There are similarities as well as differences. On the similarity side, the creators of the IMQF have also been behind the creation of the Portfolio Management curriculum. In that sense, some of the same material is covered in both programs. But, there are significant differences:

• The IMQF leads to a Master degree from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade, while the Portfolio Management exam leads to a professional license
• Most of the curriculum for the Portfolio Manager exams is contained as a subset of the IMQF curriculum. There are significant areas of the IMQF curriculum not covered by the Portfolio Manager exams. All IMQF graduates who have taken the Portfolio Manager exams, have aced them on the first try.
• The IMQF course is roughly twice as long, with roughly twice as many training hours.
• The IMQF program is taught in English by leading American, European, and domestic faculty. The Portfolio Manager program is taught in Serbia by domestic faculty only.
• The IMQF program provides a much more thorough preparation for the CFA Exams than any other program in Serbia and the region, including the Portfolio Manager program.