Postgraduate Diploma in Hedge Funds via Online Distance Learning

Introduction to Financial Services

The Financial Service Sector; The Role of the Financial Service Industry Today; Banks & Financial Service Institutions; Services Offered; Defining a Bank; Types of Banks; Non-Bank Financial Terms; Trends Within the Financial Services Industry; Trends Affecting the Financial Service Industry; Characteristics of a Financial Service Provider; Financial Services Regulation; Reasons for Government Regulation; Aims of Regulation; Professional Bodies; Codes of Practices; Financial Regulatory Authorities by Country;

Insurance, Investment Banking & Capital

Investment Bank Services; Front Office Investment Bank Services; Middle Office Investment Bank Services; Back Office Investment Bank Services; Differences between Investment Bank and Commercial Bank; Stocks; Shares and Bonds; Types of Investments; Ordinary Shares; Preference Shares; Share Returns; Collective Investment Schemes; Unit Trusts & OEICs; Investment Trusts; Differences Between Unit and Investment Trusts; Tracker Funds; Exchange Traded Funds; Fund Charges; Types of Insurance; Life Insurance; Property Insurance; Liability Insurance; Insurance Policy; Annuity; Financial Capital; Types of Capital; Sources of Capital; Working Capital; Fixed Capital; Leverage; Financial Instrument; Shareholders; Capital Risk and International Requirements; Capital Ratio; Capital Management; Insurable Interest; Utmost Good Faith; Warranty; Rules and Regulations; Market Manipulation; Securities Commission;

Introduction to Hedge Funds

Introduction to Hedge Funds; Defining Hedge Funds; Hedge Funds and Mutual Funds; Relative Returns; Absolute Returns; Hedge Funds & Liquidity; Arbitrage Strategies; Event-Driven Strategies; Directional Strategies; Higher Returns and Bear Markets; Hedge Funds & Risk; Funds of Hedge Funds;

Structure of Hedge Funds

Organisational Structure; General and Limited Partners; Fee Structure; Management & Incentive Fee; Term Structure; Subscriptions and Redemptions; Lock-Ups; Service Providers; Board of Directors; Sponsors; Custodians/ Trustees; Introduction to Investment Structures; Single and Multi-Manager Funds; Master-Feeder Fund; Mirror Funds; Umbrella Funds; Side Pockets;

Fund Administration

The Fund Administrator; Determining Net Asset Value; Shareholder Service Agent; Shareholder Redemption; Shareholder Transfer; Stamp Duty; Articles of Association; Trading & Investing; Supply & Demand; Mark to Market Trading; Trading Margin Accounts; Equity; Weighted Average Cost of Equity; Weighted Average Costing; FIFO Cost Allocation; Realized and Unrealized Gains & Losses; Fixed Interest Securities; Gilts & Bonds; Conventional Gilts; Index-Linked Gilts; Undated Gilts; Gilt Strips; Risk - Bonds & Gilts; The Custodian Bank; Custodian Procedures; Settlement Procedures; Safekeeping; Income Collection; Corporate Actions; Mandatory and Voluntary Corporate Action; Taxation Services; Proxy Voting; Trustees; Valuations;

Financial Law, Regulations & Compliance

Financial Regulation; Aims of Regulation; Regulation of Banks; Regulation of Listed Companies; Regulation of the Stock Exchange; Regulation of Investments; Regulation of Anti-Money Laundering; Principles of Bank Regulations; Components of Bank Regulation; International Law; International Banking Regulations; The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision; Basel III; Basel Capital Accord; Compliance; Principles in Compliance;

Hedge Fund Strategies

Tolls Used by Hedge Funds; Buying & Selling; Equity Hedge; Buying on a Margin; Short Selling & Securities Lending; Derivatives; Leverage; Financial Leverage; Construction Leverage; Instrument Leverage; Investment Approaches & Introduction to Hedge Fund Strategies; Introduction to Merger Arbitrage; Types of Mergers & Acquisitions; Horizontal Merger; Vertical Merger; Co-Generic Merger; Conglomerate Merger; Cash Merger; Stock Swap Merger; Leverage Buyouts; Spin Offs; Risk Management; Volatility Risk; Commodity Risk; Event Risk; Tail Risk; Convertible Arbitrage; Credit Spreads; Implied Volatility; Fixed-Income Arbitrage; Yield Curve Arbitrage; Basis Trading; Capital Structure Arbitrage; Hedging Techniques; Types of Securities; Collateralized Debt Obligation; Mortgage Backed Securities; Pass Through Securities;

Risk Characteristics of Hedge Funds

Specific associated hedge fund risks; Risk management; measuring risk; Risk adjusted performance measures; Applying effective risk management strategies to offshore funds; Importance of effective fund administration; Effects of adding hedge funds to traditional portfolios;

Measuring Returns & Performance

Introduction to measuring returns; Associated difficulties; Measuring net asset values; Equalization; crystallization; Multiple share classes; The free-ride syndrome; Onshore versus offshore funds; Equalization factor; Calculating return; The Sharpe ratio; The Treynor ratio; Jensen alpha; Downside risk; Hedge fund databases; Indices; Benchmarks;

