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The financial officer of an international company should be well versed on the fundamentals their company operates on. This can be learned through experience in the field or through traditional education.
If you’re looking to take your career into the field of international finance, a well-designed online course can significantly boost your chances of a career switch. Plus, you can learn at your own pace.
Quick Look: Best International Finance Courses
- Fundamentals of Macroeconomics by edX- Get this course
- Macroeconomics: The IS-LM Model by Udemy - Get this course
- Strategic Business Management – Macroeconomics by Coursera - Get this course
- Understanding Macroeconomics for University and Business by Udemy - Get this course
- The Power of Macroeconomics: Economic Principles in the Real World by Coursera - Get this course
- Strategic Business Management – Macroeconomics by Coursera - Get this course
- International Business I by Coursera - Get this course
- International Business II by Coursera - Get this course
- Globalization, Economic Growth, and Stability Specialization by Coursera - Get this course
What You’ll Get Out of an International Finance Course
Quality international finance courses supply an understanding of global economics, international macroeconomics, currency exchange, and more. International finance courses explore the relationship between the global market and individual country policies while teaching you how to do business on an international scale.
What to Look for Before You Commit
There are a few elements you can look at when evaluating whether a course is worth your time. Make sure to investigate the topics covered, instructor reputation and knowledge, and the price of the course. Let’s take a closer look at each consideration.
1. Topics Covered
Check the curriculum of each course to make sure it covers what you want to learn about international finance. Do you need a general education or more specialized lessons? Gauge the depth of the topic you desire to learn. You can also find additional information on the topics covered in the comments and testimonials left on the course page.
Make sure to check the average rating of the course as well. If it’s too low or non-existent, it’s likely not your best option.
2. Instructor’s Reputation
You want a class taught by someone who has worked in the industry you aspire to break into. Teaching experience is a plus when it comes to these technical fields. If you are looking at many listings offered by numerous people, you’re going to have to do some vetting.
Look at what former student are saying about the teacher. What is their style like? Are they relatable? Is the information applicable to what the students want to be doing? Investigate whether the teacher is worth paying to learn from.
3. Price
Online courses come in all different price ranges. It’s not hard to find low-cost options, but it all depends on the depth of learning you want and the platform offering it. Determine what your learning budget it and start evaluating classes that fit it. Note that online learning platforms often have sales and promotions that make their classes more accessible to potential students.
The Best International Finance Courses
We’ve gathered some of the best international finance courses together for you to pick from. They are arranged by skill level and price for easy evaluating.
Best for Beginners
New to international finance and seeking foundational knowledge? These below courses are an excellent place to start.
1. Fundamentals of Macroeconomics by edX
- Who's it for? Beginners
- Price: Free, add verified certificate for $50
The Carlos III University of Madrid offers an extensive course on the fundamentals of macroeconomics through edX. The class is taught in English with instructors Angel Hernando-Veciana and Esteban Nicolini.
You will get a working knowledge of macroeconomic analysis, strengthen your overall knowledge of economics, learn about GDP, labor market indicators, financial system, investment, savings, banking systems, monetary system, central banks, economic fluctuations, and other tops.
The course lasts six weeks at the recommended pace of two to three hours a week. The course is completely free to take, though you’ll have to pay $50 for a completion certificate.
2. Macroeconomics: The IS-LM Model by Udemy
- Who's it for? Beginners
- Price: On sale
If you aspire to be a financial officer for a multinational company, you should be familiar with the IS-LM model. The Macroeconomics: The IS-LM Model course on Udemy can get you there.
This course has an average rating of 4.5 stars and over 700 enrolled students. During the course, you will learn how to make use of the IS-LM model and macroeconomic policy suggestions. You will also learn how to use the IS-LM model to interpret the effects of various policies on a particular country’s economy.
The course is made up of an hour of online videos. If you enroll, you will get lifetime access and a completion certificate.
3. Strategic Business Management – Macroeconomics by Coursera
- Who's it for? Beginners
- Price: On sale
Beginners who are interested in a thorough course on macroeconomics should give the Strategic Business Management – Macroeconomics course a try. The course is available on Coursera and is offered by the University of California Irvine’s Division of Continuing Education.
The first four modules cover modern macroeconomics, supply-aggregate demand model, fiscal policies, Keynesian model, business strategy, and monetary policies. The rest of the course covers economic growth, international trade, exchange rates, trade deficits, public finance, budget deficit, and strategic business cycles.
