Instructor-Led Online is now available for all three CFA® levels, including Level III. Here’s what it adds and how to decide if it’s right for you. 

Every CFA® candidate studies a little differently. Some do their best work alone, with a video library, a question bank, and a plan they set for themselves. Others study more effectively with a weekly schedule, a live instructor, and someone to ask for help when they get stuck. 

That's why Meldrum offers two ways to prepare for the CFA® Program: Self-Study and Instructor-Led Online. Both are available for Level I, Level II, and Level III. 

Instructor-Led Online is built on the same comprehensive program as Self-Study, so the decision isn't about which package covers more material. It's about whether you want a layer of live-online classes, Q&A, and mentoring around Meldrum’s already robust content. 

In this post, we'll walk through what Instructor-Led Online is, what it adds, and how to decide whether it's the right fit for you. 

New for Level III: Instructor-Led Online is now available for all three levels, including Level III. The first Level III cohort starts Monday, October 26, to prepare for the February 2027 exam.
Explore Level III Instructor-Led Online →

Self-Study isn't the weaker option 

Let's start with something important: Meldrum's Self-Study package is a proven, comprehensive system of study. Choosing it doesn’t mean settling for less. We also haven't taken anything out of Self-Study to build Instructor-Led Online. Nothing has been moved behind a second paywall, and Self-Study is the same high-quality package it's always been. 

Self-Study and Instructor-Led Online include the same core learning tools: 

• Videos that explain the “how” and the “why” behind every concept 
• End-of-chapter question videos and instructor comments 
• The question bank, mock exams, and formula sheet 
• Lecture PDF notes, seminar videos, and the archive 
• Office hours and app access

The videos are the foundation, and that foundation doesn't change between packages. Instructor-Led Online is the same course with a human-led layer around it that adds structure, interaction, and support. 
 
In Myth #3 of our CFA® myth-busting series, we looked at why self-study isn't the only way to prepare. The flip side is just as true — it isn't a lesser way, either. 
 
Revisit how we bust Myth #3 → 

When self-study alone may not be enough 

For many candidates, Meldrum’s Self-Study prep is exactly the right fit. But others may find studying solo challenging. The difficulty usually isn’t in the course material itself, but in turning that material into exam performance. 
 
When that happens, it tends to show up in one of four ways: 

• Conceptual doubt: “I watched the video, but I'm not sure why that answer is wrong.” 
• Application gap: “I understand the reading, but I freeze on exam-style questions.” 
• Study drift: “I'm moving through the content, but not at a reliable pace.” 
• Confidence gap: “I don't know whether what I'm doing is enough.”

None of these mean something's wrong with the course — or with you. They're signs you might benefit from expert, personalized feedback at the exact moment you get stuck. That's where Instructor-Led Online comes in. 

What Instructor-Led Online adds to your CFA® prep 

Meldrum’s Instructor-Led Online package doesn't give you a bigger pile of material to get through. It adds four features that enhance how you study, with a weekly rhythm that ties them together. 

1. Live classes that turn watching into applying 

Instructor-Led Online includes 32 hours of interactive live classes, which include Q&A time. That's 16 two-hour sessions that follow the Meldrum study guide, scheduled across different time slots where possible to suit candidates in different time zones. This is where you move from “I learned it” to “I can use it.” 
 
Live sessions don't try to reteach every reading topic. They focus on where a live instructor adds the most value: tricky concepts, exam-style walkthroughs, and the questions a recorded video can't hear. And because you arrive having already watched the core videos, you can help drive the session. If a topic didn't click for you that week, say so, and the class can work through it. 
 
And when you ask a question, the answer isn't another full lecture. It's one missing link in your reasoning. Why is option B wrong? When do I use this formula instead of that one? A live instructor can tell whether the issue is recall, interpretation, calculation setup, or exam technique — and fix that exact step.

2. Additional seminars that respond to where candidates get stuck

A course library is fixed. Additional seminar videos aren't. As the course progresses, seminar videos add targeted help with: 

• questions many candidates find difficult 
• examples that benefit from another walkthrough 
• topics that need reinforcement

It's the difference between a static resource and a course that responds to real study challenges. For example, after a Level II session on time series, one candidate asked for a practical checklist. That request became a walkthrough video that put a regression through each test, step by step. 

3. Six one-on-one mentor hours 

With Instructor-Led Online, you also get six hours of one-on-one time with CFA charterholder mentors. These sessions help you turn uncertainty into a plan and use your limited study time wisely.  

Mentors are Meldrum alumni who passed the exams recently using the same material you're studying. You can browse mentors by specialty, and you share your agenda with your mentor ahead of each session. Sessions can focus on technical topics, exam approach, or both. 

You might use them to work through questions like: 

• What should I fix first? 
• Where exactly am I misunderstanding the material? 
• How should I use the final weeks before exam day? 
• Am I spending my time in the right places?

4. One-Fee-To-Pass

Life happens. Work gets busy, you may need to defer, or an exam attempt may not go the way you planned. 
 
Meldrum’s One-Fee-To-Pass is a continuity benefit for those moments. It gives you access to updated content until you pass your level, even through a deferral or an unsuccessful attempt. That way, you can stay with the same course system instead of starting over from scratch. 
 
