Masters Degrees (Computational Economics)

The financial crisis and global recession have triggered a search for new perspectives in economics training that can deal with the challenges posed by highly interconnected and globalised financial and industrial organisations. Our course provides a revolutionary way to address the many issues raised in macroeconomics and financial regulation.

By using a multi-agent computational and simulation modelling approach to complement your work in statistics and econometrics, you investigate a wide array of economic phenomena that can also aid in policy design. You will be given laboratory based instruction to build a range of agent based models that include systemic risk analysis with financial networks and market micro-structure of stock markets.

We are top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Much of this world-class research is related to policy, and we have particular strengths in the areas of:
-Game theory and strategic interactions
-Theoretical and applied econometrics
-Labour economics

The quality of our work is reflected in our stream of publications in high-profile academic journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies.

Professional accreditation

Our University is one of only 21 ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centres in the UK.

This means that our course can form part of a prestigious 1+3 funding opportunity worth up to £21,575.

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists of our time.

Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs, with students coming from across the globe to study, research or work with us.

Many of our researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

Specialist facilities

Take advantage of our wide range of learning resources to assist you in your studies:
-Extensive software for quantitative analysis is available in all computer labs across the university
-Access a variety of economics databases and multiple copies of textbooks and e-books in the Albert Sloman Library

Your future

After completing your masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay here for further study.

Alternatively, our course also prepares you for employment; recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level.

Our course has a strong policy orientation and operational content. It will appeal to those aiming to pursue careers in regulatory institutions, financial modelling, the civil service and real-world problem solving, or would also be an excellent stepping stone for those wishing to progress into further research.

Our graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organisations.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

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The program provides students with a solid training in Economics emphasizing rigorous analytical thinking and advanced quantitative methods. Faculty members are internationally recognized economists. Our aim is to train economists suited both for academic and non-academic careers

Learning objectives

During the first year, students will study the foundations of economics and quantitative analysis, whereas the second year is devoted to field courses that will expose them to recent developments at the frontier of economic research in a variety of topics. At the end of the second year students will work on their final dissertation. The curriculum also offers an internship program with either economic research institutions located in the Milan area or within the University’s Department of Economics and Finance, where student are offered the opportunity to work as an applied economists on real world economic issues, as well as meeting prospective employers. The skills acquired through the M.Sc. in Economics prepare students to pursue their careers both in academia through further education at the Ph.D. level as well as in the labour market as applied economists in firms, banks and institutions.

Career opportunities & professional recognition

The M.Sc. is now at its sixth edition and so far it has performed very well in terms of placement in the labour market (Eurizone, Deloitte, Oxford Policy Management, Intesa San Paolo) and in the academia (some of our student are now completing their Ph.D.s at Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, University of Nottingham, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, and include winners of prestigious scholarships granted by the Bank of Italy).

Curriculum

N.B.: All courses are at upper-intermediate level.

First year credits:
● Microeconomics (8 ECTS/CFU)

● Macroeconomics (8 ECTS/CFU)

● Mathematics for economic analysis (8 ECTS/CFU)

● Empirical economics (8 ECTS/CFU)

● Statistical modelling (8 ECTS/CFU)

● Two business courses among the following (16 ECTS/ CFU):
○ Public management
○ Supply chain management
○ Performance measurement
○ Corporate governance and social responsibility
○ Business communication
○ Change management
○ Cross cultural management

● One law course (8 ECTS/CFU) among:
○ Transnational commercial law
○ Principles of financial regulation

Second year credits:
● Three Economics courses (24 ECTS/CFU) among:
○ Monetary economics and asset pricing
○ International economics
○ Political and public economics
○ Industrial organization
○ Labor economics
○ Topics in economic theory
○ Political economy of the European Union

● One of the following (student’s choice subject to approval) (8 ECTS/CFU) A course in Economics, or Internship program, or a course among:
○ Corporate finance
○ International corporate finance
○ Project management
○ Quantitative methods for finance
○ Applied statistics and big data (Advanced) or
○ A course in Business, or
○ A course in Law

● Final dissertation (24 ECTS/CFU)

A genuine experience

Cattolica takes great pride in preparing its students with the adequate knowledge, skills, and great motivation for starting the Economics profession as expert analysts in firms, financial institutions and think tanks, applied economists in research centers and international institutions, or academic economists conducting scientific research in university departments around the world.

Research

In 2015 Università Cattolica was ranked among the world top 150 best Universities in the Economics and Econometrics subject area. Source: QS World University Subject Ranking.

Innovative method

You will experience an intensive teaching activity with active in-class participation, a direct interaction with the faculty mem- bers and visiting professors, and extensive laboratory sessions to get you acquainted with the latest computational techniques that are essential for a successful career in Economics.

Global perspective

Università Cattolica offers its students the opportunity to study abroad during the summer. Our summer programs allow students to earn credits while studying abroad at one of Cattolica’s prestigious partner institutions.

Candidates need to satisfy the English language proficiency requirement in order to submit their application.

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Our specialised MSc Financial Economics and Econometrics includes in-depth theoretical and applied aspects of econometrics to complement subjects in financial markets and corporate finance.

Our course equips you with the right combination of skills for rigorous analysis to underpin high-level policy advice or decision making in the fast moving financial sector. You master mathematical techniques and statistical analysis, and acquire a deep knowledge of how financial markets work and how to analyse them.

You investigate topics including:
-The theoretical foundations of econometrics
-The analysis of financial market data
-The economics of financial markets

We are top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Much of this world-class research is related to policy, and we have particular strengths in the areas of:
-Game theory and strategic interactions
-Theoretical and applied econometrics
-Labour economics

The quality of our work is reflected in our stream of publications in high-profile academic journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies.

