Financial Institutions and Markets

The course Financial Institutions and Markets is a course within the Master of Science programmes at the Graduate School, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg.

To be eligible for the course Financial Institutions and Markets the participant must fulfil the entrance qualifications for the Master of Science programme in Finance, Economics or Accounting and Financial Management For programme specific entrance requirements, see programme syllabus.

The course aims to provide students with thorough understanding of financial institutions and markets based on how investment professionals relate to the same. The course covers modern techniques for analyzing financial institutions and products with a focus on risk and return. The impact of the ongoing structural changes in the financial markets, including changes in regulation and other requirement is also an important part of the course.

The course is thus intended to give students a comprehensive understanding of the central role that financial markets and institutions play in the economy and therefore treats also:

• What are main functions that financial markets and institutions play in society.
• The financial sector's structural and competitiveness-related changes over time.
• Performance measurement and control in banks and insurance firms.
• Risk Management in financial institutions.
• Risk Calculation of financial instruments.

On successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. describe and explain different types of financial markets, institutions and products with respect to risk and return

2. select and apply analytical methods and techniques for analyzing practical decision problems relevant to financial institutions and markets

3. cooperate with other students in discussing, comparing and evaluating the selected analytical methods and techniques and their relevance to the practical problem

4. critically evaluate and motivate the relevance of the regulatory features governing financial markets, institutions and products.

The course consists of lectures guest lectures, literature studies, group work and presentation of group work in seminars.

Language of instruction: English

Learning outcome 1 and 4 are assessed through an individually written exam.

Learning outcome 2 and 3 are assessed through an individually written exam and group assignments. The group assignments are presented in mandatory seminars which requires active participation.

If the course coordinator agrees that the reason for absence or non-submission of compulsory elements is valid, then the missing elements can be replaced with alternative assignments.

Individual take-home assignments and exams shall be written individually, cooperation in formulating text, tables, figures etc. is not allowed.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed.

The number of examinations is limited to five.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E) and Fail (F).

Pass is required on all examination forms. The grade (A-E) corresponds to the total score a student obtains on group assignments (40 % of final grade) and the written exam (60 % of final grade). To receive a pass grade (A-E) >= 50% points is required. The scale is tied to fixed score intervals:

A: 85-100%
B: 75-84%
C: 68-74%
D: 60-67%
E: 50-59%
F: <50%

The course will be evaluated upon completion. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.