FAQs

Quant Foundations is a foundational program designed to teach the essential building blocks of quantitative finance. The curriculum covers finance fundamentals, Python programming, mathematics, and data science, machine learning, and AI. The program is online and self-paced.

Quant Foundations is designed for learners at different stages of their quantitative finance development. It is for students and graduates looking to enter quant finance, entry-level quants looking to build confidence in essential skills, career-switchers from other related fields looking to transition into a quant career, and finance professionals who work alongside quant teams and need to understand the fundamentals.

No. Quant Foundations is designed for beginners. No prior experience in quant finance, Python, or advanced mathematics is necessary. All topics are taught from the ground up.

Quant Foundations is awarded by the CQF Institute, a global membership organization dedicated to educating and supporting the quantitative finance community. Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive an official Quant Foundations digital credential, which can be added to LinkedIn and shared with employers via Accredible. When you enroll, you will also become an Affiliate member of the CQF Institute, giving you access to events, research, publications, and a global community of finance professionals.

Quant Foundations and the Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF) are both awarded by the CQF Institute, but are separate programs designed for different stages of learning. Quant Foundations is a standalone foundational program that introduces core the disciplines of quant finance – finance, mathematics, Python, data science, machine learning, and AI – to help you build essential knowledge and skills in quantitative finance. The CQF helps you develop deeper and more advanced and practical expertise in quant finance.

If you are considering completing the CQF, Quant Foundations can help you build confidence and prepare for more advanced, specialist study. However, Quant Foundations is not a mandatory prerequisite for the CQF or a guarantee of admission to the program, nor is it mandatory to undertake the CQF after completing Quant Foundations.

Quant Foundations curriculum is structured around four units that cover the core disciplines that underpin modern quant finance:

• Unit 1: Finance Fundamentals – Markets, bonds, derivatives, options, and foreign exchange (FX)
• Unit 2: Python Programming for Quantitative Finance – From coding basics to financial applications
• Unit 3: Mathematics for Quantitative Finance – Calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and differential equations
• Unit 4: Data Science, Machine Learning & AI Foundations – Time series analysis, machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing (NLP)

Both. Each unit combines theoretical concepts with hands-on practical examples using real financial data and industry tools. Throughout the program, you’ll apply your learning to real-world scenarios.

Quant Foundations is designed by industry experts and offers a self-paced, online learning experience. The program combines interactive e-learning with explainer videos, recorded faculty demonstrations, written content, knowledge checks, assessments, and AI-powered coaching.

To complete Quant Foundations, you will:

• Watch on-demand explainer and practical implementation videos
• Explore written content
• Review your learning through knowledge checks, practice tests, and assessments
• Complete a final case study that covers all four units at the end of the program to confirm you can apply your knowledge.

Quant Foundations is entirely self-paced. You will have one year of access to all materials, but the typical completion time is around eight weeks. You can progress faster if your schedule allows or take breaks as needed within your one-year access period.

There is no fixed start date. Quant Foundations is flexible, allowing you to begin as soon as you receive your onboarding instructions or whenever you prefer. Your one-year access period will start from the time you receive your onboarding instructions, and you must complete the program before your access lapses.

Yes. Quant Foundations is a fully online program and can be accessed from anywhere in the world with a reliable internet connection. You can access the learning platform using a compatible computer, tablet, or mobile device, giving you the flexibility to study wherever and whenever works for you.

Throughout Quant Foundations, you’ll have access to support designed to help you progress through the program with confidence. Each unit has a dedicated AI Learning Coach to help you explore concepts, work through questions, and support your learning. You’ll also have access to an AI Support Coach for general program guidance, as well as our support team for technical or account-related queries.

Quant Foundations combines content designed by experts with five dedicated AI Coaches, who provide additional support throughout the program. These coaches are integrated digital assistants available 24/7 within the learning platform. There is one AI Learning Coach for each of the four units who can answer technical questions, plus an AI Support Coach for general queries. The coaches are:

• Alex – Support Coach
• Finn – Finance Coach
• Piper – Python Coach
• Mia – Mathematics Coach
• Leo – Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI Coach

These AI Coaches will help you by providing on-demand explanations, drawing expanations on whiteboards, checking understanding, guiding problem-solving, revisiting key topics, and offering continuous support. A key benefit is that you don’t have to pause your learning and wait for support if you get stuck; the AI coaches enable you to get help quickly and keep progressing through your studies.

The program is delivered in English, but if this is not your first language, the Coaches are multilingual and can support your learning in your preferred language.

No, it is not compulsory to use the AI Coaches. They are available to guide and support your learning, but you can progress through Quant Foundations without them if you prefer.

Quant Foundations includes assessments at each stage of your learning:

• Knowledge checks: A short set of multiple-choice questions at the end of each lesson, covering that lesson’s content.
• Topic assessments: Multiple-choice questions at the end of each topic, covering all lessons within that topic.
• Unit practice tests: Multiple-choice questions covering all topics within the unit.
• Final Assessment: A comprehensive case study with multiple-choice questions covering material from all four units. Each learner will receive a randomly selected case study. You must pass the final assessment to complete the program and receive the Quant Foundations digital credential.

To complete Quant Foundations, you’ll need to work through all required learning content and successfully complete the final assessment. You’ll need to achieve a score of 70% or above in the final assessment to pass the program and receive your Quant Foundations digital credential.

Yes, you can attempt the final assessment up to three times. If you do not pass after three attempts, you will need to wait one month before you can try again. This interval allows you to review program materials and feedback, helping you strengthen your understanding before trying again.

Upon successful completion of Quant Foundations, you’ll receive an official digital credential from the CQF Institute, recognising your foundational knowledge in quantitative finance. Issued through Accredible, your credential can be added to LinkedIn and shared with employers.

The Quant Foundations free trial gives you 7-days of access to one topic area from each unit, allowing you to explore the content, interact with the AI Learning Coaches, and experience the learning journey for yourself. The trial includes explainer videos, written content, and knowledge checks so you can get a feel for the program’s structure and support features.

The free trial lasts for 7-days and is is designed to just give a flavor of the full program. At the end of your trial period, your access to the portal will expire. You can enroll in the full Quant Foundations program to continue your learning and unlock all program materials.

No, you will not be charged when the free trial ends. If you decide not to continue after the trial, your access will simply end. There is no obligation to purchase the program.

You can purchase the full Quant Foundations program directly from the website at any time during or after your trial by going to: https://www.cqfinstitute.org/quant-foundations-checkout

Quant Foundations costs $2,000, plus local taxes where applicable, and includes one year of access to all program materials, AI-powered coaching, and a digital credential awarded by the CQF Institute upon successful completion. You can purchase the program directly on the website.

We accept all major credit and debit cards. Payments are processed securely through Worldpay.

The cost of the Quant Foundations program must be paid in full; there are no financing or instalment options available.

Yes, your employer can fund your enrollment in the program. If they wish to do so, they will need to complete the ‘Contact Us’ form on the CQF Institute website. A member of our team will then get in touch to guide them through the next steps.

Once you purchase Quant Foundations, joining instructions will be sent to the email address you registered with, usually within five minutes. These will include a link to access the learning portal, and your one year of program access will begin from this point. If you’re new to the CQF Institute, you’ll set up your password during the purchase process. If you already have a CQF Institute membership account, you can use your existing login details.