CORPFIN 2505 - Alternative Investments

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023

The purpose of this course is to present the principles of alternative investments in management. The course provides a detailed analysis of various classes of alternative investments in the financial markets. Alternative investment classes range from considering the role that venture capital, to real estate to artwork play in a well-diversified portfolio. The theoretical part of the course is meant to collect, systematize and deepen students? understanding of a given investment category, while the practical part of each focuses on an analysis of the current state of development of alternative investments on the global market and outlines the prospects of future market development.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CORPFIN 2505
    Course Alternative Investments
    Coordinating Unit Finance and Banking
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites CORPFIN 1002 or CORPFIN 1002UAC or CORPFIN 1002UACM
    Corequisites CORPFIN 2502
    Incompatible CORPFIN 3504
    Assessment Exam/assignments/tests/tutorial work as prescribed in the first lecture
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Mr Jiaxin Yang

    Course CoordinatorJiaxin Yang
    Email: jiaxin.yang@adelaide.edu.au
    Building: Nexus 10 Tower, Room 13.48
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    By the end of this course, students should be able to:

    1 Determine the different types of alternative investments
    2 Learn to identify what the return-risk characteristics of alternative investments are
    3 Measure the market value and associated risk-return characteristics of various alternative investments
    4 Identify the advantages and disadvantages of including alternative investments in a portfolio that includes traditional asset classes
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1-4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    2, 3

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    4

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    3, 4

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    .

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    .

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    3, 4

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The textbook for this subject is:

    Chambers, D.R., Black, K.H., Lacey, N.J., Alternative Investments: A Primer for Investment Professionals, CAIA Association, 2018

    The textbook is downloadable for free from: https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/research/foundation/2018/alternative-investments-a-primer-for-investment-professionals

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    This course will be delivered via a 2-hour weekly lecture and a 1-hour weekly tutorial. 

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This means that you are expected to commit approximately 10 hours of private study outside of your regular classes. Students in this course are expected to attend all seminars throughout the semester.

    Learning Activities Summary
    Lecture Schedule

    Weeks Topic Name Readings
    Week 1 Types of Alternative Investments and Their Characteristics Chapter 1
    Week 2 Real Estate Chapter 8
    Week 3 Private Equity Chapter 9
    Week 4 Introduction to Real Assets Chapter 6
    Week 5 Real Assets (Focusing on Commodities) Chapter 7
    Week 6 Collectibles Selected Readings
    Week 7 Hedge Funds Chapters 3, 4 and 5
    Week 8 Collateralized Debt Obligations Chapter 11
    Week 9 Investment Process, Operations and Due Diligence Chapter 13
    Week 10 The case for investing in alternatives Chapter 17
    Week 11 Review



  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Weighting Topics Covered Learning Outcomes
    Online Test 1 (Week 5) 20%

    1 - 4

    1, 2, 3
    Online Test 2 (Week 10 30% 5 - 8 3, 4
    Final Exam 50% All 1, 2, 3, 4
    Total 100%
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment Detail:

    1. Online Tests (Test 1 worth 20% and Test 2 worth 30%)

    Students will sit for online tests in week 5 and week 10 of the semester. These tests will be open-book, consisting of short answer questions (both qualitative and quantitative). Further details about the tests will be announced during the lectures. 

    2. Final Exam (Worth 50%)

    A final exam, worth 50%, will be held in the end-of-semester examination period. Further details on the examinable material, will be announced during the lectures.
    Submission
    Submission
    Please submit assignments through MyUni.  Further details on assignment submission will be announced at the start of semester.

    Assignment Guidelines for Referencing
    Referencing is critical to any assignment or report. Correct referencing is important because it identifies the source of the ideas and arguments that you present and helps to avoid the problem of plagiarism. Please make use of The Accounting Review’s system of
    referencing, which can be selected from EndNote referencing system.

    Guidelines for the use of this style of referencing can also be found at: https://meridian.allenpress.com/DocumentLibrary/AAAN/MANUSCRIPT_PREPARATION_AND_STYLE.pdf

    Return of Assignments and Feedback
    Assignments will be returned to  students within 2 weeks of the due date with written feedback. Students must not submit work for an assignment that has previously been submitted for this course or any other course without prior approval from the Course-Coordinator.

    Late Assignment Submission
    Students are expected to submit their work by the due date to maintain a fair and equitable system. A late assignment
    will be penalised by a 5% mark reduction for each day that it is late.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.