Study location	Netherlands, Maastricht
Type	Summer Courses, Full-time
Nominal duration	1 week (2 ECTS)
Study language	English
Course code	MSS2008

Tuition fee	€399 one-time

Entry qualification

Enrolled as an Undergraduate student or Undergraduate diploma While there are no specific prerequisites, it is preferable for students to have completed a first- and second-year finance course. This background will help in understanding the advanced concepts covered in the course. No Prior Coding Experience Required: Students are not required to have any background in R or any other coding language. The course will cover the necessary tools and techniques for using R in investment analysis and portfolio management. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original.

Language requirements	English The language of the course is English, so we expect a fluent level and the ability to follow and participate in class.

More information	maastrichtsummerschool.nl

Overview

Course Description
“The Smart Investor” is a summer course designed to provide students with practical investment techniques and a deep understanding of finance. The course is tailored for ambitious individuals who aspire to lead and make informed investment decisions, whether in stocks, bonds, or other assets. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills, using the open-source software R for data analysis and portfolio management.

Goals
Broad course objectives:
• Overview of Finance and Investments: Gain a broad understanding of the field of finance and investments
• Application of Financial Information: Apply basic financial information to make informed investment decisions.
Specific Learning Goals:
• Investment Concepts: Understand what constitutes an investment and distinguish between direct and indirect investments
• Investment Environment: Describe the investment environment and provide an overview of various investment securities and asset classes
• Portfolio Formation: Explain the importance of selectivity, timing, and diversification in forming an investment portfolio
• Investment Management Process: Explain the investment management process and define different investment objectives/goals for retail investors
• Covariance and Risk Measurement: Understand what covariance measures and identify the best statistical tools to determine investment risk.

Recommended Literature
• Course Reader: Chapters 1 and 2 for Tutorial Module 1, and Chapters 3, 4, and 5 for Tutorial Module
• Textbook: Berk, J., & DeMarzo, P. (Corporate Finance, Global Edition). This textbook is recommended for refreshing key finance concepts such as valuation models, Net Present Value (NPV), Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Security Market Line (SML), and Capital Market Line (CML).
• Online Resources:
o R Project: www.rproject.org R Studio: rstudio.com PerformanceAnalytics Package: cran.rproject.org/web/packages/PerformanceAnalytics/PerformanceAnalytics.pdf
o Towards Data Science: towardsdatascience.com/how-to-build-anautomated-trading-system-using-r-34892b6d3320
o Yahoo Finance: finance.yahoo.com
o Zacks Stock Screener: www.zacks.com/screening/stock-screener
o Fama-French Data Library: mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/pages/faculty/ken.french/data_library.html#Research

Teaching Methods
Interactive Class, Lectures, PBL Tutorials, Presentations

Assessment Methods
Participation, Presentation, Assignment

Course Coordinator
Sjoke Merk