The program is designed to provide a truly global understanding of the most relevant skills and knowledge for aspiring finance professionals, whether seeking to work in Kuwait or internationally. Therefore, the qualification requirements for the CFA First-Level certificate has been used as a general framework for the scientific and theoretical contents of the program.

The program follows three key phases:

Phase 1: Training Courses at the KIA Training Center in Kuwait

This phase includes several training courses that are organized at KIA’s dedicated training center, delivered by local and international training institutions, as well as financial institutions with which KIA has a strong relationship. These courses cover subjects such as:  investments, economics, accounting, financial and administrations skills.

Phase 2: International Assignment

This is an on-the-job training phase with reputed international financial institutions located across the multiple financial capitals. Lasting for ten weeks, trainees acquire practical experience and critical skills in the investment and financial areas as a result of their exposure to institutions operating in global markets.

Phase 3: On-the-job training at KIA

This is an on-the-job training in Kuwait, designed to provide trainees with experience of the activities of Kuwait Investment Authority and the markets in which it operates.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will have experienced first-hand the operations of a major financial institution through the ten-week international assignment, as well as the opportunity to spend four weeks at the Kuwait Investment Authority to gain a greater understanding of the range of activities undertaken by financial institutions.

The combination of such practical experience with sound knowledge of core finance sector skills and topics gives graduates the ability to make a truly informed decision about the type of career path they may wish to pursue.

The program is designed for high-performing nationals with aspirations to pursue a career in finance. We pursue the highest caliber graduate trainees, and encourage applications from a range of quantitative disciplines; all applicants fulfilling the following criteria are invited to apply:

• Kuwaiti national.
• No older than 26 years of age at date of application.
• A Bachelors degree in a qualifying subject which is recognized by the Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education awarded no later than two years prior to date of application, or not more than three years if you obtained a master’s degree. The bachelor’s major must be from one of the following colleges:

1.   The College of Business Administration in all specializations.
2. The College of Engineering and Petroleum in all specializations.
3. The College of Sciences specialization (Mathematics)

• A certified GPA of 3.0 or higher (or equivalent*).
• Applicants should not be employed by any other entity once accepted in the program.
• A certified GMAT score no less than 360, taken within the last 5 years.
• Proficient in Arabic and English (reading, writing, conversational).
• Prepared to travel internationally for ten weeks during the program for the International Assignment.

• All Business Majors
• All Engineering Majors 
• Mathematics
• Computer Science  
• Science (excluding social sciences, healthcare, geography or geology)

To apply click here

What is the Financial Test? 

The Financial Test is a multiple-choice test designed to provide a specific understanding of the applicant’s existing level of knowledge of finance topics. The test lasts for 30 minutes and is taken at a designated test center.

The following questions provide an indicative sample of the type of questions applicants should expect to be able to answer:

 

1. Which of the following is NOT a primary financial statement?

1. Income Statement
2. Balance Sheet
3. Cash Flow Statement
4. Sales Statement

 

2. What does the term “EBITDA” stand for?

1. Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization
2. Earnings Before Income and Tax Deductions Allowed
3. Earnings Before Investment, Taxation, Debt, and Amortization
4. Earnings Before Income and Taxes, Deductions, and Amortization

 

3. Diversification in a portfolio can reduce risk. True/False

 

4. What is the main role of the Federal Reserve in the United States?

1. Regulating international trade
2. Enforcing taxation policies
3. Controlling the money supply and interest rates
4. Managing foreign exchange rates

 

5. A bond with a higher credit rating typically offers a lower yield to maturity. True/False

 

6. In finance, what does the acronym IPO stand for?

1. International Profit Organization
2. Initial Public Offering
3. Investment Portfolio Optimization
4. Institutional Purchasing Order

 

7. What is the formula for calculating the Price-to-Earnings (P/E)

ratio of a company?

1. Price per Share / Earnings per Share
2. Earnings per Share / Price per Share
3. Total Revenue / Earnings per Share
4. Market Cap / Dividends per Share

 

8. A call option gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to sell a security at a specified price before a predetermined expiration date. True/False