Introduction to Financial Markets

A 6-Week Foundation Program for A-Level Students

The Introduction to Financial Markets program is a 6-weekend, 12-hour foundation course designed exclusively for A-Level students.

This program aims to build strong conceptual clarity around how financial markets actually work — far beyond what textbooks cover.

Students are introduced to equities, derivatives, market participants, regulators, and institutions, while also gaining insight into the wide range of career opportunities available across the financial market ecosystem.

The course is educational, structured, and career-oriented, making it ideal for students considering degrees in Finance, Economics, Business, Accounting, Mathematics, Data Science, or related fields.

Program Structure

  • Duration: 6 Weeks
  • Format: Weekend Classes
  • Total Learning Time: 12 Hours
  • Session Length: 2 Hours per session
  • Mode: Classroom

Who Is This Program For?

A-Level students planning to pursue Finance, Economics, Business or related degrees

Students curious about stock markets, investing, and derivatives

Students exploring careers in:

  • Investment Banking
  • Asset & Wealth Management
  • Trading & Market Making
  • Risk & Compliance
  • FinTech & Quantitative Finance

🚫 No prior finance or trading knowledge required

What Students Will Learn

  1. How Financial Markets Really Work
    • Structure of global financial markets
    • Primary vs Secondary markets
    • Role of regulators, exchanges, clearing houses, and brokers
  2. Equity Markets
    • Why companies raise capital
    • IPO process & pricing logic
    • How stocks trade after listing
    • Settlement cycles & corporate actions
    • Market indices and what they represent
  3. Derivatives Markets (Futures & Options)
    • Why derivatives exist
    • Futures vs forwards
    • How futures trading works
    • Leverage: benefits and risks
    • How institutions use futures for hedging
    • Introduction to options, pricing, intrinsic & time value
  4. Market Participants
    • Retail investors
    • Institutional investors
    • Investment bankers
    • Traders & market makers
    • Hedge funds & mutual funds
    • Regulators and their role
  5. Investing vs Trading
    • Long-term investing vs short-term trading
    • Risk, behaviour, and discipline
    • How professionals approach markets

Career Direction & Awareness

A key objective of this course is to help students make informed career decisions.

Students will gain clarity on:

  • Different roles within financial markets
  • Required skills for each career path
  • How university choices link to future roles
  • Traditional finance vs emerging roles (FinTech, data, quants)

This ensures students don’t just “study finance” — they understand where they want to go within finance.

Disclaimer: This program is purely educational and does not provide investment advice.

Register for the Course