics and Finance—Wellington School of Business and Government
Course learning objectives
Students who pass this course should be able to:
Describe financial market microstructure and explain why relevant institutions exist.
Explain the logic of portfolio theory and the trade-off between risk and return.
Describe asset pricing models in the context of undiversified and fully diversified portfolios.
Demonstrate an understanding of the theories explaining valuation of derivaties.
How this course is taught
This course is optimised for face-to-face delivery on campus.Lectures can be accessed via synchronous (live-stream) Zoom or through Vstream. Midterm test and final exam will be in person.
Assessment
- Final exam (in person during assessment period (13 Oct to 9 Nov) Mark: 60%
- Tutorial exercises (electronically for Zoom tutorial, physically for in-person tutorial) Mark: 10%
- Mid term test (50 minutes, on 2 Sept during class time) Mark: 30%
Assessment dates and extensions
Once you've signed up to this course, you can use to see due dates for assessments and information about extensions.
Mandatory requirements
There are no mandatory requirements for this course.
Lecture times and rooms
What you’ll need to get
- Only silent non-programmable calculators or silent programmable calculators with their memories cleared are permitted in assessments. Your calculator should be capable of calculating a bond's yield to maturity.
- Non-electronic foreign language to English dictionaries are permitted in assessments.
Recommended texts
Recommended texts add to your understanding of the course.
Title: Investments
Edition: 13th Edition
Authors: Bodie, Z., Kane, M. and Marcus, A.J.
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Who to contact


Selected offering
FINA 202
7 Jul–9 Nov 2025
Trimester 2 · CRN 18177