Eligibility conditions apply, including providing your exam registration receipt. Learn more about One-Fee-To-Pass. 

How it all fits into your week 

Instructor-Led Online works alongside the core course, not on top of it. A typical week has a rhythm: 

• Before class: Watch the core videos and attempt the assigned questions. 
• During class: Work through high-value examples and ask where your reasoning breaks down. 
• After class: Rewatch the archived session and correct any questions you missed. 
• When you're stuck: Use the additional seminars or your mentor hours for targeted help. 

Live sessions are archived, usually by the next day, so you can review them later or catch up if you miss one. You can also post questions underneath each archived session. If a question shows a topic the group needs more help with, it may become a new seminar video.  

The value isn't just the two hours you spend live each week. It's how those two hours organize everything around them. 

How Instructor-Led Online helps at each CFA® exam level 

The live layer works a little differently at each level, because each exam challenges you in a different way. 

CFA® Level I: A steady cadence through broad material 

Level I is often described as an inch deep and a mile wide, and it's easy to drown in the sheer breadth of topics. Instructor-Led Online gives you a cadence that carries you through all the material, and it points out where the big areas and common pitfalls are.  

Explore Level I Instructor-Led Online → 

CFA® Level II: How to attack the vignettes 

By Level II, you know how to study. But the exam format changes. You're working through vignettes, with a set of questions built around each scenario. Live sessions cover each topic and show you how to work through a vignette on it.  

Explore Level II Instructor-Led Online → 

CFA® Level III: Writing constructed response answers 

By Level III, you're a seasoned candidate. You know how to study, and you know what a vignette looks like. The extra layer is constructed response. These aren't essays. You're not writing long paragraphs with introductions and conclusions. You're writing short, to-the-point answers. But you still have to write them, and most of us don't write answers from scratch very often in our day-to-day work. 

There's also more subjectivity. Answers can still be right or wrong, but there may be two or three different ways to be right. On top of that, many candidates meet topics at Level III they don't use in their own role, whether that's options strategies, private wealth, or alternative investments. 

That's where Instructor-Led Online really comes into its own. Live sessions show you how to apply the material, why one answer works and another doesn't, and how to write your answer so it makes the point as efficiently as possible.  

Explore Level III Instructor-Led Online → 

Self-Study or Instructor-Led CFA® prep: Which fits how you study? 

Instructor-Led Online may be the better fit if you: 

• want live Q&A instead of searching for answers alone 
• learn best by watching questions worked in real time 
• want a calendar with built-in checkpoints 
• value one-to-one mentoring when decisions get personal 
• want a longer runway if your first plan changes

Self-Study may be all you need if you: 

• are highly self-directed and comfortable diagnosing your own weak areas 
• can keep a disciplined schedule without outside deadlines 
• mainly want the core video library, question bank, mock exams, and notes 
• know you wouldn't use the live support

Both packages are substantial. The question isn't which one is better. It's how much interaction and personal support you want on top of the content. 

A quick checklist: Is Instructor-Led right for you? 

Read the five statements below and count how many feel true for you. Each one connects to a specific part of Instructor-Led Online. 

1. I learn faster when I can ask why my answer is wrong. 
2. I need deadlines and a weekly rhythm. 
3. I want one-on-one help deciding where to focus. 
4. I'm worried life may interrupt my study plan. 
5. I already know I'll use the live sessions. 

The more statements that feel true, the more seriously you should consider Instructor-Led Online. If only one or two apply, Self-Study may give you everything you need. It can also help to talk with peers who've used live classes about how they studied and what difference it made for them. 

The bottom line: same depth, more support 

Whichever package you choose, you get the same comprehensive course. Instructor-Led Online adds live application, direct answers, personal support, and a longer runway if your plans change. 

So the real choice comes down to how you study best. If you do your best work independently, Self-Study gives you everything you need. If you do your best work with a schedule, a live instructor, and a mentor to check in with, Instructor-Led Online gives you that support from day one. 

Know how you study. Choose the package that matches. Then get to work. 

Frequently asked questions about Instructor-Led Online 

Do I have to attend the live classes? 

No, although attending live is best, because that's when you can ask questions and help steer the session. Every session is archived, usually by the next day, and you can post questions underneath each recording. 

Is Instructor-Led Online available for all three CFA levels? 

Yes. Meldrum offers both Self-Study and Instructor-Led Online packages for Level I, Level II, and Level III. 

What's the difference between Self-Study and Instructor-Led Online? 

Both packages include the same core course, including the videos, notes, question bank, and mock exams. Instructor-Led Online adds 32 hours of live classes with Q&A, additional seminar videos, six one-on-one mentor hours, and One-Fee-To-Pass. 

How do the mentor sessions work? 

You choose a mentor from our bank of CFA charterholder mentors, who are Meldrum alumni, and share what you want to cover before the session. You can focus on technical topics, like a reading you're stuck on, or on exam approach, like how to structure your final weeks of study. 

Are office hours included with Instructor-Led Online? 

Yes. Office hours are included in both Self-Study and Instructor-Led Online. They're open Q&A sessions where you can bring your questions on the topic of the day. 

Explore Instructor-Led Online for CFA® Levels I, II, and III 

Instructor-Led Online is available for all three levels. Explore packages. 

Every candidate's journey looks different. If you'd like to talk through yours, we're just a message away.