Master credit risk and financial analysis to boost your career

The world of credit fundamentals is complex and critical for financial success.

This two-week online course will equip you with powerful analytical tools and practical skills to confidently evaluate credit risk, analyse cash flows, and apply sophisticated credit risk models used by top industry professionals.

Dive into the fundamentals of credit evaluation with ratio analysis

Unlock the power of financial ratios to uncover the true creditworthiness of organisations.

Develop the skills to accurately interpret financial signals that drive smarter lending and investment decisions with real-world context.

Unlock cash flow secrets to assess debt servicing ability

Explore how cash flow analysis reveals an organisation’s capacity to meet its debt obligations.

Learn practical forecasting techniques and apply them to real data, enabling confident assessments of financial stability.

Roll up your sleeves to master default risk and credit models

Get hands-on with calculating the probability of default and expected loss using advanced quantitative models.

Understand structural and reduced-form credit risk frameworks to choose the right approach for precise risk evaluation and investment decisions.

Bring it all together with a capstone project and real-world insights

Put your new skills into practice through a capstone project simulating real credit risk challenges.

You’ll walk away with a new credit analysis toolkit, ready to enhance your career and excel in complex financial markets.

You may like to undertake more sustained study on this topic through our ExpertTrack: Credit Risk Analysis & Portfolio Management.

Syllabus

Week 1
Credit Analysis Basics & Fixed Income Markets
- Lesson 1: Credit Analysis Fundamentals
  Learn the purpose and scope of credit analysis, key risk factors, the role of credit analysts, and common pitfalls to avoid.
- Lesson 2: Fixed Income Securities Overview
  Understand different types of fixed income instruments, bond structures, investment risks, market categories, and how bond performance is influenced by yield spreads and economic factors.
Week 2
Credit Ratings & Financial Statement Evaluation
- Lesson 3: Credit Ratings and Risk Assessment
  Delve into how rating agencies operate, the differences between investment-grade and high-yield bonds, and how ratings affect investment decisions.
- Lesson 4: Financial Statement Analysis for Credit Risk
  Practice interpreting financial statements using key ratios, assessing cash flow reliability, and identifying warning signs of financial distress.
- Lesson 5: Advanced Credit Ratings
  Reinforce core financial analysis skills with a deeper look at statement-based credit evaluation. Ideal for additional practice and mastery.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now
Join - $69

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Execute fundamental credit risk assessments using industry-standard analytical frameworks.
Evaluate various fixed income securities and their risk characteristics across different market segments.
Interpret credit ratings and assess their implications for investment decision-making.
Apply basic financial statement analysis techniques to assess issuer creditworthiness.

Who is the course for?

This course is ideal for senior financial analysts specialising in credit, fixed income traders, portfolio managers, and corporate finance professionals managing complex debt portfolios.

It also perfect for credit risk experts in banks or rating agencies and investment professionals focusing on bonds and fixed income.

Who will you learn with?

Paul Siegel

Who developed the course?

Starweaver

Starweaver is a next generation platform that engages your workforce as no other. Combining business and technical skills, Starweaver provides real-time skill building that is in line with your business objectives and strategies, and in your associates day to day tasks and jobs.

What's included?

This is a premium course. These courses are designed for professionals from specific industries looking to learn with a smaller group of like-minded individuals.

Unlimited access to this course
Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you're eligible
Download and print your Certificate of Achievement anytime

Join - $69

Still want to know more? Check out our FAQs

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn