Our online programme and course options include pre-recorded sessions with our faculty, combined with activities and exercises hosted on our learning platform that you can work through in your own time, usually over a period of 6–25 weeks.
Merger and Acquisitions
Developing the financial and strategic expertise to navigate every stage of the mergers and acquisitions deal cycle—from valuation and negotiation to post-merger integration—to analyse opportunities and execute deals.
Course key facts
-
Date
5 Nov 2026 - 21 January 2027
14 Jan - 1 April 2027
Duration
11 weeks
-
Credits
Non credit bearing
-
Format
Online
Fee
£1,500
Overview
In a high‑stakes market environment marked by valuation gaps, regulatory scrutiny and complex integration challenges, organisations need business professionals who can analyse opportunities rigorously and execute with confidence.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Mergers and Acquisitions programme is a course focused on the financial and strategic skills that underpin successful corporate restructuring, including mergers acquisitions and acquisition planning. Over 11 weeks, this online course provides practical training and a clear understanding of the full mergers and acquisitions deal cycle, from scanning the market for new targets and valuing a business, to negotiating transactions, agreeing a purchase structure, and managing post‑merger integration.
On completion, you’ll receive a verified digital certificate recognising your ability to apply mergers and acquisition principles where they matter most. This course is built for emerging and established business leaders and finance professionals who want practical training for mergers acquisitions and complex transactions, whether you are on the buyer side, advising, or part of the acquiring company.
Learning journey
You’ll work with proven frameworks used by leading merger and acquisition practitioners to analyse opportunities, assess risk, evaluate assets, and create value at each stage of the transaction process. Through real‑world case studies and expert faculty insights, you’ll deepen your understanding of the buyer, the target, and the acquiring company, including how an acquiring company buys a target company and combines operations after a merger or takeover.
The programme is delivered online through live teaching sessions, video content and interactive activities, with support from a dedicated learning team throughout. You’ll finish the programme ready to contribute meaningfully to mergers and acquisitions activity in your organisation, equipped to make informed decisions and translate analysis into action. You will learn how market conditions, industry dynamics and shareholder expectations influence strategy, pricing, and the type of merger or acquisition that gets approved.
- Module 1: Corporate Finance and Strategy: Review of Relevant Concepts
- Module 2: Mergers and Acquisitions: Background
- Module 3: M&A Motives, Strategies and Empirical Performance
Course details
Building on your Business knowledge in accounting, finance, valuation, strategic management, and organisational behaviour, this programme is designed to expand your skills through course-based training in M&A techniques, acquisitions, and related transactions. The course also explains what happens when a buyer buys a target company: defining the entity being acquired, assessing assets, setting the purchase price, and preparing a clear offer and takeover plan. It is particularly relevant for the following roles:
- Senior Executives responsible for their firm's growth, portfolio, and investments, especially those seeking to capture value through mergers to create synergies of revenue, cost, and capital.
- Mid-level Managers responsible for accounting, valuation, research, financial modelling and smaller-scale investment decisions, particularly those seeking to transition to an M&A role and to build credibility and influence in deal making.
- Professionals in investment banking and finance who are responsible for sourcing, executing and managing deals, as well as building relationships with investment banks and private investors. It is particularly valuable for consultants seeking to create value for companies and build expertise in deal management.
- Legal Professionals working as legal counsel to investment banking, finance or law firms, especially those who ensure compliance for their clients, structure transactions, provide due diligence and prevent antitrust liability in mergers and acquisitions.
- Consultants advising client organisations on financing and investing decisions looking to understand the M&A process from both sides, identifying the roles of those involved and understand how M&A works in an international context.
At the end of this 11-week online programme, you will be able to:
- Recognise the various forms of corporate restructuring - merger, acquisition and takeover - and their potential value for a company and its shareholders.
- Identify the differences, functions, benefits and challenges of mergers and acquisitions in the market.
- Illustrate the mergers and acquisitions process, including structuring, negotiating, setting a purchase approach, and valuing assets for the target entity.
- Explain the factors and process for successful post‑merger integration, including how a new combined company aligns strategy, operations, and culture after an acquisition.
- Identify the responsibilities of each player in an mergers and acquisitions deal, including the buyer, advisers, and the target company’s shareholders.
- Apply valuation methods to estimate stock and cash consideration, test synergies, and increase confidence in the final purchase decision.
What type of certificate will I receive?
Upon successful completion of the programme and course, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, professional networks, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter or resume and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile. The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the programme, once grading is complete.
