Discover Free Finance Courses Worth Your Time

1. Introduction to Corporate Finance (Coursera – University of Pennsylvania)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Franklin Allen, Professor of Finance and Economics
Description: This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of corporate finance, including the time value of money, risk and return, and capital budgeting.
Duration: 4 weeks (approximately 4-5 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

2. Financial Markets (Coursera – Yale University)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Robert Shiller, Nobel Laureate in Economics
Description: This course offers an overview of the ideas, methods, and institutions that permit human society to manage risks and foster enterprise.
Duration: 7 weeks (approximately 5-7 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

3. Introduction to Financial Accounting (Coursera – University of Pennsylvania)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Brian J. Bushee, Professor of Accounting
Description: This course introduces the fundamentals of financial accounting, including the preparation and analysis of financial statements.
Duration: 4 weeks (approximately 5-7 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

4. Principles of Microeconomics (edX – MIT)

Platform: edX
Instructor: Jonathan Gruber, Ford Professor of Economics
Description: This course introduces microeconomic concepts and analysis, supply and demand analysis, theories of the firm and individual behavior, competition and monopoly, and welfare economics.
Duration: 12 weeks (approximately 10-12 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

5. Financial Planning for Young Adults (Coursera – University of Illinois)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Nicholas Paulson, Associate Professor
Description: This course covers financial planning concepts including budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt.
Duration: 4 weeks (approximately 3-4 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

6. Investment Management (Coursera – University of Geneva)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Michel Girardin, Lecturer in Macro-Finance
Description: This course provides an introduction to investment management, covering portfolio theory, asset pricing, and risk management.
Duration: 6 weeks (approximately 4-5 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

7. Behavioral Finance (Coursera – Duke University)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Emma Rasiel, Associate Professor of Economics
Description: This course explores how psychological influences can affect financial decision-making and market outcomes.
Duration: 4 weeks (approximately 3-4 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

8. Introduction to Risk Management (edX – NYIF)

Platform: edX
Instructor: Various Instructors
Description: This course introduces the principles of risk management, including identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks in financial contexts.
Duration: 6 weeks (approximately 2-3 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

9. Financial Analysis for Decision Making (Coursera – Babson College)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Peter Wilson, Professor of Accounting and Law
Description: This course teaches how to analyze financial statements to make informed business decisions.
Duration: 4 weeks (approximately 4-5 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

10. Introduction to Personal Finance (Khan Academy)

Platform: Khan Academy
Instructor: Sal Khan and team
Description: This course covers the basics of personal finance, including saving, budgeting, investing, and retirement planning.
Duration: Self-paced
Certificate: Free (no certificate offered)

11. Finance for Everyone: Smart Tools for Decision-Making (edX – University of Michigan)

Platform: edX
Instructor: Gautam Kaul, Professor of Finance
Description: This course introduces the tools and frameworks for making smart financial decisions in both personal and professional contexts.
Duration: 6 weeks (approximately 5-6 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

12. Introduction to Derivatives (Coursera – University of Illinois)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Heitor Almeida, Professor of Finance
Description: This course provides an introduction to derivatives, including futures, options, and swaps, and their use in financial markets.
Duration: 4 weeks (approximately 4-5 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

13. Financial Engineering and Risk Management (Coursera – Columbia University)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Martin Haugh, Co-Director of the Center for Financial Engineering
Description: This course covers the principles of financial engineering and risk management, including the use of derivatives and other financial instruments.
Duration: 8 weeks (approximately 6-8 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

14. Introduction to Banking and Financial Markets (edX – IIMBx)

Platform: edX
Instructor: Various Instructors
Description: This course provides an overview of the banking and financial markets, including the role of banks, financial instruments, and regulatory frameworks.
Duration: 6 weeks (approximately 4-5 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

15. Financial Accounting Fundamentals (Coursera – University of Virginia)

Platform: Coursera
Instructor: Luann J. Lynch, Professor of Business Administration
Description: This course covers the basics of financial accounting, including the preparation and interpretation of financial statements.
Duration: 5 weeks (approximately 4-5 hours per week)
Certificate: Free to audit; paid certificate available

These courses are offered by reputable institutions and cover a wide range of topics in finance, from personal finance to corporate finance and investment management. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to deepen your knowledge, these courses provide valuable insights and skills.