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LAW40670

Academic Year 2026/2027

Corporate Governance (LAW40670)

Subject:
Law
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Law
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Pastor Aoife McPartland
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module will cover both the legal and regulatory environment and the informational and market infrastructures which apply in Ireland and the wider EU. The objective of this module is to develop an understanding of the development of corporate governance and its importance to companies and their stakeholders. It seeks to provide a framework for analysing how regulations impact on corporate decision-making, ethics and planning. The module will investigate the processes of supervision and control within companies and determine what the primary aims of those processes should be. It will examine the regulations and norms which seek to ensure that directors act in the interests of shareholders or wider stakeholder groups as appropriate. It will examine both the theory and the reality of shareholder democracy. Throughout the module, consideration will be given to the important question of determining the appropriate form of regulation to achieve the desired aims of corporate governance.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should: - be able to identify and discuss the main themes, perspectives and issues in the area of corporate governance - have developed their existing critical analytical skills and be able to apply them to topical corporate governance issues such as the recent banking crisis- be able to make informed recommendations for reform in the area of corporate governance- be able to demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the multidisciplinary approach to corporate law scholarship- be able to present ideas orally and engage in discussion.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction and Overview
Agency Costs and the Theory of the Firm
Codes of Corporate Governance
Board Diversity
Executive Compensation
Corporate Social Responsibility/Environmental, Social and Governance
Artificial Intelligence
Liability and Enforcement

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

100
Autonomous Student Learning

101
Total

225

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active/task-based learning; peer and group work; lectures; critical writing; reflective learning; enquiry & problem-based learning; debates; case-based learning; student presentations.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Company Law


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): 4,000 word research assignment Week 9 Graded No
80
 No
Viva Voce: Presentation on research assignment Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback delivered via virtual learning environment in line with law school policy.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 14:00 - 15:50
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