The G20 estimates the need for additional infrastructure investments beyond the current projected levels at 15 Trillion USD until 2040, which implies a yearly funding (or infrastructure) gap of 0,75 Trillion USD.

Although public spending may increase in the wake of the Covid19-crisis as a means of anti-circular spending, public funds will not be adequate to close the infrastructure gap. Therefore, private investments will be of great importance to update existing assets and build new infrastructure. Among these, investments in telecommunication (5G-Networks, Fiber-Cable, Satellites), renewable energy, transportation, social infrastructure (Health Care, Education) will be especially important.

For both public and private sponsors a detailed and meaningful planning process is of utmost importance, since infrastructure projects are capital intensive, run for many years and since the financing of the projects depends strongly on the underling planning model. Therefore, many sponsors tend to turn to advisory firms to evaluate their financial models or hand over the planning process to the consultancy firm.

In this course, a consultant from a big four company will discuss infrastructure investments from a theoretical (finance) perspective and illustrate the planning and structuring process of international infrastructure investments in depth. If possible, a current case study with a company will be integrated in the course.

During the course, students

• have acquired theoretical and conceptual knowledge of the nature and particularities of infrastructure investments,
• have gained theoretical and conceptual knowledge of international project finance,
• have an gained an overview of the international infrastructure market and
• understand how to develop a simple integrated financial model using Excel.

If regular classes are possible, attendance is mandatory. 

If there are restrictions in place in the summer term that make regular sessions for this class impossible because of Covid-19, this class will be taught entirely online. In the online format, students have access to asynchronous lecture casts. Course contents and grading remain unchanged.

As of today, 09.02.2021, the course will most likely be held entirely online. Two of the sessions above will be held live online (15.03.2021 and 23.04.2021). The remaining sessions will be held in the form of asynchronous lecture casts. Please consider this before you register for the course!

The course is designed as an online, modular course that is taught entirely online on learn@wu. It consists of lectures on international finance with focus on project finance as well as interactive modeling sections in Microsoft Excel.

Students are expected to complete ALL weekly online learning components:

- Pre-session mandatory readers

- Recorded  lecture casts (asynchronous)

- Weekly online assignments (Mini-Quizzes)

- Group work and Presentation

- Final Exam

Teaching language is English.

You need a Laptop with Microsoft-Excel to attend this course.

25% Weekly Mini-quizzes

25% Group Assignment

50% Final Exam

Grading scheme is subject to adjustments.

You need a Laptop with Microsoft-Excel to attend this course.