8 Mergers and Acquisitions Courses To Prep You for 2025

Being good at M&A is the business equivalent of knowing how to date. You make silly mistakes, learn from them, and eventually get better at it. In life, it's simple — don't be a jerk, show up honestly, etc. In business, it's more complicated. To be good at M&A, you have to know how to:

• Evaluate which deals will truly add value and which are looking to cash out.
• Manage the extensive due diligence process, where missing small details can have big consequences.
• Ensure post-deal integration is smooth, aligning teams and processes without disrupting operations.

These hurdles arise because M&A demands both strategic insight and a solid grasp of financial details — skills that even seasoned professionals can find challenging. The right mergers and acquisitions courses, however, can equip you with a structured approach from start to finish.

I’ve compiled a list of top courses that break down every phase of M&A, helping you navigate deals confidently and effectively. Here’s what each course offers and why it’s worth exploring.

Best Mergers And Acquisitions Courses

Here are the best mergers and acquisitions courses I've found, to get you from M&A to M&yay (Don't worry, I also hated that pun. I'm keeping it, though).

1. M&A Modeling (Corporate Finance Institute)
2. M&A Specialization (University of Illinois)
3. Mergers & Acquisitions (Columbia Business School)
4. Mergers and Acquisitions (AICPA & CIMA)
5. M&A Training Course (Zoe Talent Solutions)
6. M&A Strategies and Execution (BSEBTI)
7. Mergers and Acquisitions Online (Columbia Business School)
8. Mergers, Acquisitions, and Restructuring (SBCS Global Learning Institute)

Find more details about each course below.

Overviews of the Best Mergers And Acquisitions Courses

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1. Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Modeling (Corporate Finance Institute)

This course offers comprehensive insights into the complexities of building M&A financial models. It covers acquisition structuring, deal financing, synergies, and the impact on earnings and valuations. Learners build models from scratch, focusing on practical applications in investment banking, corporate development, and private equity settings. 

• Who It’s For: Finance professionals seeking advanced modeling skills
• Topics Covered:
  • The 10-step M&A process
  • The 6-step M&A modeling process
  • M&A templates and resources
  • Sensitivity, synergy, and accretion/dilution analysis
• Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
• Exam Required? No
• Duration: 8 hours 
• How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
• Eligibility Requirements: None
• Price:
  • Full-immersion: $508.20 (discounted)
  • Self-study: $298.20 (discounted)
• Take The Course: Corporate Finance Institute

2. Mergers and Acquisitions Specialization (University of Illinois)

This course offers strong, foundational knowledge in the M&A process. It discusses strategic and financial considerations in mergers, valuation techniques, deal structuring, due diligence, and post-merger integration. It also emphasizes practical skills like analyzing M&A transactions and assessing financial impacts. 

• Who It’s For: Professionals interested in M&A deals and valuations
• Topics Covered:
  • Valuation and pricing
  • Designing an M&A deal
  • Financial analysis and valuation
  • M&A and initial public offerings 
• Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
• Exam Required? No
• Duration: 2 months 
• How Many Hours Of Instruction: 10 hours per week
• Eligibility Requirements:
  • Basic knowledge of financial accounting and present value calculations 
• Price: Free
• Take The Course: Coursera

3. Mergers & Acquisitions (Columbia Business School)

This is an application-focused course that details real-world change of control case studies. It builds upon foundational corporate finance principles and applies them to the complexities of M&A transactions. This hands-on course highlights M&A's strategic and financial importance of M&A and equips learners with investment banking, consulting, corporate development, or private equity knowledge. 

