Alternative Approaches to Valuation and Investment

The University of Melbourne connects investment valuation with risk, expected return and the cost of capital. Real options introduce the value of flexibility when a project can change. It suits learners who want to compare valuation approaches and understand why a formula can produce a misleading decision when its assumptions do not match the business situation.

What you will learn

• Distinguish standalone, systematic and diversifiable risk.
• Explore expected returns and the cost of capital.
• Compare standard valuation with real-options reasoning.

Who this suits

Learners comfortable with finance calculations and spreadsheets. The provider labels the course mixed; its valuation work benefits from a foundation in discounting and financial statements.

Before you enroll

Check the mathematical preparation and spreadsheet work before enrolling. Market examples, tax treatments and regulations belong to particular dates and jurisdictions. Use fictional portfolios to test a method and record its assumptions, costs and limitations; a course completion certificate does not establish investment performance or professional authorization.

Coursera offers paid enrollment or subscription access. Check the enrollment screen for assessment and certificate terms, trials and any financial-aid options. Provider access terms can change; review them before paying.

Put it into practice

Value a fictional project using a stated discount rate, then change one risk assumption. Describe an option to delay or expand the project and explain why a fixed cash-flow model may miss that flexibility.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 12 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

View the curriculum and current access options at Coursera.

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