Doing this will not only improve your individual knowledge but also help you in getting monetary benefits in your current job. Finance encompasses all decisions that involve money and this can apply to individuals, businesses, and public entities. So, whether you are currently in the field and seeking professional development, considering a career change, or trying to strengthen your resume, there are finance courses located all over the globe to help you meet your goals. To this effect, we have put down vital information on free finance courses online that come with a certificate of completion. Here, you will also see more reasons why you should enroll in these free finance classes as well as, the universities and online platforms that offer them. But before we start, below is a table of contents that gives you an overview of what is in this post.
What Is Finance?
In simple terms, finance encompasses decisions that involve money; it is everywhere. According to Wikipedia, Finance is the management of large amounts of money, particularly in relation to companies, organizations, or governments. However, from Investopedia, Finance is a broad term that describes activities associated with banking, leverage or debt, credit, capital markets, money, and investments. Finance basically represents money management and the process of acquiring needed funds. It also encompasses the oversight, creation, and study of money, banking, credit, investments, assets, and liabilities that make up financial systems.
Finance Courses
Basically, finance courses provide you with the necessary financial skills and knowledge you need. There are a variety of options for finance courses to choose from, including individual financial planning, health systems finance, financial decision making & analysis, insurance, controller, risk management, taxation, cryptocurrency, and even finance for non-finance people. Depending on the specific finance courses, requirements, time frames, and coursework vary, and there are scheduling options to meet the needs of every student. That being said, there are numerous paid and free finance courses available online. These online finance courses may or may not come with a certificate of completion.
Why Choose Free Online Finance Courses With Certificates?
One reason why you should choose free online finance courses is that you get to learn from industry experts at no cost. Also, you get to study at your own comfort, convenience, and pace. Getting a certificate gives you proof of completion to get you on a solid path to a career in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field. These certificates, however, come with a little fee. Studying a finance course helps you to become more financially literate enables people to make better personal financial decisions. In addition, you get to learn skills that will help you in solving tasks in your everyday life since finance revolves around planning and analysis.
Who Can Enroll For Free Online Finance Courses With Certificates?
Free online finance courses are available for everyone – both those in the finance field and non-finance people who want to gain more knowledge to make better financial decisions. Do you want to earn a degree online? Then check out these lists of online schools, from accredited to affordable, to best, and many more.
What Do You Need To Participate In A Free Online Finance Course With Certificate?
Most free online finance courses do not have prerequisites except for a sense of curiosity and a positive attitude. Also, there are things you need to put in place for you to enjoy the course effectively. These items you need can easily be owned in a home or an office or gotten at a low price. Below are the essentials any new online student should have:
A working computer or phone.The right operating system.Useful software ( such as Quickbooks, Excel, and so on.Web browsers.Reliable internet access.A few accessories.
How Long Does It Take To Complete A Free Online Finance Course With Certificate?
Just like most free online courses, finance courses with certificates can be completed within a short period of time. While some free online finance courses can take as short as a day or two to complete, others can be completed in about 6-8 weeks. It is also important to note that most online courses are self-paced and vary among the learning platforms providing them.
What Are The Best Platforms For Free Online Finance Courses With Certificates?
Various online learning platforms offer finance courses, both free and paid. However, for the benefit of this post and also authenticity, we will just elaborate on three.
edXCourseraAlison Courses
edX
Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is the trusted platform for education and learning. edX is home to more than 20 million learners, the majority of top-ranked universities in the world, and industry-leading companies. EdX is one of the trusted e-learning platforms that offer free online finance courses. It has finance classes (MOOCs) as well as MicroMasters programs and Professional Certificate programs so you can earn a digital, institution-verified, proof of completion to get you on a solid path to a career in finance, accounting, economics or a related field. Click on the link below to browse courses! VISIT SITE
Coursera
Coursera is one of the top online learning websites. Every course on the Coursera platform is taught by top instructors from world-class universities and companies, so you can learn something new anytime, anywhere. In partnership with several top-notch universities, Coursera offers one of the best free online finance courses. These Finance courses cover the fundamentals of banking, accounting, finance management, bookkeeping, corporate finance, and financial analysis. Advanced topics include financial engineering, forensic accounting, and asset pricing. Click on the link below to browse courses! VISIT SITE
Alison
Alison is also one of the best online education websites that offer free finance courses. Alison’s free online Finance courses cover the basics of stocks, behavioral finance, currency exchange, personal finance management, and lots more. Click on the link below to browse courses and enroll! VISIT SITE You may want to know what has kept some of these platforms at the top of the Elearning Market for so long. Check out this – Edx vs Udemy: What is the best e-learning platform?
