UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

COMMERCE FACULTY
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND TAX

PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (FTX2000S)

COURSE OUTLINE – 2019

CONTENTS
Page
1. Course overview 2
2. Tutorial information 5
3. Lecture programme 8
4. Attachments 10
4.1 Test and examination rules 10
4.2 Project plagiarism declaration VULA

Every student registered for the course is required to carefully

read (and be conversant with) the contents of this document.
1. COURSE OVERVIEW
1.1 AIM OF THE COURSE

Personal Financial Management (FTX2000S) introduces students to the fundamental principles at the
individual level and intends to equip them with the necessary tools to ensure that they are able to manage
their personal finances effectively. The course is therefore designed to cater to students from all
backgrounds and makes no assumption of prior exposure to finance-related subjects such as mathematics
or economics. The entrance requirement is that students must be in their second year of study.

Topics covered in the course include basic financial planning, an overview of financial markets and how
they work, the time value of money, banking institutions and savings, credit management, real estate
(property) the basics of investing, personal income tax, medical aid schemes, insurance and estate and
retirement planning. While the course provides a sound theoretical grounding in these topics the focus is
on practical application and real-world relevance.
Within each of the sections of learning, the educational objectives appropriate to that section will be
identified.

COURSE CONVENOR & LECTURER: Abdul Cader Abdulla (CA)

Room 4.77
Leslie Social Science Building
e-mail: abdul.abdulla@uct.ac.za
abdul.abdulla1@gmail.com
Telephone: 021-650 2260

LECTURERS: Dr Edward Chamisa (EC)

Room 4.76
Leslie Social Science Building
e-mail: edward.chamisa@uct.ac.za
Telephone: 021-650 4389

COURSE ADMINISTRATOR: Mrs Lee-Anne Bull (LB)

Room 4.54 Department of Finance and Tax
Leslie Social Science Building
e-mail: Lee-anne.bull@uct.ac.za
Telephone: 021-650 5338

NOTICE BOARD & TUTORIAL SUBMISSION BOXES: Finance and Tax Reception Area
4th floor of Leslie Social Science Building

Please Note: (Students are required to check VULA and the notice board at least once per week)

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1.2 RECOMMENDED TEXT AND READING REQUIREMENTS

There is no prescribed textbook. Handouts and readings may be distributed as required. You will find
remaining abreast of current financial issues found in the daily newspapers, magazines and of course the
internet to be to your advantage with regard to improving your understanding of the work.

1.3 LECTURE VENUES AND TIMES

(3 single lectures per week: 12 weeks with revision lectures in the final week)
Lecture period: Period 7 (15h00 – 15h45)
Days: Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Lecture venues:
Monday LS1E
Tuesday LS1E
Wednesday LS1E

1.4 PREREQUISITES FOR THE COURSE

In order to register for this course, students must be in their second year of study. If you do not meet the
registration requirements, you are required to notify the Course Convenor urgently. Failure to do so may
result in your registration being rescinded at any time during the semester.

1.5 GRADING METHODS

Your performance in the course is based on 4 categories of evaluation. They are as follows:

 Two (2) 1½ hour semester tests. (see 1.6)

 At least ten (10) objective tests to be written during the first or last fifteen (15) minutes of tutorials.
 The project must be submitted.
 A 3 hour final examination (date to be announced: see the university examination timetable).
 The supplementary / deferred exam (date to be announced).

1.6 DULY PERPORMED (DP) REQUIREMENT

In order to qualify for a DP (i.e. gain entry to write the final examination) a student must meet all five
criteria for assessment as follows:
 Sign the register at each tutorial attended (80 % attendance required);
 Attend and participate in a minimum 8 out of the first 10 tutorials;
 Submit and satisfactorily complete the project;
 Write the class tests;
 Attain a minimum weighted average year mark of 40 %, determined as follows:

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 Class test 1 10%
Class test 2 10%
Objecti ve tests (best 5 out of 10) 10%
Project 10%
Year mark 40%

The Duly Performed (DP) list will be published on the course Notice Board and VULA. Students who are
refused a DP may not present themselves for the final examination, and should they do so, their script will
not be graded. In the event of a student considering that their DP refusal is based on an error or an
omission, they must apply in writing to the Head of Department stating the basis of their claim.

