Applications to the MMF Luxembourg are now open.
Next deadline:
June 15, 2026
We are committed to providing opportunities to apply classroom theory to real-world challenges and industry projects. McGill Master of Management in Finance (MMF) students in Montreal and Luxembourg students gain the hands-on experience and industry exposure through a multitude of initiatives, many of which are supported by generous alumni.
Desautels Capital Management (DCM) is Canada’s first university-owned, student-run, licensed and regulated investment firm managing a multi-million dollar portfolio. . Established in 2009, DCM offers MMF and Honours Investment Management (HIM) students a distinctive hands-on experience in asset management, equipping participants for a seamless transition into the workforce.
The firm currently manages five funds:
- The Desautels Global Equity Fund
- The Desautels Fixed Income Fund
- The Desautels Alpha Squared Equity Fund
- The Desautels Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) Equity Fund
- The Van Berkom Small Cap Fund.
As part of the core DCM experience, the Desautels SRI Equity Fund is managed by MMF Luxembourg students. The Alpha Squared Equity Fund is managed by MMF Montreal students. The Desautels Global Equity Fund, the Desautels Fixed Income Fund and the Van Berkom Small Cap Fund are managed by HIM students.
Each fund has a team of student-analysts, led by a strategist. Students are guided by experienced faculty members and by the Desautels Global Experts (DGE) with expertise in investment management.
Alpha Squared Equity Fund
The Alpha Squared Equity Fund was launched in January 2017 to provide MMF students with real-world investment management experience. MMF students work as Analysts for DCM and are responsible for all elements of the $1-million Fund, including research, trade execution, portfolio and risk management, compliance, and settlement. The Fund uses a combination of top-down macroeconomic views, bottom-up fundamental valuation, and quantitative analysis. The MMF's rigorous curriculum provides students with the necessary skills to become effective managers, and students are further mentored by DCM's Chief Investment Officer, Prof. Vadim di Pietro.
Desautels SRI Equity Fund
The Desautels Faculty of Management has introduced a new fund dedicated to Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) under DCM. Learn more
Van Berkom Small Cap Fund
Made possible through a generous donation from Montreal finance leader J. Sebastian Van Berkom, founder of Van Berkom Global Asset Management, the Van Berkom Small Cap Fund gives HIM students hands-on experience managing a live small-cap portfolio through DCM. The fund complements DCM's existing offerings by expanding students' exposure to diverse investment strategies, broadening the firm's reach beyond large-cap and fixed-income investing into small-cap equities.
For further information on Fund details, investment style and past student publications visit www.desautelscapital.ca.
International study trip
The annual study trip to London, England, study trip is an immersive experience that brings MMF students a firsthand view of today’s financial landscape in a bustling metropolis. Leveraging McGill’s extensive alumni network, students meet with leaders in major financial organizations operating across different areas to gain direct insights into the operations of the city's thriving financial sector.
Over the course of five days, facilitated by McGill's robust alumni connections, students engage with diverse financial entities spanning sectors like asset management, real estate, risk management, and private equity.
MMF Montreal students participate in the study trip during their first year, while MMF Luxembourg students join in fall of year two.
Photo: Master of Management in Finance (MMF) students on an International study trip to London, UK (Oct. 2023)
Desautels Global Experts
McGill Desautels also offers social events designed to propel students' careers. Drawing from the strengths of the Desautels Global Experts (DGE), a group of over 100 seasoned industry leaders, students benefit from regular guest lectures, informal networking events and company visits.
Students Investing in a Better World
The Desautels Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) Equity Fund under Desautels Capital Management (DCM) allows students to consider environmental, social, and governance criteria in the investment process more profoundly, underlining the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in in the finance industry.
“Social responsibility is becoming more and more important to our investors and it’s also something that our students are very passionate about,” said Vadim di Pietro, Associate Professor of Finance and Chief Investment Officer at DCM.
For Paul Barnett, Managing Director at Ulysses Management, DCM effectively equips students with not only the knowledge about important issues like CSR, but also the skills to make an impact in the workplace.
“The hands-on experience that DCM offers is essential. Experiences that simulate the work environment allow new graduates to hit the ground running and make immediate contributions to their employer,” affirms Barnett.
If industry members can already attest to the value of the DCM experience, di Pietro sees the introduction of the SRI fund as a further step in the right direction: “Above all else, we must continue to meet our responsibility as an educational institution to prepare future financial leaders with a strong sense of community, business ethics and personal integrity.”
Photo: Master of Management in Finance (MMF) students at a DCM Stock Pitch event (Nov. 2023)
