A student fund with a professional framework.
Prune Hill Capital gives Royal Holloway students hands-on experience in investment analysis, portfolio management and risk management, inside a clearly defined risk framework and with full academic oversight.
Why Prune Hill exists.
Most students learn about markets from textbooks. We think the best way to learn is to make real decisions, defend them in front of peers, and live with the results.
The Fund operates under Royal Holloway's Business School and is governed by a formal Investment Mandate. Its long-term horizon, strict limits and committee-based decisions mean members learn how institutional investors actually work, not how they're portrayed.
Our objectives
- Give participating students practical experience in investment analysis, portfolio management and risk management.
- Preserve and grow capital over the long term, within a clearly defined risk framework.
- Operate strictly on a non-profit basis, with all gains kept within or distributed through approved RHUL structures for student benefit.
Mandate section 1
From idea to fund.
- The idea
A student initiative
Prune Hill started with a simple question: why should students only read about investing when they could practise it? The idea was a fund run by students, held to professional standards.
- First cohort
Partnership with the Business School
The Fund formalised its partnership with Royal Holloway's Business School, appointed an Academic Adviser and built its first leadership team.
- Growing
Structure and process
The Investment Mandate, Investment Committee, risk framework and research function were put in place, giving every decision a clear process and owner.
- Today
Mandate v1.2, 2026-27
A full officer team, a Head of Research and a team of Portfolio Managers, with recruitment open for Analysts and Portfolio Managers this Autumn Term.
What we hold ourselves to.
Growth mindset
Nobody arrives knowing how to value a company. We expect members to learn fast, ask questions and improve with every pitch.
Rigour
Every idea is written up, challenged and voted on. Opinions need evidence, and every trade is checked against the mandate.
Inclusion
Open to every enrolled RHUL student, whatever their degree. No prior finance background is required to apply.
Longevity
We invest for months to years, and we build the Fund to outlast any single cohort, with succession and governance designed in.
No one profits personally. Students benefit collectively.
No student or staff member may receive personal financial benefit from the Fund's performance.
All gains remain within the Fund or are distributed through approved Royal Holloway structures for student benefit. Any change to how profits are allocated requires formal annual approval and must comply with University financial regulations.
Initial growth phase
All net investment gains are retained to build a sustainable capital base. No distributions are made while assets under management and the track record are at an early stage.
Hardship and access support
Once the Fund reaches a scale and stability agreed by the Academic Adviser, up to 30% of realised net profits in a financial year may go to an approved RHUL hardship, bursary or access fund.
Working with funds across the UK.
We collaborate with other student-led investment funds at UK universities for education and research.
Partnerships never involve pooling capital or create financial obligations for Royal Holloway, and every arrangement is approved by the Academic Adviser.
Joint case competitions
Cross-university investment case and stock pitch competitions.
Shared sector research
Pooling research effort on sectors and themes, without pooling capital.
Cross-fund events
Educational events, speaker sessions and networking between student funds.
Learn investing by doing it.
Open to every enrolled Royal Holloway student. No finance background needed, just curiosity, rigour and around 6-8 hours a week in term.