Cambridge to Michigan: 5 Free Online Personal Finance Courses

If you find yourself a little lost every time people around you talk about financial jargon, wealth management and investment opportunities, you have come to the right place. 

We have prepared a list of five courses that will sharpen your financial analytical and money-making skills. The educational courses are completely free and are taught by financial experts. 

Here are the five courses that will help you monitor your spending, investing and saving habits. 

1. Foundations of Finance by the University of Cambridge

This course will help you understand and master key financial concepts such as investment opportunities, stock valuation, cash flow, financial reporting, interest and return, risk management and more. 

This course will use real-world case studies and practitioner interviews to help you gain theoretical knowledge and practical problem-solving skills. It will build on the core set of basic principles with a general framework for making financial decisions in business and personal financial planning. 

Associated skills: Problem-solving, Finance, Financial Management, Corporate Finance. 

Duration: 5 weeks (3–5 hours per week)

Enroll here

2. Finance for All: Enhance Decision-Making with Smart Tools by University of Michigan

This free course from the University of Michigan will help you improve your financial decision-making skills and literacy through smart tools. 

Some topics include ‘Why finance is everywhere and how it affects all of us’, ‘An understanding of the financial world’, ‘Different frameworks for decision-making’, ‘Time Value of Money (TVM)’ and more. The ultimate goal of this course is to help you make everyday sound personal and professional financial decisions. 

Associated skills: Financial Literacy, Decision Making, Finance, Accounting, Loans, Curiosity, Algebra, Time Value Of Money, Stocks (Finance). 

Duration: 6 weeks (5–6 hours per week)

Enroll here

3. Financial Planning for Young Adults by The University of Illinois

This is an introductory personal finance class that is ideal for young adults who want to set financial goals through saving, investing and budgeting. The course also focuses on financial risk, borrowing and credit. 

The teaching method is a combination of traditional lecture-style videos along with video vignettes that introduce financial topics for discussion among participants. Participants will be expected to solve real-life challenges. 

Associated skills: Critical Thinking, Financial Decision Making, Financial Planning. 

Duration: 3 weeks (6 hours a week) 

Enroll here

4. Introduction to Personal Financial Planning by Indiana University

This course will help you understand how financial planning impacts your personal wealth over a lifetime. You will learn to work with income statements, balance sheets, budgets, and taxes. 

This fast-paced course will prepare you to build a detailed financial plan, and help you understand taxes and how tax decisions impact your wealth. It will also equip you with tools to identify common cognitive errors and confirmation biases in financial planning. The course will be taught through videos, selected short readings, and self-paced activities. 

Associated skills: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Planning, Financial Planning, Money Management, Financial Literacy, Financial Services. 

Duration: 4 weeks (4–6 hours per week)

Enroll here

5. Personal Finance Mastery by Perdue University

Get all your answers to key financial jargon, stocks, IRAs, 401Ks, investment, credit, insurance and retirement questions. From which property insurance you should opt for to how to maximize your retirement savings, this course explores interesting and relevant real-world examples. 

Associated skills: Property Insurance, Investments, Personal Finance

Duration: 5 weeks (3–4 hours per week)

Note: This course is archived, but will still allow you to review course content here.

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