title: @GoshawkTrades: You can get almost a whole quantitative trading education for free from the top ...
author: GoshawkTrades
contenttype: twitterarticle
published: 2026-02-25T15:30:52+00:00
source_url: https://x.com/GoshawkTrades/status/2026681308701929812
word_count: 896
You can get almost a whole quantitative trading education for free from the top universities in the
You can get almost a whole quantitative trading education for free from the top universities in the world.
You just have to sit and watch for 2-3 hours a week.
It's that simple and it compounds like crazy.
This was my experience.
Most people think you need a Masters in Finance or a PhD in Math to learn quantitative trading.
You don't.
The best universities, MIT and Yale have uploaded their entire courses for free.
The same lectures their students pay $200,000+ to attend.
The same professors who taught the quants now working at billion-dollar hedge funds.
All available on YouTube.
Here are the 4 lecture series that can give you a foundation in quantitative trading, without the debt.
I – Financial Mathematics (MIT)
What it covers:
This is the foundation. Pure mathematics applied to finance.
24 videos covering:
Introduction to financial terms and concepts
Linear algebra for portfolio optimization
Probability theory and stochastic processes
Regression analysis and time series
Volatility modeling
Risk models and derivatives pricing
Over 20 hours of content ranging from probability theory, regression analysis, and portfolio management.
Giving you a great introduction with no student debt needed.
The catch:
It's dense. This isn't a YouTube course with flashy graphics.
It's a real MIT lecture. Professors write equations on whiteboards. You'll need to pause, rewind, and take notes.
But the depth is the point.
II – Financial Theory (Yale University)
What it covers:
26 videos over a full semester reviewing the key statistical concepts in finance.
It provides a solid foundation and includes many examples, although it is a bit outdated.
Nonetheless, the information remains quite valuable.
Topics include:
Portfolio diversification and the Efficient Frontier
Arbitrage pricing theory
Quantifying uncertainty and risk
The catch:
It's a bit outdated. The lectures were recorded in 2014.
Some references feel old.
But the core concepts such as portfolio theory, arbitrage pricing, risk management are timeless.
III – Quantitative Trading Strategies (Liu Peng, Oxford)
What it cover
This is the most hands-on series on the list.
34 videos focusing on different quantitative trading strategy types and their possible implementation through Python.
While it lacks some key theory and practices mentioned in the earlier lectures from MIT and Yale, it is a lot more hands-on.
Topics include:
Financial data sourcing, cleaning, and visualization
Order types and execution strategies (market orders, limit orders, stop orders)
Risk and return calculation
Python programming basics for trading
The catch:
It assumes you already understand probability, and basic statistics.
If you jump straight into this without the foundation, you'll miss context.
But if you've done the groundwork, this can be helpful.
IV – Price Momentum (Kent Daniel, Columbia Business School)
What it covers:
Two singular lectures that serve as an excellent resource for anyone looking to understand or develop a momentum strategy.
Kent Daniel breaks down:
Why momentum works (behavioral finance perspective)
How to construct momentum portfolios
Cross-sectional vs. time-series momentum
The academic paper "Value and Momentum Everywhere"
Risk factors and portfolio construction
Why it's valuable:
Momentum is one of the most robust strategies in quantitative trading.
It works across equities, futures, currencies, and crypto. It's been documented for decades.
These lectures explain why it works and how to implement it properly.
Kent Daniel is a professor at Columbia Business School and one of the leading researchers on momentum. He doesn't just recite theory—he shows you the data.
Who it's for:
Anyone building or considering a momentum strategy.
Even if you're not planning to trade momentum, understanding it is essential for systematic trading.
It's one of the core risk factors that drives returns across markets.
V – How to Actually Use These Lectures
Here's the mistake most people make:
They bookmark the lectures. They tell themselves "I'll watch this later."
They never do.
The right approach:
Pick one lecture series. Start with MIT or Yale.
Block 2-3 hours per week. Treat it like a class.
Take notes. Pause when you don't understand. Rewatch sections.
Don't jump between lectures. Finish one series before starting the next.
The goal isn't to "get through" 40 hours of content.
The goal is to actually learn the material.
You can get a whole quantitative trading education at a hundredth of the cost and a fifth of the time.
You just have to sit and watch for 2-3 hours a week.
It compounds like crazy.
Final Thoughts
These lectures serve as a great introduction, and while a bit outdated, many practices and ideas remain true today.
You don't need a $200,000 degree to learn quantitative trading.
You need discipline and the right resources.
These lectures are the same ones taught at MIT, Yale, Oxford, and Columbia.
The same content their students pay six figures to access.
All free. All online. All waiting for you to press play.
The 4 Lecture Series:
Financial Mathematics
– MIT (25 videos, 20+ hours)
Financial Theory
– Yale University (26 videos, 26 hours)
Quantitative Trading Strategies
– Liu Peng, Oxford (34 videos)
Price Momentum
– Kent Daniel, Columbia (2 lectures, 5 hours)
Start with #1 or #2. Build the foundation.
Then move to #3 for implementation.
Then #4 for momentum-specific strategies.
That's 40+ hours worth a degree in quant trading.
Zero tuition required.
Thanks for reading.
– Mounir
Posted: 2026-02-25T15:30:52.000Z
Engagement: 4190 likes, 824 retweets, 39 replies