Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE BKF4330

 
TITLE Alternative Investments

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Banking, Finance and Investments

 
DESCRIPTION The purpose of this study-unit is to explore the world of alternative investments such as hedge funds, commodities, real estate and private equity. The study unit aims to add a new dimension to the construction and management of traditional investment portfolios, such as bonds and equities, by focusing on the workings of the industries classified under alternative investments, examine their incentives and subsequent transactions and present them in detail within an academic and practical framework.

Study-unit Aims:

The aim is to broaden the student's understanding of the alternative investments industry. Looking at hedge fund strategies, Private Equity, Real Estate, Commodities, Art Finance, Environment Investments, Energy markets, Islamic finance and structured products

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

Have a clear and comprehensive understanding of how the different alternative investment strategies are structured, its methods and most common investments strategies and how this industry compares to traditional investment vehicles.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Exhibit an educated view in the selection, construction and application of alternative investment strategies.
- Identify and analyse (both conceptually and practically) the risk and return characteristics of alternative investment vehicles and strategies.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Lecturer’s Powerpoint slides.
"Handbook of Alternative Assets", by Mark J. P. Anson (2006), John Wiley & Sons.
“Investment Strategies of Hedge Funds”, by F. Stefanini, Wiley.
“Investment Banks, Hedge Funds and Private Equity”, by David Stowell (2012), Academic Press.
Other materials (articles, papers etc) can be made available when course materials are developed into detail.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 20%
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Jean Paul Gauci

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit