Objectives

The CIIA Program has the following objectives :

• To develop a new body of knowledge and make it available for those seeking challenging careers in the new era of liberalization and globalization;

• To introduce participants to the financial system and capital markets.

• To impart a strong conceptual foundation in investment analysis and portfolio management;

• To give adequate exposure to emerging areas like equity and debt research, scientific asset allocation, portfolio insurance etc.;

• To prepare individuals capable of providing leadership in portfolio management and mutual funds industry operating in a globalized environment.

• Finance and Accounting Professionals like Chartered Accountants, Management Accountants, Cost Accountants, Certified Accountants, Chartered Secretaries, Bankers, MBAs, etc. who seek careers in portfolio management and investment analysis.

• Professionals in the area of investment management and portfolio management.

• Professionals employed in the investment and treasury departments of banks and financial institutions.

• Professionals working in the investment departments of corporates.

Any one of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree (any discipline) or equivalent

• A’ Level qualification + 10 years working experience as executive.

• Successful completion of professional courses, as listed below, as equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree:

  • Institute of Chartered Accountants (ACA)

  • The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

  • The Association of Chartered & Certified Accountants (ACCA)

  • The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK-Diploma

  • Diploma in Marketing (Sri Lanka)-(Sri Lanka-Diploma)-SLIM

  • The Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) UK-Diploma

  • The Chartered Institute of Bankers (AIB) (Sri Lanka-Diploma)

  • The Chartered Institute of Engineers (CIE) UK/Sri Lanka

  • Ceylon Technical College-Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) (Four Year Course)

  • Ceylon Technical College-Higher National Diploma in Management/Commerce (HNDM/C) (Four Year Course)

  • The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators

  • Attorney-at-Law (Four year course)

  • Senior Management of Business/public/professional acceptable to the Senate of the University. (Case to case basis)

Duration

One year.

The enrollment in the Program is valid for two years from the date of enrollment. Students who are unable to complete the program within the two-year validity period, are required to register de novo by paying the requisite fee.

Program Structure of National Level Examinations

The CIIA Program covers all the important topics related to portfolio management and investment analysis. The program consists of three examinations titled Examination I, Examination II and Examination III at National Level. Each of the examinations will be for a maximum of 180 points and the duration of 3 hours.

Examination I : This examination covers all the basic concepts that the students need to pursue study of courses like Asset Valuation and Portfolio Management. It consists of three courses - Financial Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis (60 points), Economics (60 points) and Quantitative Methods (60 points).

Examination II : In this examination, a major portion of the inputs required to make a good portfolio manager are covered. The courses to be studied for this examination are - Corporate Finance (60 points), Equity Valuation and Analysis (60 points) and Fixed Income Valuation and Analysis (60 points).

Examination III : This is the last examination at the National Level covering three courses - Derivative Valuation Analysis (70 points) , Portfolio Management (80 points) and Ethics and Professional Standards (30 points).

All the three examinations outlined above consists of a brief essay type numerical and mini case type questions.

The IEL will provide the required assistance to assist students to study and prepare for the CIIA examinations. The examination pattern similar to CIIA Final Examinations are administered at the National Level examinations. This will enable students who clear National Level Examinations to pass the International Level (Final Level) of CIIA with relative ease.

Students who successfully complete all the three examinations of the National Level (Examination I, Examination II & Examination III) will be awarded the PG Diploma in Investment Analysis by the ICFAI University, India. The Certified Portfolio Management and Research (CPMR), will confer the designation of Certified Portfolio Manager (in full) and CPM (in brief) on them, subject to fulfillment of requisite membership criteria.

Students who successfully complete the International Level (Final Level) CIIA examinations will be awarded the CIIA qualification from ACIIA, Switzerland.