An HKUST course on Coursera that maps the fast-moving world where finance meets technology — digital payments, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, online lending, robo-advising and regulation. It is a survey rather than a technical or coding course, giving you a clear mental model of how fintech is reshaping traditional financial services.
Good for: A structured overview of the fintech landscape and how it is changing finance.
Less suitable if: You want to build fintech products or write code.
Requirements: None; some familiarity with finance helps.
Realistic time: Around 10–15 hours over a few weeks.
About this course
FinTech Foundations and Overview maps the fast-moving world where finance meets technology. From HKUST, it surveys the major areas — digital payments, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, online lending, robo-advising, and regulation — and explains how each is changing traditional financial services.
What you'll learn
Define fintech and its major segments
Understand digital payments and how they work
Grasp the basics of blockchain and cryptocurrencies
See how online lending and robo-advising disrupt incumbents
Recognise the regulatory challenges fintech raises
Map where fintech is heading next
This course includes
Yes
Certificate
Yes
Mobile access
English
Language
What it costs
You can audit the course free on Coursera. A certificate needs a Coursera subscription (about $49/month) or Coursera Plus, with financial aid available.
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A HKUST certificate on Coursera is a credible learning record. It is a course certificate rather than a professional qualification or degree.
Last updated
Fintech moves quickly; check the course is reasonably current, as specific products and regulation date faster than the core concepts.
Instructor
H
HKUST
Coursera instructor
Offered by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), a leading business and technology school well-placed to teach fintech given Hong Kong's role as a global financial hub. The treatment is broad and accessible.