1.7 FINAL MARK GRADING

The final mark awarded to each student is determined as follows:

Year mark (as above) 40%

October / November examinati on 60%
Final mark 100%

1.8 TEST REQUIREMENTS

There are two 1½ hour tests written during the semester. There will be no supplementary test (Make up
tests). In the event of illness, a valid doctor's note must be submitted to the course administrator. All
medical certificates for test exemption must be handed in to the Receptionist in the Department of
Finance and Tax within 7 days of the date of the test. The medical certificate must state that the student
was incapacitated on the date of the test and the Department will only accept ORIGINAL medical
certificates (i.e. not copies thereof). You must take a photocopy of the certificate with you and the
receptionist will sign your copy of the Medical Certificate as acknowledgement of receipt of the certificate.

You are required to keep the copy of the certificate signed and dated by the receptionist as confirmation
that she received it timeously, in case of a query arising at the end of the semester. Failure to comply with
this will result in a mark of zero being awarded. The receipt must be retained as proof that the medical
certificate has been lodged with the Department. The following two (2) tests will take place during the
semester:

Test dates Time Venue

 I n a c c o r d a n c
Class test 1 Wednesday 14 August 2019 18h00 – 19h30 LS 2A
Class test 2 Thursday 3 October 2019 18h00 – 19h30 TBA
entertain telephonic queries regarding test/exam marks and venues timetable.

 Marked test scripts will be returned to all students for scrutiny in the tutorials. Any queries must be
dealt with immediately, and will subject the entire script to review.

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1.9 Finance and Tax Department’s policy with respect to students who obtain an exemption
for parts of the overall assessment:

For example a medical exemption is obtained for test 2.

Where a student has been exempted from one or more parts of the assessment the mark will be
calculated according to those parts of the assessment completed and then scaled up.

% of Student’s marks
final mark (percentage)
Test 1 10% 60%
Test 2 10% Medical certificate
Objective tests 10% 55%
Project 10% 80%
Year mark 40% 65% **
Final examination 60%
100%

** Student’s final year mark:

= [(60% x 10%) + (55% x 10%) + (80% x 10%) / 30 x 100%
= [(6 + 5.5 + 8.0)] / 30 x 100%
= 19.5 / 30 x 100%
= 65%

2. TUTORIAL INFORMATION

2.1 TUTORIAL ATTENDANCE

One double period tutorial will be held per week. There are a total of 11 tutorials for the course. You are
advised to attend all the tutorials. However, given the exigencies of life, non-attendance at a maximum of
2 out of the first 12 of these tutorials will be permitted in determining your DP. Please note that tutorials
missed for whatever reasons, including those covered by medical certificates are included in the leeway of
the 2 non-attendances, which will be permitted. Students arriving more than 10 minutes late for a tutorial
will not be credited with attendance. Disruptive students will not be credited with attendance at the
discretion of the tutor.

In the event of a student not being able to attend a tutorial for a good reason, a make-up tutorial may be
attended, using any of the other groups available. Please complete the make-up tutorial form provided by
the tutor and hand it to the tutor of the group attended on the day. Please retain the bottom portion for
your records.
Please note that if you have a tutorial falling on a public holiday, you are required to attend a make-up
tutorial. You must please attend an alternative session any time during the week of the public holiday, and
ensure that the tutor at your session records your details.

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2.2 JOINING A TUTORIAL GROUP

Tutorial sign-ups are now performed electronically via VULA on a first come first serve basis. A list of
proposed tutorial groups is available on the course VULA site. You should examine the times and decide
which tutorial you will be able to attend.