Professional accreditation

Our University is one of only 21 ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centres in the UK.

This means that our course can form part of a prestigious 1+3 funding opportunity worth up to £21,575.

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists of our time.

Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs, with students coming from across the globe to study, research or work with us.

Many of our researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

Specialist facilities

Take advantage of our wide range of learning resources to assist you in your studies:
-Extensive software for quantitative analysis is available in all computer labs across the university
-Access a variety of economics databases and multiple copies of textbooks and e-books in the Albert Sloman Library

Your future

After completing your masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay here for further study.

Alternatively, our course also prepares you for employment; recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level.

With the skills and knowledge you acquire from studying within our Department of Economics, you will be in demand from a wide range of employers. We have excellent links with the research community, both in the UK and worldwide, and strong ties with the business/consultancy world, especially in London and other major financial centres.

Our graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organisations.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Example structure

-Dissertation
-Economics of Financial Markets
-Estimation and Inference in Econometrics
-Time Series Econometrics
-Topics in Financial Economics
-Economic Development Theory (optional)
-Economics of Incentives, Contracts and the Firm (optional)
-Game Theory and Applications (optional)
-International Finance (optional)
-International Trade (optional)
-Macroeconomics (optional)
-Mathematical Methods (optional)
-Microeconomics (optional)
-Microeconometrics (optional)
-Monetary Economics (optional)
-Panel Data Methods (optional)
-Political Economy (optional)
-Theory of Industrial Organisation (optional)
-Applications of Data Analysis (optional)
-Banking (optional)
-Behavioural Economics I: Individual Decision Making (optional)
-Behavioural Economics II: Games and Markets (optional)
-Computational Agent-Based Macro-Economics, Financial Markets and Policy Design (optional)

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How can different kinds of data inform us on economic issues? On this course you learn how economic data analysis can address practical problems within business, accounting, and development.

Our MSc Applied Economics and Data Analysis is run jointly between our Department of Economics and our Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), which specialises in the analysis of household and labour market data.

On our course you will be provided the tools for analysing and implementing some of the models that are present in theory modules. You study data-orientated, applied modules, exploring topics including:
-Techniques used in the analysis of panel data
-The specification of models and the tests of their validity
-Methods for analysing persistence over time in economic variables
-Handling different types of datasets,
-Survey methodology and sampling frames, and how to deal with problems of response rates and attrition

We are top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% of our research rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Much of this world-class research is related to policy, and we have particular strengths in the areas of:
-Game theory and strategic interactions
-Theoretical and applied econometrics
-Labour economics

The quality of our work is reflected in our stream of publications in high-profile academic journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies.

Our University is one of only 21 ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centres in the UK. This means that our course can form part of a prestigious 1+3 funding opportunity worth up to £21,575.

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists of our time.

Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs, with students coming from across the globe to study, research or work with us.

Many of our researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

For a full list of research interests, see our Department’s staff pages.

Specialist facilities

Take advantage of our wide range of learning resources to assist you in your studies:
-Extensive software for quantitative analysis is available in all computer labs across the university
-Access a variety of economics databases and multiple copies of textbooks and e-books in the Albert Sloman Library

Your future

After completing your masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay here for further study.

Alternatively, our course also prepares you for employment; recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level.

You will develop key employability skills including analytical reasoning, mathematical techniques, model building and data analysis.

Our graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organisations.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Example Structure

Postgraduate study is the chance to take your education to the next level. The combination of compulsory and optional modules means our courses help you develop extensive knowledge in your chosen discipline, whilst providing plenty of freedom to pursue your own interests. Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore to ensure your course is as relevant and up-to-date as possible your core module structure may be subject to change.

MSc Applied Economics and Data Analysis
-Dissertation
-Applications of Data Analysis
-Mathematical Methods
-Microeconomics
-Panel Data Methods
-Banking (optional)
-Behavioural Economics I: Individual Decision Making (optional)
-Behavioural Economics II: Games and Markets (optional)
-Computational Agent-Based Macro-Economics, Financial Markets and Policy Design (optional)
-Econometric Methods (optional)
-Economic Development Theory (optional)
-Economics of Financial Markets (optional)
-Estimation and Inference in Econometrics (optional)
-Game Theory and Applications (optional)
-International Finance (optional)
-International Trade (optional)
-Macroeconomics (optional)
-Monetary Economics (optional)
-Political Economy (optional)
-Theory of Industrial Organisation (optional)
-Time Series Econometrics (optional)
-Topics in Financial Economics (optional)
-Economics of Incentives, Contracts and the Firm (optional)

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Would you like to undertake advanced study in quantitative analysis in an environment of research excellence? To question how we understand and assess empirical findings reported within applied economics?

Our popular course emphasises the foundations of econometrics and its application to a wide range of topics in economics. You explore topics including:
-The statistical foundations for a variety of estimating methods
-Ways of testing economic hypotheses
-The classical linear regression model
-The use of asymptotic methods in econometrics
-The analysis of stock markets and other financial data

We are top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% of our research rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Much of this world-class research is related to policy, and we have particular strengths in the areas of:
-Game theory and strategic interactions
-Theoretical and applied econometrics
-Labour economics

The quality of our work is reflected in our stream of publications in high-profile academic journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies.

Professional accreditation

Our University is one of only 21 ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centres in the UK.

This means that our course can form part of a prestigious 1+3 funding opportunity worth up to £21,575.

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists of our time.

Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs, with students coming from across the globe to study, research or work with us.

Many of our researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

Specialist facilities

Take advantage of our wide range of learning resources to assist you in your studies:
-Extensive software for quantitative analysis is available in all computer labs across the university
-Access a variety of economics databases and multiple copies of textbooks and e-books in the Albert Sloman Library

Your future

After completing your masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay here for further study.

Alternatively, our course also prepares you for employment; recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level.

On our course you will develop key employability skills including statistical analysis, mathematical techniques, research, analytical reasoning and modelling.

Our graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organisations.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Example structure

-Dissertation
-Microeconomics
-Macroeconomics
-Time Series Econometrics
-Estimation and Inference in Econometrics
-Economic Development Theory (optional)
-Economics of Financial Markets (optional)
-Economics of Incentives, Contracts and the Firm (optional)
-Game Theory and Applications (optional)
-International Finance (optional)
-International Trade (optional)
-Mathematical Methods (optional)
-Microeconometrics (optional)
-Monetary Economics (optional)
-Panel Data Methods (optional)
-Political Economy (optional)
-Theory of Industrial Organisation (optional)
-Topics in Financial Economics (optional)
-Banking (optional)
-Behavioural Economics I: Individual Decision Making (optional)
-Computational Agent-Based Macro-Economics, Financial Markets and Policy Design (optional)
-Behavioural Economics II: Games and Markets (optional)
-Applications of Data Analysis (optional)

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This degree, offered jointly by the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Economics, allows you to specialise in modern quantitative finance and computational methods for financial modelling. This is an attractive advanced qualification, especially suitable if you are seeking employment in asset structuring, product pricing or risk management, among other fields.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/computerscience/coursefinder/msccomputationalfinance.aspx

Why choose this course?

- Big Data is now part of every sector and function of the global economy, in particular of financial services and insurance. Planning and strategic decision-making processes rely on large pools of data that need to be captured, aggregated, stored, and analysed.

- You will learn modern quantitative finance and computational methods for financial modeling. People with this set of skills are in short supply and high demand.

- You will have the opportunity to choose options among an exciting range of topics in Computer Science, Economics, Information Security, Management and Mathematics.

- Industry connections have informed the content and design of the course. External contacts in both academia and industry enrich the programme of seminars and guest lectures, which are an integral part of the course.

- Royal Holloway is located in the ‘M4 corridor’, west of London, a major high-technology hub also called ‘England’s Silicon Valley’.

- Royal Holloway is a very prestigious university in which to study. We are ranked not only as one of the 16 most beautiful universities in the world, but also one of the best: in 2012/13, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed the College 15th in the UK, 45th in Europe and 119th in the world.

Department research and industry highlights

- The departments have expertise in a wide set of areas in Computer Science and in Economics, and the topics taught reflect these areas of excellence.

- Computer Science hosts one of strongest research groups in Machine Learning (the science of systems that learn from data).

- In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), Computer Science ranked 11th and Economics ranked 8th for their research output.

- Computer Science is ranked third in the UK for graduate employability by the Times Good University Guide 2013.

- Computer Science has an Industrial Liaison Board that comprises senior representatives from Microsoft, Cognex, CSC, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Kalido, Bathwick Group, Pentatonix, Blackrock, Oracle, Investec and QubeSoft.

Course content and structure

You will take taught modules during Term One (October to December) and Term Two (January to March). Examinations are held in May. You then take an industrial placement, after which you come back for your project/dissertation (12 weeks).

On completion of the course graduates will have:
Throughout your degree, you will have the opportunity to acquire the following skills:

- Knowledge of the working of financial markets and their role in the context of global economy.
- Knowledge of modern mathematical and computational techniques used in finance.
- Knowledge of key ideas, principles, and methods of machine learning and their applications in finance.
- Ability to apply methods of computational finance to practical problems in computational finance, including pricing of derivatives and risk assessment.
- Ability to analyse and critically evaluate methods and general principles of computational finance and their applicability to specific problems; to critically evaluate validity and practicality of results.
- Ability to analyse and critically evaluate applicability of machine learning algorithms to problems in finance.
- Ability to implement methods of computational finance and machine learning using object-oriented programming languages and
modern data management systems.
- Ability to work with software packages such as MATLAB and R.
- Knowledge of and ability to work with relational databases (SQL), non-relational databases (mongodb), as well as with Hadoop/pig scripting and other big data manipulation techniques.
- Knowledge of and ability to work with Python, Perl, and Shell Scripting.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework and a dissertation. The placement is assessed as part of your degree.

Employability & career opportunities

Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different finance-related areas, including careers as financial analysts, accountants, bankers, journalists and business analysts. Our graduates are currently working for firms such as Accenture, TNS, RBS, Deloitte, and Baker and McKenzie. At the same time, this course also equips you with a solid foundation for continued PhD studies.

Your careers ambitions are supported by our College Careers Service, located right next door to both departments. They offer application and interview coaching, career strategy discussions, and the opportunity to network with major finance employers on campus. Our careers service is provided by the Careers Group, the main provider of graduate recruitment services in London. Thus, you will have additional access to a wealth of presentations and networking opportunities which make the most of London’s financial centre.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/postgraduate/applying/howtoapply.aspx .

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This degree, offered jointly by the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Economics, allows you to specialise in modern quantitative finance and computational methods for financial modelling. This is an attractive advanced qualification, especially suitable if you are seeking employment in asset structuring, product pricing or risk management, among other fields.

As part of the course, you will take an industrial placement, where you will gain valuable experience by putting your knowledge and skills into practice.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/computerscience/coursefinder/msccomputationalfinance(yearinindustry).aspx

Why choose this course?

- Big Data is now part of every sector and function of the global economy, in particular of financial services and insurance. Planning and strategic decision-making processes rely on large pools of data that need to be captured, aggregated, stored, and analysed.

- You will learn modern quantitative finance and computational methods for financial modeling. People with this set of skills are in short supply and high demand.

- You will have the opportunity to choose options among an exciting range of topics in Computer Science, Economics, Information Security, Management and Mathematics.

- Taking a placement is an excellent opportunity to gain industrial experience (which gives you an extra edge when applying for jobs in the future) and acquire skills that can only be fully picked up in a work environment.

- Industry connections have informed the content and design of the course. External contacts in both academia and industry enrich the programme of seminars and guest lectures, which are an integral part of the course.

- Royal Holloway is located in the ‘M4 corridor’, west of London, a major high-technology hub also called ‘England’s Silicon Valley’.

- Royal Holloway is a very prestigious university in which to study. We are ranked not only as one of the 16 most beautiful universities in the world, but also one of the best: in 2012/13, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed the College 15th in the UK, 45th in Europe and 119th in the world

Department research and industry highlights

- The departments have expertise in a wide set of areas in Computer Science and in Economics, and the topics taught reflect these areas of excellence.

- Computer Science hosts one of strongest research groups in Machine Learning (the science of systems that learn from data).

- In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), Computer Science ranked 11th and Economics ranked 8th for their research output.

- Computer Science is ranked third in the UK for graduate employability by the Times Good University Guide 2013.

- Computer Science has an Industrial Liaison Board that comprises senior representatives from Microsoft, Cognex, CSC, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Kalido, Bathwick Group, Pentatonix, Blackrock, Oracle, Investec and QubeSoft.

Course content and structure

You will take taught modules during Term One (October to December) and Term Two (January to March). Examinations are held in May. You then take an industrial placement, after which you come back for your project/dissertation (12 weeks).

Your placement will take up to one year and, if you are an overseas student, your visa will cover the two years of the programme. The placement attracts a salary and is assessed as part of your degree. You will be assigned a supervisor by the host company, who is responsible for directing your work. You will be assigned an academic supervisor, who visits to check if you are integrating successfully and the type of work being undertaken is appropriate, and supports you in general during your placement. If you cannot or decide not to take a placement, you revert to the normal one-year degree.

On completion of the course graduates will have:

Throughout your degree, you will have the opportunity to acquire the following skills:

- Knowledge of the working of financial markets and their role in the context of global economy.
- Knowledge of modern mathematical and computational techniques used in finance.
- Knowledge of key ideas, principles, and methods of machine learning and their applications in finance.
- Ability to apply methods of computational finance to practical problems in computational finance, including pricing of derivatives and risk assessment.
- Ability to analyse and critically evaluate methods and general principles of computational finance and their applicability to specific problems; to critically evaluate validity and practicality of results.
- Ability to analyse and critically evaluate applicability of machine learning algorithms to problems in finance.
- Ability to implement methods of computational finance and machine learning using object-oriented programming languages and modern data management systems.
- Ability to work with software packages such as MATLAB and R.
- Knowledge of and ability to work with relational databases (SQL), non-relational databases (mongodb), as well as with Hadoop/pig scripting and other big data manipulation techniques.
- Knowledge of and ability to work with Python, Perl, and Shell Scripting.
- Work experience and appreciation of how your work fits into the organizational and development processes of a company.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework and a dissertation. The placement is assessed as part of your degree.

Employability & career opportunities

Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different finance-related areas, including careers as financial analysts, accountants, bankers, journalists and business analysts. Our graduates are currently working for firms such as Accenture, TNS, RBS, Deloitte, and Baker and McKenzie. At the same time, this course also equips you with a solid foundation for continued PhD studies.

Your careers ambitions are supported by our College Careers Service, located right next door to both departments. They offer application and interview coaching, career strategy discussions, and the opportunity to network with major finance employers on campus. Our careers service is provided by the Careers Group, the main provider of graduate recruitment services in London. Thus, you will have additional access to a wealth of presentations and networking opportunities which make the most of London’s financial centre.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/postgraduate/applying/howtoapply.aspx .

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Our MSc Computational Finance equips you with the core concepts and mathematical principles of modern quantitative finance, plus the operational skills to use computational packages (mainly Matlab) for financial modelling.

We provide practical, hands-on learning about how modern, highly computerised financial markets work, how assets should be priced, and how investors should construct a portfolio of assets. In addition to traditional topics in derivatives and asset pricing, we place a special emphasis on risk management in non-Gaussian environment with extreme events.

You master these areas through studying topics including:
-Non-linear and evolutionary computational methods for derivatives pricing and portfolio management
-Applications of calculus and statistical methods
-Computational intelligence in finance and economics
-Financial markets

You also graduate with an understanding of the use of artificial financial market environments for stress testing, and the design of auctions and other financial contracts.

Our Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents is an innovative and laboratory-based teaching and research centre, with an international reputation for leading-edge, interdisciplinary work combining economic and financial modelling with computational implementation.

Our research is geared towards real-world, practical applications, and many of our academic staff have experience of applying their findings in industry and in advising the UK government.

This course is also available on a part-time basis.

Professional accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).This accreditation is increasingly sought by employers, and provides the first stage towards eventual professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Our expert staff

This course is taught by experts with both academic and industrial expertise in the financial and IT sectors. We bring together leading academics in the field from our departments of economics, computer science and business.

Our staff are currently researching the development of real-time trading platforms, new financial econometric models for real-time data, the use of artificially intelligent agents in the study of risk and market-based institutions, operational aspects of financial markets, financial engineering, portfolio and risk management.

