https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/E_FIN_RPFINDisciplinary knowledge. Students know the main defining principles, methodological cornerstones, and tools in the discipline and possess applicable knowledge to analyze complex questions in corporate finance, investments / asset pricing and institutional finance. Analytical thinking: a. Critical reading and judgement. Students are able to search, identify, read and understand the relevant academic literature in the area of finance and critically assess academic research. b. Abstraction in complex settings. Students are able to abstract complex realistic problems in finance to their core, formulate precise research questions and hypotheses, and create their own frame of analysis to address the research question. Quantitative skills: Students possess the quantitative analysis skills to answer complex research questions in the area of finance; they are able to select the appropriate quantitative techniques for analysis, gather empirical data from financial databases, manipulate large data sets, efficiently use statistical software to perform the analysis and critically interpret estimation results. Professional skills: a. Professional independence and Communication. They have the ability to work and plan a demanding project on a tight time-line, both individually and in teams; they are able to communicate effectively (report the research set-up and findings clearly, both orally and in writing) and in a balanced way to a variety of audiences (professionals, non-experts). b. Societal awareness. Students possess the skills to identify new relevant questions in the area of finance; they are able to put these questions into societal contexts. c. Reflection. Students have the ability to self-reflect, to critically assess their own (and others) output and performance, and to improve upon this where needed; formulate issues and/or research questions that lie beyond (or after) the research question at hand and thus contribute to further knowledge creation.Students will work on projects covering various areas in finance, including corporate finance, investments and asset pricing, and institutional finance. A limited number of projects requiring a strong background in econometrics will be available for participants in the Quantitative Finance Track. While initial references from the academic literature may be provided, students are expected to actively seek out additional relevant sources. Among other objectives, this course serves as preparation for writing a master’s thesis. The research project gives students the opportunity to further develop the methodological skills necessary for successfully completing their thesis at the end of the program. During the research project, students will engage with tasks such as:Generating and presenting results from academic empirical researchCritically discussing academic research workUnderstanding the requirements for conducting empirical academic analysisWriting up research in proper academic formGroup meetings with a supervisorPlenary sessions for presentations of research set-up and resultsThe course grade is based on a final report, presentations of results, and the student’s discussion participation.A literature review is required for each project. Starting references from the relevant academic literature may be provided by the supervisor.For Finance, Climate and Sustainable Finance, and for Finance & Technology students, the material of Empirical Finance. For Financial Management and Corporate Finance Students the material of Financial Data and Decision Analysis. For Quantitative Finance Track students, we require knowledge of EQRM.