FIRN’s program of courses are open to all PhD students and early career researchers.  All PhD courses (core, elective and master classes) are listed on the FIRN website and promoted in the monthly FIRN email.  If you have any questions about the program please email info@firn.org.au.

2023 PhD Course Program – Semester 1

Finance Theory
Presenter: Professor Tom Smith, Macquarie University
Online delivery, 3-5pm on the following weekends:

Module 1: Saturday 25th February

Module 2: Saturday 25th March

Module 3: Saturday 29th April

Final Exam: Thursday June 15th 2-5pm
2023 Course syllabus
Registrations for 2023 here.

Advanced Empirical Finance*
Presenter: Professor Federico Nardari, University of Melbourne
Online delivery, 1.30-6.30pm (Melbourne Time)
Module 1:          11, 14 and 15 of March
Module 2:          3, 5 and 6 of April
Module 3:          23, 26 and 27 of May
2023 Course syllabus
*this is an advance capstone course with a pre-requisite knowledge requirement
Registrations for 2023 here.

Empirical Corporate Finance
Presenter: Alfred Yawson, University of Adelaide
Online delivery, 3 hour class on 10am-1pm (Adelaide time)
The course is held on the following dates:
March 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 + April 4 & 6.

Final Assignment Presentation: Thursday 27 April
2023 course syllabus
Registrations for 2023 here.

2022 Courses

2022 Masterclasses

FIRN offers PhD students and academics at FIRN member institutions access to research Masterclasses each year presented by world class international academics. The following masterclasses will be offered in 2022.

Masterclass in Household Finance, 2022
Presenter: James Choi, Yale School of Management

On-line delivery
Monday 20 June to Friday 24 June, 2022, 9.45am – 1:00pm (AEST)
2022 Course syllabus
Register here

Masterclass in Corporate Finance, 2022
Presenter: Gordon Phillips, Tuk School of Business at Dartmouth
In person at UNSW, Sydney Monday 28 November to Friday 2 December.
2022 Course syllabus
Register here

2022 PhD Course Program – Semester 2

Research Methods (elective)
Presenters: Professor Martina Linnenluecke & Professor Tom Smith
On-line delivery
Four Day Intensive
3pm-5pm on Zoom, Monday 18 to Thursday 21 July
2022 Course syllabus
Register here

Behavioural Finance
Presenter: Joshua Shemesh & Chris Veld (Monash)
The objective of this unit is to teach doctoral students topics that are on the forefront of the academic literature. The topic for this course is behavioural finance, which combines elements of finance and psychology into a new field that has gained a lot of importance in recent times. The unit will cover research papers and will also provide students with the skills to conduct finance research.
On-line delivery. Preliminary dates and times: 1pm-4pm, Wednesdays from July 27 through to October 19
Exact dates and times to be confirmed.
Preliminary Course syllabus
Register here

Corporate Finance Theory
Presenter: Kentaro Asai (ANU)
On-line delivery: 2pm-5pm, Tuesdays from July 18 through to November 20
Course syllabus
Register here

Empirical Finance
Presenter:  Professor Tom Smith (Macquarie)
On-line delivery, 3-5pm on following weekends
Module 1:  30/31 July
Module 2:  27/28 August
Module 3:  24/25 September
Final Exam: 2-5pm Thursday 10 November
2022 Course syllabus
Register here

Intermediate Econometrics
Presenter: Daniel Smith (QUT)
On-line delivery, 10am-1pm on Thursdays from July 28 through to October 28.
Past Course syllabus
Register here

Market Microstructure and Decentralised Finance
Presenter: Professor Talis Putnins (UTS)
Classes on planned to be held on Fridays 2pm-5pm during August-October. Exact dates to be confirmed
Course Description
The full course syllabus will be available soon
Register here

PhD Workshop

Introduction to economic models of disclosure and cost of capital
Presenter: Greg Clinch, Macquarie University
This workshop is designed to introduce students to some of the analytical models used in accounting and finance research to investigate disclosure and cost of capital. There are two broad objectives:
1. To become familiar with and gain an understanding of analytical models relating to disclosure;
2. To explore how those models can be used to develop our intuition regarding the link between disclosure and cost of capital.
Course outline
2022 workshop dates to be confirmed

PhD Course Enrolment Procedure

  • Download the course syllabus from the FIRN website and ensure that you meet the pre-requisite knowledge requirements.
  • Enrol through our online booking system (links will be on the FIRN website).  You will need to indicate:
  • You have permission from your PhD Supervisor (or PhD Coordinator) to do the course.
  • Whether you are doing the course for credit recognition
  • You agree to the FIRN terms and conditions (see below)
  • That you have your school’s approval to undertake the course off-campus (if applicable) for insurance purposes

FIRN will:

  • Forward your enrolment details to the PhD course co-ordinator who will record your grades in the course and submit the final grades to FIRN
  • Track your enrolment in each course and provide you with a certificate when you complete each course

Terms and conditions:

  • PhD students understand and accept they meet all pre-requisites before enrolling in a FIRN course.
  • PhD students understand that FIRN’s PhD program involves “advanced courses” specifically designed to be challenging.
  • PhD student enrolments are accepted on the understanding they intend to complete the full course program including all assessment requirements (Note: travel funding approval is often conditional upon students completing the full program).
  • PhD students may not attend FIRN courses on a casual basis – no exceptions.
  • PhD students have obtained their Supervisor’s approval (in writing) before enrolling.
  • If, for any reason, a PhD student is unable to complete the course they must notify their supervisor, PhD co-ordinatior and FIRN by email.  The course co-ordinator is not responsible for managing your enrolment.  If PhD students don’t complete all of the assessments then they receive an automatic 2- Fail Did Not Complete recorded on FIRN’s records. 
  • Academics are also able to enrol in the courses for professional development and should enrol through the online booking system.
  • One course auditor per institution is allowed.  Course auditors must have a PhD.