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Certificate in Alternative Investments

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Alternative Investments

The buy side of the finance sector, particularly private equity, hedge funds, and other alternative investment firms, continues to be an attractive and highly dynamic segment of the industry. As high-net-worth individuals and other investors continue to seek asset diversification beyond traditional investment choices, alternative investments are expected to continue to grow at a rapid pace and will continue to attract talented professionals from various disciplines and backgrounds.

The Certificate in Alternative Investments is designed to provide you with the skills and insights needed to join this growing and dynamic field in finance. You will learn about the broad range of alternative investments available, including private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and infrastructure, as well as the role such investments play in a well-diversified portfolio. You can gain an understanding of the key elements of complex, sophisticated investment strategies used by hedge funds and other alternative investment managers. The courses in this certificate program are led by practitioners who are active in the alternative investments field who will teach you relevant and practical skills that are continuously applied in this field.

This rigorous certificate program is aligned with the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA®) Charter curriculum and is designed to deliver core knowledge in the area of alternative investments. Early-career professionals will find this certificate program a valuable foundation to enter this area of finance. The certificate consists of two required foundational courses and two electives, and it is expected to take up to two semesters to complete.

For questions about the program, please contact sps.finance@nyu.edu.

Alternative Investments

Format

Online

Requirements

4 courses

Estimated Total Certificate Cost

$5,760*

*Based on course prices for AY 24-25, subject to change.

Digital illustration depicting a man standing on a platform in front of a cityscape with Bitcoin symbols around him representing the Certificate in Alternative Investments program

Why This Certificate?

Become Familiar with Alternative Investments

Learn the key roles of the various types of alternative investments in a well-diversified investment portfolio.

Comprehend Key Facets of Alternative Investments

Excel in return and risk profiles of major alternative sub-asset classes, including real assets, hedge funds, private equity, and structured products. Gain the knowledge to explain these key characteristics.

 

Gain the Required Knowledge and Skills

Acquire the skills needed to pursue careers as product managers, account managers, research and portfolio managers at asset management firms, and analyst and associate positions at private equity firms and hedge funds.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Certificate Specifics

Students can complete the certificate in one year. However, students are able to enroll in courses at their own pace and have up to three years to complete the certificate.

There is no formal application for the Certificate in Alternative Investments. We ask that you complete the Declaration of Candidacy form and you can enroll in available courses either online or by calling the Student Services Department at 212-998-7150.

 

Students are encouraged to enroll as soon as course registration opens on the website but must register no later than two weeks before the course start date.

No. The Certificate in Alternative Investments does not require any prerequisites, and all courses can be taken in any sequence.

 

No, students pay for each course at the time of registration. Each course is paid individually as you enroll in each course.