Studying Finance at Royal Holloway, University of London means that you will learn from internationally renowned experts at one of the UK’s top ten teaching and research centres. This programme provides you with an opportunity to study a portfolio of courses in the first year designed to bring you up to the entry standard for the Masters degree; ideal if you have graduated from disciplines other than Economics, Finance, and a highly quantitative discipline. You will learn how to analyse issues in finance and corporate policy and build your analytical and technical expertise. On graduation you will be ready to start a career in the financial services, business and banking sectors; we have an impressive employment record, 90% of our economics students have jobs in six months.
In the first year you will study undergraduate level courses and in the second year, subject to progression, you will progress to the year-long Masters in Finance. Through your studies you will gain a strong grounding in core areas of finance and have the flexibility to specialise in areas such as fixed income securities and derivatives, investment and portfolio management or decision theory and behaviour. On graduation you will be skilled in investment analysis, mathematical statistics financial econometrics and you will have the tools to analyse how investment decisions.
Our balanced approach to research and teaching guarantees high quality teaching from subject leaders, cutting edge materials and intellectually challenging debates. You will be taught by people who have worked and are still working in the finance industry in the broad areas of asset allocation and risk, as well as algorithmic trading.
In this module you will develop an understanding of basic mathematical methods that are used in the study of Economics and Finance, including basic matrix analysis, topology, statistics, and probability theory. You will look at differentiation and integration of standard functions, and basic manipulations of vectors and matrices. You will also examine various optimisation problems and theorems leading to certain basic results in calculus.
Year 1
Year 2
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
Year 1
Year 2
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation.
A Finance masters degree at Royal Holloway will equip you with an enviable range of transferable skills and can lead into a variety of career paths as well as the knowledge and a solid foundation for continued PhD studies. Employers recognise and reward the real knowledge and skills developed in a Finance degree.
We will help students to recognise their own strengths, skills and abilities so that they can make strong applications for their chosen job or further study. We also provide careers support including application and interview coaching, career strategy discussions and the opportunity to network with major employes.
Studying Economics masters degree at Royal Holloway means that you will learn from internationally renowned experts at one of the UK’s top ten teaching and research centres. Students will receive rigorous training in the analysis of economics and graduate with the tools of the professional economist so that you are ready for your chosen career path, whether in government, the private and financial services sectors or further research in economics. We have an impressive employment record, 90% of our students have jobs in six months.
This is a challenging degree and to ensure all students are ready we hold a two week pre-sessional course. Throughout your studies you will gain a strong grounding in core areas of economics and have the flexibility to specialise, in areas such as: political economy, financial econometrics and decision theory and behaviour. On graduation you will have the ability to solve theoretical and/or applied problems in economic policy, critically evaluate current research, develop simplifying frameworks for studying the real world and to be able to appreciate what would be an appropriate level of abstraction for a range of economic issues.
Our balanced approach to research and teaching guarantees high quality teaching from subject leaders, cutting edge materials and intellectually challenging debates. Our courses follow a coherent and developmental structure which we combined with an effective and flexible approach to study.
Pre-course preparation
Core modules
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation.
An Economics masters degree at Royal Holloway, University of London will equip you with an enviable range of transferable skills and can lead into a variety of career paths as well as the knowledge and a solid foundation for continued PhD studies. Employers recognise and reward the real knowledge and skills developed in an Economics degree.
We will help students to recognise their own strengths, skills and abilities so that they can make strong applications for their chosen job or further study. We also provide careers support including application and interview coaching, career strategy discussions and the opportunity to network with major employes.
Studying Finance Masters Degree at Royal Holloway means that you will learn from internationally renowned experts at one of the UK’s top ten teaching and research centres. This programme will provide you with intensive training in the analysis of issues in finance and corporate policy while improving your analytical and technical expertise. On graduation you will be in a strong position to start a career in the financial services, business and banking sectors; we have an impressive employment record, 90% of economics students have jobs in six months.
This is a challenging degree and to ensure all students are ready we hold a two week pre-sessional course. Through your studies you will gain a strong grounding in core areas of finance and have the flexibility to specialise, in areas such as: fixed income securities and derivatives, investment and portfolio management and decision theory and behaviour. On graduation you will be skilled in financial analysis techniques; understand mathematical statistics and theories that are applied in financial econometrics and have the tools to analyse how the financial markets function.
Our balanced approach to research and teaching guarantees high quality teaching from subject leaders, cutting edge materials and intellectually challenging debates. You will be taught by people who have worked and are still working in the finance industry in the broad areas of asset allocation and risk, as well as algorithmic trading.
Pre-course preparation
Core modules
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation.
