Understanding Financial Concepts
Prepare for a wide range of roles in the finance industry with an introduction to fundamental financial concepts.
Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
Understanding Financial Concepts
Other courses you might like
This course isn't running right now. We can email you when it starts again, or check out these other courses you might like.
Browse more in Business & Management
Support your professional development in the finance industry
On this two-week course, you’ll gain an insightful introduction to a variety of finance topics that are studied at postgraduate level. This will give you a taste of what to expect when studying the Postgraduate Certificate in Finance from The Open University.
You will understand what’s meant by risk and return, and how and why companies use stock markets. You will also evaluate the strategic investment appraisal process and learn about the mergers and acquisition market. You will benefit from a variety of perspectives and material, preparing you for future study or work in the finance industry.
What topics will you cover?
- Return on Investment
- Raising Equity Finance
- The Strategic Investment process
- Mergers and Acquisitions
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...
- Evaluate investment risk by calculating the standard deviation of investment returns and use this information to evaluate corporate financing choices
- Describe equity markets and the processes involved in issuing equities
- Explain the strategic investment appraisal process and understand the impact of economic fluctuations and policy on investment decisions
- Discuss the different types of M&A transactions and analyse long term trends and patterns - the ‘merger wave’ phenomenon in particular.
Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone looking to build a career in finance and understand what’s included in the Postgraduate Certificate of Finance from The Open University.
Who will you learn with?
I am a Senior Lecturer in Finance at the Open University and lead its MSc in Finance. My research is on the financing of innovative businesses, venture capital and frictions in financial markets.
I am a Chartered Accountant who, before moving into teaching, worked in the real estate investment and development sector. I have also been a director on a number of investment funds.
Who developed the course?
The Open University
As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.
Established
1969Location
Milton Keynes, UKWorld ranking
Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020
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