2.2.1 The procedure to join a tutorial group:

Step 1: Go to the VULA site at http://VULA.uct.ac.za and login by entering your UCT student number
and password.
Step 2: Click on your course code’s tab near the top (FTX2000S).
Step 3: From the menu on the left-hand side click (Tutorial and group sign up).
Step 4: On the screen are the available groups and, if filled in, details regarding the tutorial group, i.e.
tutor name, time, day and location. Also on the far right next to each group is a (Join) link.
Step 5: For the group you want to join, click on its particular (Join) link.
Step 6: If at a later stage you want to switch to another group (if the lecturer has set it up) you can
click (Switch) for that particular group.

 More detailed information is available in VULA’s Help tool.

 The VULA home page is at: http://VULA.uct.ac.za
 For any further queries, please contact help@VULA.uct.ac.za

Please note that with the electronic method, only REGISTERED students will be able to sign up for a tutorial.
Students will not be able to sign up for their friends. Be sure to sign up early as the system prevents
oversubscription of a venue. Each tutorial group is limited to 25 students.

Once you have registered for a tutorial on the web it is imperative that YOU record, for future reference,
the:
 Tutorial group number, day, time and venue of the tutorial you have selected.

You will be given until 14h00 on Friday 19 July 2019 to sign up for a tutorial group on VULA. Please note
that VULA will be closed at 14h00 and you will not be able to register or change tutorials on VULA
thereafter. Students who are unable to register on the web must go to Department of Finance and Tax
reception between 10h00 and 12h00 on Monday 22 July 2019 to be signed up manually by the course
secretary, Mrs Lee-Anne Bull.

2.2.2 Changing tutorial groups

Once the tutorial sign up procedure closes on Friday 19 July 2019, changes will not be permitted without
departmental approval and only under exceptional circumstances. To apply for a change in tutorial group
you need to write a letter of motivation and submit this form together with a copy of your timetable to the
course secretary, Mrs Lee-Anne Bull, at the Department of Finance and Tax reception desk on Monday
22 July 2019 between 10h00 and 12h00. Changes will be emailed to students showing the changes that
have been approved. Only one change will be permitted, therefore students need to plan carefully before
requesting a change.

No changes will be considered unless a copy of your timetable has been submitted with the letter of
motivation.

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2.3 TUTORIAL SUBMISSION

 A written tutorial will be due every week, including the test week and the weeks before the projects
due date.
 A tutorial cover sheet (Attached to the tutorial pack) must be completed and attached (preferably
stapled) to the front of the tutorial submission. If there is no cover sheet, your tutor is not permitted
to assign a mark and recognise it as a non-submission.
 Your completed tutorial is to be submitted into your tutor’s pigeonhole (4th floor Leslie Social Science
Building) by 11h00 on Monday of each week.
 No late submissions may be accepted. Any tutorial submissions handed in after 11H00 on Monday will
be awarded a mark of 0%.
 Each week, only a particular section in each tutorial will be marked – you will not be told beforehand
which section this is. It is advisable not only to hand in every assignment, but to engage your best
efforts in completing every question in each assignment.

TUTORIALS COMMENCE IN THE WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY 22 JULY 2019.

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 3. FTX 2000S – 2019 LECTURE PROGRAMME

Week Date Day Lecture topic - Module Lecture Textbook Textbook Lecturer Tutorial
no. no. chapter pages initials no.
1 Jul 15 Mon What is personal financial management? (1) CA
16 Tues (2) CA
17 Wed (3) CA
18 Thurs
19 Fri 3

2 Jul 22 Mon The time value of money (TVM) (1) EC Tutorial 1

23 Tues (2) EC
24 Wed (3) EC
25 Thurs
26 Fri 3

3 Jul 29 Mon Time value of money (TVM) (1) CA Tutorial 2

30 Tues (2) CA
31 Wed (3) CA
Aug 01 Thurs
02 Fri 3

4 Aug 05 Mon Saving and managing credit (1) CA Tutorial 3

06 Tues (2) CA
07 Wed (3) CA
08 Thurs
09 Fri Women’s Day 3

5 Aug 12 Mon Investment planning (1) EC Tutorial 4

13 Tues (2) EC
14 Wed Class test 1 (3) EC
15 Thurs
16 Fri 3

6 Aug 19 Mon Investment planning (1) EC Tutorial 5

20 Tues (2) EC
21 Wed (3) EC
22 Thurs
23 Fri 3

VACATION – 24 August 2019 to 1 September 2019

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Week Date Day Lecture topic Lecture Textbook Textbook Lecturer Tutorial
no. no. chapter pages initials no.