Which Universities Offer Free Online Finance Courses With Certificates?
Several universities in partnership with various online educational platforms offer free finance courses with certificates to students and other participants. However, I will just lay emphasis on a few of them. Here is a list of some universities that offer free online finance courses with certificates:
Imperial College Business SchoolPrinceton UniversityYale UniversityUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of MichiganCopenhagen Business School
#1. Imperial College Business School
As part of Imperial College London, a global leader in science and technology, Imperial College Business School drives business advantage through the fusion of business and technology and also, an entrepreneurial mindset. They combine innovative thinking and insight with new technology to develop practical solutions to real-world issues, benefiting business, and improving society. The Business School offers four suites of programs: MBA, Finance, General Management (including undergraduate studies and a Summer School), and specialized Master’s Degrees. Each degree program is linked to a relevant academic department and also, led by academics with leading expertise in their field and excellent teaching experience. Through ImperialBusinessX, the school offers free online courses in a variety of subjects including finance on e-learning platforms. These Imperial College Business School MOOCs can be audited free or students can choose to receive a verified certificate for a small fee. Click the button below to access its online courses. IMPERIALBUSINESSX
#2. Princeton University
Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. It is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution. Princeton Online is the home of MOOCs (massive, open, online courses) offered through Princeton University’s initiative in online education. Princeton Online’s courses (which include finance courses) are free and not for credit. They are majorly offered on Coursera. However, there are also some offerings on edX. See its list of online courses by clicking the button below. PRINCETON ONLINE
#3. Yale University
For more than 319 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for a positive impact around the globe. As a research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines. In order to reach a vast and global audience, Yale offers online learning opportunities. Free and for-credit Yale courses covering several topics are available to undergraduates, graduate students, and the general public on various platforms (such as Coursera, Youtube). YALE UNIVERSITY See these15 Best Finance Schools in the World
#4. University of Michigan
Founded in 1817, the University of Michigan is one of the first public universities in the USA. Its mission is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving, and applying knowledge, art, and academic values. And in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. Through MichiganX, the university furthers its commitment to shaping the future of learning. MichiganX partners with e-learning platforms to create transformative, engaging learning experiences to reach a global audience of lifelong learners. MICHIGANX
#5. University of Pennsylvania
Commonly referred to as Penn, the University of Pennsylvania is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. It considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies. The Online Learning Initiative partners with the University of Pennsylvania’s twelve schools to offer online courses both free and paid. This partnership is to advance the development and delivery of online learning, creating flexible options for learners across the globe. UNIVERSITY OF PENNYSYLVANIA
#6. Copenhagen Business School
Centrally located in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen Business School (CBS) is one of the largest business schools in Europe. CBS offers world-class research-based degree programs at undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. levels. It also offers executive and other post-experience programs. So, in a bid to reach out to more global participants, CBS has formed a partnership with several online learning platforms like Coursera. Through these platforms, it offers both partly paid and free online courses including finance courses to interested persons.
