Top Ten Free Online Courses in Finance With Certificates in 2022

One might wonder what benefit there is in taking free online finance courses. The price tag is the most obvious answer. 

This list of no-cost online finance classes provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to launch a new company venture. The courses look at how to approach risks and, in the end, how to benefit.

Professionals who take free online finance courses will, at the absolute least, walk away with more business know-how than they came with, making them a valuable asset for current and prospective employers. 

Many of the topics covered are comparable to those covered in a business master’s program with an entrepreneurial bent. 

While they won’t receive an official diploma, those who persevere will at the very least get a significant insight into some of the same issues as those who take the more traditional route.

Free Online Courses in Finance With Certificates

Is It Worth It to Take a Free Online Finance Course?

Taking several free online finance classes is definitely worth the time and effort, whether you’re considering your future job prospects, want a better understanding of markets and investments, or want to make solid personal financial decisions.

Finance causes the development of multiple skillsets at the same time and is something that everyone engages with daily. We all employ these talents regularly, from tipping the server to saving for retirement. 

Even if you decide not to pursue a degree in finance, the principles you learn will be useful in a variety of situations throughout your life.

As a finance student, you should also check out these Top 10 Free Online Excel Courses in 2022

What Are the Requirements for Taking a Free Online Finance Course With a Certificate?

Except for a sense of interest and a positive attitude, most free online financial courses have no requirements. There are also some things you should do in order to get the most out of the course. These objects can easily be found in a house or workplace, and they can also be got at a modest cost.

The following are the necessities for any new online student:

  • A computer or phone that works.
  • The most appropriate operating system.
  • Software (such as Quickbooks, Excel, and others) that is useful.
  • Browsers are programs that allow you to browse the internet.
  • Access to the internet.
  • A couple of extras.

How Long Does It Take To Finish A Free Online Finance Certificate Course?

It’s also worth noting that most online courses are self-paced, and the learning systems that offer them vary.

Finance courses with certifications, like other free online courses, can be completed in a short amount of time.

You can complete some free online finance courses in as little as a day or two, while others take 6-8 weeks to complete.

While an estimate of how long a course will take is common, nothing is static. You have complete control over when and where you complete the course. 

On this list, you’ll find courses that take anywhere from a few hours to several months to complete.

What Are The Best Free Online Finance Courses With Certificates Platforms?

Finance courses are available for both free and paid on a variety of online learning sites. However, for the sake of this essay and realism, we will only go through three of them.

  • edX
  • Coursera
  • Alison

Read this article to learn how these platforms work; Top 10 Free Online Course Platforms In 2022

Which Universities Provide Online Finance Courses For Free with Certificate?

Several universities provide free financial courses with credentials to students and other participants in collaboration with various online educational platforms. But I’m only going to focus on a few of them.

We have a list of universities that provide free online finance courses with certificates below:

  • Imperial College Business School is a prestigious business school in London.
  • Princeton University is a private university in Princeton, New
  • Yale University is a private university in New Haven,
  • The University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  • Copenhagen Business School is a business school in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Don’t Fail to Read the 10 Best UK Universities to Study Accounting and Finance in UK 2022

10 Free Online Finance Courses With Certificates In 2022

On various online platforms, colleges and organizations around the world provide a variety of free online finance courses with certifications.

For the sake of this study, however, the focus will be on ten of them.

So, here’s a list of free online finance courses that provide credentials that you may take:

1. Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization – Coursera.org

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: Approximately 5 months to complete (Suggested pace of 2 hours/week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese.

This specialization introduces corporate finance and accounting, with an emphasis on their application to a wide range of real-world situations, including personal finance, corporate decision-making, financial intermediation, and how accounting standards and managerial incentives affect the financial reporting process.

It starts with ideas and applications like time value of money, risk-return tradeoff, retirement savings, mortgage financing, auto leasing, asset valuation, and so on. 

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Excel is used in this specialization to make the learning experience more hands-on and to help learners understand the ideas more clearly. 

The curriculum gives a solid foundation in corporate finance, including topics such as valuing claims and making financing decisions, as well as parts of a basic financial model.

The specialization then shifts to financial accounting, allowing students to interpret financial statements and comprehend accounting terminology and grammar. 

