Centre for Financial & Management Studies (CeFiMS) - University of London

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Financial Management

Structure and Syllabus

Four courses from the following:

Public financial management: planning and performance [C201]

Public financial management: revenue [C205]

Public financial management: financial reporting and audit [C210]

Privatisation and public-private partnerships [C211]

Project appraisal and impact analysis [C207]

Decentralisation and local governance [C204]

Detailed Syllabus

Public financial management: planning and performance [C201]
In this course you will be introduced to the methods and issues of public financial management. You will examine subjects including cost management, budgeting, expenditure control techniques, accounting for public spending and performance budgeting.

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Public financial management: revenue [C205]
In this course you will study the theory and practice of public finance with special reference to how governments raise revenues and how they use taxation to pursue policy aims. The course is mainly concerned with taxation, borrowing and aid.

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Public financial management: financial reporting and audit [C210]
Studying this course will enable you to read public accounts, contribute to their production and understand the audit process. It covers the main accounting standards for public services in use around the world. We have developed this course in association with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants.

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Privatisation and public-private partnerships [C211]
The purposes of this course are:

• to set out theoretical foundations for the different forms of relationship between public, private and voluntary sectors.
• to enable students to do the analysis necessary to make the choices among the many options for the delivery of public services.
• to introduce the practical steps to be taken to ensure the best possible outcomes form the process.
• to develop practical skills of evaluation of the outcomes of different forms of institutional arrangements for service delivery.
• to present case studies illustrating the strengths and weaknesses of privatisation and public-private partnerships.

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Project appraisal and impact analysis [C207]
· Project evaluation, an introduction
· Investment appraisal, introduction and techniques
· Economic analysis
· Impact assessment
· Project and programme appraisal, applications in specific sectors
· Simulation and modelling techniques
· Political economy, welfare and poverty
· Risk analysis in project evaluation and appraisal

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Decentralisation and local governance [C204]
· Decentralisation: what and why?
· Economic theories of decentralisation
· Globalisation and localisation
· Designing decentralisation
· Decentralisation and participation
· Assessing decentralisation in practice
· Case studies in economic decentralisation
· Decentralisation and poverty

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