Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Law School
Corporate governance is a distinct field involving the mechanisms by which companies are controlled and directed, including legal, regulatory, administrative, and market-based practices. This course covers the allocation of rights and responsibilities among business participants and ensures accountability of those managing companies. It provides a focused, principled overview of governance arrangements in Australia, situated within broader policy and theoretical contexts shaping modern corporate governance law and practice.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
16 units of LAWS courses and LAWS3702
Restrictions
LLB(Hons) and associated dual programs
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course seeks to develop a theoretically informed account of modern corporate governance law and practice and, in particular, to:
1. Introduce you to corporate governance theory and the underlying legal, economic and financial principles that inform and support the effective regulation of the activities of corporations;
2. Examine issues affecting the governance of corporations in the post-GFC era and the regulatory and market mechanisms that are used to control and inform corporate behaviour;
3. Develop your legal skills through legal writing, case analysis, statutory interpretation, problem solving, and the use of online materials and databases;
4. Encourage you to think critically about the role of the corporation in society, how corporations are and should be regulated, and whether current approaches to corporate governance are effective.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain to an intelligent layperson the principles underlying the governance of corporations in Australia and internationally.
LO2.
Understand and explain the theoretical bases of corporate governance and how the mechanisms of governance currently employed reflect theoretical conceptions of the corporation.
LO3.
Analyse real or hypothetical situations and identify the doctrinal and normative governance issues arising from these situations.
LO4.
Demonstrate an awareness of the different policy perspectives that bear upon the conceptualisation of corporate governance issues and their solutions.
LO5.
Undertake research in the field of corporate governance with a view to resolving more complex problems or advising on the effect of further developing or reforming current principles and rules.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay/ Critique |
Tutorial Notes
|
10% |
28/07/2025 - 20/10/2025
The notes must be submitted before the start of the seminar to which the notes relate. |
| Essay/ Critique |
Essay
|
50% |
7/10/2025 2:00 pm |
| Examination |
End-of-semester Examination
|
40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
Assessment details
Tutorial Notes
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
28/07/2025 - 20/10/2025
The notes must be submitted before the start of the seminar to which the notes relate.
Task description
See Course Learning Guide.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Extension is not required becuse: (a) Students are required to select 6 out of the 12 class to prepare upon which to prepare their notes; and (b) feedback will be given in the class to which the notes relate.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Essay
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
7/10/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
See Course Learning Guide.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
End-of-semester Examination
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Other conditions
- Secure.
Task description
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open book examination - any written or printed material is permitted; material may be annotated |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 49 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | - |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Further assessment information, including marking criteria and standards, is provided in the Course Learning Guide.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
A reading list is contained in the Course Learning Guide.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Seminar |
Seminars |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: