Masters Degrees (Financial Modelling)

Birkbeck's MSc in Mathematics and Financial Modelling is a part-time programme that combines the study of mathematics at postgraduate level with a strong component of financial mathematics and modelling. The programme offers you the chance to study a range of modules in pure and applicable mathematics, as well as financial mathematics, thus giving you the opportunity to increase your knowledge and abilities in these areas. Depending on your choices, you will take between 6 and 8 modules, allowing you to study several different topics in depth, and to focus on the areas that interest you most.

You will also learn key mathematical research skills and methods, including how to conduct a literature search, how to read mathematical papers, and how to communicate your ideas and findings, both in writing and orally. The second year of the programme includes a dissertation that allows you to engage in a sustained investigation of an area that interests you within statistics and/or finance, implementing what you have learned from the taught modules on the programme and combining this knowledge with new research and analysis.

Over 2 years, you will also acquire the skills to pursue your interests in mathematics and financial modelling to a higher level and beyond the classroom, whether for a formal MPhil/PhD research degree, for your career, or simply because you have a passion for the subject.

The programme's distinct mode of part-time evening study means that this is one of the very few taught MSc programmes in mathematics and financial modelling that can be taken by busy people who are balancing study with work and other personal and family commitments.

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Financial modelling integrates mathematical and statistical methods with advanced studies in finance. This programme will provide you with an enquiry-led understanding of interconnected subject areas in mathematics, statistics and finance.

Why this programme

◾The programme is designed to meet the needs of highly numerate graduates (principally graduates in mathematics, statistics, engineering or a related discipline) who wish to use their skills to pursue a career in finance.
◾This programme is designed to prepare you for back-office or mid-office roles in banks or other financial services businesses, or in any other part of a financial services business where a strongly numerate role exists.

◾By the end of the programme, you will have a critical awareness of evolving and controversial areas of market behaviour. You will develop analytical, computation, evaluative and communication skills that can be applied to a wide range of finance and other business contexts.

Programme structure

On this programme, you will take eight core courses, one optional course and complete a substantial independent piece of work, normally in the form of a dissertation, on a finance-related theme, which will give you the flexibility to specialise based on your chosen area of interest. Teaching is through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Core courses
-International capital markets
-Introduction to R programming
-Regression models
-Statistical inference
-Probability
-Financial statistics
-Time series
-Risk management and derivative securities

Optional courses
-International banking and financial markets
-Behavioural finance

Background and aims

This new degree offers a pathway for graduates with numerate degree disciplines in subjects such as mathematics, statistics, engineering, and physics, to learn about the wide interface between finance and mathematics. It is anticipated that graduates will be employed primarily in back-office roles in financial institutions.

On this programme, you will get a high-level introduction to the use of mathematics and statistics in finance. By the end of the programme, you will have a critical awareness of evolving and controversial areas of market behaviour. You will develop analytical, computation, evaluative and communication skills that can be applied to a wide range of finance and other business contexts.

This programme is designed to prepare you for back-office or mid-office roles in banks or other financial services businesses, or in any other part of a financial services business where a strongly numerate role exists.

Career prospects

The central role of accounting and finance in today’s society makes our postgraduate degrees a sound basis for many stimulating and prestigious career opportunities and our graduates are in demand. The Adam Smith Business School has graduates working in accounting and finance roles all over the world, in organisations like Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Turner Broadcasting, KPMG, the United Nations, Coca Cola, Toyota, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Our dedicated College of Social Sciences Employability Officer works with students to enhance their employability.

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While practically orientated, this postgraduate degree in applied statistics and financial modelling proceeds from a strong theoretical background so as to develop your ability to tackle new and non-standard problems with confidence. The mutual dependence of practice and theory is emphasised wherever possible.

The programme is ideal if you are considering a career move into statistics, or if your work already involves aspects of data collection and exploration, the interpretation of statistics, or the use of advanced stochastic modelling techniques in the area of quantitative finance.

The programme has been specially designed to meet the personal and career development needs of people who want to continue working while also studying in the evening. Many of our students, as part of their everyday work, are involved in data analysis, the interpretation of statistics, the optimal design and control of systems, and the modelling and prediction of time-dependent phenomena. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into the classroom, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by committed, enthusiastic students from all backgrounds, careers and cultures.

Why study this course at Birkbeck?

Covers both theory and application of stochastic and statistical modelling techniques required to solve applied problems in industry, the public services, scientific research and commerce.
Accredited by the Royal Statistical Society - graduates are normally granted Graduate Statistician (GradStat) status.
Birkbeck brings together research and teaching across economics and finance, mathematics and statistics in a single department, which creates significant interdisciplinary synergies.
Our teaching is informed by the needs of employers and you will be taught by academics who are professional practitioners involved in the world of economics and international finance. They provide specialist advice and in-house training for government departments, City firms and banks.
Our Department houses 5 research groups, in Applied Mathematics and Finance, Econometrics and Statistical Science, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Pure Mathematics, which host visiting speakers and organise seminars. The Birkbeck Centre for Applied Macroeconomics and the Commodities Finance Centre are our 2 research centres, which disseminate research, host events and house visiting academics.
You will have access to a wide range of study resources, including University of London seminar programmes in probability and statistics, and excellent library facilities close by in Bloomsbury. Extensive computing facilities include PCs and UNIX platforms.

