Inside the Queen Mary MSc Investment Fund (QUMMIF)
Elvia, an international MSc Investment and Finance student at Queen Mary University of London, recently completed the Queen Mary’s MSc Investment Fund (QUMMIF) competition. With over £40,000 in assets under management, QUMMIF offers postgraduates practical experience in investment analysis, portfolio management, and trading, along with valuable opportunities to network with peers, academics, and finance professionals.
As a postgraduate student on the MSc Investment and Finance programme, one of the most transformative experiences during my time at Queen Mary University of London was participating in QUMMIF, the Queen Mary University of London MSc Investment Fund. Seeking to bridge theory and practice, QUMMIF invites students to pitch equity investment theses, channeling the best ideas into a live portfolio fund currently valued at over £40,000. This was an opportunity I knew I had to seize, the moment I was enrolled in the School of Economics and Finance.
Why did I join QUMMIF?
Coming from a background where I had studied financial theory extensively, I wanted a chance to apply fundamental classroom learning to practical use. QUMMIF offered a hands-on platform to apply valuation techniques, macroeconomic analysis, and portfolio construction tools in a real-world setting, something rarely found at the academic level.
Beyond this, I saw QUMMIF as a professional development accelerator. It aligned perfectly with my long-term goals of working in investment management or asset allocation. Right from the inception of my research, I knew it would push me out of my comfort zone and help me develop critical skills like teamwork, communication, research, and leadership.
The project I worked on
My project for QUMMIF was a deep-dive analysis on the company – Ferrari N.V. (RACE:MI). We were tasked with identifying whether the luxury automaker still had upside potential in a high-interest-rate environment and slowing global growth. Our valuation model incorporated macro factors such as FX risk and luxury sector trends, and we assessed Ferrari’s capital efficiency and brand strength using bespoke metrics.
Presenting our final investment case to the portfolio managers and faculty supervisors was one of the most intense yet rewarding parts of the term.
Our group of six was divided based on each member's role in the project. I was tasked with finding the intrinsic value of Ferrari based on DCF (Discounted Cash Flow),` which is the most commonly used valuation model to value a company basis their future cash flows. My group mates were responsible for fundamental analysis, technical analysis, risk assessment and valuation using CCA (Comparable Company Analysis).
Our team first assessed the macroeconomic environment i.e. inflation, interest rates, geopolitical trends, etc. and then narrowed down sectors we believed were well-positioned to outperform. From there, we conducted in-depth company analysis.
One of the standout aspects of working on QUMMIF was how integral the Bloomberg Terminal became to our research process. We relied on Bloomberg for everything from equity screening and financial statement analysis to real-time market data, sector trends, and macroeconomic indicators.
This process mirrored the real-life decision-making of buy-side analysts, and that’s what made it so enriching.
My proudest moment
My proudest moment came when our team’s recommendation on Ferrari was pitched to the entire investment committee, consisting of industry professionals and last year QUMMIF winners.
The presentation was that one moment when all our hard work seemed to have been translating into something tangible and meaningful which was commended by the judges. That moment validated everything - the late nights running sensitivity analysis, the detailed competitive benchmarking, and the hours spent rehearsing our pitch.
The fund is student-run, which means we take ownership of everything from idea generation to risk monitoring and performance reporting. This level of responsibility is what made the experience so valuable.
Final thoughts
If you’re someone considering applying to Queen Mary and you’re passionate about investments, joining QUMMIF is a no-brainer. It’s rigorous, competitive, and demanding but it’s also incredibly rewarding. It offers the kind of exposure that textbooks alone cannot provide.
For me, QUMMIF was the highlight of my academic year and a major milestone in my development as a future investment professional. I leave the experience not only more confident but far better equipped for the real world of finance.