MQ Uni Advanced Science degree (Maths)/Applied Finance (1 Viewer)

boredofstudiesuser1

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So I've been looking at this link here to figure out what course structure would be like:
https://courses.mq.edu.au/2019/dome...atics-specialisation/course-structure#content
I'm not sure if it's just me, but a while back I checked and it seems like they changed some stuff. Like I remember Advanced Science being just normal science with these 3 extra units (Advanced Topics in Mathematics I or II or III). But now it says 36 CP from applied maths or pure maths but it lists it like "pick one unit". Then you click and there's nothing??

I tried looking up the 100 level advanced subject but there's nothing on the unit guides about it... And these applied/pure maths things, I can't find anything for either???

And then the thing where it says "6CP from 300 level units that are science" - does that mean it's literally any science?

Is there anyone who does Adv Science or can help me with any of this? Maybe I'm overreacting haha but I really don't wanna make the wrong decision in picking it and want to know what I'm getting myself into.

Also, if possible, could anyone that does Applied Finance give me some insight into what it's like? I wanna transfer with concurrent degrees 6 months into adv. science (if I can figure out what it's like) into something business related, and Applied Finance seems to be a good mix between the numbers/financial side of things with some practical economics based content (hopefully this makes sense). I'm looking for something that's not as numbers heavy as Accounting/Actuarial, but that also isn't just as economic functions heavy as economics/business analytics (just a good in between).

Last question (maybe this should be a new thread not sure) but from the thing above, the reason I don't want to do accounting at uni is because I'm planning on finishing off my diploma/advanced diploma next year (as like a gap year) and then maybe go directly through the CA thing later on (so I'm not stuck with accounting forever). Is it truly necessary to have an accounting degree to get a good job in accounting and how might not having one be of detriment?

Any help on any of the questions above is highly appreciated,

Thanks
 

BenHowe

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Don't go to mq for advanced maths lol. Partially because the maths department isn't very good but also because doing concurrent degrees is a nightmare. Just go to unsw or usyd where they have what you're after.

Applied Finance is ok, it's not particularly difficult or interesting, but I'm more inclined towards it than other degrees. In finance everything is pretty much lecture slides, textbook reading, tut q, memorise shit. There are no derivations (as of yet), the cohorts typically perform poorly and the degree of rigorousness that I expect (due to the standards I have become accustomed to from the Actuarial Department) is often lacking or entirely missing.

Umm in regards to the accounting thing, I'm not too sure but I think to do the CA you are required to meet the elligibility requirements, which includes an acc undergraduate degree or commerce etc. You'd need to speak to the relevant industry body and/or the university of choice.
 

pikachu975

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Don't go to mq for advanced maths lol. Partially because the maths department isn't very good but also because doing concurrent degrees is a nightmare. Just go to unsw or usyd where they have what you're after.
Thicccccc accents and 10/10 handwriting
 

boredofstudiesuser1

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Don't go to mq for advanced maths lol. Partially because the maths department isn't very good but also because doing concurrent degrees is a nightmare. Just go to unsw or usyd where they have what you're after.

Applied Finance is ok, it's not particularly difficult or interesting, but I'm more inclined towards it than other degrees. In finance everything is pretty much lecture slides, textbook reading, tut q, memorise shit. There are no derivations (as of yet), the cohorts typically perform poorly and the degree of rigorousness that I expect (due to the standards I have become accustomed to from the Actuarial Department) is often lacking or entirely missing.

Umm in regards to the accounting thing, I'm not too sure but I think to do the CA you are required to meet the elligibility requirements, which includes an acc undergraduate degree or commerce etc. You'd need to speak to the relevant industry body and/or the university of choice.
Yeah, haha, I'm a bit worried about the department, but I got entry through a program, which means I don't need an ATAR (just to finish HSC). No way would I actually get 95 or above. And I can't go to Sydney or UNSW because it's pretty far for me, MQ and Newcastle are the closest ones for me - and even then, Newcastle is a bit further.

In that case, do you know anything about what the course program looks like? Is the department REALLY that bad?

The thing about concurrent degrees, practically no-one (who even goes to MQ) knows about them, and if they do, they say it's bad - why?

How much would you say is the ratio of like maths/equations in applied finance vs its economics based content? If I'm interested in learning somewhat about economy operations and stuff am I better off choosing something else?

And yes, you're right about the CA thing, I'll probably figure that out later if I were to do it. But before then, is it possible to have an OK accounting job with TAFE qualifications?

Thanks for your help!
 
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"Is the department REALLY that bad?"

The lecturing quality varies significantly. That said, I have a person in mind who would be absolutely the worst communicator i've encountered at MQ, and yet I know other students who really liked this same lecturer (there would be some variable of easy exams in there I'm thinking too). So it is, of course, a matter of opinion. One of the best lecturers i've encountered, i had in a first year Math unit, so y'know, good luck!
 

BenHowe

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Yeah, haha, I'm a bit worried about the department, but I got entry through a program, which means I don't need an ATAR (just to finish HSC). No way would I actually get 95 or above. And I can't go to Sydney or UNSW because it's pretty far for me, MQ and Newcastle are the closest ones for me - and even then, Newcastle is a bit further.

In that case, do you know anything about what the course program looks like? Is the department REALLY that bad?

The thing about concurrent degrees, practically no-one (who even goes to MQ) knows about them, and if they do, they say it's bad - why?

How much would you say is the ratio of like maths/equations in applied finance vs its economics based content? If I'm interested in learning somewhat about economy operations and stuff am I better off choosing something else?

And yes, you're right about the CA thing, I'll probably figure that out later if I were to do it. But before then, is it possible to have an OK accounting job with TAFE qualifications?

Thanks for your help!
adv math at mq was 96 last time I checked. The reason most dont do concurrent is because of clashes and the subsequent issue of meeting credit point requirements for degree rules. For example I considered doing actuarial concurrent with econ but I wouldnt've been able to do all my actuarial units.

Are you eligible for any bonus points or scholarship or anything i.e. so you could consider unsw or syd? I only got in to my degree cause of bonus points :) . Pikachu975 is the real mvp.

However if you were interested in discussing concurrent degrees, I'd try to see Paul Smith. He's the one in charge of those things I think and he's an assoc prof??

If you want to focus on the economy, do an economics and not finance degree.

No idea what the job market is like.

Good luck.
 
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BLIT2014

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Yeah, haha, I'm a bit worried about the department, but I got entry through a program, which means I don't need an ATAR (just to finish HSC). No way would I actually get 95 or above. And I can't go to Sydney or UNSW because it's pretty far for me, MQ and Newcastle are the closest ones for me - and even then, Newcastle is a bit further.

In that case, do you know anything about what the course program looks like? Is the department REALLY that bad?

The thing about concurrent degrees, practically no-one (who even goes to MQ) knows about them, and if they do, they say it's bad - why?

How much would you say is the ratio of like maths/equations in applied finance vs its economics based content? If I'm interested in learning somewhat about economy operations and stuff am I better off choosing something else?

And yes, you're right about the CA thing, I'll probably figure that out later if I were to do it. But before then, is it possible to have an OK accounting job with TAFE qualifications?

Thanks for your help!
If you are going to down the accounting path the big 4/mid-tiers etc often want students to be eligible for CA (and other companies often want CA or CPA) eligibilty. You'd need to enrol in the Proffesional Accounting major because the normal accounting is missing some units that will mean you are eligible.
 

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