This department directs its main focus towards corporate financial decisions, emphasising the different aspects of ownership structures and companies' value creation. Department staff also study the valuation of financial instruments and the banking sector in Norway and abroad.
The department's objective is to help develop the discipline of financial economics through high-quality academic study programmes at all levels, and through research that contributes to the scientific study of finance as well as its practical application.
The department has a strong international orientation, and its staff in 2013 came from 12 different nations. The international profile is also reflected in scientific publication and teaching. All teaching takes place in English, from specialisation in MSc programmes in finance to lectures in the PhD programme.
Every year the department holds between 30 and 35 research seminars where some of the world's foremost researchers within financial economics present their research. The department's research is similarly presented at scientific conferences abroad and in research seminars at the invitation of other leading institutions. The department's strategy is to achieve publication in top international scientific journals.
Professor and Head of Department Richard Priestley received BI’s Research Award for 2013. He was awarded the prize for financial research of high international standing, and for his contributions to further development of the research environment at the Department of Finance.
The Department changed its name from Department of Financial Economics to Department of Finance effective from 1 January 2014.
Department Staff
Man-years
Two research centres are associated with the department
- Centre for Corporate Governance Research (Head: Øyvind Bøhren)
- Centre for Asset Pricing Research (Head: Paul Ehling)
One endowed professorship is associated with the department
- DnB NOR Chair in Financial Asset Management (Bruno Gerard)