Specialist facilities

We are one of the largest and best resourced computer science and electronic engineering schools in the UK. Our work is supported by extensive networked computer facilities and software aids, together with a wide range of test and instrumentation equipment.
-We have six laboratories that are exclusively for computer science and electronic engineering students. Three are open 24/7, and you have free access to the labs except when there is a scheduled practical class in progress
-All computers run either Windows 7 or are dual boot with Linux
-Software includes Java, Prolog, C++, Perl, Mysql, Matlab, DB2, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio, and Project
-Students have access to CAD tools and simulators for chip design (Xilinx) and computer networks (OPNET)
-We also have specialist facilities for research into areas including non-invasive brain-computer interfaces, intelligent environments, robotics, optoelectronics, video, RF and MW, printed circuit milling, and semiconductors

Your future

We have an extensive network of industrial contacts through our City Associates Board and our alumni, while our expert seminar series gives you the opportunity to work with leading figures from industry.

Our recent graduates have gone on to become quantitative analysts, portfolio managers and software engineers at various institutions, including:
-HSBC
-Mitsubishi UFJ Securities
-Old Mutual
-Bank of England

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Example structure

-CCFEA MSc Dissertation
-Financial Engineering and Risk Management
-Introduction to Financial Market Analysis
-Learning and Computational Intelligence in Economics and Finance
-Professional Practice and Research Methodology
-Quantitative Methods in Finance and Trading
-Big-Data for Computational Finance (optional)
-Industry Expert Lectures in Finance (optional)
-Mathematical Research Techniques Using Matlab (optional)
-Programming in Python (optional)
-Artificial Neural Networks (optional)
-High Frequency Finance and Empirical Market Microstructure (optional)
-Machine Learning and Data Mining (optional)
-Trading Global Financial Markets (optional)
-Creating and Growing a New Business Venture (optional)
-Evolutionary Computation and Genetic Programming (optional)
-Constraint Satisfaction for Decision Making (optional)

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Are you interested in finance and its economic foundations? The emphasis of our MSc Financial Economics is on the ways that economic reasoning can inform and illuminate the financial decision-making of investors and the financial choices made by firms.

You gain a broad and comprehensive understanding of financial economics. In particular, you explore topics including:
-Notions of risk and return in equity markets, both in the context of asset pricing and in the management of equity portfolios
-Optimisation theory
-How economic arguments work
-The role of equilibrium

We are top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Much of this world-class research is related to policy, and we have particular strengths in the areas of:
-Game theory and strategic interactions
-Theoretical and applied econometrics
-Labour economics

The quality of our work is reflected in our stream of publications in high-profile academic journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies.

Professional accreditation

Our University is one of only 21 ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centres in the UK.

This means that our course can form part of a prestigious 1+3 funding opportunity worth up to £21,575.

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists of our time.

Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs, with students coming from across the globe to study, research or work with us.

Many of our researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

Specialist facilities

Take advantage of our wide range of learning resources to assist you in your studies:
-Extensive software for quantitative analysis is available in all computer labs across the university
-Access a variety of economics databases and multiple copies of textbooks and e-books in the Albert Sloman Library

Your future

After completing your masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay here for further study.

Alternatively, our course also prepares you for employment; recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level.

On our MSc Financial Economics you will gain key skills in the analysis of complex financial data. In addition you will develop key employability skills like mathematical techniques, statistical analysis and computer skills and acquire a deep knowledge of how financial markets work and how to analyse them.

Our recent graduates have gone on to work for a range of high-profile organisations:
-Santander
-Ernst and Young
-Amba Research
-Indicus Analytics

More generally, our graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organisations.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Example structure

-Dissertation
-Econometric Methods
-Economics of Financial Markets
-Mathematical Methods
-Topics in Financial Economics
-Applications of Data Analysis (optional)
-Computational Agent-Based Macro-Economics, Financial Markets and Policy Design (optional)
-Economic Development Theory (optional)
-Economics of Incentives, Contracts and the Firm (optional)
-Game Theory and Applications (optional)
-International Finance (optional)
-International Trade (optional)
-Macroeconomics (optional)
-Microeconometrics (optional)
-Microeconomics (optional)
-Panel Data Methods (optional)
-Political Economy (optional)
-Theory of Industrial Organisation (optional)
-Time Series Econometrics (optional)

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Over the last three decades, political economy has been one of the fastest growing approaches in the social sciences. If you are interested in how institutions shape the behaviour of political actors and how political decisions influence markets and vice versa, then you will profit from our course.

Our MRes Political Economy is a two-year course, designed to give you additional training in research design and research methods compared to an MSc or MA. You study modules on political economics and research methods across your two years, while developing a 35,000-word dissertation.

At Essex, we are primarily interested in the study of political institutions and how they might determine economic variables. Our MSc Political Economy covers all aspects of modern political economy, including:
-Micro and macroeconomics
-The quality of governance
-Monetary policy choices
-Mathematical Methods
-Environmental policies
-Market failure

Run jointly between our Department of Economics and our Department of Government, our MRes Political Economy offers excellent preparation for PhD study, combining substantive political economy modules with additional training in research design and research methods. You learn how to develop theories, conduct research, and explore the empirical implications of theoretical models using the most appropriate empirical methods.

Our Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. We are rated top in the UK for research (REF 2014), and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began. Ranked top 10 in the world for political science and international relations according to the Centre for World University Rankings (2017)

Our Department of Economics is top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% of our research rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists and political scientists of our time.

Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs; they are advising the CIA on counter-terrorism, training politicians and civil servants in democratising countries, and commentating on political events in national and international media.

