VU-BUS221 Sustainable Business Finance
Credits (ECTS):7.5
Responsible faculty:Handelshøyskolen
Course responsible:Atle Guttormsen
Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås
Teaching language:Norwegian
Course frequency:The course will be offered on demand.
Nominal workload:187.5 hours
Teaching and exam period:.
About this course
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to finance, focusing on both traditional financial concepts and their application in a modern, sustainable context. The course covers key topics in investment analysis, capital management, and corporate finance, while introducing sustainable finance principles.The course begins with investment analysis, where we look at cash flow budgeting, project profitability assessment, and project uncertainty management. We explore how sustainability considerations can be integrated into these analyses. We then focus on financial markets, portfolio theory, and pricing of various financial instruments.Furthermore, the course covers corporate finance, including capital structure, dividend policy, and risk management. Throughout the course, we will discuss ethical aspects of financial decisions and how sustainability affects traditional financial theory and practice.
Learning outcome
After completing the course, the student will have the following learning outcomes, divided into knowledge, skills, and general competence:
Knowledge
The student:
- has basic knowledge of principles for investment analysis, including cash flow budgeting and project evaluation
- has insight into portfolio theory, capital market theory, and pricing of financial instruments
- has knowledge of key concepts in corporate finance, such as capital structure and dividend policy
- understands how sustainability considerations and ESG criteria affect financial decisions and analyses
- has knowledge of ethical issues in finance, especially related to sustainability and responsible investment
Skills
The student:
- can perform basic investment analyses, including calculating net present value and assessing risk
- is able to apply portfolio theory and the capital asset pricing model
- can integrate sustainability considerations into project analysis and capital budgeting
- can evaluate different financing options and their implications for the company
- can analyze and interpret basic ESG reports and sustainability-related financial data
General competence
The student:
- has a holistic understanding of financial decision-making processes and their relationship to sustainability
- can critically assess investment decisions in light of both financial and sustainability considerations
- can effectively communicate financial concepts and their relation to sustainability
- can apply acquired knowledge to practical issues in finance and sustainable finance
- has an ethical awareness regarding financial decisions and their broader societal implications
Learning activities
Teaching support
Syllabus
Assessment method
About use of AI
Examiner scheme
Mandatory activity
Reduction of credits
Admission requirements