NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

CENTER FOR ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS Independence – Freedom – Happiness

SYLLABUS

1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Title: BUSINESS FINANCE
Course number: Units: 03 credits
Pre-requisite: Theory of Money and Finance, Principles - Theoretical hours:
of Accounting - Practical hours:

2. LECTURER’S INFORMATION
Full name: Pham Van Tue Nha, MSc.
Address: 207 Giai Phong Street, Building A1 , Room 901 Phone number:
Email: vantuenha@gmail.com
Faculty/ Institute: School of banking & finance

3. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
This course provides fundamental knowledge of corporate finance. The course’s content includes
introduction to methods of raising capital for business enterprises, characteristics of capital sources
and capital management. In addition, the course also focuses on financial decisions made by firms
in dealing with short-term financial issues such as cash flow management, revenue, expenses and
profit management, earnings distribution. Besides, the effects of common taxes on financial
performance of firms are also briefly introduced. Furthermore, basic knowledge of financial
analysis to support decision-making of financial managers is mentioned as an additional part of the
course as well.
Main topics will be covered as follows:
1. Introduction to business finance
2. Financial statements, Taxes and Cash flows
3. Working with Financial Statements
4. Time value of money
5. Discounted cash flows
6. Bond valuation
7. Stock valuation
8. NPV & other investment criteria
9. Some lessons from Capital Market history
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4. LEARNING RESOURCES : COURSE BOOKS, REFERENCE BOOKS, AND
SOFTWARES
- Course book: Fundamentals of corporate finance The 10th Edition, standard edition,
by Stephen Ross; Randolph Westerfield Bradford; Jordan Gordon Roberts 

- Reference books:

 Richard A. Brealey, Stewart C. Myers and Alan J. Marcus (2011), Fundamentals of Corporate
Finance, 7th Edition, McGraw-Fill/Irwin Series in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

 Eugene F. Brigham, Joel F. Houston (2009), Fundamentals of Financial Management, 12th

Edition, South-Western Cengage Learning, ISBN 978-0-324-59770-7Stephen

- Other required materials and information:

a. NEU’s eBooks and documents at http://lic.neu.edu.vn:2048/menu: Emerald Insight, IG
Publishing eBook and ProQuest Central
b. NEU’s eBooks and documents at http://aep.neu.edu.vn:2048/menu

5. COURSE ASSESSMENT

Assessment Assessment Percentage

Description Time
methods indicators (%)

[1] [2] [3] [5] [6]

Class participation points will be
based on general class Attendance
attendance, contribution in class points
and compliance with the class
&
Class rules delineated below. Poor Week 1-
Times of 10%
Participation class attendance, little 13
contribution in class or non- answers and
compliance with class rules will questions in
result in a poor class class.
participation grade.
The tests will be based on
assigned readings, lectures, and Written exam
Mid-term homework problems. Calculator Week 6 & or multiple- 15%×2 =
Tests 1 & 2 may be used during 12 choice 30%
examinations. Cell phones are questions
prohibited during test time.
Group Class is grouped into groups of Week 10 Group 20%
Assignment 3-5 members. Groups are & 11 presentation
expected to prepare a report and and report

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 a presentation.
Final exam of 90 minutes.
Students have permission to take
Written exam
the final exam when they attend
University of multiple-
Final Exam at least 80% of the total classes 40%
schedule choice
and finish all midterm tests and
questions.
assignments on time. Make-up
exams will not be offered.

