Portfolio Theory & Management

Undergraduate | 2026

Course page banner
Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
BAFI 3018
Course ID icon
Course ID
205318
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Accounting and Fin
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Syed Zamin Ali
Course level icon
Course level
3
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
No
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
No
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
No

Course overview

This course is an in-depth study of investment portfolios: the theory behind them, construction techniques, asset classes employed and their management. Asset classes examined in the context of portfolio construction will include Equities (both developed and emerging markets), Fixed Income Securities, Commodities, Real Estate, and Alternate Investments. Course participants will revisit and enhance their knowledge of the theoretical foundations of asset pricing, market efficiency and the Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). Course participants will then develop an Investment Policy Statement (or a Statement of Advice) for an institutional investor, quantitatively forecast characteristics of various asset classes in an economy, and then create an investment portfolio to satisfy the investment requirements. Students will learn various strategies to test the portfolio constructed, issues that impact portfolio performance in achieving investment objectives, and finally evaluate its performance.

Course learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate understanding of the Modern Portfolio Theory and the Mean-Variance Framework.
  • Create an Investment Portfolio and test its ability to achieve Investment Objectives
  • Analyse Core Asset classes (Equities and Fixed Income Securities) based on their characteristics and performance over economic and business cycles
  • Evaluate Non-Core Asset classes and Alternative Investments, and their relationship with Core Asset classes in a portfolio setting
  • Understand issues in portfolio construction, its management and its performance

Prerequisite(s)

  • must have completed BAFI2022 Business Valuation (UoA)

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

  • must not have completed CORPFIN3501 Portfolio Theory & Management at the University of Adelaide

Assumed knowledge

N/A

Textbook(s)

Yoram Lustig, 2013-01-07, Multi-Asset Investing, Harriman House Limited

Maria Debora Braga, 2015-12-10, Risk-Based Approaches to Asset Allocation, Springer

Inherent requirements

N/A

Other resources

TEXTBOOK: Running money : professional portfolio management [custom publication] ISBN 9781308251264

Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Choice Questions, Short Response Questions, Short Response Questions, Short Response Questions, Assignment

Availability

Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 13/03/2026
Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 27/03/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 10/04/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 08/05/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Group 1

Class number
Class number 30588
Section
Section TU01
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 0
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
26 Feb - 16 Apr Thursday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Nexus10, UB34
7 May - 4 Jun Thursday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Nexus10, UB34
Class number
Class number 30587
Section
Section TU02
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 25
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
24 Feb - 14 Apr Tuesday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
5 May - 2 Jun Tuesday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
Class number
Class number 30586
Section
Section TU03
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 23
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
27 Feb - 17 Apr Friday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
8 May - 5 Jun Friday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
Class number
Class number 30585
Section
Section TU04
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 18
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
24 Feb - 14 Apr Tuesday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Playford, P4-16
5 May - 2 Jun Tuesday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Playford, P4-16
Class number
Class number 30584
Section
Section TU05
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 25
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
27 Feb - 17 Apr Friday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 511
8 May - 5 Jun Friday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 511
Class number
Class number 30583
Section
Section TU06
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 9
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
24 Feb - 14 Apr Tuesday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 112
5 May - 2 Jun Tuesday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 112
Class number
Class number 30582
Section
Section LE01
Size
Size 150
Available
Available 70
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
26 Feb - 16 Apr Thursday 10:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, G04
7 May - 4 Jun Thursday 10:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, G04

Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 21/08/2026
Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 04/09/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 18/09/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 16/10/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Group 1

Class number
Class number 60253
Section
Section TU06
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 29
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
14 Oct - 11 Nov Wednesday 3:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 113
5 Aug - 23 Sep Wednesday 3:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 113
Class number
Class number 60231
Section
Section TU01
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 19
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
4 Aug - 22 Sep Tuesday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Bonython Jubilee, BJ2-34
13 Oct - 10 Nov Tuesday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Bonython Jubilee, BJ2-34
Class number
Class number 60232
Section
Section TU02
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 27
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
5 Aug - 23 Sep Wednesday 4:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus East Brookman, B4-20A
14 Oct - 11 Nov Wednesday 4:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus East Brookman, B4-20A
Class number
Class number 60256
Section
Section TU03
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 26
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
4 Aug - 22 Sep Tuesday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Brookman, B4-20A
13 Oct - 10 Nov Tuesday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Brookman, B4-20A
Class number
Class number 60255
Section
Section TU04
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 29
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
5 Aug - 23 Sep Wednesday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Hughes, 323
14 Oct - 11 Nov Wednesday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Hughes, 323
Class number
Class number 60254
Section
Section TU05
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 19
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
4 Aug - 22 Sep Tuesday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Playford, P4-16
13 Oct - 10 Nov Tuesday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Playford, P4-16
Class number
Class number 60257
Section
Section LE01
Size
Size 150
Available
Available 119
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
4 Aug - 22 Sep Tuesday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Playford, PM-06
13 Oct - 10 Nov Tuesday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Playford, PM-06

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