A Finance masters degree at Royal Holloway will equip you with an enviable range of transferable skills and can lead into a variety of career paths as well as the knowledge and a solid foundation for continued PhD studies. Employers recognise and reward the real knowledge and skills developed in an Economics degree.
We will help students to recognise their own strengths, skills and abilities so that they can make strong applications for their chosen job or further study. We also provide careers support including application and interview coaching, career strategy discussions and the opportunity to network with major employes.
Businesses are increasingly collecting large amounts of information about their customers and activities. This ‘big data’ is big news with the media, businesses and government as they consider how to use this mass of information in a meaningful way.
Analysts use their expertise to make sense of this information and interpret it, enabling evidence-based business decisions. As a result, they’re in high demand with employers in every sector.
This programme gives you an insight into business analytics and explores how organisations can exploit the big data revolution. You’ll develop decision-oriented, quantitative analytical skills in a management context, and learn to sift intelligence from the growing volume and variety of data collected on many aspects of life.
Combining theoretical concepts with practical application, you’ll develop a unique mix of quantitative and behavioural skills relevant to data analyses, effective decision-making and management.
Academic excellence
You’ll be taught by internationally recognised academics and business practitioners from our Centre for Decision Research, who are actively engaged in the latest research, advising businesses, governments and international bodies. They share this expertise and knowledge with you in the classroom.
With the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics on campus, the University of Leeds has a growing wealth of expertise and resources in data sciences.
This programme will build your knowledge and understanding of how business analytics can provide evidence to support management decision-making. You’ll learn how to use different evidence-based approaches to make effective decisions, developing your skills in quantitative analysis.
You’ll consider advanced techniques such as forecasting and have the opportunity to apply your decision-making skills to real-life business and management scenarios. With the support of leading researchers in this constantly shifting landscape, you’ll also gain an understanding of research methods.
A range of optional modules allows you to gain specialist knowledge that suits your interests or career plans.
The course culminates in a 12,000 word dissertation or project, enabling you to apply your learning to a topic of your choice. This is an opportunity to explore the very latest insights with the support of an academic who shares your passion and interest.
Compulsory modules
You’ll take eight compulsory modules including your dissertation.
Optional modules
You'll also choose another three optional modules.
We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning, computer classes and tutorials.
Independent study is also vital for this course allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.
Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including exams, group projects, written assignments and essays, in-course assessment, group and individual presentations and reports.
Graduates of the MSc Business Analytics and Decision Sciences can expect to have the quantitative skills to analyse complex business information, and use the resulting intelligence to inform business decisions.
You will be ideally placed to pursue a career in analytics and decision making, general and specialist management roles in a range of industries, or as business or market analysts.
Employers in both private and public sectors are actively seeking graduates with these skills, and trends show that the career opportunities are fast increasing. The role of the data scientist was described as the 'Sexiest Job of the 21st Century' by the Harvard Business Review.
Demand for experts in business analytics is growing rapidly and the University of Leeds is at the forefront of developments in this area.
Read more about Business Analytics at Leeds.
Links with industry
Students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills as part of our Leaders in Residence initiative which gives management students the opportunity to engage with senior figures from the world of business. This is a rare opportunity where successful and established business people will help you connect the theory of your course to real world practice, and offer their advice for career success.
You will be able to connect with leaders from a range of firms including major manufacturers and retailers, charity chief executives, entrepreneurs and directors of companies large and small, through structured meetings and events. This typically includes workshops, social events, guest lectures and professional skills development.
We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support as part of the course. You benefit from our professional development tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.
Read more about our careers and professional development support.
The Careers Centre also provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.
This course explores recent developments in theories of behavioural decision-making science. It will enable you to critically examine theories of judgement and decision-making motivated by research in memory, perception, categorisation, reasoning, social psychology, economics, political and management sciences. The career-focused modules are designed to build on your workplace skills and develop new skills.
You will cover recent developments in normative, descriptive and experience-based theories of choice, as well as the impact of experience and expertise on judgements and choice. You will be introduced to applications of judgement and decision-making research in areas such as consumer behaviour, politics, sports, economics and health, providing a firm basis in both the theory and practice of cognitive science and decision-making. You will also explore a selection of current research topics relevant to individual and managerial decision-making, wellbeing and policy-making.
Assessment methods include essays, in-class tests, unseen examinations, laboratory reports and a dissertation.
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.
Core modules
Optional modules to be confirmed.
This course, offered 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, which are demanded for jobs in asset structuring, product pricing as well as risk management.