6. LESSON PLAN
(Any changes on the schedule WILL BE announced in class in advance)
Class Topics Learning and teaching activities
[1] [2] [4]
Textbook, chapter 1, page 2-25; Read
Introduction to Corporate Finance
Session 1 carefully the syllabus provided;
Assign members into groups;
Session 2 Financial statements
Working with Financial Textbook, Chapter 2,3, page 53-83.
Session 3
Statements
Time value of money &
Session 4,5 Textbook, chapter 5,6
Discounted cash flows
Bond Valuation and Stock
Session 6,7 Textbook, chapter 7,8
Valuation
Session 8 NPV & other investment criteria Textbook, chapter 9
Some lessons from capital market
Session 9 Textbook, chapter 12
history
Session 10 Review Questions

7. COURSE REQUIREMENT & EXPECTATION

Class Participation
Class participation accounts for 10% of the total grade and the points will be based on general class
attendance, contribution in class and compliance with the class rules delineated below. Poor class
attendance, little contribution in class or non-compliance with class rules will result in a poor class
participation grade.
Below are class rules:
1. Arrive on time and be seated and ready to begin when the class begins. If you do arrive late
for more than 30 minutes, you will not be counted for that class. Note that this class is
intended for registered students only.
2. Come prepared – read the readings assigned.
3. Turn off cell phones during classes.

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 4. Do not engage in individual discussions
5. No food in class time
6. Participate by contributing comments and questions during the discussions. The instructor
will call on students during the class if participants do not volunteer.
7. Use common courtesy and polite manners in class.
8. No tolerance for acts of academic dishonesty.
9. Any student who has more than three unexcused absences will be dropped from the course.
Checking for attendance will be conducted in class. If the student cannot attend the
lecture(s) due to unavoidable reasons, the student is required to report the reasons to the
lecturer before class time. Only objective reasons such as business trip, health issues or
serious incidents of family can be accepted, and the student must provide evidence for that
(for example: serious personal illness should be confirmed in document by hospital or
health center). In such case, the student’s score of attendance will not be deducted, however
the student will still be reported as having one (excused) absence. If the student does not
report any acceptable reasons for their absence, the student’s score of attendance will be
deducted for each unexcused absence.

Mid-term tests and final exam

Each mid-term test accounts for 15% of the total grade (thus both tests account for 30%). Both mid-
term tests will be conducted in written form in class. The planned date of each test is mentioned in
the course outline. In case the student cannot show up on the planned date of the test(s) due to
unavoidable reasons, the student must report the reasons to the instructor before such date with
valid evidence. The policy for make-up test of the course follows the guidelines of the program.
The final exam accounts for 40% of the total grade. Time allowed for the final exam is 90 minutes.
Students have permission to take the final exam when they attend at least 80% of the total classes
and complete 2 mid-term exams. Make-up chance for the final exam will not be offered.
The following rules apply to mid-term tests and final exam:
1. Make a notation of the exam dates.
2. Final Exam is an open-book exam, so students can use notes, books or other paper
materials. However, no technology will be allowed during the exam. You must turn off all
cell phones or any other personal technology.
3. If you do not bring an ID to the exam, you will receive a 0 for the exam.
4. No food or drinks will be allowed during an exam.
5. When time is called, stop writing.
6. Please make sure you do not engage in any behavior that may appear to be cheating.

Group Assignment
Group assignment accounts for 20% of the total grade. The class will be divided into groups of 3-5
members. Groups are expected to do a report and a presentation on a given topic. Detailed
instructions on the content and format of the presentation and report will be provided to the student
by the instructor.
The report needs to be submitted through Turnitin no later than 1 week after the presentation. Late
submission will be penalized 50% per calendar day (not merely per class period) beginning with

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the due date. No extensions, no exceptions. It is your responsibility to know the due dates and to
plan accordingly.

Communication:
Studies show that students who engage in one-on-one discussions with the instructor about the
course receive better grades. I, therefore, encourage your discussion with me. You can
communicate during office hours, email or in class discussions. You also are welcome to make
separate appointments. I will be available before and after class, but only for short questions. I also
encourage feedback on the classes, lectures, teaching and reading material. We enhance the class
every semester and your thoughts are valuable in the process.

Intellectual Property:
All materials presented in class lectures including PowerPoint presentations and those materials
given are intellectual property of the instructor unless otherwise copyrighted. Any reproduction or
publication of this material without prior written permission is strictly forbidden.