ELearning

Can't make it to a workshop? 

Enrol in an online Financial Modelling course, and start straight away.   Learn wherever and whenever it suits you!

For a free three and a half minute preview, watch this video overview of scenario analysis tools in Excel.

Which courses are available online?

Here's how the online courses work:

Each of these courses replace a full 9-5 day in the classroom.  You will watch and listen to web-based videos, and fill in online review quiz questions throughout the course. You will be expected to perform some Excel exercises and build your own financial models, which will be submitted for review.

Depending how long it takes to perform the exercises and model build, the courses normally take around 6-7 hours to complete. Your registration is valid for 12 weeks, so you do not need to do it all at once; stop and start the course as you like.  You can do it all straight away, or watch one video per day for a few weeks - it's entirely up to you!

The courses are each made up of 4-5 modules.  When you sign up, you'll log in and get access to the modules.

Each module contains:

  • A PDF of course notes between 10 and 30 pages long.  It is recommended that you print them out, although you don't have to.  By the time you have printed the course notes for each module, you will have a manual which is around 100 pages of notes.
  • 4-5 Videos, varying in length between 5 and 30 min each.  Each course contains around five hours of video content.
  • Sample models and exercises, some of which you need to submit during the course.
  • 24 hour  access to the Financial Modelling Support Centre throughout the course, and for four weeks following your completion of the course.

You must have:

  • Access to high-speed internet
  • Any version of Microsoft Excel installed on your computer
  • The ability to commit to 8 hours of instruction over a 12 week period

What you'll get:

  • A certificate of completion
  • Online support during the course
  • Four weeks subscription to the Plum Solutions Financial Modelling Support Centre following the completion of the course

What past students have said about Plum Solutions online courses

  • "This is probably the best introductory course I’ve seen.  The content and structure of the course was excellent and it covered the framework of raw basic concepts of model building perfectly.” Managing Director, Retail food industry, Melbourne, Australia.
  • "I won't hesitate to subscribe for another advanced training course online when it is introduced!" Ellah Makuba, Accounts/Finance Officer, IC Securities Limited, Accra, Ghana.
  • "Well presented." Phillip Lee, London, UK.
  • "The online course was excellent! Well structured and practical, using common management and business concepts it delivered so much in terms of practical learning outcomes that can be applied straight away. Highly recommended!"  Debbie Ludwig, Principal Consultant, DL Strategic  Sydney, Australia
  • "This course is a nice way to acquire fundamental knowledge of financial modelling" Goutham Gorti, New York, USA
  • "Provided a sound introduction to finacial modelling."  Anonymous student
  • "Even though I am experienced Excel user and Qualified Accountant, I feel that the course enabled me to have a more structured approach to Financial Modelling... and though I am UK based, I have found the material applicable." Laura Paplauskaite, Director, Bit Zesty London UK
  • "It's great to be able to stop and start, it allows flexibility and to be able to juggle the course around normal day to day work life." Stephen Badgery, Analyst, Agricultural Management Company, Sydney, Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need to install any special software to take the course?

No, you'll be able to access the screencasts and review questions with your web browser. However, you need to make sure you have Flash installed in your browser. Get the latest version of Flash.

What are the prerequisites for taking this course?

It is assumed that participants have prior Excel knowledge.  See the relevant course page for detailed prerequisites specific to each course.  If you would like to brush up on your Excel skills, Plum Solutions has compiled a list of free Excel tutorials from Microsoft.

Does it matter which version of Excel I am using?

No. The demonstrations in the course are mostly performed using Excel 2007, but where instructions differ significantly in Excel 2003, demonstration is given in Excel 2003 also.  Written instructions are provided for both Excel 2003 and 2007. The difference between Excel 2003 and earlier version are minimal.

A detailed outline of the major changes between Excel 2003 and 2007 is covered during every course.

Please note, this course is demonstrated using a PC. Mac users may find some variances in instructions.

How do I tell which version of Excel I am using?

Open up your version of Excel. If it looks something like this, you're using Excel 2007:

If it looks something like this, you're using Excel 2003:

Click here for further information about the upgrade from Excel 2003 and Excel 2007. An overview of the key differences will be covered during the course.

What's the fine print?

The course fee must be paid prior to receiving course materials. Once materials have been sent, your course fee cannot be refunded. If you do not wish to pay by credit card, an invoice can be emailed to you and payment can be made alternatively by direct bank transfer or cheque.

We reserve the right to cancel or terminate a course or to refuse any enrolment as permitted by law.

The course materials are designed for individual student use. They are the intellectual property of Plum Solutions and they cannot be copied, distributed or reproduced in any way except with the written permission of Plum Solutions.

Please see the terms and conditions page for full details.

When can I start?

You can start straight away.  As soon as you register and pay, you'll get access to the course materials!

How do I access the course materials?

Once you have purchased the course, and logged in, you will see a green box on the left hand sidebar of your screen.  This contains links to each course module within the course you have signed up for.  You need to be signed in in order to see the box.

How long do I get to do the course?

Your login will give you access to the course for twelve weeks.  At the end of this period, you will not be able to see the box anymore which contains the links to your materials.  If you do not get time to finish the course during this time, you can purchase extensions in blocks of two weeks.

How long does it take to do the course?

These courses are in place a full day 9-5 workshop, so you should expect to put about 7 hours into it.  The pace of the videos is much faster than a live workshop, so theoretically, you should get through the content in a online course faster than in a workshop.

Do I have to listen to all the videos?

Whilst it is recommended that you watch every video in full, you can skip and fast-forward the videos if you like.  The content of each video is explained clearly, most are 5-10 minutes in length and none of them are longer than 30 minutes.  If, for example, you are an absolute whiz on VLOOKUPs you could skip that video and move on to the next one.  You will still need to complete the quiz on that section, and will be expected to perform a VLOOKUP in the exercise models.

Do I get a certificate at the end?

Yes, you will get a PDF version of your certificate of completion, which contains your name and the date.  This will be emailed to you when you have passed the quiz review questions and submitted your model for review.

Do I have to do the quiz questions?

If you want to get the certificate, then yes you will need to achieve a pass rate of 75% on the quizzes, and submit your model/s at the end of the course.  Some people just want to listen to the videos for their own personal development and don't need the certificate, and that's fine too.  (Just let us know though that you're not planning to submit the model or do the quizzes and we won't bug you about finishing them!)