What is investment banking, and why is it important to learn about?

Investment banking is the provision of advisory-based financial services to corporations, governments, and other institutions such as public-private partnerships. In contrast to commercial banks that take deposits and lend money directly to consumers and businesses, an investment bank takes no deposits itself and instead acts as an intermediary between investors and their clients. Important services provided by investment banks include underwriting of debt and equity securities for companies raising capital, the facilitation of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or corporate reorganizations, and project finance for infrastructure investments. These corporate finance activities, often worth millions or even billions of dollars, rely on the specialized expertise of investment banks to conduct funding requirement analysis, evaluate different financing strategies, assist with valuation and pricing of assets, and provide guidance on other critical questions.

What careers can I pursue with a background in investment banking?

Working in the investment banking world is highly compensated, but also requires a high level of education and many long, 80-plus hour weeks in the office. These hard-working professionals typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in business, and often a masters in business administration (MBA), and their careers typically begin with an internship. Once they have proven themselves, they may begin working their way up as financial analysts responsible for evaluating historical and projected future performance, assessing risks, and making recommendations on financing strategies and investments. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the median salary for financial analysts in securities and other financial investments in 2018 was $101,410. Additionally, investment bankers may receive additional compensation in fees structured as a percentage of returns, potentially resulting in 7-figure incomes.

Can I learn about investment banking through online courses available on Coursera?

Yes, Coursera offers a wide range of online courses in business and finance, including topics relevant to investment banking careers. The Coursera platform allows you to learn remotely on a flexible schedule from top-ranked institutions like Yale University, Columbia University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. You can take individual courses, multi-course Specializations, and even complete full MBA degrees online, allowing you to pursue your education as far as you want to go. And, because Coursera allows you to learn the same material from the same faculty as on-campus students at a significantly lower tuition, you’ll be assured of getting an above-average return on your investment in your future.

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Investment Banking

Investment Banking Courses

Financial Markets
Yale University
COURSE
Rated 4.8 out of five stars. 13133 reviews
710k students
Beginner
Advanced Valuation and Strategy - M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital
Erasmus University Rotterdam
COURSE
Rated 4.7 out of five stars. 647 reviews
42k students
Advanced
Investment Management
University of Geneva
SPECIALIZATION
Rated 4.7 out of five stars. 5218 reviews
130k students
Beginner
Private Equity and Venture Capital
Università Bocconi
COURSE
Rated 4.8 out of five stars. 4509 reviews
97k students
Mixed
Financial Markets and Investment Strategy
Indian School of Business
SPECIALIZATION
Rated 4.5 out of five stars. 3060 reviews
87k students
Beginner
Understanding Modern Finance
American Institute of Business and Economics
SPECIALIZATION
Rated 4.4 out of five stars. 136 reviews
17k students
Intermediate
Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women
Goldman Sachs
COURSE
Rated 4.7 out of five stars. 84 reviews
4.1k students
Mixed
Understanding Financial Markets
University of Geneva
COURSE
Rated 4.7 out of five stars. 4133 reviews
100k students
Beginner
Financial Engineering and Risk Management Part I
Columbia University
COURSE
Rated 4.6 out of five stars. 2138 reviews
350k students
Mixed
Economics of Money and Banking
Columbia University
COURSE
Rated 4.9 out of five stars. 1061 reviews
95k students
Mixed
Analyzing Company’s Performance using Ratios
Coursera Project Network
NEW
GUIDED PROJECT
Rated 4.4 out of five stars. 201 reviews
4.7k students
Intermediate
Finance for Everyone
McMaster University
SPECIALIZATION
Rated 4.7 out of five stars. 882 reviews
54k students
Beginner
Mergers and Acquisitions – The Relentless Pursuit of Synergy
American Institute of Business and Economics
COURSE
Rated 4.2 out of five stars. 60 reviews
7.9k students
Intermediate
Stock Valuation with Comparable Companies Analysis
Coursera Project Network
NEW
GUIDED PROJECT
Rated 4.1 out of five stars. 7 reviews
Intermediate
Digital Transformation in Financial Services
Copenhagen Business School
SPECIALIZATION
Rated 4.4 out of five stars. 1238 reviews
31k students
Beginner
Leverage Google Finance Functions in Google Sheets
Coursera Project Network
NEW
GUIDED PROJECT
Rated 4.7 out of five stars. 7 reviews
Intermediate
Investment Strategy
Indian School of Business
COURSE
Rated 4.2 out of five stars. 127 reviews
14k students
Intermediate
The Global Financial Crisis
Yale University
COURSE
Rated 4.8 out of five stars. 1927 reviews
96k students
Mixed
Principles of Corporate Finance – A Tale of Value
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
COURSE
Rated 4.5 out of five stars. 13 reviews
3.2k students
Intermediate
Portfolio and Risk Management
University of Geneva
COURSE
Rated 4.7 out of five stars. 1783 reviews
43k students
Mixed

