Venture Capital and Private Equity ECON5165

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: Adam Smith Business School
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course introduces students to the key differences between venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE), highlighting their respective roles in funding startups and established businesses, and examining their broader economic impact. It covers the full investment process, including valuation methods, deal structuring, portfolio management strategies, and exit planning. Additionally, the course explores the application of VC and PE across various sectors and provides insight into global trends shaping the industries. A key experience of the course is the case group competition which includes reflection on students' work.

Timetable

Asynchronous:
8 hours of asynchronous learning activities which will include directed reading, case studies and practical questions.

 

Synchronous:

5 x 2-hour lectures on campus

4 x 2-hour lectures online

1 x 4-hour session for presentations

Requirements of Entry

Students must be registered on one of the associated programmes listed in this course specification.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

ILO being assessed

Course Aims

This course aims to:

1. Provide an in-depth understanding of empirical evidence and research in finance with a focus on alternative investments.

2. Prepare students to analyse complex financial scenarios using advanced theoretical and empirical methods.

3. Equip students with the skills to measure and manage financial risks effectively in dynamic market environments.

4. Enhance employability through experiential learning, utilizing real-world financial data and risk management scenarios.

5. Promote ethical awareness and sustainability in financial decision-making processes.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to: 

 

1. Analyse and critically evaluate decision-making, institutional design, technological applications, and policy interventions in venture capital and private equity financial planning using core concepts from finance.

 

2. Formulate and apply data management and analysis skill, demonstrating their optimal use in empirical financial data analysis.

 

3. Collaborate effectively in group settings to develop teamwork skills leading to the production of a combined piece of coursework that addresses complex financial problems.

 

4. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate entrepreneurial ventures from the perspective of both investors and entrepreneurs, assessing business potential, growth strategies, and risk.

 

5. Develop and present a deal structuring proposal, using real-world case studies to demonstrate an understanding of the full VC/PE process.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.