The course covers bookkeeping basics, accrual accounting, and cash flow analysis, among other topics. 

Finally, the specialization teaches learners how to understand and analyze key information that companies provide in their financial statements, such as types of assets and liabilities, longer-term investments and debts, and the difference between tax reporting and financial reporting, using the foundational knowledge of accounting.

Online Finance Course To Take

  • Fundamentals of Finance
  • Introduction to Corporate Finance
  • Introduction to Financial Accounting
  • More Introduction to Financial Accounting

What will I learn from this Free Online Finance Course?

  • Discounting and compounding arbitrary cash flow streams in order to value different claims and make better financial decisions.
  • Difference between NPV and Internal Rate of Return (IRR)
  • Classification of cash flows into operating, investing, and financing activities
  • How companies account for investments in debt and equity securities

Enroll Here

2. Introduction to Corporate Finance – Coursera.org

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: Approximately 32 hours to complete
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English

This course presents a quick overview of the principles of finance, with an emphasis on their application to a wide range of real-world circumstances, including personal finance, business decision-making, and financial intermediation. 

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, and capital budgeting are some of the key concepts and applications.

Basically, this course is applicable to a variety of Specializations and Professional Certificate programs. 

Also, this course will transfer to any of the following programs if you complete it:

  • Finance & Quantitative Modeling for Analysts Specialization
  • Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization
  • Business Foundations Specialization

What will I learn from this Free Online Finance Course?

  • Discounted Cash Flow
  • Decision-Making
  • Corporate Finance
  • Cash Flow Analysis

Enroll Here

3. Finance for Non-Financial Professionals – Coursera.org

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Institution: University of California, Irvine
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: Approximately 7 hours to complete
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, French, Ukrainian, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, English, Spanish

Learn how to influence your financial decisions and how to improve the profitability of your unit and your business. Gain a basic understanding of financial and accounting topics in this course to help your company develop. 

Most importantly, you will have obtained general financial knowledge as well as an in-depth understanding of the implications of your decisions outside of your functional area after completing this course. 

Also, the course covers chosen areas of finance from the standpoint of a non-financial specialist. Financial analysis, planning, forecasting, and budgeting, as well as cash flow and strategic financing, are some of the specific subjects covered. 

This session will be participatory, and attendees will be expected to actively participate in financial activities.

What will I learn from this Free Online Finance Course?

You will be able to: Explain the relevance of finance and financial data interpretation after completing this course.

  • Analyze financials using accounting and finance concepts.
  • Learn the definitions of important accounting and finance words.
  • Using important ratios, examine financial statements.
  • Describe the significance of the budgeting process.
  • Learn about the main components that can help you increase your profits.

Enroll Here

4. Financial Markets – Coursera.org

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Institution: Yale University
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: Approximately 33 hours to complete
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, English, Spanish, Japanese

The need for financial leadership abilities is emphasized. Today’s practices are described, as well as the future prospects. 

Understanding the real-world functioning of the securities, insurance, and banking industries requires an introduction to risk management and behavioral finance principles. 

The ultimate purpose of this course is to successfully use such industries in order to improve society.

At the same time, you’ll get an overview of the concepts, methods, and structures that allow human civilization to control risks while also encouraging enterprise. 

What will I learn from this Free Online Finance Course?

  • Behavioral Finance
  • Financial Markets
  • Finance
  • Behavioral Economics

Enroll Here

5. Foundations of Finance – edX.org

  • Platform: edX
  • Institution: University of Cambridge
  • Level: Introductory
  • Time: Estimated 5 weeks (3–5 hours per week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English

This course gives you a thorough but easy-to-understand introduction to the fundamentals of financial understanding. 

You will blend your new information and problem-solving abilities with practical application by using real-world case studies and practitioner interviews, as well as timely knowledge checks.

Who This Online Finance Course Is For

There is no prerequisite knowledge or assumption, and the course will be very useful if:

  • You work with/need to work with financial experts and wish to improve your collaboration;
  • You are self-employed or thinking about becoming self-employed;
  • If you’re interested in corporate finance, financial management, or business finance, you’ve come to the right place.
  • You’re thinking about a financial career or a secondment; 
  • You’re merely curious about the topic and want to learn more.
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What will I learn from this Free Online Finance Course?

