University of Cape Town

Fundamentals of Financial Management

Acquire a fundamental understanding of business finance and equip yourself with the necessary resources to enable your organisation to prosper.

Start date

23 June 2025

Price

$1,123 USD

Installment Plan

Course duration

8 weeks

Excluding orientation

Language

English

Access resources from start date

Effort

6–8 hours per week

Self-paced learning online

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Course overview

Why SMEs fail

“While there are a variety of reasons why SMEs ultimately fail, financial management skills and performance are two of the most often-cited explanations.”

* IFAC (Jan, 2020).

Understand money management

“Investing the time to understand money management in a company will help you optimise the profits you want to make in business. You aren’t expected to be an accountant or get into the weeds, but business owners need to understand money management.”

* Forbes (Apr, 2022).

Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)

Effective financial management is essential for any business to thrive, as it helps to ensure responsible investment decisions and sustainable operations. If you want to improve your understanding and practice of finance and maintain your organisation's financial well-being, consider enrolling in the eight-week Fundamentals of Financial Management online short course offered by the University of Cape Town (UCT). Regardless of your business, role, or position, the course provides a valuable financial toolkit that explores financial management from the perspectives of retail, manufacturing, service, and tech-based industries. By the end of the course, you will be equipped to make informed and strategic decisions that meet your company's short- and long-term financial needs.

Is this course for you?

This financial management course aims to provide mid to senior-level managers, directors, and administrators with an understanding of business finance and its role in supporting organisational success. By incorporating financial data into their strategic decision-making, these professionals can add value to their businesses. Additionally, students will learn how to apply financial management tools to operational and strategic business processes. This course is also suitable for aspiring managers and entrepreneurs with limited finance experience who wish to improve their business's efficiency through responsible financial management practices. With this knowledge, students can ensure that financial decisions align with their organisation's objectives and contribute to long-term sustainability.

Course overview

Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)

Get this course for your team

Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.

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What will set you apart

On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:

The ability to assess the financial needs of your business.

The confidence to make strategic business decisions.

The skills to implement budgeting and forecasting techniques.

A certificate of completion from UCT.

Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.

Course curriculum

As you progress through the weekly modules of this online short course, you will develop the skills to make sound financial decisions.

Orientation module

Welcome to your Online Campus

Module 1

The purpose and process of financial management

Module 2

The systems of financial management

Module 3

Financing the business

Module 4

Acquiring and managing business assets

Module 5

Financial viability of operations

Module 6

Cash flow management

Module 7

Managing key financial relationships

Module 8

Budgeting and forecasting

What past students
think

Anthony Brink

Commercial and General Manager, followme2AFRICA

The UCT Fundamentals of Financial Management short course opened my eyes to aspects of financial management which I was not aware of. The content was thorough, and the combination of videos and real-world examples helped cement my understanding. The assignments were rewarding and put my mind to the test. The course has broadened my understanding of finance and made me consider different approaches within my current managerial role. The online support was prompt and useful, including the guidance from the Tutor. It was great to interact with classmates as it built my understanding of different businesses and how they operate. I would recommend this course to anyone wanting to start a career in financial management or enhance their managerial career.

Course Convenor

The design of this online short course is guided by UCT faculty and industry experts who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.

Francois Toerien

Associate Professor, Department of Finance and Tax, UCT

About the certificate

Acquire the fundamental principles of financial management and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town

Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.

Your digital certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the course, as per the stipulated requirements. Please note, due to additional administrative requirements, at times UCT course certificate delivery may be delayed by several weeks/months.

UCT Fundamentals of Financial Management online short course certificate

YOUR INFORMATION

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FAQ

Want to know more?

GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.

We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.

Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.

Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.

You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.

GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.

At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.

By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?

Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.

If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.

As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.

To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.

The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.

On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.

We've recently partnered with financial services firm, FeverTree, to offer you another convenient way to finance your short course education. Find out how you can apply for a short-term loan below.

How do I apply?

You have the option of applying for a full course-cost loan agreement with FeverTree (South African citizens and short courses only)
FeverTree works with GetSmarter to ensure your studies are financed right away, giving you the chance to join the soonest presentation
You can find out if you pre-qualify in seconds. Send an SMS with your “Name*Surname*ID Number*Gross Salary” to 30082
FeverTree’s application process is simple and quick – expect a 15-minute turnaround to find out if you’ve been successful with your loan application
Even if you aren’t successful in your FeverTree application, you’ll still be eligible for the payment plan options with GetSmarter

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