Skills that you will acquire include the ability to:
You will be taught by world-leading academics. Research in Machine Learning at Royal Holloway started in the 1990’s, at which time V. Vapnik and A. Chervonenkis (the inventors of Support Vector Machines) were both professors here. We have developed both fundamental theory and practical algorithms that have fed into the analytics methods and techniques that are in use today. Current researchers include Alexander Gammerman and Vladimir Vovk – the inventors of conformal predictors theory, a radically new method of estimating the accuracy of each prediction as it is made – and Chris Watkins, originator of reinforcement learning who developed ‘Q-learning’, a work that is fundamental to planning and control.
By electing to spend a year in business you will also be able to integrate theory and practice and gain real business experience. In the past, our students have secured placements in blue-chip companies such as Centrica, Data Reply, Disney, IMS Health, Rolls Royce, Shell, Sociéte Générale, VMWare and UBS, among others.
Core modules
Year 1
Year 2
You will spend this year on a work placement. You will be supported by the Department of Computer Science and the Royal Holloway Careers and Employability Service to find a suitable placement. This year forms an integral part of the degree programme and you will be asked to complete assessed work. The mark for this work will count towards your final degree classification.
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
Year 1
Teaching is organised in terms of 11 weeks each. Examinations are taken in April / May of each academic year, except for Data Analysis for which the exam is in January. Your 'Year in Industry' typically starts at the end of June or beginning of July and lasts for a maximum of one year. The individual project is taken over 12 weeks during the Summer after the placement.
A weekly seminar series runs in parallel with the academic programme, which includes talks by professionals in a variety of application areas as well as workshops that will train you to find a placement or a job and lead a successful career.
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, small group projects, and examinations, the proportions of which vary according to the nature of the modules. The placement is assessed as part of your degree (10% of the individual project).
Although the responsibility for finding a placement is ultimately with the student, our Careers Team will help you identify suitable opportunities, make applications and prepare for interviews. Please note that progression to the placement is conditional on good academic performance. Students who fail to qualify for or find a placement are automatically transferred to the one-year programme. Find out more on our year in industry page.
Demand for data scientists is buoyant, in the UK and worldwide, with salaries much higher than other IT professions and at least double the UK average full time wage. Our graduates have an excellent track record of finding jobs at the end of (if not during) their studies.
We bring several companies to our campus throughout the year, both for fairs and for delivering advanced topics seminars, which are an excellent opportunity to learn about what they do and discuss possible placements or jobs.
This degree, offered 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, which are demanded for jobs in asset structuring, product pricing as well as risk management.
Skills that you will acquire include the ability to:
You will be taught by world-leading academics. Research in Machine Learning at Royal Holloway started in the 1990’s, at which time V. Vapnik and A. Chervonenkis (the inventors of Support Vector Machines) were both professors here. We have developed both fundamental theory and practical algorithms that have fed into the analytics methods and techniques that are in use today. Current researchers include Alexander Gammerman and Vladimir Vovk – the inventors of conformal predictors theory, a radically new method of estimating the accuracy of each prediction as it is made – and Chris Watkins, originator of reinforcement learning who developed ‘Q-learning’, a work that is fundamental to planning and control.
Core modules
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
Please note that some of these modules may have pre-requisites. During Welcome Week, your personal advisor will help you choose the electives that best suit your background and career ambitions, as well as your timetable.
Teaching is organised in terms of 11 weeks each. Examinations are taken in April/May of each academic year, except for Data Analysis for which the exam is in January. The individual project is taken over 12 weeks during the Summer.
A weekly seminar series runs in parallel with the academic programme, which includes talks by professionals in a variety of application areas as well as workshops that will train you to find a placement or a job and lead a successful career.
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, small group projects, and examinations, the proportions of which vary according to the nature of the modules.
This degree can be taken part-time - visit our website for details
Demand for data scientists is buoyant, in the UK and worldwide, with salaries much higher than other IT professions and at least double the UK average full time wage. All our graduates found jobs at the end of (if not during) their studies.
We bring several companies to our campus throughout the year, both for fairs and for delivering advanced topics seminars, which are an excellent opportunity to learn about what they do and discuss possible placements or jobs. Together with the University’s Careers Service, we offer you workshops and one-to-one coaching that prepare you to find a placement or a job and lead a successful career.
This course aims to bring you, in 12 months, to a position where you can embark with confidence on a wide range of careers, including taking a PhD in Mathematics or related disciplines. There is a wide range of taught modules on offer, and you will also produce a dissertation on a topic of current research interest taken from your choice of a wide range of subjects offered.