10 Free Online Finance Courses With Certificates In 2022
There are several free online finance courses with certificates offered by universities and organizations all over the world on different online platforms. However, for the purpose of this article, emphasis will be led on 10 of them. So, here is a list of free online finance courses with certificates you can enroll for:
Introduction to Corporate FinanceFinancial LiteracyTransform, Grow and Innovate in FinanceAn Introduction to Credit Risk ManagementGetting Started in QuickBooks ProFinance EssentialsBusiness and Financial Modeling SpecializationFinance for Everyone: Smart Tools for Decision-MakingDigital Transformation in Financial Services SpecializationBitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies
You may also like to read this 15 Best PhD Scholarships for Banking Finance Students
#1. Introduction to Corporate Finance
The Introduction to Corporate Finance is one of the free online courses with a certificate offered by the University of Pennsylvania on the Coursera platform. Basically, this course provides a brief introduction to the fundamentals of finance, emphasizing their application to a wide variety of real-world situations spanning personal finance, corporate decision-making, and financial intermediation. The key concepts and applications include the time value of money, risk-return tradeoff, cost of capital, interest rates, retirement savings, mortgage financing, auto leasing, capital budgeting, asset valuation, discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, net present value, internal rate of return, hurdle rate, payback period. To complete this free online course you need a 3-5 hours weekly commitment for a period of 4 weeks. COURSE LINK
#2. Financial Literacy
Did you know that 40% of credit card holders do not pay all their debt each month and end up getting punished for it? Poor personal finance management can severely affect your life, as well as, your credit rating. So, learn how to manage your money effectively by learning to budget and also, save with this free personal finance course offered on the Alison platform. This free online Financial Literacy course will teach you a range of tricks and techniques which you can use to help manage your finances better. Basically, the financial literacy course will teach you about saving money, budgeting, dealing with debt, insurance, and retirement planning. The course will guide you through the main methods for managing your money, budget, and savings. It will also show you how to manage debt successfully, and understand the wide range of insurance products available to you. You will also learn essential personal finance basics and how to plan for your retirement, a skill that can make a really big difference in your life. By the end of the course, you will have gained a much stronger understanding of how to manage your money in the present and the long-term future. You can take control of your finances today with this free and powerful course by investing 6 to 10 hours of your time. It also comes with a certificate as proof of your personal development. COURSE LINK
#3. Transform, Grow and Innovate in Finance
If you want to learn how to achieve transformation, growth, and innovation in modern finance, then enroll in this free online course. In this free finance online course, you will learn how to transform and develop finance through the stages of personal transformation, people transformation, process transformation, and systems transformation. Basically, this course outlines how to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your business and plan a strategy for success. Whether you are a student or working in the industry this course offers great advice in achieving a successful finance transformation. It is more than a just course, it’s a guided journey of self-evaluation, reflection, and strategic planning to propel your finance organization forward. It shares with you a path forward by first understanding where you as a finance leader or aspiring finance leader and your finance organization stand today. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
Describe how to assess personal and finance team strengths and weaknesses.Identify improvement opportunities for financial leadership and team development.Develop an approach for process and system improvement opportunities.Explain how to deliver and execute a plan for a finance transformation.Describe how to use SWOT analysis to help strategize.Explain how to assess your business using the maturity model.Describe the financial close process and how to improve it.
So, by learning the course content and completing the exercises included with this course, you will plot a course forward to transform, grow, and innovate in finance. Start this free finance course today by committing just 3 to 4 hours of your time and also earn a certificate on completion. COURSE LINK 25 Masters Degree Scholarships for Banking Finance Students
#4. An Introduction to Credit Risk Management
What is credit risk? Why is it so important, in modern economies, to correctly deal with it? This course combines theory with practice to answer these questions. An Introduction to Credit Risk Management is one of the free online finance courses offered by the Delft University of Technology on the edX platform. According to the Basel Accords, a global regulatory framework for financial institutions, credit risk is one of the three fundamental risks a bank or any other regulated financial institution has to face when operating in the markets (with the two other risks being market risk and operational risk). As the 2008 financial crisis has shown us, a correct understanding of credit risk, as well as, the ability to manage it are fundamental in today’s world. Therefore, this course offers you an introduction to credit risk modeling and hedging. It will approach credit risk from the point of view of banks, but most of the tools and models that will be overviewed can be beneficial at the corporate level as well.
What to Expect
Here is an overview of what you will learn:
The definition and the implications of credit risk for banks and other financial institutions.The most recent risk regulations for banks: Basel II and Basel III.How to critically use basic measures of risk like Value-at-Risk and Expected Shortfall: computation and interpretation.The definition and the use of credit ratings.How to define the probability of default of a counterparty.Important credit risk models like Merton’s model, Moody’s KVM model, CreditMetrics™, and Credit Risk Plus™.The basics of Credit Default Swaps (CDS).What stress-testing is and why it is useful.
