Duration

12 Months
320 hours

Delivery

Fully Online

Diploma by

Powered by

Eligibility

3+ years of work experience

Exemplary Faculty

Academicians & Practitioners

Diploma in Advanced Finance and Analytics (DAFA)

Quantitative Finance | Analytics | Fintech

Next-Gen financial services are projected to grow to USD335 billion in the next decade heavily driven by technology and a high level of quantitative analytics. This also it crucial for organisations and professionals to familiarise themselves with key driving skills in the field.  DAFA offers an opportunity to gain these advanced skills.

Diploma in Advanced Finance and Analytics (DAFA) is a first of its kind professional development programme that delivers advanced technical competencies and quantitative skills. Co-designed by two institutions at the forefront of Finance education — Krea University and D’Amore McKim School of Business at Northeastern University — DAFA is an opportunity for working professionals and entrepreneurs in Finance to prepare themselves for the future challenges of the industry. It is also a stepping stone for professionals in related domains seeking to switch to careers within Finance.

Why DAFA?

Co-designed by pioneers in finance education

Get trained in meeting the challenges of the transforming financial sector landscape through a professional development programme, co-designed by two of the finest global institutions in finance education- IFMR GSB at Krea University and D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University.

Guided by exemplary global faculty

Evolve alongside the financial world disruption mentored by experts from the field of Finance Education, who come with decades of experience in concept and practice. DAFA includes academic sessions, projects, and guest lectures from academia and industry practitioners.

Interwoven pedagogy for tomorrow

Gain the right mix of theory and practice to offer model solutions to real-world complex challenges.
Strengthen the fundamentals
Attain a strong grounding in core and critical financial concepts, ensuring participants from different backgrounds have strong fundamentals prior to specialisation tracks.
Technical and Quantitative Rigour
Leverage data and technology through in-depth understanding of new-age functions such as Machine Learning, AI for financial modelling, and algorithms. Sharpen quantitative skills with rigorous knowledge delivery on basic and advanced mathematical and statistical measures.
Application oriented curriculum
Apply financial tools and models through an application oriented curriculum with understanding of tools and models used across Banking, Trading, Equity, Hedge Funds, Insurance and enabling tech domains.

Access new-age career opportunities in Finance

The Fintech market in emerging countries is expected to boost the GDP to $3.7 trillion by 2025 and create 91 million jobs in the next four years*. Get moulded into an analyzer, innovator or disruptor. Position yourself as a suitable candidate for futuristic roles in the world of Finance.

Network with global industry leaders

Network and get mentored by the best across the globe. Tap into IFMR GSB’s network of 20000+ alumni spread across two decades of the school’s history.

Virtual delivery at par with physical classrooms

Bringing the best of the real world into the digital classroom, IFMR GSB comes with a robust experience of digital delivery of classes. Each class is immersive upholding quality education ethos, and is thoughtfully curated bearing in mind the schedules of working professionals.

Learn alongside a high potential peer community

Co-learn with experienced and early age professionals from varied backgrounds handpicked through a rigorous selection process. DAFA offers the advantage of a promising career in finance to learners spread across the professional spectrum, irrespective of their prior knowledge or specialisation.

The DAFA Advantage!

Strengthen Fundamentals in Advanced Finance

The curriculum offers a strong grounding in core and critical financial concepts to ensure participants from different backgrounds have strong fundamentals prior to specialisation tracks.

Learn to Leverage Data and Technology

Leverage new-age functions such as Machine Learning, AI for financial modelling, and understand algorithms for cross-functional decision-making.

Sharpen Finance relevant Quantitative Skills

A comprehensive but rigorous coverage of basic and advanced mathematical and statistical measures, and its application with financial data.

Apply Financial Tools and Models

A strong application-oriented curriculum and approach with functional understanding of tools and models used across Banking, Trading, Equity, Hedge Funds, Insurance and enabling tech domains.

The DAFA programme jointly curated by leading academicians and practitioners will help shape a generation of professionals and address the acute skill gap globally. It will also help a large canvas of stakeholders—including governments, corporations and individuals—address some of the most compelling issues in finance including inclusion, security, risk management, governance and trust.

Vaghul

Vaghul N

Chancellor - Krea University
Former Chairman - ICICI Bank Limited

Powered by Pioneers in Finance Education

IFMR Graduate School of Business at Krea University

  • IFMR GSB has over 2 decades of experience in Finance education backed by IFMR Society's 50 years of legacy
  • IFMR GSB has delivered over 50000 hours of executive programmes for over 2000 executives
  • Asia’s 1st Finance training and research institution

IFMR Graduate School of Business (formerly Institute for Financial Management and Research) is a leading provider of finance education, and moulds ambitious young men and women into competent and socially responsible global leaders. IFMR GSB’s curriculum offers a mix of theory with simulated real-life exposure. It endeavours to shape business practices through inventive, sharp thinking and cutting-edge research. IFMR Graduate School of Business offers MBA, PhD, E-MBA and customised programmes for executives.

