Investment Foundations Certificate – $79 for full-time students
Master essential investment skills and open the door to a career in finance.
Investment Foundations Certificate – $79 for full-time students
Master essential investment skills and open the door to a career in finance.
A smart investment in your career starts here
The CFA Institute Investment Foundations® Certificate – created by the experts in investment education – is an invaluable first step into the global world of finance. For just $79 for full-time students, you can build your knowledge, enhance your resume, and gain clarity on your next steps after graduating.
Why take the Investment Foundations Certificate as a student?
New opportunities
Explore a career in finance, even if your current degree is in a non-related subject.
Accessible pricing
Invest in your future without a large financial commitment.
Competitive edge
Give your CV an impressive boost by demonstrating your dedication to learning.
What you will learn
A successful career in finance begins with understanding the terminology and key foundational concepts. This online certificate will teach you investment essentials like the different types of markets and how they operate, as well as investment industry ethics.
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Curriculum
Delve into primary and secondary markets and discover how they operate. This course will also introduce you to decentralized finance, the concept of investment vehicles, how they are structured, and how those structures serve investors.
Become familiar with the types and characteristics of primary investment instruments, including equity securities (stocks), debt securities (bonds), alternative investments, and derivatives.
Develop your understanding of how investment professionals identify and then analyze relevant information, and how that impacts their investment and financing decisions.
Discover how investment firms serve clients' investment needs and examine risk considerations and management. You will also learn how portfolio performance evaluation helps investment professionals and their clients better understand sources of risks and returns.
Learn about the benefits, key concepts, and approaches to ESG investing, and how it links to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). You’ll also see how ethical dilemmas that arise in practice can be addressed through an ethical decision-making framework.
Complete the Investment Foundations Certificate with an online assessment, made up of 100 multiple choice questions. You’ll have two attempts to complete the assessment.
How you will learn
You’ll work towards the Investment Foundations Certificate through engaging content and activities that can fit in with your other studies.
Self-paced online learning
Register and start studying straight away. You'll have access to the course content and activities plus the final assessment for 12 months from registration.
Modular structure
The certificate will take approximately 40-70 hours to complete. Maintain your progress as you work through each course by setting study goals along the way.
Testimonials from certificate holders
I recommend [Investment Foundations] to anyone interested in finance, markets, and macroeconomics.
The [certificate] provides that crucial common language for all the personnel outside investment roles to effectively communicate, support, and raise the overall standards, all grounded in the ethical principles for participants across the profession.
This is an excellent entry-level program, and it's great for university students who are interested in an investment career.
Whether you are just starting out or looking to advance in your career, this course provides essential knowledge and skills that will set you apart in the finance industry.
Frequently asked questions
You are eligible for student pricing if you are currently enrolled full-time at a recognized university, high school, or college. Full-time status is defined by the institution’s specific requirements, such as a minimum number of credit hours or classes. Both undergraduate and postgraduate (master’s, doctoral) students qualify if they meet the full-time enrollment criteria.
Our dedicated University Relations team can help professors who want to learn more about the certificate and the benefits to both students and professors. Contact [email protected] for more information.
You will have access to the learning materials for 12 months from the date of purchase. Learning materials and assessments can be accessed anywhere, online, providing maximum flexibility and convenience to candidates.
The Investment Foundations Certificate covers fundamental topics similar to Level I of the CFA Program, providing you with a solid grasp of the investment industry. It's an excellent place to start if you are interested in pursuing the CFA Program.
The Investment Foundations Certificate is a valuable addition to your resume, demonstrating your knowledge of finance and the investment industry. Earning this certificate can help you stand out to potential employers and open doors to a range of career opportunities in the finance industry, showcasing your dedication and expertise.
Yes, high school students are eligible for the certificate. It's a great way to gain early exposure to the finance industry and build a solid foundation for a future career.
Explore the CFA® Program
If you’re considering the CFA Program, we have information and resources to help you navigate the next step.