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Course Outline

DIG200 Fintech Innovations

Course Coordinator:Hammad Siddiqi (hsiddiqu@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course looks at how the practice of finance is changing due to tech-driven financial innovations.  Such innovations have had a dramatic effect on financial intermediation, business finance, and consumer finance. After taking this course, you will have an understanding of how technology has changed finance. You will see the good side as well as the dark side which potentially amplifies financial crises.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 12 times
Online
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled online workshops (Recorded). 2hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

The Technology of Money: Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, and Stablecoins

Payment System Innovations

Central Bank Digital Currencies

Fintech Innovations in International Money Transfers.

The Impact of Key Fintech Innovations on the Macroeconomy

Neobanks and Challenger Banks.

Athena, Freedom Lend, and the Benefits/Risks of Securitization

Fintech and Economic Growth

AI and Machine Learning in Finance

The Rise of Robo-Advisors and Chatbots

Fintech Start Up Financing and Open Banking

The Future of Finance

 

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Competencies from multiple Professional Bodies (see below) *
1 Analyse and evaluate how Fintech firms make money and the risks that they face by examining various Fintech Innovations. Creative and critical thinker 
PC1, PC2, PC3
2 Evaluate and recommend improvements to a Fintech business plan. Creative and critical thinker 
PC1, PC3
3 Create a pitch focused on improving an existing Fintech idea Creative and critical thinker 
PC1, PC2, PC3
4 Evaluation of the new society-wide or systemic risks that Fintech Innovations have created and what can be done to mitigate such risks. Knowledgeable
Ethical 
PC1, PC3, PC4, 16.3.1

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
PC1 Communication
PC2 Collaboration
PC3 Creative and Critical Thinking
PC4 Community Consciousness
Education for Sustainable Development Goals
16.3.1 The learner is able to critically assess issues of peace, justice, inclusion and strong institutions in their region, nationally and globally.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Practice concept-test quizzes will be available weekly with instant feedback provided on Canvas. In addition, on-the-spot feedback on activities completed during the workshop will be provided during workshops.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Written Piece Individual 30% 
4-5 pages
 Week 4 Online Submission
All 2 Case Study Individual 30% 
1500 words
 Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Written Piece Individual 40% 
Take home assignment with a duration of one week
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Short Questions
Goal: 
Demonstrate an understanding of problems, solutions and key issues related to Fintech firms.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Short questions/problems that test students' understanding of the topics covered in the first three weeks of classes.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Analysis of problems and the solutions offered by Fintech firms.
 1
2 
Demonstrated understanding of new society-wide or systemic risks created by Fintech firms.
 4
3 
Evaluation of the risks that Fintech firms face.
 1
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Analysis of a Fintech Innovation
Goal: 
Demonstrate an understanding of how a Fintech firm makes money, the risks it faces, any society-wide or systemic risks, and make recommendations for improvement.
Product: Case Study
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will analyze one Fintech Innovation in detail. Aspects covered include how the firm makes money, the risks it faces, and any society-wide or systemic risks. You will identify one particular business in your region that will benefit from adopting the Fintech Innovation. Based on your analysis, you will recommend improvements in the Fintech Innovation.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Evaluation of a Fintech business plan.
 1 4
2 
Recommended improvements to the business plan.
 2 3
3 
Identification of a business in your local region that benefits from the Fintech innovation.
 1
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Problem Solving
Goal: 
Demonstrate an understanding of
how Fintech Innovations are useful
for businesses and managers
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will be given a series of questions to answer based on the material covered in the course
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Analysis and evaluation of how Fintech adds value to businesses
 1
2 
Analysis and evaluation of how Fintech is changing finance
 1 4
Generic Skills: 

                        

                    

                

        

    

    

        

            

                
Directed study hours

                
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

            

        

    


    

        

            

                
What resources do I need to undertake this course?

                

                    Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
                

            


            

                
Prescribed text(s) or course reader

                    

                        You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
                    

                    

                        
                            

                                Required?
                                Author
                                Year
                                Title
                                Edition
                                Publisher
                            

                        
                        
                                

                                    Recommended
                                    John Hill
                                    2026
                                    Fintech and the Remaking of Financial Institutions
                                    2nd Edition
                                    Academic Press
                                

                        
                    

            

        


        

            

                
Specific requirements

                    
Not applicable

            

        

    


    

        

            
How are risks managed in this course?

            
Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

        

    


    

        
What administrative information is relevant to this course?


        

            

                
Assessment: Academic Integrity

                
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Additional Requirements

                
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Submission penalties

                
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

            

        


        

            

                
Links to relevant University policy and procedures

                
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

            

        


        

            

                
Student Charter

                
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful.  The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

            

        


        

            

                
General Enquiries

                
For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  
For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

            

        

    







    

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