D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University

  • Accredited by AACSB International
  • Ranked #4 in best online finance MBA programs in the USA, U.S. News and World Report
  • Ranked #8 in U.S.-ranked online MBA programs, Financial Times

Northeastern University ranks among the Top 50 research universities in the country, and the D’Amore-McKim School of Business played a big part in this achievement. D’Amore-McKim has redefined business education, boasting exceptional undergraduate and graduate programs focused on the future of work. Distinguished faculty, pioneers in their industries, cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem by educating and mentoring a diverse, energetic student body. D’Amore-McKim is meant for those who truly want to become more.

Hear from our Global Partner

Experts Speak

“Our two schools have worked together to design a program built on the combined expertise of both institutions. Infusing a strong academic program in finance with an integrated experiential education preparing students for the challenges they will face throughout their careers.”
Kate KlepperAssociate Dean, Graduate Programs, D’Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University
Kate Klepper
“The pace of innovation and the impact of technology on global financial services industries continues to accelerate. It is exciting to see two of the world's leading progressive universities collaborate together to develop this innovative educational program to help professionals accelerate in their careers in quantitative finance, analytics, and FinTech”
Doug LowensteinFintech Advisor, D’Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University
Doug Lowenstein
“Our two schools have worked together to design a program built on the combined expertise of both institutions. Infusing a strong academic program in finance with an integrated experiential education preparing students for the challenges they will face throughout their careers.”
Kate KlepperAssociate Dean, Graduate Programs, D’Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University
Kate Klepper
“The pace of innovation and the impact of technology on global financial services industries continues to accelerate. It is exciting to see two of the world's leading progressive universities collaborate together to develop this innovative educational program to help professionals accelerate in their careers in quantitative finance, analytics, and FinTech”
Doug LowensteinFintech Advisor, D’Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University
Doug Lowenstein
Previous
Next

Academics & Curriculum

The immersive learning experience comes with an intensive application-oriented curriculum. The programme strengthens the foundation in core financial concepts and other prerequisite skill sets such as programming, mathematics and statistics before leading the learner into a rigorous and advanced understanding of financial analytics and fintech, and quantitative finance.

Conceptual Foundations in Finance

130 hours
  • Financial Accounting
  • Corporate Finance
  • Foundations of Mathematics and Statistics
  • Programming for Finance
  • Introduction to FinTech
  • Financial Markets & Institutions
  • Introduction to Machine Learning
  • Investment Analysis
  • Financial Career Lecture Series

Financial Analytics & Fintech

190 hours
  • Simulation Techniques for Finance
  • Machine Learning For Finance
  • Interest Rates and Bonds
  • Regression and Time-Series Modelling
  • Advanced Machine Learning for Finance
  • FinTech Industries Structure
  • FinTech Disruption
  • Data Security & Regulation
  • Financial Services & Analytics
  • Futures, Options and Swaps
  • Financial Forecasting

Quantitative Finance

190 hours
  • Simulation Techniques for Finance
  • Machine Learning For Finance
  • Interest Rates and Bonds
  • Regression and Time-Series Modelling
  • Applied Probability for Finance
  • Mathematics for Finance
  • Applied Stochastic Processes in Finance
  • Stochastic Methods in Finance
  • Mathematics for Derivatives
  • Credit Derivatives
  • Finite Difference Techniques

Core Faculty

The programme will include academic sessions, projects, and guest lectures from academia and industry practitioners.
The lead faculty of DAFA are experts from the field of Finance Education, and have decades of experience in both concept and practice.

  • Has an M.S. in Mathematical Finance from Columbia University, New York, a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Purdue University, Indiana.
  • Well known and sought after for his expertise in Mathematical Finance.
  • He was invited by CRISIL for a three-month consultancy, where he worked with a team engaged in Quantitative Research.
    • Samir Ranjan
    Samir RanjanProfessor
    IFMR GSB, Krea University
  • He is a former senior banking professional with specialization in Corporate Banking, Credit & Enterprise Risk Management.
  • His work experience includes senior management roles in MNC banks in India, UK, Australia and the Middle East, brief stints in Tata Consultancy Services as their Head-Risk Management in the Banking & Financial Services Industry (BFSI) vertical and a specialized Risk Management Consultancy company, Aptivaa Consulting Co.
    • Krishnan Chidambaram
    Krishnan ChidambaramDirector - Financial Assistance,
    Senior Advisor
    IFMR GSB, Krea University
  • More than three decades of experience in executive training, teaching, consulting and research in Accounting, Finance and Information Technology.
  • Has trained more than 1000 executives across multiple organization covering both private and public sector.
  • Some of his most sought after courses are Finance for Managers and Financial Modeling.
    • Balasubramanian G
    Balasubramanian GSenior Professor,
    Advisor - Finance and Accounting
    IFMR GSB, Krea University
  • Has an M.S. in Mathematical Finance from Columbia University, New York, a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Purdue University, Indiana.
  • Well known and sought after for his expertise in Mathematical Finance.
  • He was invited by CRISIL for a three-month consultancy, where he worked with a team engaged in Quantitative Research.
    • Samir Ranjan
    Samir RanjanProfessor
    IFMR GSB, Krea University
  • He is a former senior banking professional with specialization in Corporate Banking, Credit & Enterprise Risk Management.
  • His work experience includes senior management roles in MNC banks in India, UK, Australia and the Middle East, brief stints in Tata Consultancy Services as their Head-Risk Management in the Banking & Financial Services Industry (BFSI) vertical and a specialized Risk Management Consultancy company, Aptivaa Consulting Co.
    • Krishnan Chidambaram
    Krishnan ChidambaramDirector - Financial Assistance,
    Senior Advisor
    IFMR GSB, Krea University
  • More than three decades of experience in executive training, teaching, consulting and research in Accounting, Finance and Information Technology.
  • Has trained more than 1000 executives across multiple organization covering both private and public sector.
  • Some of his most sought after courses are Finance for Managers and Financial Modeling.
    • Balasubramanian G
    Balasubramanian GSenior Professor,
    Advisor - Finance and Accounting
    IFMR GSB, Krea University
  • Has an M.S. in Mathematical Finance from Columbia University, New York, a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Purdue University, Indiana.
  • Well known and sought after for his expertise in Mathematical Finance.
  • He was invited by CRISIL for a three-month consultancy, where he worked with a team engaged in Quantitative Research.
    • Samir Ranjan
    Samir RanjanProfessor
    IFMR GSB, Krea University
    Previous
    Next

