International Business and Finance

The world’s economy is becoming increasingly global and individuals who understand the international context of business and finance are in demand.

This course will explore some of the key issues and themes from both a business and finance perspective, including how multinational corporations leverage financial markets when seeking to exploit international business opportunities, the management challenges presented, and the relevance of these to financial and capital markets.

Students will gain an understanding of the international business environment and its competitive and investment climate.

Using frameworks and methodologies, students will also investigate the interaction between firm strategies, economic policies and the changing international environment.

The course is also designed to give you knowledge and understanding of international business and finance activities of any organisation. You will explore various aspects of international business and come face to face with the latest debates and discoveries in the subject. A wide range of topics such as financial derivatives, supply chains and corporate governance will be discussed, as will be the challenges and strategies related to managing across cultures and countries.

Key Information

Level: Introductory to intermediate
Teaching: 60 hours
Expected independent study: 90 hours
Optional assessment: Dependent on course

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU) - please check with your home institution

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This course can also be combined with our Exploring British Culture week - find out more.

Syllabus

Topics for Week 1

Banking
Money markets
Bond markets
Securitisation; credit rating
Equity (stock) markets
Derivatives I: futures and options
Derivatives II: credit derivatives
Financial regulation (time allowing)

Topics for Week 2

Globalization: What is it and what are its drivers
Principles of International Trade
The International Economic Environment
Multinational Corporations: internal organization and strategies
Market Structure and Firms’ Strategies
Foreign Domestic investment

Topics for Week 3

Business Strategy - Use of Game Theory
International Competition and Cooperation
Economic and Political Country Risks
Risk of Expropriation

Aims and Learning Outcomes

Course Aims

This course aims to explore some of the key issues and themes from both a business and finance perspective, including how multinational corporations leverage financial markets when seeking to exploit international business opportunities, the management challenges presented, and the relevance of these to financial and capital markets. Using frameworks and methodologies, students will investigate the interaction between firm strategies, economic policies and the changing international environment.

Learning Outcomes

To gain an understanding of the international business environment and its competitive and investment climate
To provide students with an in-depth understanding of the correlations between the areas of finance and the global economy
To examine issues from both a business and economic perspective
To enhance your understanding of the strategic context in which international business operates
To help prepare you for a career in the finance operations of large multinational corporations.

Teaching and Assessment

Course Structure

For this course, there will be 4 hours of teaching on most weekdays, comprised of lectures and small group teaching. The structure will be:

3 hours of lectures.
A 1 hour seminar in small groups.

Students will also be given time each day for independent study. Towards the end of the third week, students will also be provided with time for revision.

Due to the intensive nature of the Warwick Summer School, students are expected to attend all timetabled teaching activity, to engage with the teaching material and to spend an average of 2-3 hours per day in self-guided study.

Students registered for Warwick Summer School must attain a minimum of 75% authorised attendance of the timetabled teaching activity. If students fall short of this threshold, they will not be awarded a certificate of completion and they will not be able to sit the exam/submit final assessment. 

Authorised attendance includes any sickness absence during the course of the programme that has been properly notified and recorded. An attendance register will be taken at the beginning of teaching session so students need to ensure they arrive on time in order to be marked as attended.

Course Assessment

The module will be assessed via a 2-hour examination. It should be noted that the exam is not compulsory. Everyone who completes the course – whether or not they sit the exam - will receive a certificate of attendance.

Students who choose to sit the final exam will receive a transcript of results. The transcript of results will state the name of the student, the course studied, the exam mark and the grade. Transcripts are automatically sent to students via email by the middle of September.  You should keep this safe in case you need it for credit transfer approval or for future reference. If you would like us to email a copy of your transcript directly to someone at your University who deals with credit transfer please let us know.

The Summer School does not offer re-takes of examinations, whatever your result in the original examination. 

Sample Timetable

Subject to changes, this is an overview of the timetable for Warwick Summer School students.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Week 1	2 hour introductory lecture	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	4 hours of teaching	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	4 hours of teaching
Week 2	4 hours of teaching	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	No timetabled teaching activity	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	Sports activities
Week 3	4 hours of teaching	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	4 hours of teaching	2 hour final assessment preparation 1 hour study group	Final Assessment

In addition to the above schedule, students are expected to attend the Guest Lecture Series on Tuesday afternoons and dedicate approximately 88 hours to self-study throughout the programme. Social activities are also organised throughout the week, with optional trips running on Saturdays and the Wednesday in Week 2; for details, please visit our Social and Cultural Link opens in a new windowpage.

Entry Requirements

This course is open to students who are studying or have previously studied a social sciences degree or modules from a social sciences degree. Basic knowledge of Mathematics and Statistics is advantageous, however extra support is available at the start of the course. You should attach your most recent transcript or provide a screenshot of your modules from your student portal as evidence when you apply.

Students must be aged 18 or over by the time the Summer School commences and have a good understanding of the English language.

Alumni

"The Warwick Summer School provided significant benefits beyond just academic content. As I mentioned earlier, I had the opportunity to delve into various topics through classroom discussions and active participation, making the learning experience more enjoyable and enriching. Moreover, the diverse composition of our class, including individuals from different backgrounds in terms of age, nationality, culture, and professional experience, contributed to my personal development. Interacting with such a diverse group helped me build confidence, improve my English, and enhance my communication skills. In fact, upon returning to Italy, I achieved a higher score on the IELTS test, reflecting the improvement in my language proficiency."

Jiaqi Hu (Italy)

Your Teachers

Lecturers

Teaching Assistant

Farzad Javidanrad Link opens in a new window

Ernil SabajLink opens in a new window

Junxi Liu

Reading List

Textbooks

Glen Arnold, Modern Financial Markets and Institutions, Pearson Education, 2012

Marc Levinson, Guide to Financial Markets, 6th edition, The Economist, 2014

Further reading

Alan S. Blinder, Andrew W. Lo and Robert M. Solow, Rethinking the Financial Crisis, Russell Sage Foundation Publications, 2012

Newspapers/news

Financial Times, The Economist, Reuters

Websites

Bank of England

Financial Conduct Authority

European Central Bank

US Federal Reserve

Bank for International Settlements

British Bankers’ Association

American Bankers’ Association

Please note changes to the syllabus and teaching team may be made over the coming months before exact set of topics are finalised.