FIN539A Research Seminar in Finance

• Topics

  The purpose of this course is to enhance the students' ability to understand and actively take part in research seminars at the forefront of knowledge on a variety of topics in their field. To accomplish this, the course builds on the papers presented at the seminars at the department of finance. 

  There is a class meeting in connection with each seminar, where the students discuss the current seminar-paper with emphasis on strengths and weaknesses of the paper, its key insights and findings, and opportunities for future work inspired by the paper. At least one faculty member with research interests similar to the seminar-paper is present to host the meeting and to facilitate and guide the discussion. Different faculty members may be present at different seminars/class meetings.

• Learning outcome

  After taking this course, the candidate:

  Knowledge

  • Has gained knowledge at the forefront of his/her academic field.

  Skills

  • Can understand and actively take part in research seminars that present current research. in his/her field, and identify main strengths and weaknesses of that research.
  • Can challenge established knowledge and practice in his/her field by identifying a paper's key insights and findings, and evaluating the research methods that led to them.
  • Can identify new research opportunities that spring out of current research.

  General Competence

  • Can participate in debates in the field in international forums.

• Teaching

  Preparatory meetings and seminar participation. Attendance in digital seminars requires that the camera is on during the whole time.

• Restricted access

  • PhD candidates at NHH
  • PhD candidates at Norwegian institutions

• Assessment

  The course is assessed on a pass/fail basis. To earn a pass, students must meet two requirements:

  • Attendance: Students must attend at least 80% of the class meetings. Classes are organized for the department's regular seminars and digital seminars (with the possible exception of job market seminars held by applicants to positions at NHH).
  • Individual oral participation: Students' oral participation in each session is graded (pass/fail) by the hosting faculty member. Students must earn a pass in at least 80% of the attended sessions.

• Grading Scale

  Pass/fail

• Literature

  The course literature will be the seminar papers.

  • Students are expected to prepare by reading the seminar-paper prior to class.
  • Students are expected to participate actively in class discussions.