This course provides an opportunity for students to work on an applied project in finance.  Students will work on one of a range of possible topics, each of which are motivated by recent innovations in financial markets.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Write an academically rigorous research report in the finance discipline;
2. Communicate arguments, principles and findings using the language and conventions of the finance discipline;
3. Apply prior learning in finance to produce a practitioner-oriented report; and
4. Effectively work in groups and discuss results of the activities undertaken in a team.

Research-Led Teaching

Studies show that, when you explicitly link research and teaching, students become more aware of their learning, which can motivate them to learn more deeply. In this course you will become aware of faculty research and its importance; develop your ability to ask questions and answer them in a rigorous way; and engage in your own research project. Students will be provided with some of the basic tools necessary to undertake research in both university- and industry-based settings.

Field Trips

N/A

Additional Course Costs

N/A

Examination Material or equipment

There is no examination in this course.

Required Resources

No textbook is required.

Recommended Resources

Students can access to relevant resources via ANU library web at https://anulib.anu.edu.au/.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction of the Course
2	Initiate Research Question
3	Research Design and Research Question Feebback	Group Formation and Project Idea Brief
4	Research Design and Research Question Feebback
5	Group Presentation: Project Proposal	Project Proposal Slides; Project Proposal Presentation
6	Group Presentation: Project Proposal	Project Proposal Presentation
7	Data and Methodology I
8	Data and Methodology II
9	Writing and Interpreting Results
10	Group Presentation: Research Project	Slides for Research Project; Research Project Presentation
11	Group Presentation: Research Project	Slides for Research Project; Research Project Presentation
12	Group Presentation: Research Project	Slides for Research Project; Research Project Presentation

Tutorial Registration

There is no tutorial for this course. Enrolment is not required for workshops.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Group Formation and Project Idea Brief	10 %	04/08/2025	15/08/2025	2
Project Proposal Presentation	15 %	29/08/2025	19/09/2025	1,2
Research Project Presentation and Q&A	25 %	17/10/2025	30/10/2025	2
Final Project Report (Group) and Individual Reflection	50 %	10/11/2025	03/12/2025	1,2,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Course content delivery will take the form of on-campus lectures (with recordings available via echo360 on Canvas) and weekly on-campus workshops (recorded) all delivered on campus.

Examination(s)

There is no examination in this course.

Assessment Task 1

Group Formation and Project Idea Brief

As part of the Project Idea Brief assessment, each student must submit a short written paragraph outlining a potential research topic. Students are expected to self-organize into groups of up to five members (final group size may vary depending on class enrolment) by the assessment due date. Each group will compile a shared version of the brief, and all members must submit the same group version individually for marking purposes. The group formed at this stage will remain the same for all group-based assessments throughout the course. This assessment will be graded on an individual basis based on the submitted brief. Detailed instructions will be provided by Week 2.

Assessment Task 2

Project Proposal Presentation

Each group will deliver a Project Proposal Presentation outlining their research question, data sources, proposed methodology, and timeline. The purpose of this presentation is to receive early feedback on project feasibility and scope before progressing to data analysis. Each group will present for a maximum of 10–15 minutes, depending on group size. All members are required to participate in the presentation, and each student must submit the presentation slides via Turnitin by the day prior to their scheduled presentation. Slides should be converted to PDF format and labeled as “Presentation – Group #”. The presentation will be graded individually, based on both the quality of the slides and each student’s performance during the group presentation. All presentations will be held in person in class and will be video recorded to allow for later validation and verification of assessment, in accordance with point 7 of the ANU Student Assessment (Coursework) policy. Detailed instructions will be provided by Week 3.

Assessment Task 3

Research Project Presentation and Q&A

Each group will deliver a Research Project Presentation summarizing their final analysis, key findings, and implications. This presentation serves as the culmination of the semester-long project and provides an opportunity to demonstrate the application of empirical methods to a practical finance question. Each group will present for a maximum of 10–20 minutes, depending on group size.

Immediately following the group presentation, each student will complete a brief (approximately 3-minute) individual Q&A, during which they will respond to instructor questions designed to assess their understanding of the project. The oral component will be assessed individually and is designed to verify the student’s independent understanding.

All members must participate in the presentation, and each student is required to submit the presentation slides via Turnitin by the day prior to their scheduled presentation. Slides should be submitted in PDF format and labeled as “Final Presentation – Group #”. The presentation will be graded individually, based on the quality of the slides and each student’s performance during the group presentation.

All presentations will be held in person in class and will be video recorded to enable validation and verification of assessment, in accordance with point 7 of the ANU Student Assessment (Coursework) policy. Detailed instructions will be provided by Week 8.

Assessment Task 4

Final Project Report (Group) and Individual Reflection

This assessment requires students to produce a rigorous research report. The final report should include standard components of a research paper, such as an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and conclusion. Clear, well-structured academic writing is expected.

To support individual accountability, each student must also submit a 300–500 word critical reflection as a separate individual component, included at the end of their submission. The reflection should address the following:

1. The student’s specific contributions to the project;

2. Key challenges encountered and how they were addressed;

3. Lessons learned about conducting the research;

4. Whether and how any AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) were used, and how outputs were evaluated or revised;

5. A brief peer evaluation of other group members’ contributions.

Each student must submit the full project report (including their individual reflection) via Turnitin. The submission must be in PDF format and labeled as: “Report–Group #–Student ID”.

Students will be assessed on their ability to frame a clear research question, identify valid limitations, apply appropriate methods, present results effectively, and draw meaningful conclusions. The critical reflection will also contribute to the individual grade, based on depth of insight, clarity, and evidence of individual engagement.

Detailed instructions will be provided in Week 8.

All students are expected to make a substantive contribution to their group’s work. Peer and self-evaluations submitted through the reflection will inform assessment, and individual grades may be adjusted where there is evidence of unequal contribution.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

Please refer to the assessment section for detailed submission method for each assessment. The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

The use of online submission for assignments via TurnitIn is compulsory unless an exemption is granted.

Late Submission

No late submission is permitted in this course. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Grade and feedback on assessments will be provided via Canvas. Please refer to the assessment section for the detailed returning dates for each assessment.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

N/A

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students