Structured class participation (15%):

Class participation accounts for 15% of the final grade. It is based on overall class participation (participation in class discussions and negotiations, adequately completing class activities, asking questions of guest lecturers). Class activities will require some out of class preparation, with students expected to review and critique a green bond and to complete a short video giving advice on a litigation strategy task to be discussed in class. 

This task will satisfy Learning Outcome 1 (LO1) by requiring students to demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship of the various parts of the financial markets and the legal principles that govern them. It will satisfy Learning Outcome 2 (LO2) by requiring students to show a comprehension of the commercial drivers as well as the legal risks involved in each of these markets, and how to mitigate these risks. The task will satisfy Learning Outcome 3 (LO3) by requiring students to demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory reform process and its impact on the financial markets. The task will satisfy Learning Outcome 4  (LO4) by requiring students to demonstrate a working knowledge of how international financial transactions are negotiated and documented in practice. The task will satisfy Learning Outcome 5 (LO5) by requiring students to demonstrate familiarity with the opportunities and challenges presented by sustainable finance in practice.

Research essay proposal (non-graded): 

As part of the research essay assessment task students are required to submit a topic proposal by 23.59 on April 11, 2023 (Sydney, Australia time).

The research essay should be written on a topic approved by the lecturer. The topic should be relevant to international finance. A list of topics will be uploaded on Canvas by way of example, as well as guidance on the pitfalls / recommendations on the actual research / writing and a rubric on the assessment criteria. The research proposal should be 1 page A4 / ca 300 words, and detail the topic, the hypothesis, a rough outline and the expected research sources.

Research essay (85%):

This task involves students completing a research essay of no more than 7000 words (indicative appropriate range of between 6,500 and 7,500 words) excluding footnotes, bibliography and table of contents) on a topic approved by the lecturer.

The due date of the research essay is 23.59 on 22 May, 2023, Sydney Australia time.

This task will satisfy Learning Outcome 1 (LO1) by requiring students to demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship of the various parts of the financial markets and the legal principles that govern them. It will satisfy Learning Outcome 2 (LO2) by requiring students to show a comprehension of the commercial drivers as well as the legal risks involved in each of these markets, and how to mitigate these risks. The task will satisfy Learning Outcome 3 (LO3) by requiring students to demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory reform process and its impact on the financial markets. The task will satisfy Learning Outcome 4  (LO4) by requiring students to demonstrate a working knowledge of how international financial transactions are negotiated and documented in practice. The task will satisfy Learning Outcome 5 (LO5) by requiring students to demonstrate familiarity with the opportunities and challenges presented by sustainable finance in practice.

Special Consideration outcomes may include an alternative task, at the discretion of the Unit Coordinator.  

Word Limit Penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will exclude all footnotes, bibliography and table of contents.

Use of editors or proof-readers:

The use of assistance in preparing and editing assessment tasks in this unit of study is permitted on condition that all sources of assistance are expressly acknowledged and identified in a footnote at the start of the task. Academic Integrity Policy 2022 Clause 16 restricts allowable assistance to copy-editing, proof-reading, advice about structure, grammar, syntax, clear language, etc. Sources of assistance may include other people and automated writing tools. When acknowledging a source of assistance, you must state the name of the person or software, a brief description of the nature of the assistance, and the person’s current or former area of specialization or expertise (where relevant) 16(6)(b).

Assessment requirement to pass a unit of study

A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study.