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular investment banking courses

Financial Markets: Yale University
Advanced Valuation and Strategy - M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Investment Management: University of Geneva
Private Equity and Venture Capital: Università Bocconi
Financial Markets and Investment Strategy: Indian School of Business
Understanding Modern Finance: American Institute of Business and Economics
Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women: Goldman Sachs
Understanding Financial Markets: University of Geneva
Financial Engineering and Risk Management Part I: Columbia University
Economics of Money and Banking: Columbia University

Skills you can learn in Finance

Investment (23)

Market (economics) (20)

Stock (18)

Financial Statement (14)

Frequently Asked Questions about Investment Banking

Investment banking is the provision of advisory-based financial services to corporations, governments, and other institutions such as public-private partnerships. In contrast to commercial banks that take deposits and lend money directly to consumers and businesses, an investment bank takes no deposits itself and instead acts as an intermediary between investors and their clients.
Important services provided by investment banks include underwriting of debt and equity securities for companies raising capital, the facilitation of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or corporate reorganizations, and project finance for infrastructure investments. These corporate finance activities, often worth millions or even billions of dollars, rely on the specialized expertise of investment banks to conduct funding requirement analysis, evaluate different financing strategies, assist with valuation and pricing of assets, and provide guidance on other critical questions.
Working in the investment banking world is highly compensated, but also requires a high level of education and many long, 80-plus hour weeks in the office. These hard-working professionals typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in business, and often a masters in business administration (MBA), and their careers typically begin with an internship.
Once they have proven themselves, they may begin working their way up as financial analysts responsible for evaluating historical and projected future performance, assessing risks, and making recommendations on financing strategies and investments. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for financial analysts in securities and other financial investments in 2018 was $101,410. Additionally, investment bankers may receive additional compensation in fees structured as a percentage of returns, potentially resulting in 7-figure incomes.
Yes, Coursera offers a wide range of online courses in business and finance, including topics relevant to investment banking careers. The Coursera platform allows you to learn remotely on a flexible schedule from top-ranked institutions like Yale University, Columbia University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
You can take individual courses, multi-course Specializations, and even complete full MBA degrees online, allowing you to pursue your education as far as you want to go. And, because Coursera allows you to learn the same material from the same faculty as on-campus students at a significantly lower tuition, you’ll be assured of getting an above-average return on your investment in your future.

What Coursera Has to Offer

learning program

description

GUIDED PROJECT

Learn a job-relevant skill that you can use today in under 2 hours through an interactive experience guided by a subject matter expert. Access everything you need right in your browser and complete your project confidently with step-by-step instructions.

COURSE

Learn Finance with online Finance courses. Take courses from the world's best instructors and universities. Courses include recorded auto-graded and peer-reviewed assignments, video lectures, and community discussion forums. When you complete a course, you’ll be eligible to receive a shareable electronic Course Certificate for a small fee.

SPECIALIZATION

Learn Finance with online Finance Specializations. Enroll in a Specialization to master a specific career skill. You’ll complete a series of rigorous courses, tackle hands-on projects, and earn a Specialization Certificate to share with your professional network and potential employers.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE

Whether you’re looking to start a new career or change your current one, Professional Certificates on Coursera help you become job ready. Learn at your own pace from top companies and universities, apply your new skills to hands-on projects that showcase your expertise to potential employers, and earn a career credential to kickstart your new career.

MASTERTRACK™ CERTIFICATE

With MasterTrack™ Certificates, portions of Master’s programs have been split into online modules, so you can earn a high quality university-issued career credential at a breakthrough price in a flexible, interactive format. Benefit from a deeply engaging learning experience with real-world projects and live, expert instruction. If you are accepted to the full Master's program, your MasterTrack coursework counts towards your degree.

DEGREE

Transform your resume with an online degree from a top university for a breakthrough price. Our modular degree learning experience gives you the ability to study online anytime and earn credit as you complete your course assignments. You'll receive the same credential as students who attend class on campus. Coursera degrees cost much less than comparable on-campus programs.

Investment Banking Courses

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular investment banking courses

Skills you can learn in Finance

Frequently Asked Questions about Investment Banking

What Coursera Has to Offer

Top Online Courses

Top Online Specializations

Online Certificates

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Coursera

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