Hedge Fund Investing

Introduction to hedge fund investing; The benefits of hedge funds; Portfolio construction; Asset Allocation And Amount; Static Versus Dynamic Allocations; GIGO Syndrome; Hedge Fund Options; Objectives; Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis; Funds Of Hedge Funds; Advantages Of Funds Of Funds; Disadvantages Of Funds Of Funds; Introduction To Structured Products On Hedge Funds; A Growing Area In The Financial Services Industry; Flexibility In Portfolio Construction; Constant Proportion Portfolio Insurance; Return Swaps; Call Options; Capital Protected Notes; Enhancing Return And Mitigating Risk;

Macroeconomics

Introduction to macroeconomics; Understanding macroeconomics; Principles of economics; How the market works; Gross domestic product; International trade; Open economy; Labour market; Income; expenditure and the circular flow; The consumer price index; Cost of taxation; Employment; Cost of living; The Philips Curve; National income; Supply and demand for goods and services; Money and inflation; The quantity theory of money; Interest rates; Social costs of inflation; Hyperinflation; Exchange rates; Economic fluctuations; Economic growth; Economy in the long run; Accumulation of capital; Population growth; Policies to promote growth; The Solow Model; The business cycle; Aggregate demand and supply; The IS-LM Model; The money market; How fiscal and monetary policies shift the LM Curve; Floating and fixed exchange rates; The Mundell-Fleming Model; Policy debates; Investment; Government policies;

Microeconomics

Introduction to microeconomics; Trade; Trade-offs and government policy; Production and supply’ Elasticities; Individual choice in supply and demand; Production and cost analysis; Competitive markets; Oligopoly and monopolistic competition; Strategic pricing; Uncertainty;

Financial Accounting

Introduction to financial accounting; Users of financial information; Key accounting models; Terminology; Need for financial statements; The balance sheet; Balance sheet layouts; Ratio and the balance sheet; Income statement and layout; Ratios; revenues and trade receivables; Owners’ equity; Cash flow measurement and documentation; Inventories and cost of sales; Tangible and intangible assets; Liabilities; Financial statements and recording transactions; Preparing financial statements; Analyzing and interpreting financial statements; Analysis tools; Auditing;

Marketing Financial Services

Introduction to marketing; Researching the marketplace; Ethics in research and information management; Segmenting and targeting the financial services marketplace; Consumer segments; Business segments; Targeting; positioning; Customer relationship management (CRM); Customer value; Loyalty programmes; Customer satisfaction; Relationships with stakeholders; Relationship with businesses; Internal marketing; Relationship lifecycle;

The Financial Services Industry Workplace

Careers in the financial services industry; Job descriptions; Code of conduct; Employer and employee rights and responsibilities; Performance appraisal; Security; Making decisions; Management; team leadership; Professional development; Time management; Organization;

Communication

Verbal and nonverbal communication in the workforce; Common obstacles to communication; Listening skills; Organization communication; Effective communication channels; Working in a team; Team roles; Benefits of negotiation; Dealing with conflict;

The Future of Financial Services

Acquisitions and mergers; The prosumer; Customer experience; New technology that is transforming banking; Social networking; New payments; Cash-RFID; Biometrics; Mobile P2P micropayments;

Spreadsheets (Calc)

Introduction to spreadsheets; Step by step instructions on using the features; Functions and applications for spreadsheets; Customizing the spreadsheet software; Installing the spreadsheet software; Security; Platforms; Operating system compatibility;

Financial Terminology

Detailed definitions of key financial services terms;

Setting Up & Marketing Your Own Consultancy

The Business Plan; Legalities; Setting Up; the Marketing Strategy; Knowing Your Competitors; Promotional Tools;

Business Ethics

Business ethics; Business and the environment; Commercial Law; Company Law; Contract Law; Employment Law; Law of Tort;

Presentation Skills

Preparation and Research; Speech Content; Subject Matter and Objectives; Speech Delivery and Variety; Body Language; Eye Contact; Presentation Aids; Management of Locations and Audiences; Presentation Structure;

Criteria for eligibility must be met in full prior to commencing the programme. For successful enrollment on the Postgraduate Diploma course, the minimum entry requirement is a prior Degree level qualification.

On successful completion of this course you will receive a Professional Postgraduate Diploma qualification that is certified and awarded by the ICM (Institute of Commercial Management).

The Institute of Commercial Management was founded in 1979 and is one of the leading Professional Examination and Certification Bodies in the world today. Fitzwilliam Institute have developed and provided practical skills training courses in liaison with the Institute of Commercial Management qualifications and certifications framework for over 25 years. The Institute of Commercial Management certifications and continual professional development training awards are recognised by leading industries, bodies and professions.

next start date: 29th November 2024

Duration: You will have full access to online resources and subject expert support for two calendar years. However, you can complete the course in as little as 1 year, by dedicating 6-8 hours of study per week.

Course Fees: 1795.00 GPB

To secure your place on the course the full fee is required. All fees must be paid in full before the course begins. Please note, the full course fees are inclusive of all course materials and certification costs.

Enrolment intake is strictly limited on this course. Early application is advised. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Fitzwilliam Institute closes on Bank Holidays and for a number of days at Christmas and New Year. Fitzwilliam Institute reserves the right to postpone, cancel or alter courses without notice or to change any of the details in this brochure. Fees are not refundable unless the course is cancelled by Fitzwilliam Institute. Distance Learning courses are provided by Fitzwilliam Institute BGLS Ltd.