Many of our economic researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

You join an active and prolific research team, with the opportunity to work alongside a member of staff on their research instead of completing a dissertation; some of these projects have even resulted in joint staff/student publications.

Specialist facilities

-Laboratories of networked computers featuring extensive software for political and quantitative analysis
-ESSEXLab provides opportunities for experimental lab research
-Student societies for politics, economics, debating, and Model UN
-We organise the Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
-A programme of seminars and events run by the department

Your future

An MRes puts you in a particularly strong position to succeed in a research degree. We offer supervision for PhD and MPhil in the following fields: government; ideology and discourse analysis; international relations; political behaviour; and politics.

Our academic reputation is illustrated by the fact that many of our graduates now teach or research at universities, colleges of higher education and schools. For example, recent graduates are now research fellows and academic staff at: Mannheim, Germany; ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Duke University, USA; NATO/SHAPE, Belgium; and University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Other recent graduates have gone on to work for the following high-profile organisations:
-The Civil Service
-Local government
-The World Bank
-The United Nations
-NATO
-YouGov and YouGov America

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Example structure

Year 1
-Political Economy
-Advanced Research Methods
-Essex Summer School Module 30 Credits
-Essex Summer School Module 30 Credits
-Mathematical Methods
-Microeconomics
-Theory and Explanation in Political Science

Year 2
-MRES Dissertation
-Applied Research Design
-Macroeconomics
-Research Design
-Applications of Data Analysis (optional)
-Banking
-Behavioural Economics I: Individual Decision Making
-Behavioural Economics II: Games and Markets
-Comparative European Politics (optional)
-Computational Agent-Based Macro-Economics, Financial Markets and Policy Design
-Conflict Resolution (optional)
-Contemporary Theories of Justice (optional)
-Econometric Methods (optional)
-Economic Development Theory (optional)
-Economics of Financial Markets (optional)
-Economics of Incentives, Contracts and the Firm (optional)
-Economics of the European Union (optional)
-Economics of Transition (optional)
-Environmental Economics (optional)
-Estimation and Inference in Econometrics (optional)
-Game Theory and Applications (optional)
-Ideology and Political Discourse (optional)
-Environmental Politics (optional)
-International Finance (optional)
-International Security Studies (optional)
-International Trade (optional)
-Market Structure and Strategic Behaviour (optional)
-Mathematical Methods (optional)
-Microeconometrics
-Microeconomics (optional)
-Monetary Economics
-Panel Data Methods (optional)
-Political Economy (optional)
-Political Explanation (optional)
-Political Parties in Britain and Europe (optional)
-Political Theory (optional)
-Public Opinion and Political Behaviour (optional)
-Research Seminar in Political Theory and Methods (optional)
-Theories of International Relations (optional)
-Theory and Explanation in Political Science (optional)
-Theory of Industrial Organisation (optional)
-Time Series Econometrics (optional)
-Topics in Financial Economics (optional)

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Our MSc Computational Finance equips you with the core concepts and mathematical principles of modern quantitative finance, plus the operational skills to use computational packages (mainly Matlab) for financial modelling.

We provide practical, hands-on learning about how modern, highly computerised financial markets work, how assets should be priced, and how investors should construct a portfolio of assets. In addition to traditional topics in derivatives and asset pricing, we place a special emphasis on risk management in non-Gaussian environment with extreme events.

You master these areas through studying topics including:

- Non-linear and evolutionary computational methods for derivatives pricing and portfolio management
- Applications of calculus and statistical methods
- Computational intelligence in finance and economics
- Financial markets

You also graduate with an understanding of the use of artificial financial market environments for stress testing, and the design of auctions and other financial contracts.

Our Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents is an innovative and laboratory-based teaching and research centre, with an international reputation for leading-edge, interdisciplinary work combining economic and financial modelling with computational implementation.

Our research is geared towards real-world, practical applications, and many of our academic staff have experience of applying their findings in industry and in advising the UK government.

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Over the last three decades, political economy has been one of the fastest growing approaches in the social sciences. At Essex, we are primarily interested in the scientific study of political institutions and how they might determine economic variables.

If you are interested in how institutions shape the behaviour of political actors and how political decisions influence markets and vice versa, then you will profit from our course.

You will have a great deal of choice for your optional modules as they will be selected from both our Department of Government and Department of Economics. Our MSc Political Economy covers all aspects of modern political economy, including:
-Market failure
-Environmental policies
-The quality of governance
-Monetary policy choices

Our Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. We are rated top in the UK for research (REF 2014), and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began.

Our Department of Economics is also consistently rated highly for student satisfaction, and is Top 5 in the UK for research with over 90% rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (REF 2014).

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists and political scientists of our time.

Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs; they are advising the CIA on counter-terrorism, training politicians and civil servants in democratising countries, and commentating on political events in national and international media.

Many of our economic researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

Our key academic staff for this course are Dr Alejandro Quiroz Flores, who works on why authoritarian leaders welcome natural disasters, and Simone Dietrich, who works on who gives, receives, and benefits from aid.

You join an active and prolific research team, with the opportunity to work alongside a member of staff on their research instead of completing a dissertation; some of these projects have even resulted in joint staff/student publications.

Specialist facilities

-Laboratories of networked computers featuring extensive software for political and quantitative analysis
-ESSEXLab provides opportunities for experimental lab research
-Student societies for politics, economics, debating, and Model UN
-We organise the Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
-A programme of seminars and events run by the department

Your future

All Essex politics graduates have the distinction of a qualification from one of the world’s leading politics departments.

