Expand+L7 and L8 Key Dates
Autumn Trimester
September 2021 – January 2022
Closing date for applications* 13/09/2021

Spring Trimester
January 2022 – May 2022
Closing date for applications* 28/01/2022

Summer Trimester
June 2022 – September 2...

Hide-L7 and L8 Key Dates
Autumn Trimester
September 2021 – January 2022
Closing date for applications* 13/09/2021

Spring Trimester
January 2022 – May 2022
Closing date for applications* 28/01/2022

Summer Trimester
June 2022 – September 202
Closing date for applications* 27/05/2022

* Places may be available after this date depending on availability.
Key dates:
https://assets.ctfassets.net/19hllh2ssa3x/60iIiNlGEyKehWk7NYgVVn/d8982b4b4aeaa07c76c5c1eae1444abd/IOB_Prospectus_21-KeyDates-Level_7-8_V2.pdf

Expand+Overview
At a Glance
This programme is designed for an ever increasing range of people working in the international financial services area who are engaged in activities which now require a good working knowledge of the characteristics of derivativ...

Hide-Overview
At a Glance
This programme is designed for an ever increasing range of people working in the international financial services area who are engaged in activities which now require a good working knowledge of the characteristics of derivative products and complex financial instruments.

How you will benefit
On successful completion of this programme, you will be able to;
• Explain how the most common complex financial instruments and derivatives work and understand their uses
• Evaluate the benefits and risks of differing instruments and explain how they can be used for speculation, arbitrage, hedging and general risk management
• Describe how these instruments are used for investment strategies within the major asset classes (equities, currencies, bonds, commodities and property)
• Appraise the role of regulation and the rating agencies in the application of financial instruments
• Understand the role that complex financial instruments played in the recent market turmoil and what lessons can be learned for the future
• Review the use of complex financial instruments in financial institutions from an internal and external viewpoint, including accounting treatment/reporting, risk management and regulation.

About the programme
The use of complex financial instruments in investment fund strategies has seen a huge increase over the past five years. Many alternative fund strategies seek to generate returns from asset classes solely created from derivative structures, such as the use of Total Return Swaps or Credit Default Swaps for long-short strategies in equities or bonds. Derivatives are now used in combination with even the most basic equity and bond management strategies.

The growth in derivative usage comes at a time of vast changes in regulatory oversight in both Europe and the US, as a reaction to the recent financial crisis. The regulatory changes are being implemented through the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) and will impact the most fundamental aspects of how these products are traded, how collateral/counterparty risk is treated and how transactions are reported.

Understanding the risk and return characteristics of complex products and the derivatives which underpin those strategies has now become a critical function in the asset management, valuation and trading areas in international financial services.

Continuous Professional Development
If you hold an IOB designation or a designation managed by IOB, CPD hours may be awarded on successful completion of this programme.

Expand+Complex Financial Instruments
(NFQ level 7, 10 ECTS)
• Explain how complex financial instruments work and understand their uses.
• Evaluate the benefits and risks of differing instruments and how they can be used for speculation, arbitrage, he...

Hide-Complex Financial Instruments
(NFQ level 7, 10 ECTS)
• Explain how complex financial instruments work and understand their uses.
• Evaluate the benefits and risks of differing instruments and how they can be used for speculation, arbitrage, hedging and general risk management.
• Describe how these instruments are used for investment strategies within the major asset classes (equities, currencies, bonds, commodities and property).
• Appraise the role of regulation and the rating agencies on the application of financial instruments.
• Understand the role that complex financial instruments played in the recent market turmoil and what lessons can be learnt for the future.
• Evaluate the use of complex financial instruments in financial institutions from an internal and external viewpoint, including accounting treatment/reporting, risk management and regulation.