IBF316 Personal Finance
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Jan 01, 2026
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International Business and Finance
Šejma Aydin
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an introduction to the various concepts associated with personal finance. A broad range of topics will be covered. The course is geared toward practical knowledge that is necessary for financial decision making in everyday life.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Madura, J. (2020). Personal Finance 7th ed. Pearson
Additional Literature
HandoutsTeaching Methods
The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation
Video and audio aids)
Student presentations
Projects and class discussions.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introductory Lecture | |
| 2 | Overview of a Financial Plan | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Planning with Personal Financial Statements | Chapter 2 |
| 4 | Applying Time Value Concepts | Chapter 3 |
| 5 | Assignment or Quiz 1 | |
| 6 | Managing Your Money | Chapter 6 |
| 7 | Managing Your Credits | Chapter 8 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | Personal Loans & Financing a Home | Chapter 9 - 10 |
| 10 | Auto and Homeowner's Insurance & Health Insurance | Chapters 11-12 |
| 11 | Quiz 2 or Assignment 2 | |
| 12 | Life Insurance & Investing Fundamentals | Chapters 13 - 14 |
| 13 | Investing in Stocks & Bonds & Mutual Funds | Chapters 15 - 17 |
| 14 | Non-working day | |
| 15 | Projects / Review for Final Exam |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Mid-Term Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Group project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Participation/Classwork
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Quizzes
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Group Project
30 hours ⏳ (10 week × 3 h)
Midterm exam study
25 hours ⏳ (1 week × 25 h)
Final exam study
30 hours ⏳ (1 week × 30 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IBF316] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Jan 01, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IBF316 | Personal Finance | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Šejma Aydin | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| saydin@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an introduction to the various concepts associated with personal finance. A broad range of topics will be covered. The course is geared toward practical knowledge that is necessary for financial decision making in everyday life. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Madura, J. (2020). Personal Finance 7th ed. Pearson | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation, video and audio aids), student presentations, projects and class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introductory Lecture | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Overview of a Financial Plan | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Planning with Personal Financial Statements | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Applying Time Value Concepts | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Assignment or Quiz 1 | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Managing Your Money | Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Managing Your Credits | Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Personal Loans & Financing a Home | Chapter 9 - 10 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Auto and Homeowner's Insurance & Health Insurance | Chapters 11-12 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Quiz 2 or Assignment 2 | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Life Insurance & Investing Fundamentals | Chapters 13 - 14 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Investing in Stocks & Bonds & Mutual Funds | Chapters 15 - 17 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Non-working day | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Projects / Review for Final Exam | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Mid-Term Exam | 1 | 25 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 2 | 20 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Group project | 1 | 15 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation/Classwork | 1 | 10 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Quizzes | 10 | 2 | 20 | |||
| Group Project | 3 | 10 | 30 | Midterm exam study | 25 | 1 | 25 | |||
| Final exam study | 30 | 1 | 30 | 0 | ||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 30/01/2026 | |||||||||