Free Online Courses
Paid certificateBeginnerFinance & Accounting

Financial Markets

Nobel laureate Robert Shiller's Yale course on how financial markets, insurance, banking and regulation work.

Taught byCoursera
Start free on Coursera

About this course

Robert Shiller explains the institutions and ideas behind modern finance, from risk management and CAPM to behavioural finance, stocks and bonds, bubbles and crises, options and futures, investment banking and careers in finance. It is accessible to beginners while staying intellectually serious.

Best for: Beginners and future investors who want to understand how financial markets really work.

What you will be able to do

  • Explain how insurance and diversification manage risk
  • Describe how stock, bond and derivatives markets function
  • Discuss behavioural finance and market bubbles
  • Understand the roles of banks, brokers and regulators

Syllabus and your progress

Tick modules off as you finish them on Coursera.

0 of 7 modules done

Plan your pace

At 4 hours a week you would finish in about 9 weeks, using the course time estimate above.

Progress is saved in this browser only. No account needed.

Cost and certificate

Paid certificate

On Coursera's enrol screen many courses offer a free 'Full Course, No Certificate' option; the certificate is paid (financial aid can be requested). Check the options before you start.

Coursera sets the terms and can change them. Check the course page before you commit serious time, and tell us if something changed.

Quick answers

Is Financial Markets really free?
Yes, the course material is free on Coursera. On Coursera's enrol screen many courses offer a free 'Full Course, No Certificate' option; the certificate is paid (financial aid can be requested). Check the options before you start.
How long does Financial Markets take?
Plan for about 34 hrs in total (Provider module estimates total about 34 hours (listed as 3 weeks at 10 hours a week)). It is self-paced, so you can go faster or slower.
Do I need experience before Financial Markets?
No. It is a beginner course with no prerequisites listed.

Part of these learning paths

Featured in

Topics

About Coursera

University and industry courses with optional paid certificates.

All free Coursera courses

Keep going on AltFTool

Financial Markets

Paid certificate

Start on Coursera