  • Money and Capital
  • Cash flows and Cash flow forecasting
  • Financial reporting
  • Interest and Return
  • Risk and Risk management

Enroll Here

6. Financial Market Analysis – edX.org

  • Platform: edX
  • Institution: IMFx
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Time: Estimated 7 weeks (5–7 hours per week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English

This IMFx course will teach you how to price different types of bonds, compute different measures of bond yields, and compare them across different types of instruments through hands-on demonstrations. 

Also, you’ll learn about interest rate term structure, which is an important part of creating benchmark rates for pricing securities in the markets and a useful tool for monetary policy formulation and diagnostics.

Equally, you’ll learn about the firm fundamentals that explain why a stock price may rise or fall, or why one company’s stock price may be higher than another’s, and you’ll be able to apply these fundamentals to the economy as a whole to examine stock market valuations.

Finally, you will acquire insight into the judgments made by investors. You’ll learn about the major factors that an investor employs to determine how to build the finest possible risky asset portfolio. You’ll also take on the role of a policymaker who wants to know how monetary policy influences the risk and return characteristics of financial assets.

In a nutshell, the FMAx course aims to create a common language in finance, allowing you to read and evaluate financial data. It will also lay a basis for you to progress to more advanced or policy-oriented training in areas where macroeconomics and finance intersect.

The IMF provides Financial Market Analysis with financial support from the Japanese government.

What will I learn from this Free Online Finance Course?

What you’ll discover:

  • Recognize the many forms of fundamental fixed–income securities and the markets where they are traded.
  • How to value a wide range of financial assets, including money market instruments, bonds, and stocks.
  • How to calculate and compare various financial asset yield measures.
  • Examine the relationship between discrepancies in the value of individual stocks or markets and economic fundamentals.
  • How to use historical return data to build an optimal risky asset portfolio and assess expected changes in its composition as a result of changing macroeconomic conditions.
  • Calculate the Value at Risk (VaR), Stressed VaR, and Expected Shortfall of an investment to determine its market risk.

Enroll Here

7. Finance Essentials – edX.org

  • Platform: edX
  • Institution: ImperialBusinessXImperialX
  • Level: Introductory
  • Time: Estimated 6 weeks (2–4 hours per week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English

Do you want to get an MBA but aren’t aware of what basic financial concepts are? This business and management course will prepare you for an MBA program in finance as well as a career in business.

You’ll learn about key financial concepts like present value, internal rate of return (IRR), capital budgeting, equity, bonds, diversification, portfolio choice, and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), which are frequently discussed and explored in depth in MBA programs around the world, as well as in day-to-day business operations.

Because this is an entirely free online course, you may do it wherever and whenever you want: at home, at work, in a library, at a coffee shop, or even while traveling (with the appropriate network access).

A ‘supported learning’ paradigm is used in this course. Above all, Imperial College Business School offers you access to an expert online instructor who will guide you through the learning materials and exercises to ensure you get the most out of this program.

Enroll Here

8. Financial Accounting – edX.org

  • Platform: edX
  • Institution: MITx
  • Level: Advanced
  • Time: Estimated 12 weeks (10–14 hours per week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English

The language of business is accounting. Without a basic understanding of accounting, it is difficult to comprehend business. 

Accounting knowledge will help students better understand and contribute to their own businesses, as well as the business world around them. 

This course also teaches students how to analyze financial statements to acquire data for valuation models and make business decisions.

The emphasis of the course is on using financial statements to acquire data for valuation models and corporate finance choices.

General managers, financial analysts, financial advisors, quantitative researchers, asset managers, risk managers, quantitative developers working in the financial services business, and individuals servicing the financial industry can benefit from this course. 

Above all, this superb course would also help undergraduate and graduate students interested in business in general or finance in specific.

What will I learn from this Free Online Finance Course?

  • Understand accounting terms
  • Understand how financial statements are constructed
  • Ability to read financial statements
  • Gather inputs to valuation models and for corporate finance decisions

Enroll Here

9. Financial Statement Analysis for Decision-Making – Alison.com

  • Platform: Alison
  • Publisher: NPTEL
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: Approximately 5-6 hours to complete
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English
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‘Financial Statement Analysis for Decision Making’ is a free online course that walks you through how to use ratio analysis on an organization’s financial statements to make better decisions. 