    Ride the Big Opportunity

    boost to GDP of emerging countries and create 91 million jobs by 2025
    $ 0 tn
    Next-gen financial services by 2030
    $ 0 bn

    Source: KPMG, Researchandmarkets & *McKinsey report

    How to Apply?

    Submit your application through our online application form.

    Apply Now

    Not ready to apply yet? Talk to our representative

    Who should apply?

    • Working professionals (or entrepreneurs) with minimum 3 years of work experience
    • Seeking to progress careers in Finance domains demanding skills in Quantitative Finance, Financial Analytics, Risk Management and Fintech applications
    • Considering to switch careers and explore diverse roles within the growing Finance-related verticals

    Suited for various roles including (not limited to)

    • Financial Analyst
    • Equity Analyst
    • Financial Modeler
    • Investment Banker
    • Risk Analyst
    • Fintech Entrepreneur
    • Financial Consultant
    • Securities Broker
    • Financial Accountant
    • Chartered Accountant
    • Investment Advisor
    • Technology provider to Finance domains

    Register in the portal

    Complete the online application form

    Attach supporting documents

    Submit Completed Application

    Applications will be shortlisted for a personal interview (PI) conducted virtually. The final selection will be based on the candidate profile & performance in the PI.

    The last date to apply for DAFA programme is February 28, 2022

    If you have any more questions, please read our FAQs here.

    Fees

    The tuition fee for the programme is INR 3,50,000/- (Rupees Three lakhs and Fifty Thousand only). For details of the payment schedule and loan assistance please speak to our Programme Consultant.

    *Fees are subject to change.

    Invest in Talent. Sponsor High Potentials.

    Introduce innovative business thinking, thought leadership, knowledge and expertise to your organisation.

    • Support and motivate your high performers by investing in their personal development.
    • Groom talent for niche roles in finance through cutting-edge specialization tracks and electives built according to the needs of industry.
    • Develop a talent pool of high calibre professionals who will be able to apply sophisticated quantitative models or offer disruptive technology solutions. 

    Contact our Executive Learning Team at exec.dafa@krea.edu.in

    FAQs

    Any graduate is eligible. Candidate must have 3+ years of work experience and must have scored above 60% aggregate in Graduation/Post Graduation ideally with an aptitude for  Mathematics/Statistics/ Finance

    Work experience is mandatory. Candidates with work experience of above 36 months, as on the date of deadline for submission of application, can apply.

    Yes, for the specialization in quantitative finance, a certain level of knowledge in mathematics is a prerequisite. The person must be mathematically oriented. Even if they do not have a mathematics background, they should be willing and able to put in the required effort to learn the requisite math concepts to get the best out of this specialization.  For the specialization track in quantitative finance, it is advisable that you have a bachelor’s degree in a mathematical field such as engineering, physics, mathematics or statistics. For other tracks good knowledge of mathematics at the high school level should suffice as long as there is willingness to put in the extra effort as and when required.

    You will have to choose the elective after completion of the Core Courses. The faculty would be equally willing to guide you in choosing the elective.

    The programme will be delivered fully online led by renowned faculty drawn from IFMR Graduate School of Business, North Eastern University and top-notch practitioners from the industry. Participants will also receive inputs from globally reputed academicians and practitioners at periodical intervals through guest lectures and fire-side chats. 

    No, this programme will be delivered fully online with a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning depending upon the instructor.

    After submission of Application, candidate will be invited to a video interview before finalisation.

    The selection process is completely online.

    The diploma is offered by Krea University

    IFMR GSB does not plan to offer any placement assistance currently. However, the IFMR GSB alumni network is extensive and large which will help you advance your career.

    Depending on the course and instructor, the participant may need to work with a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning.

    Refund requests shall be considered on a case by case basis ONLY if applied 15 days ahead of the course commencement. A processing fee will be charged for the refund requests. Kindly reach out to our team to know further details.

    Krea University