7 Sept 02 Mon Residential property (1) CA Tutorial 6

03 Tues (2) CA
04 Wed (3) CA
05 Thurs
06 Fri 3

8 Sept 09 Mon Managing financial risk (1) EC Tutorial 7

10 Tues (2) EC
11 Wed (3) EC
12 Thurs
13 Fri 3

9 Sept 16 Mon Tax planning (1) CA Tutorial 8

17 Tues (2) CA
18 Wed (3) CA
19 Thurs
20 Friday 2

10 Sept 23 Mon Retirement and estate planning (1) CA Tutorial 9

24 Tues No lecture - Heritage day (2) CA

25 Wed (3) CA
26 Thurs
27 Fri 3

11 Sept 30 Mon Collective Investment Schemes (1) EC Tutorial

10
Oct 01 Tues (2) EC
02 Wed (3) EC
03 Thurs Class test 2
04 Fri 3

12 Oct 07 Mon Macroeconomic general issues (1) EC Tutorial

11
08 Tues (2) EC
09 Wed (3) EC
10 Thurs
11 Fri 3

13 Oct 14 Mon Macroeconomic general issues (1) CA Tutorial

11
15 Tues Lectures end (2) CA
16 Wed (3)
17 Thurs
18 Fri 3
Lecturer Days Weeks
CA Abdul Cader Abdulla 19 6
EC Edward Chamisa 18 6

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 37 12

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4. ATTACHMENTS
4.1 Attachment 1

A SELECTION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS RELEVANT TO THE COURSE

The attention of all students is drawn to the fact that compliance with the rules and policies of UCT is a
prerequisite for registration. You are reminded that these are documented in the booklet "General Rules
and Policies 2014", available at the Commerce Faculty Office.

Plagiarism
Your attention is again drawn to the seriousness of this academic crime and the consequences of
carelessness or disregard of this issue.

Test and Examinations

Your attention is drawn to the notes printed on the reverse side of the Attendance slip, which you sign prior
to the commencement of all tests and examinations. It reads as follows:
1. It is a disciplinary offence to have in your possession any unauthorised material, and therefore any
nooks, notes, cell phones, bags or any other material which is not authorised for use at this examination
must be placed in the area of the venue set aside for this purpose. Cell phones must be switched off.
2. No answer book, used or blank, may be removed from the examination venue.
3. Place your student registration card on the table next to your attendance slip.
4. Smoking is not allowed.
5. Please read the notice on the covers of your answer books.
6. A representative of the department concerned will be available for a short while to answer any queries
and you are advised to read through your question papers carefully before undertaking any answers.
7. You may not leave during the first sixty or last twenty minutes.
8. If you leave the hall during the examination you must hand in your all your answer books to the
invigilator.
9. If you become ill and have to discontinue the examination:
(a) tell an invigilator
(b) hand in what you have done
(c) GO DIRECTLY TO THE STUDENT HEALTH SERVICE.
(d) apply for a deferred examination within seven days
If the Health Service is closed, and only in that case, go directly to a Doctor and see that you obtain a
certificate. If the Health Service is open but you go instead to an outside Doctor your application for a
deferred examination is very likely to be refused.
10. Please ensure that your second and subsequent answer books are placed inside your first.

Examination Answer Books

Your attention is drawn to the warning on the cover of each examination answer book which reads as
follows:
1. No books, notes, pieces of paper or other material may be brought into the examination room unless
candidates are so instructed.
2. Candidates are not to communicate with other candidates.
3. No part of an answer book is to be torn out.
4. All answer books must be handed to an invigilator before leaving the examination venue. This also
applies to candidates who leave the venue before the end of the examination.
Any dishonesty will render the candidate liable to disqualification and to possible exclusion from the
University. A further requirement for this course is that all answers must be written in ink, pencil may not
be accepted.

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