• Who It’s For: Business professionals looking for practical M&A insights
• Topics Covered:
  • Deal motivations and strategy
  • Valuation techniques 
  • Impact of tax and accounting rules
  • Accretion/dilution analysis
  • Pro forma financials 
• Online, In-Person, or Both? In-person
• Exam Required? No
• Eligibility Requirements:
  • Enrolled in courses B8306: Capital Markets & Investments
  • Or B7306: Capital Markets & Investments at Columbia Business School 
• Take The Course: Columbia Business School

4. Mergers and Acquisitions (AICPA & CIMA)

This course offers a detailed overview of the M&A process and the key distinctions between mergers and acquisitions. It explores the critical stages and the roles of forensic accountants in these transactions. This M&A course also covers damage assessment and guidance on analyzing statements made during due diligence.  

• Who It’s For: Accountants and finance professionals
• Topics Covered:
  • Difference and key stages of M&A
  • Roles of forensic accountants
  • Damage calculation in M&A transactions
  • Addressing disputed issues in M&A
• Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
• Exam Required? No 
• How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
• Eligibility Requirements:
  • Foundational knowledge in forensics accounting 
• Price:
  • Nonmembers: $95
  • AICPA Members: $75
  • CIMA Members: $75
  • FVS Section Members: $60
• Take The Course: AICPA & CIMA

5. Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Training Course (Zoe Talent Solutions)

This course features skills to drive organizational synergy through effective networking, collaboration, and participation during M&A processes. It covers strategies for developing optimal M&A approaches, building situation-specific business cases, understanding legal obligations, and enforcing agreements in cases of non-compliance. 

• Who It’s For: Business leaders and managers
• Topics Covered:
  • Introduction to M&A
  • M&A strategies
  • Alternatives to M&A
  • Corporate protection and risk mitigation
  • Valuation process
• Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
• Duration: 5 or 10 days
• Eligibility Requirements: None
• Price:
  • Live online: $4,095
  • In-person (5 day-duration): $4,250
  • In-person (10-day duration): $8,150
• Take The Course: Zoe Talent Solutions

6. Mergers and Acquisitions Strategies and Execution (BSEBTI)

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of M&A strategies and deal executions. It covers assessing M&A opportunities, managing post-acquisition integration, corporate strategy, and industry economics. The course emphasizes practical applications and navigating the financial, legal, and operations challenges in M&A transactions.  

• Who It’s For: Corporate strategists and finance professionals
• Topics Covered:
  • Business combination concepts and types
  • Mergers and acquisitions motives
  • Structures and funding considerations
  • Valuation mechanism
  • Due diligence process 
• Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
• Exam Required? No
• Duration: 10 days 
• How Many Hours Of Instruction: 2 hours per day 
• Eligibility Requirements: None
• Price: Rs.21,240.00
• Take The Course: BSEBTI

7. Mergers and Acquisitions Online (Columbia Business School)

This course offers a strategic approach to understanding and executing M&A deals. It covers valuation, deal structuring, negotiation tactics, and integration strategies. It provides insight into M&A’s financial and operational aspects and focuses on maximizing value and managing risks. 

• Who It’s For: Business professionals seeking online flexibility
• Topics Covered:
  • Strategic and practical considerations in the M&A process
  • Role of valuation
  • Deal math calculations
  • Due diligence process
  • Principles of deal documentation
• Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
• Exam Required? No
• Duration: 9 weeks
• How Many Hours Of Instruction: 4 to 6 hours per week 
• Eligibility Requirements: None
• Price: $3,700
• Take The Course: Columbia Business School

8. Mergers, Acquisitions, and Restructuring (SBCS Global Learning Institute)

This course offers a comprehensive and practical understanding of M&A activities. It explores strategic reasons for takeovers, the impact on corporate governance, deal structuring, and target pricing. Additionally, it covers the execution of M&A plans, including due diligence, change management, and achieving successful outcomes. 

• Who It’s For: Managers and business professionals
• Topics Covered:
  • Rational of M&A’s
  • Takeover threat and corporate governance
  • Business planning and strategies
  • Financing M&A
  • Valuation
• Online, In-Person, or Both? Online 
• Exam Required? No
• Duration: 30 to 45 hours
• Take The Course: SBCS Global Learning Institute

What’s Next?

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