The course has a stellar average rating of 4.8 and takes approximately 38 hours to finish. You can also audit the course for free. If you would like to have assignments graded and get the completion certificate, there is a $49 upgrade available.
Best for Intermediate Knowledge
If you have international finance knowledge, you may find the following courses useful.
1. Understanding Macroeconomics for University and Business by Udemy
- Who's it for? Intermediate
- Price: On sale
Understanding Microeconomics for University and Business can help take your international finance knowledge to the next level. You can find it on Udemy with an average rating of 4.5 stars from more than 250 ratings and more than 1,500 enrolled students.
This course will teach you about macroeconomics, how to make sound business decisions based on macroeconomics, and how economic policies are made. The curriculum also covers fiscal and monetary policies, as well as money creation. The curriculum contains around 150 minutes of online videos and 26 downloadable resources.
2. The Power of Macroeconomics: Economic Principles in the Real World by Coursera
- Who's it for? Intermediate
- Price: On sale
The Power of Macroeconomics: Economic Principles in the Real World brings real-world application to the course material it teaches. It is available on Coursera and offered by the University of California Irvine’s Division of Continuing Education.
This course has an average of 4.6 stars out of over 1,300 ratings. It covers the Keynesian Model, Supply-Aggregate model, monetary policy, Federal Reserve, inflation, productivity, economic growth, unemployment, stagflation, public debt, exchange rates, trade deficits, budget deficits, protectionism, international trade, and other topics.
The course takes around 25 hours to complete and the recommended pace is two hours a week. As is the case with many Coursera courses, you can audit this one for free.
3. Global Financial Markets and Instruments by Coursera
- Who's it for? Intermediate
- Price: Free, $49 certificate upgrade
Global Financial Markets and Instruments on Coursera covers the basics of international finance, global markets, and financial investment. It is one of Coursera’s most popular finance courses.
This course averages 4.6 stars from over 650 ratings in total and boasts around 130 reviews. In this course, you will learn about global financial markets, debt, equity, and derivative instruments, alternative and traditional assets, investment-grade financial instruments, and more. The course takes approximately 21 hours to complete and is divided into four weekly modules.
Best for Advanced Knowledge
Are you an international business expert? These courses will enhance your skills.
1. International Business I by Coursera
- Who's it for? Advanced
- Price: On sale
If you are looking for a specialized, intricate examination of how International Business functions, you might want to take a look at the International Business I course from Coursera. It is offered by the University of New Mexico and has an average rating of 4.6 stars from over 500 ratings.
It tackles foreign currencies, globalization, gains from trade, and the rationale behind free trade, exchange rates, and much more. This course takes approximately six hours to complete and the deadlines are flexible. It is conducted can be audited for free
2. International Business II by Coursera
- Who's it for? Advanced
- Price: On sale
International Business II on Coursera is the next course for studying international business that follows the one we mentioned above. The focus of this course is on concerns of international companies.
During this course, you will gain an in-depth knowledge of foreign currencies, exchange rates, foreign business organizations, how to adapt your products to the international market, and much more.
The course is divided into six weekly modules of around one hour long each. It is available in both Spanish and English. English and Vietnamese subtitles are available as well. The course has an average rating of 4.6 and can be audited for free.
3. Globalization, Economic Growth, and Stability Specialization by Coursera
- Who's it for? Advanced
- Price: On sale
The Globalization, Economic Growth, and Stability Specialization course is a three-in-one specialization course that can be taken through Coursera and is offered by IE Business School.
Understanding Economic Policy Making covers the influence of government policies on a country’s economy. The second part, Trade, Immigration, and Exchange Rates in Globalized World, deals with the multiple facets of globalization and their effects on a country’s economic decisions and perspectives.
Finally, Business Opportunities and Risks in a Globalized Economy will teach you how to interpret macroeconomic, international, and institutional data for the risks and opportunities that might exist. The specialization takes around five months to complete at the recommended pace of four hours per week.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to move up in the ranks at your current job or bring an international flair to your current job, an understanding of international finance is always a helpful tool. It can also help you understand the global market, exchange rates, and macroeconomics.
An online course will allow you to learn at your own pace and from your own home. With the option to audit for free, you can find the best class for you risk-free.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community