IBF491 Graduation Project
IBF491 Graduation Project
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
International Business and Finance
Azra Bičo
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This project aims to guide students to search and select related research topics for individual project, which explores a set of research questions related to the field of International Business and Finance (IBF). It is designed to help students to complete graduation project and prepare them for oral defense.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
FBA Master Thesis Manual / Bailey, S. (2011). Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students. Routledge.
Additional Literature
-Teaching Methods
Supervising via regular meeting with an appointed advisor, or via E-Mail correspondence
Public presentation of the project is required
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 5 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 8 | ||
| 9 | ||
| 10 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 12 | ||
| 13 | ||
| 14 | ||
| 15 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBF491.1 | Course | - | - | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F1.32 | Online MS teams and at Office B F1.32 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F1.32 | Online MS team and Office B F1.32 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 12:00 | B F1.32 | Online MS team and Office B F1.32 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Literature Review and Theorethical Framework
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 & 3
Methodology
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4
Analysis, results, discussion and conclusion
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 5
Writing structure and style
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5 & 6
Defense
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 7
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 12 ECTS credit course corresponds to 300 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Literature Review and Theorethical Framework
56 hours ⏳ (14 week × 4 h)
Methodology
24 hours ⏳ (12 week × 2 h)
Analysis, Results, Discussion and Conclusion
25 hours ⏳ (5 week × 5 h)
Writing structure and style
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Defense
3 hours ⏳ (1 week × 3 h)
300 Total Workload Hours
12 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IBF491] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IBF491 | Graduation Project | 0 | 28 | 12 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Last Semester | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Azra Bičo | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 10:00-12:00 Online MS teams and at Office B F1.32 Wednesday: 10:00-12:00 Online MS team and Office B F1.32 Thursday: 11:00-12:00 Online MS team and Office B F1.32 |
|||||||
| abico@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This project aims to guide students to search and select related research topics for individual project, which explores a set of research questions related to the field of International Business and Finance (IBF). It is designed to help students to complete graduation project and prepare them for oral defense. | |||||||||
| Textbook | FBA Master Thesis Manual / Bailey, S. (2011). Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students. Routledge. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Supervising via regular meeting with an appointed advisor, or via E-Mail correspondence. Public presentation of the project is required. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | ||||||||||
| Week 2 | ||||||||||
| Week 3 | ||||||||||
| Week 4 | ||||||||||
| Week 5 | ||||||||||
| Week 6 | ||||||||||
| Week 7 | ||||||||||
| Week 8 | ||||||||||
| Week 9 | ||||||||||
| Week 10 | ||||||||||
| Week 11 | ||||||||||
| Week 12 | ||||||||||
| Week 13 | ||||||||||
| Week 14 | ||||||||||
| Week 15 | ||||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Literature Review and Theorethical Framework | 1 | 20 | 1,2 & 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Methodology | 1 | 20 | 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Analysis, results, discussion and conclusion | 1 | 20 | 5 & 6 | Not Allowed | |
| Writing structure and style | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 | Not Allowed | |
| Defense | 1 | 20 | 7 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Literature Review and Theorethical Framework | 4 | 14 | 56 | Methodology | 2 | 12 | 24 | |||
| Analysis, Results, Discussion and Conclusion | 5 | 5 | 25 | Writing structure and style | 3 | 14 | 42 | |||
| Defense | 3 | 1 | 3 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 12 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 17/02/2026 | |||||||||
