Students & Graduates
Designed for university students and recent graduates. It is especially useful for learners who need a structured, practical route into board finance rather than a purely theoretical overview.
ESH-02980 · Finance
Board Finance Foundation for Students & Graduates — Finance
A 6-hour beginner course for university students and recent graduates who want to build reliable fundamentals in board finance. The course combines the finance context with practical frameworks, realistic cases, guided exercises and a final applied output. Participants finish with a structured approach they can adapt to a real venture, team or project.
Blended online6 hoursBeginnerStudents & GraduatesExplore pathway
What you need
No prior startup experience required.
European Startup Hub Certificate of Completion — Board Finance Foundation
Knowledge checks, short exercises and a final practical reflection.
Learning outcomes
What you will be able to do.
Outcome 1
Explain the core principles of board finance in the context of finance.
Outcome 2
Diagnose a realistic board finance challenge using structured startup tools.
Outcome 3
Build a practical board finance output appropriate for students & graduates.
Outcome 4
Evaluate evidence, assumptions and trade-offs before making board finance decisions.
Outcome 5
Apply board finance methods to a venture, project or organisational scenario.
Outcome 6
Create a next-step action plan that can be used after the course.
Full syllabus
8 course modules.
Each module combines explanation, examples and an applied activity.
Module 1
Foundations of Board Finance
Practical study of foundations of board finance with examples, prompts and an applied activity.
Module 2
The Finance context
Practical study of the finance context with examples, prompts and an applied activity.
Module 3
Customers, users and stakeholder needs
Practical study of customers, users and stakeholder needs with examples, prompts and an applied activity.
Module 4
Tools and frameworks for Board Finance
Practical study of tools and frameworks for board finance with examples, prompts and an applied activity.
Module 5
Evidence, data and assumptions
Practical study of evidence, data and assumptions with examples, prompts and an applied activity.
Module 6
Designing the approach
Practical study of designing the approach with examples, prompts and an applied activity.
Module 7
Execution and operating decisions
Practical study of execution and operating decisions with examples, prompts and an applied activity.
Module 8
Measurement and key indicators
Practical study of measurement and key indicators with examples, prompts and an applied activity.
Assessment
Knowledge checks, short exercises and a final practical reflection.
Included materials
Digital course notes · Practical worksheets · Case exercises · Action-plan template · Completion record in ESH ID
Learning support
Platform learning support; live facilitator interaction is included where the delivery format states Live online or Blended online.
Course information & disclaimer
Educational programme. Completion does not constitute professional, legal, financial or investment advice and does not guarantee funding, employment or business outcomes. Catalogue version 2026.1 · Last reviewed 2026-08-24.
Ready to begin?
Board Finance Foundation for Students & Graduates — Finance · 6 hours · Blended online
Enrol for €105