At the end of the course, you will be able to understand and correctly use the basic tools of credit risk management, both from a theoretical and, most of all, a practical point of view. Also, this course will need a 6–7 hours per week time commitment from you for 7 weeks. Enroll now for free in this online finance course and get a certificate on completion for a fee. COURSE LINK
#5. Getting Started in QuickBooks Pro
In this free online finance course, you will be taught how to get started with QuickBooks Pro Desktop. Firstly, you will start at the very beginning with how to set up your company file before moving on to set your preferences in QuickBooks. You will then look at how to work with the chart of accounts, as well as, how to work with users in QuickBooks Pro. Furthermore, you’ll learn how to set up the basics such as raising estimates, invoicing, receiving payments, and creating deposits, and statements. You’ll also learn about working with vendors, and specifically how to enter and pay bills and credit memos. In summary, at the end of the course, you will be able to do the following:
Explain how to customize the QuickBooks desktop environment for your needs.Describe how to work with Customers & Jobs effectively to raise invoices, deposits, and estimates.Describe how QuickBooks deal with Items & Inventory.Explain QuickBooks registers, and how to reconcile your bank and deal with checks.
So, start this finance course today and have a certificate to show if you think QuickBooks might be the accounting software for you and your business. It requires just 2 to 3 hours of time commitment from you. COURSE LINK
#6. Finance Essentials
Want to study for an MBA but are unsure of basic financial concepts? Then, enroll now for this free online finance course offered by the Imperial College Business School on the edX platform. This business and management course prepares you for studying finance in an MBA program and in business generally. Basically, the Finance Essence course helps you to discover how to use fundamental finance tools in both management and MBA learning contexts and understand common financial situations faced in everyday life. You will learn key financial topics such as present value, Internal Rate of Return (IRR), capital budgeting, equity, bonds, diversification, portfolio choice, and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), all of which are often discussed and explored in great detail in MBA programs across the globe as well as everyday business operations.
What to Expect
Here is a breakdown of what you will learn:
How to incorporate the time value of money to value assets.Capital budgeting for a project (such as a flat or house purchase).Understand how to allocate assets for retirement.Understand how risky cash flows are valued.Value a bond.Understand how a yield curve is obtained.Value a company.Understand how a portfolio selection problem is solved.Understand how correlations and diversification opportunities vary over time.Implement the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) to estimate the required rate of return for risky assets.
One of the benefits of this course is that it employs a ‘supported learning’ model. That is, to help you achieve the optimum learning outcomes from this module, Imperial College Business School provides access to an expert online tutor who will support you through the learning materials and associated activities. Also, no previous financial knowledge is needed. Enroll now for free to start your journey into the world of finance for management. This free online finance course will need a 2–4 hours per week time commitment from you for 6 weeks, however, a fee will be required to get a certificate on completion. COURSE LINK See: How can I get a Ph.D in Finance Online | Schools, Requirements, Cost
#7. Business and Financial Modeling Specialization
This is one of the free online finance courses offered by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School on the Coursera platform. Basically, Wharton’s Business and Financial Modeling Specialization is designed to help you make informed business and financial decisions. The foundational courses will introduce you to spreadsheet models, modeling techniques, and common applications for investment analysis, company valuation, forecasting, and more. There are about 5 courses in this specialization. They include:
Fundamentals of Quantitative ModelingIntroduction to Spreadsheets and ModelsModeling Risk and RealitiesDecision-Making and ScenariosWharton Business and Financial Modeling Capstone
When you complete the Specialization, you will be ready to use your own data to describe realities, build scenarios, and predict performance. However, this free online finance course will require a 10 hours/week time commitment from you for about 2 months. Also, you will get a certificate on completion of the course. COURSE LINK
#8. Finance for Everyone: Smart Tools for Decision-Making
Do you want to learn how to think clearly about important financial decisions and improve your financial literacy? Then, enroll in this free online finance course offered by the University of Michigan on the edX platform. Finance for Everyone will showcase the beauty and power of finance. It is an introduction to finance course from Michigan that you learn to apply frameworks and smart tools for understanding and making everyday financial decisions. Basically, this introductory finance course will be a gateway into the world of finance and will examine multiple applications to apply to your everyday life. Here, you will be able to value the impact of different choices available to you. From renting or buying, evaluating cars, homes, and student loans, or deciding whether to go to college versus pursuing a new idea to simply understanding how the financial world works. Starting with the time value of money, the course will help you develop a full appreciation for the many applications of finance. Also using real-world examples, the course will enable you to understand and analyze many personal and professional decisions we confront on a daily basis. You will get to understand stocks and bonds, learn to allocate scarce resources in a value-add way, and adopt smart tools for making everyday decisions.
