Why is it important for me to learn about private equity?

Private equity is important to learn about if you want to pursue an investment career, if you work in a corporate treasury role, or if you are interested in its role in our economy. Private equity is an investment in a private company made by an investment company, often with a high amount of debt. The idea is to improve the performance of the business and then sell it to the public or to another company. It can be a way to help struggling companies improve their performance, help a family business reorganize after the death of a founder, or allow a company's owners to sell some of their stake in the company.

What career opportunities may arise from learning about private equity?

Career opportunities that may arise from learning private equity are mostly in the financial services industry. Occupations using private equity include accounting, investment management, financial analysis, and corporate finance. Business owners may want to know if private equity is the right alternative for their company. Some people working in public policy may also be interested in learning about private equity, venture capital, and other forms of corporate funding because of the effects they can have on the economy. Entrepreneurs and others interested in entrepreneurial finance may want to learn about private equity as an option for startup funding or for later rounds of financing.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn about private equity?

Online courses on Coursera can help you learn about private equity in different ways based on your experience and your reason for learning about it. For example, you might want to know how to account for private equity and value a business that is backed with it. Or you could want to learn how it compares to other forms of startup funding and corporate finance. You may be involved in seeking private equity for your business and want to learn more about how to negotiate with investors. Courses include video lectures, readings, class discussions, and exercises to challenge your knowledge. Some lead to Professional Certificates or Specializations, too.

What are the benefits of taking an online Private Equity course?

Online Private Equity courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Private Equity skills. Choose from a wide range of Private Equity courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Private Equity courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Private Equity, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Private Equity Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Private Equity Course Catalog

Status: Preview
Università Bocconi
Private Equity and Venture Capital
Skills you'll gain: Private Equity, Business Valuation, Entrepreneurial Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Investments, Financial Management, Legal Risk, Tax Laws, Entrepreneurship, Due Diligence, Cash Flows
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.8K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Advanced Valuation and Strategy - M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Decision-Making, Business Valuation, Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Game Theory, Strategic Thinking, Financial Analysis, Business Strategy, Return On Investment, Investment Banking, Cash Flows, Corporate Finance, Competitive Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Corporate Finance
Skills you'll gain: Return On Investment, Capital Budgeting, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Corporate Finance, Business Valuation, Financial Management, Asset Management, Cash Flows, Risk Analysis, Cash Flow Forecasting, Working Capital
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mergers and Acquisitions
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Investment Banking, Financial Statement Analysis, Business Valuation, Financial Forecasting, Financial Analysis, Capital Markets, Financial Modeling, Corporate Accounting, Price Negotiation, Financial Accounting, Corporate Tax, Accounting, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Investments, Corporate Strategy, Financial Management, Corporate Finance
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
565 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Preview
Macquarie University
Data Security & Information Privacy
Skills you'll gain: Information Privacy, Personally Identifiable Information, Data Security, Cybersecurity, Threat Modeling, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Data Integrity, Data Governance, Data Ethics, Cyber Risk, Vulnerability Assessments, Vulnerability, Security Management, Security Software, Data Encryption Standard, Risk Management, Security Strategy, Compliance Management, Data Access, NIST 800-53
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Università Bocconi
Financing and Investing in Infrastructure
Skills you'll gain: Project Finance, Risk Analysis, Capital Budgeting, Financial Analysis, Credit Risk, Risk Management, Investments, Finance, Loans, Contract Management, Banking
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.1K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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Explore topics outside of work

Status: New
Duke University
Impact Investment Finance
Skills you'll gain: Investments, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Fundraising, Private Equity, Capital Markets, Financial Management, Finance, International Finance, Entrepreneurial Finance, Entrepreneurship, Fiscal Management, Due Diligence, Business Strategy, Business Management
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Financial Management
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Return On Investment, Risk Management, Balance Sheet, Accounts Receivable, Business Risk Management, Credit Risk, Income Statement, Operational Risk, Resource Allocation, Proposal Development, Cash Management, Capital Budgeting, Financial Analysis, Cash Flows, Financial Data, Strategic Decision-Making, Operational Efficiency, Stakeholder Communications
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
182 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Preview
Simplilearn
Ethics of Generative AI
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Ethical Standards And Conduct, Business Ethics, Information Privacy, Personally Identifiable Information, Regulatory Compliance, Healthcare Ethics, Compliance Management, Artificial Intelligence, Data Security, Regulatory Requirements, Regulatory Affairs, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Accountability, Social Sciences
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Generative AI for Java and Spring Developers
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Generative AI, Large Language Modeling, Restful API, Data Ethics, OpenAI, Application Deployment, Artificial Intelligence, Software Development Tools, Software Testing, Test Automation, Software Development, DevSecOps, Application Security, CI/CD, Application Programming Interface (API), Natural Language Processing, Java Programming, IBM Cloud
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.7K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Preview
Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo
IDB's Environmental and Social Policy Framework
Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Engagement, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Policy, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Environmental Resource Management, Environment and Resource Management, Community Development, Corporate Sustainability, Labor Compliance, Risk Management, Land Management, Mitigation, Occupational Safety And Health, Governance Risk Management and Compliance, Cultural Diversity
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Whizlabs
Exam Prep: Google Cloud Certified Associate Cloud Engineer
Skills you'll gain: Kubernetes, Google Cloud Platform, Serverless Computing, Cost Management, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Computing Architecture, Cloud Computing, Hybrid Cloud Computing, Cloud Management, Data Processing, System Monitoring, Application Performance Management, Cloud Security, Big Data, Identity and Access Management, Data Warehousing, Key Management, Application Deployment, Virtual Machines, Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months