Learn about a company’s annual reports, primary types of ratios, and how to use them in decision-making for individuals and corporations. 

This free online finance course will help you enhance your decision-making and analytical skills.

What will I learn from this Free Online Finance Course?

After completing this course, you should be able to:

  • Recognize the value of the yearly report to the many stakeholders.
  • Determine the most common types of loans.
  • Examine the financial liabilities and assets of a corporation.
  • Describe the role of treasury management.
  • In financial analysis, identify distinct sorts of ratios.
  • Discuss the significance of credit scores.
  • Examine the debt capital’s interest and tax components.
  • Explain why financial statement analysis is important for decision-making.
  • Examine a company’s working capital requirements.

Enroll Here

10. Managing Corporate Finance in a Financial Downturn – Alison.com

  • Platform: Alison
  •  Publisher: Alpha Academy
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: Approximately 1.5-3 hours to complete
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English

Corporate finance is a critical component of every company’s success. This course delves into the fundamentals, concepts, and techniques of corporate finance. 

It’s a fantastic chance for you to learn everything there is to know about the subject. 

They’ll help you enhance your skills by teaching you about various financial circumstances and aspects. It will also assist you in learning how to manage your finances during a downturn.

What will I learn from this Free Online Finance Course?

You will be able to do the following by the end of this course:

  • Explain the fundamentals of corporate finance.
  • Define the most important and widely used financial principles and terms in the corporate world.
  • Describe the basics of budgeting.
  • Explain capital budgeting in detail as a corporate financial tool.
  • Discuss the financial risk-return tradeoff and the important metrics involved.
  • Recognize corporate finance tools and strategies such as project analysis and appraisal, as well as financial hazards.
  • Explain how to organize your finances to protect your company against a downturn.

Enroll Here

Conclusion

Individuals, organizations, and government institutions all fall under the umbrella of finance, which incorporates all financial decisions. It’s all over the place.

Finance courses teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the financial world. Finance courses (both paid and free, online or in a classroom) are available all over the world to help you achieve your goals, whether you are currently working in the area and looking for professional development, considering a career move, or attempting to boost your resume.

A free online financial course with a certificate allows you to learn at your own pace and receive confirmation of accomplishment, putting you on the road to a successful profession.

As a result, we strongly advise you to take advantage of this chance and enroll in one of the free online finance courses with the certifications indicated above.

Wishing you luck and success!!

Frequently Asked Questions on 10 Free Online Finance Courses With Certificates in 2022

What is the definition of finance?

Finance is a broad phrase that encompasses banking, leverage or debt, credit, capital markets, money, and investments, according to Investopedia.

What are the different types of finance courses?

Finance courses teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the financial world.

Who is eligible to sign up for a free online financial course?

Free online finance courses are available to anyone – both finance professionals and non-finance professionals who want to improve their financial decision-making skills.

What are the requirements for enrolling in a free online finance course?

Except for a sense of interest and a positive attitude, most free online financial courses have no requirements. There are also some things you should do in order to get the most out of the course.

Here’s a list of things you’ll need:

A fully functional computer or phone.
Selecting the appropriate operating system.
Software that is useful.
Web browsers 
Consistent internet access
A couple of extras

How long does it take to finish an online finance course for free?

The majority of free online financial courses are self-paced and can be finished in as little as 1-2 days or as long as 6-8 weeks.

Which platforms are the best for free online finance courses?

Here are some online learning platforms that provide free certificated online finance courses:
Coursera
edX
Alison

Which colleges and universities provide free online financial courses that lead to certification?

A list of universities that provide free online finance courses with certificates is shown below:

Imperial College Business School
Princeton University
Yale University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Michigan
Copenhagen Business School

References

  • coursera.org – Finance Courses Online – Learn Finance Skills | Coursera
  • edx.org – Learn Finance with Online Courses, Classes, & Lessons | edX
  • onlinecoursereport.com – 10 Great Free Online Courses in Finance
  • alison.com – 10 Free Online Finance Courses With Certificates In 2022
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