Investment Foundations (For Exams in 2026)

About this course

Investment FoundationsInvestment Foundations will provide learners with an overview of the essentials of finance, ethics, and investment roles, providing a clear understanding of the global investment industry including terminology and foundational concepts. This series of courses is designed for those aspiring to, or currently working within, support roles across the investment and finance industries. It will benefit those in roles such as marketing, sales, project management, human resources, IT, and legal through better understanding of the industry, facilitating communication with colleagues, and advancing in one’s career.Modular Structure- Six courses- 60-90 hours of total study time- Online, 100 multiple-choice question final assessmentProgram structureCourse 1: Industry Overview and StructureAn introduction to the structure of the investment industry, including types of institutions, functions of participants, and types of services.You will gain an appreciation of the benefits provided by the investment industry and the forces that affect its evolution, including technological innovations, the importance of ethics/ethical conduct, and an overview of the purpose and types of regulators and regulations that govern the industry.Course 2: Types and Functioning of MarketsAn introduction to primary and secondary markets and how they operate.You will also be introduced to decentralized finance, the concept of investment vehicles, how they are structured, and how those structures serve investors.Course 3: Investment InstrumentsAn introduction to the types and characteristics of primary investment instruments, including equity securities (stocks), debt securities (bonds), alternative investments, and derivatives.

Course objectives

• Provide an overview of the investment industry
• Explore different types of markets and their operations
• Introduce the key characteristics of various investment instruments