This course is a good choice if you wish to maintain the flexibility of pursuing a career at an international organisation, a government organisation, a private enterprise or as a political consultant. You will develop key employability skills including analytical reasoning, research, problem solving, and essay-writing.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for the following high-profile organisations:
-The Civil Service
-Local government
-The World Bank
-The United Nations
-NATO
-YouGov and YouGov America

We also offer supervision for PhD and MPhil in the following fields: government; ideology and discourse analysis; international relations; political behaviour; and politics.

Our academic reputation is illustrated by the fact that many of our graduates now teach or research at universities, colleges of higher education and schools. For example, recent graduates are now research fellows and academic staff at: Mannheim, Germany; ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Duke University, USA; NATO/SHAPE, Belgium; and University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Example structure

-MA Dissertation
-Advanced Research Methods
-Political Economy
-Applications of Data Analysis (optional)
-Banking
-Behavioural Economics I: Individual Decision Making (optional)
-Behavioural Economics II: Games and Markets (optional)
-Comparative European Politics (optional)
-Computational Agent-Based Macro-Economics, Financial Markets and Policy Design
-Conflict Resolution (optional)
-Contemporary Theories of Justice (optional)
-Econometric Methods (optional)
-Economic Development Theory (optional)
-Economics of Financial Markets (optional)
-Economics of Incentives, Contracts and the Firm (optional)
-Economics of the European Union (optional)
-Economics of Transition (optional)
-Environmental Economics (optional)
-Estimation and Inference in Econometrics (optional)
-Game Theory and Applications (optional)
-Ideology and Political Discourse (optional)
-Environmental Politics (optional)
-International Finance (optional)
-International Security Studies (optional)
-International Trade (optional)
-Macroeconomics (optional)
-Market Structure and Strategic Behaviour (optional)
-Mathematical Methods (optional)
-Microeconometrics (optional)
-Microeconomics (optional)
-Monetary Economics
-Panel Data Methods (optional)
-Political Economy (optional)
-Political Explanation (optional)
-Political Parties in Britain and Europe (optional)
-Political Theory (optional)
-Public Opinion and Political Behaviour (optional)
-Research Design (optional)
-Research Seminar in Political Theory and Methods (optional)
-Survey Measurement and Question Design
-Theories of International Relations (optional)
-Theory and Explanation in Political Science (optional)
-Theory of Industrial Organisation (optional)
-Time Series Econometrics (optional)
-Topics in Financial Economics (optional)

Read less

Over the last three decades, political economy has been one of the fastest growing approaches in the social sciences. At Essex, we are primarily interested in the scientific study of political institutions and how they might determine economic variables.

If you are interested in how institutions shape the behaviour of political actors and how political decisions influence markets and vice versa, then you will profit from our course.

You will have a great deal of choice for your optional modules as they will be selected from both our Department of Government and Department of Economics. Our MA Political Economy covers all aspects of modern political economy, including:
-Market failure
-Environmental policies
-The quality of governance
-Monetary policy choices

Our Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. We are rated top in the UK for research (REF 2014), and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began.

Our Department of Economics is also consistently rated highly for student satisfaction, and is Top 5 in the UK for research with over 90% rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (REF 2014). Ranked top 10 in the world for political science and international relations according to the Centre for World University Rankings (2017)

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists and political scientists of our time.

Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs; they are advising the CIA on counter-terrorism, training politicians and civil servants in democratising countries, and commentating on political events in national and international media.

Many of our economic researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

Our key academic staff for this course are Dr Alejandro Quiroz Flores, who works on why authoritarian leaders welcome natural disasters, and Simone Dietrich, who works on who gives, receives, and benefits from aid.

You join an active and prolific research team, with the opportunity to work alongside a member of staff on their research instead of completing a dissertation; some of these projects have even resulted in joint staff/student publications.

Specialist facilities

-Laboratories of networked computers featuring extensive software for political and quantitative analysis
-ESSEXLab provides opportunities for experimental lab research
-Student societies for politics, economics, debating, and Model UN
-We organise the Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
-A programme of seminars and events run by the department

Your future

All Essex politics graduates have the distinction of a qualification from one of the world’s leading politics departments.

This course is a good choice if you wish to maintain the flexibility of pursuing a career at an international organisation, a government organisation, a private enterprise or as a political consultant. You will develop key employability skills including analytical reasoning, research, problem solving, and essay-writing.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for the following high-profile organisations:
-The Civil Service
-Local government
-The World Bank
-The United Nations
-NATO
-YouGov and YouGov America

We also offer supervision for PhD and MPhil in the following fields: government; ideology and discourse analysis; international relations; political behaviour; and politics.

Our academic reputation is illustrated by the fact that many of our graduates now teach or research at universities, colleges of higher education and schools. For example, recent graduates are now research fellows and academic staff at: Mannheim, Germany; ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Duke University, USA; NATO/SHAPE, Belgium; and University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Example structure

