News

Finance department joins CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, offers exam scholarships


August 2018

The Farmer School Department of Finance has joined a program that benefits students in more ways than one.

The department is the latest to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. The finance program has been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice within the program.

The program positions students to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world. Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that the FSB Finance curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations.

Through participation in this program, the school is eligible to sponsor up to 16 finance majors each academic year for CFA student scholarships. These scholarships are only available to new CFA Level I candidates enrolling and registering for the first time.

Students awarded these scholarships can enroll for the CFA Level I exam at a significantly reduced cost. It will bring down the regular cost of the exam (Program enrollment fee $450 + standard registration fee $950) to $350 plus any applicable taxes. Scholarships cannot be deferred to another exam offering. The discounted fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

More information about the CFA exam and Student Scholarships is available at: https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa/scholarships/student

Application Process: Students interested in applying should submit the following documents to the Department of Finance (FSB Suite 2053):
1. A short (1-2 single-spaced page) statement of interest highlighting reasons for pursuing a CFA charter;
2. An unofficial copy of their Miami University transcript;
3. An updated resume.
All applications will be reviewed by the CFA awareness scholarships committee and students will receive an email about the outcome of their application, usually within 4 weeks after the review process is completed. Please contact Xi Liu, Ph.D., CFA for further details.

Past Recipients of the CFA Student Scholarship:
December 2018:

  • Chafai El Alaoui, Yasmina
  • Mayevskaya, Alena
  • Mikula, Tyler
  • Retcher, Ethan
  • Rupp, Reid
  • Wang, Mengqiao


  • About CFA Institute
    CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and administers the industry gold standard CFA charter. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has more than 148,000 members in 163 countries and territories, including 142,000 CFA charterholders. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org.

    About the CFA Program
    The CFA Program sets a standard for developing the skills, standards, competence, and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers, investment advisers, and other investment professionals worldwide. It is widely considered the investment profession’s most rigorous credentialing program. Administered in English, the CFA curriculum and examinations are identical worldwide. Fewer than one in five candidates who begin the program successfully complete it and go on to earn the coveted CFA charter, the “gold standard” for investment professionals.

    Useful links for More Information About:
  • CFA Exam Information: https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa/exam
  • CFA Program Curriculum: https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa/curriculum
  • Other CFA Scholarships: https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa/scholarships
  • CFA Exam Preparation: https://www.300hours.com/
  • CFA Research Challenge: https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/societies/challenge
  • Exterior image of Farmer School in late August