Overview

The unit aims to provide students with advanced knowledge of the latest developments in the alternative investment industry. Students will learn about private equity, real estate and commodities as alternative investment asset classes. Students will learn how to apply advanced knowledge of alternative investment assets including, pension funds, endowments, and sovereign wealth funds to form investment strategies. Subsequently, students are introduced to ethical principles considering the clients best interests. Financial technologies required for investment in alternative products are introduced and students will learn about investment performance analysis and decision-making paradigms.

Requisites

Prerequisites
FIN80026 Alternative Investments

Rule

50 credit points

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically analyse the different types of alternative investment products, including venture capital and commodities
  • Formulate valuation strategies and discuss their applications for private equity and venture capital investments
  • Demonstrate advanced understanding of investment strategies in real estate and hedge funds
  • Critically analyse complex investment situations that may lead to an ethical dilemma and recommend suitable solutions
  • Utilise financial technology to form an optimal portfolio of alternative investment products that satisfies the investor's risk-return objectives

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
Online
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 40 - 60% 1,2,3,4 
Assignment 1Individual 20 - 30% 1,2,4 
Assignment 2Individual 20 - 30% 1,3,4,5 

Content

  • Asset Allocation and Institutional Investors
  • Private Equity
  • Real Assets
  • Hedge Funds and Managed Futures and their strategies
  • Commodities and managed funds
  • Venture capital

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.