What To Expect
Here is a summary of what you will learn:
Why finance is everywhere and how it affects all of us.An understanding of the financial world, and an appreciation for the beauty and power of finance.Gain the fundamental knowledge, skills, and tools of finance and the ability to apply them everywhere, in personal and professional situations.Different frameworks for decision-making.Acquire skills in using different decision-making tools, and learn to make sound personal and professional financial decisions.The concept of Time Value of Money (TVM) and apply related tools and frameworks to everyday decisions.
Also, there are no prerequisites for this course except for a sense of curiosity and a positive attitude. So, enroll now for free to better understand how to apply frameworks and tools to make smart financial choices. This course will need a 5–6 hours per week time commitment from you for 6 weeks. In addition, on completion of this free online finance course, you will be issued a certificate (if you want) for a fee. COURSE LINK
#9. Digital Transformation in Financial Services Specialization
Digital Transformation in Financial Services Specialization is one of the free online finance courses offered by the Copenhagen Business School on the Coursera platform. It is intended for learners that have or want to have a career in the digital financial industry. The Specialization explores the evolving world of finance, focusing on the changing dynamics caused by the conversion of products and services into digital goods, new customer demands, and changing regulations to govern the competitive landscape – the digital transformation of finance. Basically, you’ll learn about concepts such as digital platforms and business ecosystems, be exposed to the emerging Fintech landscape, and master a new toolbox for successfully competing on innovation in the digital era of finance. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll create and defend a holistic digital transformation strategy for a real-world company. There are about 5 courses in this specialization. They include:
Digital Competition in Financial ServicesFinTech and the Transformation in Financial ServicesInnovation Strategy: Developing Your Fintech strategyDigital Transformation of Financial Services – Capstone Project
This free online finance course will need you to commit about 8 hours of your time weekly for about 2 months with a certificate issued on completion. COURSE LINK
#10. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies
This is one of the free online finance courses offered by Princeton University on the Coursera platform. To really understand what is special about Bitcoin, you need to understand how it works at a technical level. So, this course will address the important questions about Bitcoin, such as:
How does Bitcoin work?What makes Bitcoin different?How secure are your Bitcoins?How anonymous are Bitcoin users?What determines the price of Bitcoins?Can cryptocurrencies be regulated?What might the future hold?
After this course, you will know everything you need to be able to separate fact from fiction when reading claims about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Also, you will have the conceptual foundations you need to engineer secure software that interacts with the Bitcoin network. In addition, you’ll be able to integrate ideas from Bitcoin in your own projects. However, to complete this free online finance course, you will need to commit about 18 hours of your time. You can break it down to 4 hours each week. COURSE LINK
Other Free Finance Courses You Can Enroll For
Climate Change: Financial Risks and OpportunitiesFinancial MarketsTrading Strategies in Emerging Markets SpecializationBusiness Fundamentals: Effective Communication
Conclusion
Finance encompasses all decisions that involve money and this can apply to individuals, businesses, and public entities. It is everywhere. Finance courses provide you with the necessary financial skills and knowledge you need. Whether you are currently in the field and seeking professional development, considering a career change, or trying to strengthen your resume, there are finance courses (both paid and free, online, or in a classroom) located all over the globe to help you meet your goals. A free online finance course with a certificate gives you the flexibility to learn at no cost with proof of completion to get you on a solid path to a career. I, therefore, encourage you to seize this opportunity and enroll in any of the above-listed free online finance courses with certificates. Good Luck and Success!!!
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