The module provides an overview of the subject of business administration and offers insight into the fundamentals of decision theory and the theory of non-cooperative games. With explicit consideration of market imperfections, it explores the question of why firms exist and how they should be managed. Both institutional aspects, such as legal forms of companies, and managerial issues, such as organizational structure, are addressed in order to examine the question of appropriate objectives for corporate action.

After completing the module, you will be able to:

• apply analytical tools for economic decision-making
• identify and explain the relevance of market imperfections in understanding the phenomenon of firms
• recognize the main legal forms of companies and their empirical significance

• critically assess different corporate objectives

• Compulsory for first-semester students in the B.Sc. programs
• Compulsory for the minor in Business Administration
• Students of the B.Sc. Sport Management program
• Elective in the B.A. Interdisciplinary American Studies and the M.A. American Studies (2015 and 2021)
• Compulsory in the B.Ed. Economics program (starting in 2023, students take this module as Module 1 – Fundamentals of Business Administration and complete it with a 90-minute written exam)

Registration for the exam is done via Alma. If this is not possible, please contact the examination office.

In this course, you will learn about the central role that financial institutions play in financial markets and how to distinguish between banks and non-bank financial institutions. You will develop the ability to evaluate the success factors of different business models and to describe the key risks faced by financial institutions. In addition, you will be able to identify and analyze the interconnections between various types of risks.

After completing the module, you will be able to:

• describe the primary and secondary markets for financial instruments
• characterize the main assets, liabilities, and off-balance-sheet activities of a bank
• distinguish between different types of financial institutions and describe their risks
• explain why the insolvency risk of a financial institution causally arises from other types of risks

No other modules are required as formal prerequisites for this module. The modules B301 Corporate Finance, B314 Accounting of Financial Instruments, and B361 International Financial Management are well suited to be taken together with or subsequent to the module B360 Banks and Risk Management.

Examination Regulations 2023: This course can be chosen within the modules B3x1–B3x7 Banking and Finance I–VII: specialization areas Banking and Finance, Elective Studies, and Elective Area in the Minor Business Administration.

Registration for the exam is done via Alma. If this is not possible, please contact the examination office.

The module initially deals with exchange rates and currency risks as the fundamentals of international financial management. Hedging and speculation as important strategic approaches to exchange rate risk management are introduced and dealt with in depth using numerous instruments. This includes the interaction with investment decisions. The special features of international finance are illustrated using direct investments and various aspects of corporate finance.

After completion of the module you will be able to:

• assess the determinants of exchange rate developments in different currency regimes
• assess the impact of currency risks
• analyse the tension between hedging and speculation and
• axplain models for the valuation of currency derivatives

Module B360 Banking and Risk Management and module B300 Capital Market Products are well suited to be taken together or consecutively with B361 International Financial Management

Examination regulations 2023:

• can be selected in the modules B3x1-B3x7 Banking and Finance I-VII: specialisation areas Banking and Finance, Elective Studies and elective area Minor in Business Administration
• can be selected in the modules B394-B395 Innovative Topics in International Business I-II: specialisation areas International Business and Elective Studies

Registration for the exam takes place via Alma, if this is not possible please contact the examination office.

Initially, the fundamentals of sustainable finance and its components are explained, and a definition of sustainable finance is developed. Subsequently, the opportunities and risks arising from climate change are examined. The lecture also addresses regulatory aspects and the role of central banks. Finally, the effects of climate change at the banking level are analyzed.

After completing the module, you will be able to:

• outline and illustrate the risks and opportunities of climate change for the financial industry
• recognize the relevance of ESG factors for lending activities
• describe approaches for integrating ESG risks into the risk management of credit institutions
• identify the impacts of climate change on the financial industry

• explain key arguments from recent academic studies

Examination Regulations 2023:

• Elective within the modules B3x6–B3x7 Banking and Finance VI–VII: specialization areas Banking and Finance, Elective Studies
• Elective area in the minor Business Administration

Examination Regulations 2018:

• Elective from the fourth semester onward in the B.Sc. programs within the specialization areas Banking & Finance, International Business, and Elective Studies
• Elective option in the elective area of the minor in Business Administration
• Elective option in the Economics Elective Module I (L401) of the M.Ed. Economics program

Registration for the exam is done via Alma. If this is not possible, please contact the examination office.