Financial Investment Principles (online)



Overview

Gain a clear, practical introduction to financial markets, investment strategies and how they interact with the wider economy. Designed for beginners and those looking to broaden or refresh their knowledge, this course helps you build the confidence to navigate core investment concepts and make more informed financial decisions. 

You’ll explore the fundamentals of how markets work, how investments are evaluated, and the different asset classes used to build portfolios. Through interactive sessions and real-world examples, you’ll cover: 

  • how risk and return shape investment decisions 

  • key market segments including bonds, equities, private markets and hedge funds 

  • portfolio construction, diversification and valuation techniques 

  • how macroeconomic factors and behavioural biases influence financial markets. 

The course is taught through presentations, group discussions and hands-on activities to reinforce your understanding. No technical background or specialist software is required, just an interest in how finance fits into the bigger picture. 

Dates, Times and Delivery 

This course runs over two weeks, from 18 - 28 May 2026, with online sessions delivered via Microsoft Teams.

There will be a combination of virtual presentations, interactive group work/discussions and hands-on application exercises.

Sessions will be held from 7.00 - 8.30pm (UK time) on:

  • Monday 18 May

  • Thursday 21 May

  • Tuesday 26 May

  • Thursday 28 May

A world clock, and time zone converter can be found here: https://bit.ly/3bSPu6D 

This is a ‘virtual classroom’ course. 

To replicate the experience of a classroom, the sessions are ‘live’ and are not recorded. 

No in-person attendance at Oxford is required and you do not need to purchase any software.

Accessing Your Online Course 

Details about accessing the private MS Teams course site will be emailed to you during the week prior to the course commencing.  

Please get in touch if you have not received this information within three working days of the course start date. 

Programme details

Session 1: Introduction to financial markets and the investment process

  • Overview of financial markets and their functions
  • Introduction to the investment process and its key components
  • Understanding risk and return in investment decisions
  • Exploring different investment strategies and objectives

Session 2: Market segments and instruments

  • Overview of various market segments: money market, bond market, equity market, private markets, liquid alternatives, hedge funds, derivatives
  • Understanding the characteristics, risks and potential returns of each market segment and asset class
  • Exploring the role of each instrument in a diversified investment portfolio

Session 3: Portfolio construction, risk management and valuation

  • Analysing portfolio risk and return metrics
  • Exploring portfolio construction techniques and diversification strategies
  • Understanding attribution analysis and its role in evaluating portfolio performance
  • Introduction to fundamental analysis using financial ratios, relative value, macroeconomic and industry analysis
  • Discussion on valuation methods for stocks and bonds

Session 4: Financial markets, the wider economy and behavioral analysis

  • Examining the relationship between financial markets and macroeconomic factors
  • Understanding the impact of interest rates, economic growth, unemployment, and central bank policies on financial markets
  • Exploring the behavioral biases that affect investment decision-making
  • Introduction to technical analysis tools and indicators
  • Wrap-up and final Q&A

Certification

In order to be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed after the end of the course with a link, and instructions on how to access their University of Oxford digital certificate.

The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate, as well as share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £535.00

Payment

Fees include electronic copies of course materials.

All courses are VAT exempt.

Register immediately online 

Click the 'Book now' button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required.

Request an invoice

If you require an invoice for your company or organisation, please email us to request an online enrolment form. Payment is then accepted online, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer.

Tutor

Konrad Kleinfeld

Konrad is a senior investment professional and part-time lecturer at the University of Oxford, with over 20 years of experience across banking, capital markets, and global asset management. His career spans leadership roles at leading international institutions, including BlackRock, Nomura, and State Street Investment Management, where he has specialised in fixed income markets, ETF distribution, and institutional client coverage across EMEA. His experience also includes managing corporate bond and credit derivatives strategies, as well as contributing to the electronification of bond markets and the evolution of modern investment infrastructure.
 
Alongside his industry career, Konrad is an active educator. At Oxford, he teaches at the intersection of finance, investment, and artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on the structural transformation of financial services. He has also taught economics at leading German business schools and previously served as a summer school lecturer at King’s College London, where he delivered courses on global finance and AI. His teaching emphasises the integration of academic rigour with real-world application.
 
Konrad holds a BA in Banking (Hannover), an Advanced Diploma in International Development from the University of Cambridge, and an MBA from London. He has also completed multiple professional certifications in finance, trading and investment management.
 
His market insights are regularly featured in leading German and international media, including ARD Tagesschau, n-tv, FAZ, Süddeutsche Zeitung, WirtschaftsWoche, and Handelsblatt. He also contributes to widely followed economic indicators, including the ZEW Financial Market Survey.

Application

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying, please click on the 'Ask a question' button at the top of this page.

IT requirements

This course is delivered online using Microsoft Teams. You will be required to follow and implement the instructions we send you to fully access Microsoft Teams on the University of Oxford's secure IT network.

To participate you must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

It is advised to use headphones with working speakers and microphone.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support