Speaker
Date
The cost of capital: does WACC really matter?
How should companies think about the cost of capital, and does WACC actually influence investment and valuation decisions? Join our online taster session to see how theory, evidence and practice come together.
In this online session, Professor Alan Parkinson, Director of Studies and Deputy Director (Education) for the UCL School of Management, will examine how the cost of capital is estimated and applied in real-world corporate finance. He will be joined by Dr Danusia Wysocki, Senior Teaching Fellow and Lecturer in Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Professor Lynsie Chew, Academic Lead for the Online MSc Strategic Accounting & Finance, who will contribute additional perspectives on financial reporting, valuation and online learning.
You will explore what WACC is and why it is widely used, key challenges in estimating the cost of equity (including CAPM and dividend-based approaches), and practical issues in measuring the cost of debt and selecting capital structure weights. Real‑world‑inspired examples will show how changes in assumptions, risk and capital structure affect WACC and, in turn, investment and valuation outcomes.
The content is drawn from the Online MSc Strategic Accounting and Finance and illustrates how the programme connects accounting and finance concepts to real business questions and decisions. There will also be time for Q&A at the end of the session.
What you will learn
- Understand what WACC is, why it is widely used, and when it can mislead.
- Explore the main approaches to estimating the cost of equity, including CAPM and dividend-based methods.
- Learn how to measure the cost of debt and select appropriate capital structure weights in practice.
- See how changes in assumptions, risk and capital structure affect WACC and, in turn, project and firm values.
- Experience the analytical, applied teaching approach used in the Online MSc Strategic Accounting and Finance.
Who should attend
- Prospective applicants to the Online MSc Strategic Accounting and Finance.
- Students and early‑career professionals interested in accounting, finance, valuation or corporate financial decision‑making.
- People from any discipline who want to understand how financial decisions support strategy and value creation in organisations.
Event details
Date: Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Time: 12:00–13:00 (London time)
Format: Zoom
If you have any questions about the session or are having trouble registering, please contact the Student Recruitment Marketing team at mgmt.comms@ucl.ac.uk.
About the Online MSc Strategic Accounting and Finance
A key department of a globally top-9-ranked university (QS World Rankings, 2026), the UCL School of Management focuses its research and teaching on key areas of Technology, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Analytics, preparing students to make an immediate impact in the business world.
The Online MSc Strategic Accounting and Finance at the UCL School of Management is designed for recent graduates and working professionals from a wide range of backgrounds who want to apply accounting and finance expertise to real management decisions. Delivered fully online and available full‑time or part‑time, the programme blends financial theory and concepts with practical applications, equipping you to support and lead strategic decision-making across sectors.
