MSc Mathematics and Finance
Providing students with a range of skills for careers in quantitative finance and risk management.
Key information
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Start date: September 2019
Location: South Kensington
ECTS: 90-93.4 credits
Overview
Our MSc in Mathematics and Finance is designed to prepare you for a wide range of careers in quantitative finance and risk management.
Mathematical finance is a subject that is both mathematically challenging and deployed every day by sophisticated practitioners in the financial markets.
This course provides you with everything you need to get into this area at a level where you can understand – and contribute to – industry practice and the latest research.
To achieve this, our modules are broad and cover both the necessary finance and economics background, and instruction in fundamental mathematics, including stochastic analysis, and partial differential equations.
Scientific computing (object-orientated programming in C++) is an integral part of the programme.
This course is suited to recent graduates in mathematical science and engineering, but we also welcome applications from candidates already employed in the financial services sector looking to expand their skills.
Study programme
You study three core modules in the autumn term and four core modules in the spring term. The five optional modules are taken alongside this in either, or both, of the autumn and spring terms. You submit coursework throughout the two terms and sit your exam in January and April/May.
The supervised research project takes place over the summer when modules have been completed. You work with an academic supervisor and sponsor to scope out the project at the start. You submit the project in September.
Part-time students take the core modules in the autumn and spring terms of year one and two. The optional modules are also taken alongside the core modules in both years. Research project work starts in the summer terms of years one and two and is submitted in September of year two.
Career
Graduates are equipped with the skills needed to pursue careers in the field of quantitative finance and risk management. Previous graduates have gone on to roles such as Financial Analyst, Quantitative Analyst and Risk Management Analyst.
Structure
Modules shown are for the current academic year, and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.
Please note that the curriculum of this course is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for your year of entry. We therefore recommend that you check this course page before finalising your application and after submitting it as we will aim to update this page as soon as any changes are ratified by the College.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
Structure
Core modules
You take all of the core modules below.
- Computing in C++
- Interest Rate Models
- Mathematical Finance: An Introduction to Option Pricing
- Quantitative Risk Management
- Simulation Methods for Finance
- Statistical Methods in Finance
- Stochastic Processes
Optional modules
You choose five out of a possible 13 modules to study.
Optional modules are grouped into the following three streams.
Derivatives Pricing:
- Malliavin Calculus in Finance
- Topics in Derivatives Pricing
- Selected Topics in Quantitative Finance
- Numerical Methods in Finance
Market Microstructure:
- Convex Optimisation
- Stochastic Control in Finance
- Algorithmic and High-Frequency Trading
- Market Microstructure
- Portfolio Management
Machine Learning in Finance:
- Algorithmic Trading and Machine Learning
- Data Analysis and Machine Learning
- Rough Path Theory in Machine Learning
- Deep learning
Research project
You complete a supervised thesis project, lasting four months, towards the end of the programme. Most projects are intended to be carried out in association with a bank, finance house, hedge fund, consultancy or systems provider in the finance industry, and we endeavour to arrange suitable placements.
The project may be an internship, where you work full-time, or a collaborative arrangement where you work at the College and visit the company on a regular basis for project discussions.
Whichever route you choose, you will be assigned an academic project supervisor who will be a member of staff of the Mathematical Finance section.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
- Independent research project
- Lectures
- Problem classes
- Problem sheets
- Tutorials
Assessment methods
- Coursework
- Dissertation
- Oral presentations
- Written examinations
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Entry requirements
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in mathematics, applied mathematics or physics.
International qualifications
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications. For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed here are the minimum for entry to the College.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
How to apply
You can submit one application form per year of entry, and usually choose up to two courses.
How to apply
Making an application
To apply for this course, you need to use our online application system.
You can submit one application form per year of entry, and usually choose up to two courses.
ATAS certificate
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
For more information on the funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Fees and Funding website.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees (Home and EU students)
| 2019 entry | |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £32,000 per year |
| Part-time | £16,000 per year |
* Please note that the tuition fee amount you will pay may increase each year.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2019 will apply to fees for the academic year 2019–2020.
Tuition fees (Overseas and Islands students)
| 2019 entry | |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £32,000 per year |
| Part-time | £16,000 per year |
* Please note that the tuition fee amount you will pay may increase each year.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2019 will apply to fees for the academic year 2019–2020.
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you are a Home or EU student who meets certain criteria, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan of up to £10,280 from the UK government. The loan is not means-tested, and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies. Try our scholarships search tool to see what you might be eligible for.
There are a number of external organisations also offer awards for Imperial students, find out more about non-Imperial scholarships.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
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