AFM 121Introduction to Global Financial Markets
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course is the first in a two-course sequence which offers an overview of global capital markets. The course describes the role of finance in the modern global economy, introduces the major classes of financial assets, and presents some basic foundational principles of financial decision-making.
Prerequisites
- Complete 1 of the following
- Enrolled in H-Accounting & Financial Management, H-Science & Financial Management, or H-Sustainability & Financial Management
- Enrolled in H-Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy
Antirequisites
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3474 | 0 / 220 | M 08:30–09:50 |
| LEC 002 | 4216 | 0 / 220 | M 10:00–11:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1219 | 377 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 3207 | 0 / 40 | T 08:30–09:50 |
| TUT 102 | 3208 | 0 / 40 | T 10:00–11:20 |
| TUT 103 | 3603 | 0 / 40 | T 13:00–14:20 |
| TUT 104 | 3702 | 0 / 40 | W 08:30–09:50 |
| TUT 105 | 3636 | 0 / 40 | W 10:00–11:20 |
| TUT 106 | 3637 | 0 / 40 | W 14:30–15:50 |
| TUT 107 | 3638 | 0 / 40 | W 11:30–12:50 |
| TUT 108 | 3639 | 0 / 40 | W 13:00–14:20 |
| TUT 109 | 3640 | 0 / 40 | W 16:00–17:20 |
| TUT 110 | 7874 | 0 / 40 | Th 13:00–14:20 |
| TUT 111 | 7873 | 0 / 40 | Th 14:30–15:50 |
| TST 201 | 3209 | 0 / 440 | Feb 26 16:30–18:00 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
71% liked it39% easy92% useful
From 171 ratings and 34 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
HARD COURSE. GO TO LECTURES
Apr 2016 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
You learn a wide variety of topics. It is basically a introduction to all the financial topics that you might learn. But none that you learn enough to fully comprehend what it means. Very useless course. Difficult because you learn very little content but the exams test you on things you've never learned before. Inconsistent marking, especially for Blake's class because it is subjective short answers format.
Jul 2015 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
go to the tutotirals
Oct 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
First few units were boring memorization stuff, after that the calculation stuff are not too hard to understand but the exams make them really tricky. so expect a low grade as the exams worth a lot.
May 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Midterm is pretty easy and exactly like the practice, while the final is much harder with questions you may have never seen before.
Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
73 posts and comments in 58 threads mention AFM 121, June 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
Question about Co-op 3 points, 1 comment
“I just finished my 1a term in AFM but I failed a course (191). Obviously this isn’t appealing to employers and I know there’s not a straight answer but I just wanted to know how would this affect my …”
u/Live-Orchid-4180: “… My other friend failed AFM 121 and still got a decent coop. …”
Spring 2024
afm course load 1 point, 2 comments
“hi! i’m an incoming afm student for fall 2024 and was wondering how is the first year course load like? and also any tips would be greatly appreciated!!”
u/Spoon420Blaze: “Just Finished 1st Year AFM here’s your guide 1A AFM 191 ; If you’ve done high school accounting this course is gonna be ridiculously easy until after midterms, regardless, I would always reccomend …”
u/Spoon420Blaze: “… AFM 121 ; Intro to finance! I loved this course, the prof is very enthusiastic but I must say, always go to the lectures 90% of his slides make no sense when he isn't there. …”
Winter 2024
AFM 121 midterm advice 2 points, 1 comment
u/No-Cheek-4564: “For those who have done Blairs midterms in the past would you say its easy? I thought I was chilling till I read the part where he doesn't give part marks for TVM so now I'm a bit worried. I make small mistakes sometimes too when it comes to it so I'm getting a bit anxious. …”
For all the AFM 2A+ students 7 points, 5 comments
u/No-Cheek-4564: “… So far it seems quite boring as I got a comms class, bet 100, and I have to do afm 112, afm 182, and afm 121. Overall were these courses easy? For me the 1A term was a breeze, but, so far I feel like I might underperform in these courses just because of how boring they are. …”
u/DivineMuffin: “… AFM121 is probably the most difficult content wise as some people struggle to grasp finance concepts. Second year is still a variety of courses, probably more accounting than finance. Grades are important for coop but usually to a certain degree. …”
Fall 2023
failed a core course 14 points, 4 comments
“I'm in 1A AFM, and I took CS115. I wasn't able to write the midterm and ended up failing the final (failed the class) with a 46. …”
u/kenash29: “… Or can you just go ahead and take AFM121 in 1B instead of AFM127? …”
Spring 2023
AFM y1 textbooks/course material 3 points, 4 comments
u/Bobcat_77_: “Does anyone know what textbooks are used in AFM 101, 111, 112, 132, 102, 121 and ECON 101, STAT 211, and SPCOM 111, or have downloaded course material from any of these courses?”
u/alexo1119alex: “… AFM 121 - There is technically a textbook that the course is based off of, but you can get by without it as everything on the exams is covered in tutorials. …”
Spring 2022
Admissions / High School Megathread (Fall 2022) 114 points, 2,348 comments
“This megathread is for prospective frosh and current high school students interested in Waterloo! Ask your questions down below! …”
u/Full-Cash-7557: “Question for Waterloo AFM Students - What does the schedule look like for the year, like do you guys get off in May-August or have co-op during that time?”
u/Aiya88: “… I recommend creating a formula sheet before every quiz) AFM 121: Basic Finance Course (The content is relatively easy but you need to make sure you're proficient with the excel application problems they give you) AFM 182: Basic Accounting Course Part 2: (Its an extension of AFM …”
Fall 2021
Advice needed from AFM students 0 points, 6 comments
“hi, i’d like to transfer into AFM but i wanna talk to a few students who are in the program or are alumni’s. …”
u/FissileWaif: “Only in 2nd year so I cant really speak for upper year courses. But there is a good bit of math involved. Not like calculus level but in certain courses you will be doing math. Time value of money for finance courses like Afm 121 and 273 and probability math in afm 113.”
Spring 2021
AFM121 DIFFICULTY? TAKE AS AN ELECTIVE 2 points, 6 comments
u/Inevitable-Machine30: “I am looking to take AFM121 this semester as an elective as no other course interests me and I love finance Is it easy or possible to get a 90%+?”
u/PIG42022: “AFM 121 is only offered to AFM & CFM students. As far as I know, the only time the class runs is Winter term. It is not a very difficult course but it would be quite unlikely for you to be able to take it as an elective.”
u/BronzeWarrior15: “You can typically find it on the course calendar, where it says: “Prereq: Accounting and Financial Management, Computing and Financial Management, or Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy students” https://ucalendar.uwaterloo.ca/2122/COURSE/course-AFM.htmlAFM121”
anyone retaking afm121 this spring? 1 point, 0 comments
u/Elegant_Limit: “didn’t even know they offer it in spring term but apparently they do this year”
Winter 2021
AFM121 question 1 point, 2 comments
u/Elegant_Limit: “fucked up afm 121 final and midterm and have to redo the course. is it worth it to redo and push back the course that it’s the pre-req for in 2A?”
AFM CPA/CFA Pathway 0 points, 21 comments
u/Drip_Killa: “… AFM 121 – Introduction to Global Financial Markets 2. AFM 113 \- Analytic Methods 2 for Business 3. AFM 182 - Foundations for Management Accounting 4. Speech communication (SPCOM) 111 – Leadership, Communication and Collaboration 5. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
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