About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is a global association of investment professionals that awards the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) designations as well as the Certificate in ESG Investing, and the Investment Foundations Certificate. The knowledge and skills obtained during studies with CFA Institute allow finance practitioners to work in firms engaged in asset management (mutual funds, hedge funds, private equity, real estate investment, investment research and ratings, and investment advisory services), wealth management, fiduciary asset ownership (such as pension funds, endowments, and sovereign wealth funds), and their related regulators and standard setters. In 2020, the association claimed 186,400 members worldwide.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program
The CFA Program, awarded by CFA Institute, is the most respected and recognised investment management credential in the world. The master’s-level qualification provides a strong foundation of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills that will give you a career advantage. It is of particular interest for portfolio and wealth managers, financial advisors, research analysts on both the buy and sell side, different professionals involved in the investment decision-making process as well as finance students who would like to pursue a career in the global investment management industry.
The CFA Program requires candidates to pass three levels of exams. The curriculum covers ethical and professional standards, quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting and analysis, corporate finance, equity investments, fixed-income investments, derivatives, alternative investments, portfolio management and wealth planning.
The CFA Program (Fellow or Associate by examination) is a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Appropriate Qualification for the activity of “managing investments” required of Retail Investment Advisers in the UK. The CFA qualification is recognised by the FCA as an appropriate qualification for the following non-RDR activities:
(8) Giving personal recommendations on investments in the course of corporate finance business;
(10) (14) Managing investments and/or undertaking the activity of a broker fund adviser;
(15) Overseeing on a day to day basis operating a collective investment scheme or undertaking activities of a trustee or depositary of a collective investment scheme;
(16) Overseeing on a day to day basis safeguarding and administering investments or holding client money;
(17) Overseeing on a day to day basis administrative functions in relation to managing investments;
(18) Overseeing on a day to day basis administrative functions in relation to effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance which are life policies; and
(19) Overseeing on a day to day basis administrative functions in relation to the operation of stakeholder pension schemes.
Source: Appropriate Qualifications in FCA Handbook
CFA Training at London School of Finance and Law
London School of Finance and Law offers a wide range of courses in finance and tax law that can be taken alongside your professional qualification studies elsewhere. The CFA qualification, together with a national qualification you may be pursuing, will increase your chances to work in a global investment company.
As a student of London School of Finance and Law, you can enrol in our CFA exam preparation programme which runs for 2 years (24 months / 6 terms) in total.
Level 1 (8 months / 2 terms):
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- Ethical and Professional Standards
- Quantitative Methods and Technical Analysis
- Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
- Monetary and Fiscal Policy, International Trade, and Currency Exchange Rates
- Financial Reporting and Analysis I
- Corporate Finance I
- Market Organization, Market Indices, and Market Efficiency
- Equity Analysis and Valuation
- Derivatives
Level 2 (8 months / 2 terms):
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- Ethical and Professional Standards
- Quantitative Methods for Valuation
- Economics for Valuation
- Financial Reporting and Analysis II
- Corporate Finance II
- Equity and Private Company Valuation
- Fixed Income and Derivatives
- Alternative Investments
- Portfolio Management I: Process, Asset Allocation, and Risk Management
- Portfolio Management II: Economic Analysis, Active Management, and Trading
Level 3 (8 months / 2 terms):
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- Ethical and Professional Standards in Practice
- Behavioral Finance and Investment Processes
- Private Wealth Management and Risk Management for Individuals
- Portfolio Management for Institutional Investors
- Asset Allocation in Portfolio Management
- Market Indexes and Benchmarks
- Fixed-Income Portfolio Management
- Equity Portfolio Management
- Alternative Investments Portfolio Management
- Risk Management Applications of Derivatives
- Portfolio Management III: Trading, Monitoring, and Rebalancing
- Portfolio Performance Evaluation
- Global Investment Performance Standards
You can join the programme at any level, depending on the CFA exams you have already passed. In line with the CFA Institute guidelines, one can take the Level II exam only after passing the Level I exam.
Please note that our tuition includes access to study materials, online practice tests, tutor-marked assignments and mock exams via a dedicated virtual learning environment (VLE), but it is up to you to pay additional fees to book your exams at CFA Institute.
Study method
Online learning with tutor guidance and support
How long it takes
The programme starts three times a year – in January, May and September.
You need to be able to spend approximately 8 hours per week on studying each programme module.
Teaching and assessment
A tutor will guide you throughout the study process and mark and comment on your written work. You and your tutor will primarily communicate with each other through email.
The course work includes online practice tests, tutor-marked assignments and end-of-module assessment. You must use the online VLE-system to submit your end-of-module assessment.
The Pass mark for each module is 50%. Upon successful completion, students are issued a certificate of completion from London School of Finance and Law.
Please note that it is your responsibility to take CFA exams after completing each module with us.
Study materials
All study materials (including Microsoft Office presentations and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of selected study materials) are provided on the module website. To revise for your exams, you can purchase study materials directly from CFA Institute (e.g. on Amazon).
Technical requirements
A computer with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Functionality may be limited on mobile or tablet devices.
If you have a disability or particular study requirements, please tell us as soon as possible.
English language requirements
The language of instruction is English. There is no formal requirement to prove your English language proficiency to study our courses, but you are expected to have English reading and writing skills equivalent to B2+ CEFR level to pass CFA exams.
Fees and funding
Course fees for the 2024/2025 academic year: £2,020 per level
Course fees cover registration, course materials, tuition and assessment. Please note that it is your responsibility to pay for student membership and exams at CFA Institute.
LSFL course fees depend on the level and duration of courses: check all tuition fee rates for the current academic year here.
You may be eligible for tuition funding.
Registration
Applications for this course are now open for May 2025 start.
The module website will be available to registered students three days in advance of the module start. Module sessions will be opened every week or every two weeks to enable tutor-led, gradual progression through the study materials and continuous assessment.
Course registration is open, but please be aware that due to the increased demand it may take us longer to respond than usual.
Registration closes 10 May 2025 (places subject to availability)
Registration for current students:
Registration for new students:
You have to register as an LSFL student to enrol in this programme.