Modules: Six of available options
In previous years, optional modules available included:
Modules in Pure Mathematics:
Modules in Probability and Statistics:
Modules in Applications of Mathematics:
This is a full-year degree course, starting early October and finishing in the middle of the subsequent September. The aim of the course is to give the students a wide mathematical background allowing them to either proceed to PhD or to apply the gained knowledge in industry.
The course consists of three modules: the first two are the Michaelmas and Epiphany lecture courses covering variety of topics in pure and applied mathematics and statistics. The third module is a dissertation on a topic of current research, prepared under the guidance of a supervisor with expertise in the area. We offer a wide variety of possible dissertation topics.
The main group of lectures is given in the first two terms of the academic year (Michaelmas and Epiphany), there are also two revision lectures in the third term (Easter). This part of the course is assessed by examinations. Students choose 6 modules, each module has 2 lectures per week and one fortnightly problems class. There are 10 teaching weeks in the Michaelmas term and 9 teaching weeks in Epiphany term. In addition lecturers also set a number of homework assignments which give the student a chance to test their understanding of the material.
The dissertation must be submitted by mid-September, the end of the twelve month course period
This two year programme provides rigorous mathematical training in modern economics. It will equip you with a thorough understanding of the research tools and techniques, both theoretical and empirical, required for the analysis of economics.
During the first two weeks you will take a pre-sessional mathematics course. This ensures that you all begin the programme on the same mathematical footing. In year one you will receive comprehensive research-oriented training in research methods and the core areas of economics. You will also receive advanced training in research design and complete an independent summer research project under academic supervision.
After year one of this programme you will have the option to graduate with an MSc Quantitative Economics, or continue to year two which will focus on the specialised fields of applied Economics; preparing you for your PhD. In year two you will take optional courses in your chosen subfield of specialisation, as well as work on a dissertation that will lead to your PhD proposal, should you decide to proceed further onto a PhD in Economics. Teaching will be in the format of lectures, tutorials and seminars, with work on research projects.
This programme provides you with thorough preparation for PhD research, and completion at a sufficiently high level guarantees admission into the Glasgow Economics PhD programme. You will also be extremely well-positioned to be accepted for PhD study in other universities. Upon completion of the programme you will be equipped to pursue careers in academia, government, industry or consulting. We have a dedicated careers and employability team who provide 1-2-1 support and advice, group workshops, employer events on campus and networking opportunities throughout the year to help you with your career prospects.
The importance of Big Data grows year on year, with sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, retail, administration and others reliant on the insights that accurate data capture and analysis can provide. Study Data Science and Analytics with a Year in Industry at Royal Holloway, University of London and you’ll develop the practical skills needed to handle and analyse data in a wide variety of fields, preparing you for a rewarding career in Big Data.
You’ll study in a department with a strong reputation for research excellence. The Royal Holloway Department of Computer Science was ranked 11th in the UK for the quality of its research publications (Research Excellence Framework 2014), and you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to this leading research culture with your own Individual Project.
This flexible programme gives you the chance to tailor your learning to your own strengths and interests, with a broad range of optional modules including Online Machine Learning, Methods of Bioinformatics and Microeconometrics providing academic scope and variety. You’ll be well-equipped to continue your studies at PhD level, which will place you in a strong position to pursue more advanced, research-based roles upon graduation
Follow your passion for Data Science and Analytics at Royal Holloway and you’ll graduate with a desirable Masters degree from a highly regarded department, as well as transferable skillset that’s both in short supply and in high demand by employers. Our location near the M4 corridor – also known as ‘England’s Silicon Valley’ – means students can develop their skills and experience with a year in industry at some of the country's leading technology institutions.
By electing to spend a year in business you will also be able to integrate theory and practice and gain real business experience. In the past, our students have secured placements in blue-chip companies such as Centrica, Data Reply, Disney, IMS Health, Rolls Royce, Shell, Sociéte Générale, VMWare and UBS, among others.
Core modules
Year 1
Year 2
You will spend this year on a work placement. You will be supported by the Department of Computer Science and the Royal Holloway Careers and Employability Service to find a suitable placement. This year forms an integral part of the degree programme and you will be asked to complete assessed work. The mark for this work will count towards your final degree classification.
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation. The placement is assessed as part of your degree.
Students of Data Science and Analytics with a Year in Industry at Royal Holloway, University of London will graduate with excellent employability prospects in a range of fields.
You’ll develop a range of highly sought-after transferable skills, while our proximity to the M4 corridor technology hub – also known as ‘England’s Silicon Valley’ – gives you the chance to enjoy a year in industry that will pave the way for a rewarding future career. Our recent graduates have gone on to enjoy roles in organisations such as British Aerospace, Microsoft, Amazon and American Express.
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