Only verified smart digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social networking platforms, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
Successful completion of the Mergers & Acquisitions programme may be used for credit on the , subject to acceptance onto the programme and the payment of a small fee.
Take your partnership with 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to the next level by becoming an Associate Alumnus. Complete one (1) of our on-campus, online, and virtual programmes to claim 'Associate Alumnus' status and join our active alumni community.
Some of the benefits of becoming an Associate Alumnus include:
- Access to the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni LinkedIn group
- Invites to relevant events and webinars
- 25% Discount on future learning for yourself and up to three your colleagues
If you are interested in finding out more, contact us today!
Each programme and course includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the programme web page under the ¶Ù³Ü°ù²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô  section, as well as in the programme brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this page.
How will my time be spent?
We have designed this programme to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent across a variety of activities, including:
-
Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
-
Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific programme schedule
-
Reading or engaging with examples of core topics across the market and industry
-
Completing knowledge checks and quizzes
-
Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
-
Completing your final project, if required
The programme is designed to be highly interactive while allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on programme activities.
A dedicated programme support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
Your instructor
Marc Kitten
Founding partner, Candesic Strategy ConsultantsMarc Kitten is a founding partner at Candesic Strategy Consultants in London. He has 25 years of experience of transactions and financial markets. He advises corporations and financial investors in the areas of corporate strategy and corporate finance. He serves on the boards of several fast-growing companies. Prior to co-founding Candesic, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Co. In London and a Vice-President at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt. He is the author of the 2009 Vault Guide to Careers in Private Equity in Europe and has published several case studies.
Contact us
Lifelong Learning
Online Programmes
Frequently asked questions
- How do you choose the best M&A course?
- What are mergers and acquisitions (M&A)?
- Why do companies pursue mergers and acquisitions?
- What is M&A due diligence and why is it important?
- What is the difference between a merger and an acquisition?
- Who should take an M&A course?
- What are the key steps in the M&A process?
- What should a mergers and acquisitions course cover?
How do you choose the best M&A course?
When choosing an M&A course, compare the programme length, delivery format, and whether it covers the full deal cycle, from valuation through to post merger integration. You should also consider the experience of the faculty. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's course is delivered online over 11 weeks and is led by a founding partner of a strategy consultancy with more than 25 years of transaction experience. Compare these factors with other programmes to find the best fit for your goals.
What are mergers and acquisitions (M&A)?
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) refer to transactions in which companies combine through a merger or one company acquires another to achieve strategic objectives, such as growth, market expansion or new capabilities. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's M&A course takes you through the entire deal cycle, from business valuation to negotiation and post merger integration.
Why do companies pursue mergers and acquisitions?
Companies use mergers and acquisitions to accelerate growth, enter new markets, acquire new capabilities, achieve economies of scale, or strengthen their competitive position. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's course helps you understand the strategic reasons behind M&A activity, examining transaction motives, corporate restructuring, takeover tactics and the factors that influence successful outcomes.
What is M&A due diligence and why is it important?
Due diligence is the process of assessing a target company's financial performance, operations and potential risks before completing a transaction. It helps you confirm the value of the business and identify issues that could affect the success of the deal. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's course develops the financial and strategic analysis skills needed to carry out effective due diligence.
What is the difference between a merger and an acquisition?
A merger combines two companies into a single organisation, typically through a mutual agreement between businesses of similar size. An acquisition occurs when one company purchases another, which may then operate within the acquiring organisation. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's course helps you understand both types of transactions, together with corporate restructuring, takeover tactics and defence strategies.
Who should take an M&A course?
51³Ô¹ÏÍø's M&A course is designed for you if you want to develop expertise across the full deal cycle. It is suitable if you work in corporate development, finance, strategy or another role connected with transactions, or if you are looking to move into an M&A related career. While there are no formal prerequisites, some familiarity with corporate finance will help you get the most from the programme.
What are the key steps in the M&A process?
51³Ô¹ÏÍø's course takes you through the M&A process in three stages. You will begin by reviewing corporate finance principles, the foundations of M&A and the strategic reasons for transactions. You will then explore restructuring, the transaction process, takeover tactics and defence strategies, before progressing to negotiation, transaction documentation, post merger integration and international M&A across ten modules delivered over 11 weeks.
What should a mergers and acquisitions course cover?
A comprehensive M&A course should help you understand every stage of the deal cycle, including corporate finance fundamentals, transaction strategy, valuation, deal structuring, negotiation, transaction documentation, post merger integration and international M&A. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's online course covers all of these areas through ten modules delivered over 11 weeks, using real world case studies to reinforce your learning.