Course Syllabus

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Semester & Location:

Spring 2026 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:

Core Course - 3 credits

Study Tour Desinations:

Hamburg, Germany & Edinburgh, Scotland
Major Disciplines:

Business, Economics, Finance
Type & Credits:

Core Course - 3 credits
Time & Place:

Mondays and Thursdays 08:30-09:50

Classroom: F24-306

Prerequisites:

A year-long sequence of Micro and Macroeconomics, and an introductory course in Finance

Faculty Member: Neil Smith 

Graduated from the University of Glasgow (Bachelor of Laws, 1999) and Diploma in Legal Practice (2000). Neil is based in Copenhagen as a Board Member and one of the owners of Nordeq Management A/S where he advises companies on structuring, international expansion and M & A. With DIS since spring 2016.

Objectives:

Removal of government controls and internationalization of firms have created, among other things, a vigorous global market in foreign exchange. These currency markets are the first contact most managers and investors have when venturing outside their own country.

Other major financial markets, such as the money markets (short-term instruments) and capital markets (debt and equity securities) maintain important domestic features, but are in fact dominated by multinational players trading global products.

This course aims at providing students with a practical understanding of foreign exchange markets, international money markets, and international capital markets. Students will be introduced to international finance by means of looking at how firms and governments interact with these markets, as well as how firms communicate to the market. The course will ask: Why is a country’s currency policy important? What are a country’s financial policy options? How do managers and investors determine their exposure, or risk? How do they control, or hedge, this exposure? How do they finance their operations and investments? What does the current trend around ESG mean for both businesses and governments?

In addition, political economy is currently more important for multinational businesses than in any time in a generation. We look at topical issues that are creating uncertainty, around trade and increasingly poltically aware consumers and investors and how these can be managed.

Requirements:

Written mid-term essay or examination (80 minutes), final paper or examination (open book), 3 case study assignments (to be completed in groups), 1 news presentation.

Case write-ups are due at the beginning of class on the due date indicated. Late cases will not be accepted.

Readings:

Please see course calendar for further details about what to prepare for each class. Links and files will also be available through the calendar.

Key text book:

Madura & Fox, “International Financial Management”

Others:

Grading

Assignment

Percent
Participation

20%

Cases

30%

Midterm

20%

Final written exam

30%

Course Policies

Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment - DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final  course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified.

DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software. Please see the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Comment on Artificial Intelligence (AI): In this course, we recognize that AI can be a valuable tool for researching topics and is increasingly used as a tool to save time in the workplace. Thus, appropriate use of AI is permitted.

It is also the case, though, that answers given by AI are imperfect and often lacking in nuance, particularly at the level of detail expected in this course. As such, AI should never be used uncritically or as a substitute for considering matters from first principles. There may also be exercises where the use of AI is expressly not permitted; in these instances you will be notified about this.

When using information from AI as part of an answer, the same rules should be used as when quoting from traditional sources i.e. the work should be attributed, multiple sources are better than one, and where the base source is referred to in the text, you should consult the base source. In other words, if an article is referred to in an AI answer, then responsible use of AI would be to read and refer to the original article, rather than the AI summary.

Breaches of the above procedure, most notably the unattributed use of extended AI answers, will be considered a case of academic dishonesty. We encourage questions if there is any doubt about the appropriate use of AI.

Attendance – You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss multiple classes the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified and they will follow up with you to make sure that all is well.  Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS. Allowances will be made in cases of illness.

Specifically:

 - An unexcused absence is any absence not due to illness AND not notified to the instructor in advance of class, unless specifically agreed otherwise with the instructor in advance.

 - A late arrival is any case where you are not ready to start class at the designated time (i.e. coming through the door at start time will count as a late arrival).

Your participation grade will be docked 10% for two unexcused absences and 10% for each additional unexcused absence. Your participation grade will be docked 5% for 2 late arrivals, and an additional 5% for each subsequent late arrival.

 

Academic Accommodations

Your learning experience in this class is important to me.  If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter within two weeks from the start of classes. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support academicsupport@dis.dk

 

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on: 

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org

 

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due