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Finance

Advanced Portfolio Management

Insights into the nuances of portfolio optimization and performance evaluation.

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17.5h (5 days)
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€1,399
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Face-to-face
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English
Program date: July 13-17, 2026
Early bird deadline: April 15, 2026
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Finance
Advanced Portfolio Management
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Course overview

This course covers the theory and practice of advanced portfolio management. Students will learn to formulate and solve portfolio choice problems with a focus on the practical challenges of taking optimization theory to the data. In particular, they will learn how to incorporate downside risk in their portfolio decisions, how to deal with estimation error in the inputs to their models, how to exploit return predictability for portfolio decisions combining big data with machine learning methods, and how to use factor models in portfolio decisions.

Advanced portfolio management is relevant today because modern financial markets are increasingly complex, data-intensive, and globally interconnected. Traditional diversification and mean–variance techniques, while foundational, are no longer sufficient to address nonlinear risks, and rapidly changing market dynamics.

This course provides advanced knowledge in portfolio management, emphasizing modern approaches such as downside risk measurement and control, robust optimization, Bayesian methods, and machine learning.

Through hands-on exercises, participants will develop practical expertise in portfolio optimization and data-driven investment strategies.

These are all crucial skills to navigate the challenges of managing portfolios in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Faculty

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for:

  • Finance Professionals
  • Portfolio Managers
  • Investment Analysts
  • Graduate Students

who want to deepen their understanding of cutting-edge portfolio management techniques. It is particularly suited for those who wish to:

  • Develop advanced skills in risk management and portfolio optimization.
  • Apply machine learning and big data methods to investment decisions.
  • Gain hands-on experience with factor models, optimization exercises, and real-world case studies.
  • Prepare for the challenges of managing portfolios in dynamic, complex, and data-driven financial markets.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will:

  • Apply advanced portfolio management concepts beyond traditional theory, including downside risk management, robust optimization, factor models, and the use of big data and machine learning in investment decision-making

  • Utilize analytical tools and software to perform data-driven portfolio analysis, bridging the gap between financial theory and practical implementation

  • Integrate academic and industry insights to develop a comprehensive understanding of contemporary asset management practices, informed by leading research and real-world experience

Key topics for Advanced Portfolio Management course

Take a look at the course outline below.

Course Outline

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  • Mean-Variance analysis
  • Downside risk
  • Parameter estimation risk
  • Return Predictability and Machine Learning
  • Portfolio Optimization with Factor Models

List of References

Here is a list of texts that may help you prepare for the course.

Recommended Texts

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  • Ang, Andrew. Asset management: A systematic approach to factor investing. Oxford University Press, 2014. (Chapter 14).
  • Fabozzi, Frank J., et al. Robust portfolio optimization and management. John Wiley & Sons, 2007.
  • Fabozzi, Frank J., Harry M. Markowitz, and Francis Gupta. “Portfolio selection.” Handbook of finance 2 (2008): 3-13. (Chapter 1).
  • Giglio, S., Kelly, B., & Xiu, D. (2022). Factor models, machine learning, and asset pricing. Annual Review of Financial Economics, 14(1), 337–368.
  • Kelly, Bryan, and Dacheng Xiu. “Financial machine learning.” Foundations and Trends® in Finance 13.3-4 (2023): 205-363.  (Chapter 3).
  • Rockafellar, R. T., & Uryasev, S. (2001). Conditional value-at-risk for general loss distributions (Research Report #2001-5). University of Florida.

Why Join our Summer School?

All BSE Summer courses are taught to the same high standard as our Master’s programs. Join us to:

1

Network with like-minded peers

2

Study in vibrant Barcelona

3

Learn from world-renowned faculty

Admissions and Requirements

All BSE Summer School applicants must meet the entrance requirements.

Program date: July 13-17, 2026
Early bird deadline: April 15, 2026

Requirements

Summer School applicants normally demonstrate one or more of the following:

  • A strong background in Economics or a field closely related to the course topic (Statistics, Law, etc.)
  • Postgraduate degree or current Master’s/PhD studies related to the course topic
  • Relevant professional experience

Requirements for Advanced Portfolio Management

  • A basic understanding of statistics and calculus is required.
  • Familiarity with portfolio theory and asset pricing is recommended but not essential.

Schedule

Here is your schedule for this edition of BSE Finance Summer School Advanced Portfolio Management course.

Time
13
mon
14
tue
15
wed
16
thu
17
fri
09:00 - 11:00
Lecture
16:15 - 17:45
Practical

Credit Transfers (ECTS)

Students wishing to do a credit transfer will take an exam during the afternoon session on the last day. The exam will consist of general questions covering the basic contents of the course.

Consult the Summer School Admissions page for more information about this option.

Certificate of Attendance

Participants who attend more than 80% of the course will receive a Certificate of Attendance, free of charge.

Fees

Multiple course discounts are available, consult our fees and discounts to learn more. Fees for courses in other Summer School programs may vary.

Course
Advanced Portfolio Management
Large Language Models in Finance
Private Equity: Deal Structuring, Recapitalizations, and Exit Strategies
Tidy Finance: Foundations for Reproducible Research
Modality
Face-to-face
Face-to-face
Face-to-face
Face-to-face
Total Hours
17.5
17.5
17.5
17.5
ECTS
1
1
1
1
Regular Fee
1,399€
1,399€
1,399€
1,399€
Reduced Fee*
799€
799€
799€
799€

* Reduced Fee applies for PhD or Master’s students, Alumni of BSE Master’s programs, and participants who are unemployed.

FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions by participants. Any further queries, please contact our Admissions Team.

Can I see the full Summer School calendar?

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You can view the full Summer School calendar here.

Is accommodation included in the course fee?

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Accommodation is not included in the course fee. Participants are responsible for finding accommodation.

Are the sessions recorded?

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Sessions will NOT be recorded; however, the materials provided by the professor will be available for a month after the course has finished.

How much does each Summer School course cost?

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Fees for each course may vary. Please consult each course page for accurate information.

Are there any discounts available?

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Yes, BSE offers a variety of discounts on its Summer School courses. See more information about available discounts or request a personalized discount quote by email.

Can I take more than one course?

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Yes! you can combine any of the Summer School courses (schedule permitting). See the full course calendar.

Cancelation and Refund Policy

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Please consult BSE Summer School policies for more information.

Are there any evening activities during the course?

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Yes, a social dinner is held once a week for all participants, it is free to attend.

Contact our Admissions Team

Mix and match your summer courses!

Remember that you can combine Finance Summer School courses with courses in any of the other BSE Summer School programs (schedule permitting). Maximise your learning this summer and take advantage of our multiple-course discount.

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