Short course
Financial Investment Principles (online)
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online
Dates and time:
09/11/2026 - 19/11/202619:00 - 20:30
Study format:
Short intensive
Fees:
£560.00
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:
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how risk and return shape investment decisions
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key market segments including bonds, equities, private markets and hedge funds
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portfolio construction, diversification and valuation techniques
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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 9 – 19 November 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:
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Monday 9 November
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Thursday 12 November
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Monday 16 November
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Thursday 19 November
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.
Book this course
The registration deadline for this course is 1pm (UK time) on 5 November 2026, or when the course becomes fully booked – whichever occurs first. This course is also offered in person here at Oxford University. You can sign up for course news for updates on future courses.
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
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.
Build your confidence in financial investment principles
This course is designed for those who are new to financial investment, or who would like to broaden their understanding of financial markets and investment strategies.
It may be especially useful for professionals who want to build confidence in discussing investment ideas, understand different asset classes and ways to build a portfolio.
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.
To be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed a link and instructions on how to access their University of Oxford digital certificate after the end of the course.
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 and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £560.00 |
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.
Module code: O26C046N4Y
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.
