With the development of online education, there are more and more free investment banking courses available online. These courses provide a valuable opportunity for finance enthusiasts to learn about investment banking basics, financial modeling, valuation, mergers and acquisitions from top universities and professionals. However, the quality varies greatly across different platforms. This article will share tips on how to identify high quality free online courses on investment banking.
Verify instructor and platform credentials
When selecting an online course, it’s important to check the background of the instructors and the reputation of the platform. Courses offered by top investment banks, consulting firms, business schools tend to be more practical and application-focused. For example, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley provide investment banking courses on platforms like Coursera and EdX. The credentials of the instructors offering these courses can usually be easily verified online.
Check user reviews and ratings
The best indicator of course quality would be ratings and feedback from past students. Before enrolling, look through the reviews and average ratings of the course. This would give you a sense of how in-depth it is, how practical are the concepts covered, does it require prior foundational knowledge, etc. User reviews that provide details are most valuable.
Evaluate provided materials and assessments
A key part of selecting a solid online course is assessing how useful and substantial are the provided learning resources – slide decks, Excel templates, sample case studies, assessments etc. The availability of real-world case studies and exercises signals that practical application of concepts will be emphasized. Some quantitative courses also provide certification upon completion which evaluates your command of the subject matter.
Understand time commitment needed
Some introductory level courses on investment banking may only require 5-10 hours of total study time. More advanced, comprehensive ones often have 15+ hours of video content and assignments. Have a realistic expectation of the effort and time commitment required for a free online course before starting it.
In summary, while there are ample free investment banking courses available online across platforms like Coursera and EdX, finding quality content requires some diligence. Evaluating instructor expertise, user reviews, depth of provided learning materials and assessments would help identify courses that deliver practical, applied knowledge of investment banking concepts.