-MA Dissertation
-Political Economy
-Advanced Research Methods (optional)
-Political Explanation (optional)
-Applications of Data Analysis (optional)
-Banking
-Behavioural Economics I: Individual Decision Making (optional)
-Behavioural Economics II: Games and Markets (optional)
-Comparative European Politics (optional)
-Computational Agent-Based Macro-Economics, Financial Markets and Policy Design
-Conflict Resolution (optional)
-Contemporary Theories of Justice (optional)
-Econometric Methods (optional)
-Economic Development Theory (optional)
-Economics of Financial Markets (optional)
-Economics of Incentives, Contracts and the Firm (optional)
-Economics of the European Union (optional)
-Economics of Transition (optional)
-Environmental Economics (optional)
-Estimation and Inference in Econometrics (optional)
-Game Theory and Applications (optional)
-Ideology and Political Discourse (optional)
-Environmental Politics (optional)
-International Finance (optional)
-International Security Studies (optional)
-International Trade (optional)
-Macroeconomics (optional)
-Market Structure and Strategic Behaviour (optional)
-Mathematical Methods (optional)
-Microeconometrics (optional)
-Microeconomics (optional)
-Monetary Economics
-Panel Data Methods (optional)
-Political Economy (optional)
-Political Parties in Britain and Europe (optional)
-Political Theory (optional)
-Public Opinion and Political Behaviour (optional)
-Research Design (optional)
-Research Seminar in Political Theory and Methods (optional)
-Theories of International Relations (optional)
-Theory and Explanation in Political Science (optional)
-Theory of Industrial Organisation (optional)
-Time Series Econometrics (optional)
-Topics in Financial Economics (optional)
-Survey Measurement and Question Design

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Why are banking and finance so important for our economy? How do banks work? How do their activities affect business cycle fluctuations or even economic crises? And how can economic policy, particularly monetary policy, steer the banking sector and the overall economy towards desirable outcomes?

If you wish to pursue a career in the financial industry, central banks, civil service or academia, MSc Money and Banking is for you. Our course provides you with specialised training in money and banking, and also equips you with state-of-the-art tools and methods in economics and finance. You explore topics including:
-Financial intermediation and money creation
-Commercial and investment banks
-The monetary transmission mechanism
-The implementation of monetary policy and its interaction with financial markets

We are top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Much of this world-class research is related to policy, and we have particular strengths in the areas of:
-Game theory and strategic interactions
-Theoretical and applied econometrics
-Economic policy

The quality of our work is reflected in our stream of publications in high-profile academic journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies.

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists of our time.

Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs, with students coming from across the globe to study, research or work with us.

Many of our researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

Specialist facilities

Take advantage of our wide range of learning resources to assist you in your studies:
-Extensive software for quantitative analysis is available in all computer labs across the university
-Access a variety of economics databases and multiple copies of textbooks and e-books in the Albert Sloman Library

Your future

After completing your masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay here for further study.

Alternatively, our course also prepares you for employment; recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level.

Our graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organisations.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Example structure

-Dissertation
-Microeconomics
-Macroeconomics
-Econometric Methods
-Monetary Economics
-Banking
-Economics of the European Union (optional)
-Economics of Transition (optional)
-Market Structure and Strategic Behaviour (optional)
-Environmental Economics (optional)
-Mathematical Methods (optional)
-Economic Development Theory (optional)
-Political Economy (optional)
-Economics of Financial Markets (optional)
-Topics in Financial Economics (optional)
-Behavioural Economics I: Individual Decision Making (optional)
-Computational Agent-Based Macro-Economics, Financial Markets and Policy Design
-Behavioural Economics II: Games and Markets (optional)
-Theory of Industrial Organisation (optional)
-International Trade (optional)
-International Finance (optional)
-Game Theory and Applications (optional)
-Economics of Incentives, Contracts and the Firm (optional)
-Microeconometrics (optional)
-Time Series Econometrics (optional)
-Estimation and Inference in Econometrics (optional)
-Panel Data Methods (optional)
-Applications of Data Analysis (optional)

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Program overview

The master of science in computational finance is designed for students interested in computational or quantitative finance careers in banking, finance, and a growing number of additional industries. Professionals in these fields use their strengths in business, modeling, and data analysis to understand and use complex financial models, often involving differential and stochastic calculus.

The program addresses a vital and growing career field, reaching beyond banking and finance. Typical job titles include risk analyst, research associate, quantitative analyst, quantitative structured credit analyst, credit risk analyst, quantitative investment analyst, quantitative strategist, data analyst, senior data analyst, fixed income quantitative analyst, and financial engineer. Computational finance is an excellent career option for technically-oriented professionals in the fields of business, math, engineering, economics, statistics, and computer science. Programming knowledge is highly preferred.

Plan of study

The curriculum offers an integration of finance, mathematics, and computing. The required mathematics courses have substantial financial content and the experiential computational finance course, which students take during the summer, makes use of skills learned in the mathematics, analytics, and finance courses taken up to that point. The program has a strong multidisciplinary nature and combines the expertise of four of RIT's colleges. The program is a full-time, 17-month curriculum beginning exclusively in the fall. The program ends with a required non-credit comprehensive exam based on the courses completed by the student.

Curriculum

Computational finance, MS degree, typical course sequence:
-Accounting for Decision Makers
-Survey of Finance
-Equity Analysis
-Debt Analysis
-Advanced Derivatives
-Mathematics for Finance I
-Mathematics for Finance II
-Analytics Electives
-Electives
-Computational Finance Experience

Other admission requirements

-Submit official transcripts (in English) from all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work.
-Submit the results of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) (GMAT preferred).
-Submit a personal statement (Applicants should explain why their background, please indicate mathematical and programming knowledge, and interests make them suitable for the program).
-Submit a current resume, and complete a graduate application.
-International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Minimum scores of 580 (paper-based) or 92 (Internet-based) are required. Scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) will be accepted in place of the TOEFL exam. The minimum acceptable score is 7.0. The TOEFL or IELTS requirement is waived for native speakers of English or for those submitting transcripts from degrees earned at American institutions. For additional information on the IELTS, visit http://www.ielts.org.
-Completed applications for admission should be on file in the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services at least four weeks prior to registration for the next academic semester for students from the United States, and up to 10 weeks prior for international students applying for student visas.
-Accepted students can defer enrollment for up to one year. After one year, a new application must be submitted and will be re-evaluated based on the most current admission standards.

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