Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Teaching language

English

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course the student will:

• Be familiarized with key concepts, terminology, and themes in alternative finance research.

• Be familiarized with multiple stakeholder perspectives as captured in alternative finance research.

• Be familiarized with key theories informing alternative finance research.

• Be familiarized with key methodologies used in alternative finance research.

• Develop critical understanding of key controversies and debates in alternative finance research.

• Understand ethical considerations relevant for researching alternative finance.

• Understand dimensions of interdisciplinarity in alternative finance research.

Contents

The goal of this course is to acquaint students with both fundamental and advanced themes in alternative finance research, with a specific focus on understanding crowdfunding crowdfunding, microfinance, and blockchain finance. The course guides the students from understanding key phenomena and their related research streams towards critical consideration of opportunities to both improve existing research, as well as extending it in new directions. Specifically, critical reviews of conceptualization, theoretical anchoring, and methodological choices in this research field will inform participants abilities to develop independent, relevant, and contributory research agenda. The course is developed with several UN development goals in mind including dedicated session for reviewing research at the intersection of sustainability and alternative finance. More specifically, goals 1, 5, 9 and 10 are highlighted. Here, the introduction of alternative finance is viewed as a financing channel for innovation development and entrepreneurial venturing with strong potentialities of reducing poverty, social inequalities, as well as gender-based discrimination in finance. Schedule:

The course will be run as a full-week intensive course. Course paper will be delivered within 1 month after course completion.

Teaching and learning methods

The course will include a combination of lectures, student presentations of assigned readings, and in-class discussions of key learning points and critical reflections.

Examination requirements

Students are required to attend and actively participate in lectures and class discussions, as well as to hold several presentations of assigned readings on selected topics throughout the course.

Examinations

Course paper. Grading: Pass/Fail - where Pass must be equivalent to the letter grade B or better

Student evaluation

Dialogue between the course leader and the students after completion of the course

Offered as a free-standing course

Yes

Admission Requirement if given as a free-standing course

Admission to a relevant PhD program
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 3:07:09 PM