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This programme gives you a flexible syllabus to suit the demands of employers that use modern financial tools and optimization techniques in areas such as the financial sector and energy markets.

We will give you sound knowledge in financial derivative pricing, portfolio optimization and financial risk management.

We will also provide you with the skills to solve some of today’s financial problems, which have themselves been caused by modern financial instruments. This expertise includes modern probability theory, applied statistics, stochastic analysis and optimization.

Adding depth to your learning, our work placement programme puts you at the heart of financial organisations such as Aberdeen Asset Management, Barrie & Hibbert and Lloyds Banking Group.

Programme structure

This programme involves two taught semesters of compulsory and option courses, followed by a dissertation project.

Compulsory courses

• Discrete-Time Finance
• Finance, Risk and Uncertainty
• Fundamentals of Optimization
• Optimization Methods in Finance
• Research-Linked Topics
• Risk-Neutral Asset Pricing
• Simulation
• Stochastic Analysis in Finance I
• Stochastic Analysis in Finance II

Option courses

• Advanced Time Series Econometrics
• Combinatorial Optimization
• Credit Scoring
• Fundamentals of Operational Research
• Financial Risk Management
• Computing for Operational Research and Finance
• Large Scale Optimization for Data Science
• Microeconomics 2
• Nonlinear Optimization
• Numerical Partial Differential Equations
• Parallel Numerical Algorithms
• Programming Skills
• Risk Analysis
• Stochastic Modelling
• Stochastic Optimization

Career opportunities

Graduates have gone on to work in major financial institutions or to continue their studies by joining PhD programmes.

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The ICMA Centre’s financial engineering degree is highly respected by quantitative analysts and their employers. The credit crunch and subsequent events have emphasised the need to develop better pricing and better hedging models for all complex products. The practical and quantitative skills that you will develop on the programme will equip you to meet this challenge.

Our compulsory modules provide a firm grounding in probability theory, stochastic calculus, derivatives pricing, quantitative and numerical methods, structuring products, volatility analysis, and the modelling of credit, equity, foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives. We also provide a thorough training in C++ and other programming tools.

Optional modules will allow you to focus on risk analysis, portfolio management, designing trading strategies or econometric analysis. This newly structured degree aims to further enhance the strong reputation of its precursor – the MSc in Financial Engineering and Quantitative Analysis, which was established back in 1999. A good background in mathematics is required for acceptance to this programme (see entry requirements below).

Highlights

• A highly technical programme for those with strong mathematical skills
• Gain knowledge of derivatives pricing tools and methods, as well as the use of programming languages like C++ and VBA
• Designed with the support of industry practitioners to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed
• Graduates are able to make an early contribution through the unique combination of hands-on, practical skills and the necessary underlying finance theory
• Benefit from the combined expertise of both the ICMA Centre and the Department of Mathematics

Course structure

October – December: Part 1 Autumn Term

January: Part 1 Exams

January-April: Part 2 Spring Term

May – June: Part 2 Exams

June – August (12 month programme only): Part 3

August/Sep (12 month programme only): Part 3 Coursework deadlines

Course content

Part 1 compulsory modules

• Quantitative Methods for Finance
• Securities, Futures and Options
• Fixed Income and Equity Investments
• Stochastic Calculus and Probability

Part 2 compulsory modules

• C++ for Financial Engineering
• Derivatives Modelling
• Numerical Methods for Financial Engineering
• Advanced Derivatives Modelling

Part 2 optional modules

Students on the 9-month (12-month) programme can select 40 (20) credits from the following modules:

• Portfolio Management
• Financial Econometrics
• Market Risk
• Derivatives Securities: Pricing, Hedging and Trading
• Research Project
• Fixed Income Cash and Derivative Markets
• Corporate Finance and Investment Banking
• Commodity Derivatives
• Liquidity Risk and Algorithmic Trading
• Programming for Finance
• Essentials of Financial Engineering 

Part 3 optional modules

Optional modules

Students on the 12-months programme should take 20 credits from the following:

• Energy Finance
• Advanced Finance Theory with Empirical Applications
• Stock Index Future

Learning options

Full-time: 9 months Full-time: 12 months

Students will be resident and undertake full-time study in the UK. Under both, the 9 and 12-month programmes students take compulsory and/or elective modules in Part 2.

The 12 month option involves taking an elective 20 credit module between July and August, which would also mean a 20 credit reduction in the number of taught modules taken in the spring term.

Careers

Many of our financial engineering graduates are now working as Quants in large London banks and other financial institutions. Others have pursued PhDs and have successful academic careers. Financial instruments are becoming ever more sophisticated, so graduates that understand complex modelling techniques are always in great demand. The high quantitative content of this programme opens many doors to a wide range of careers. You could structure and develop new debt or equity solutions to meet clients funding and hedging needs, or you could become a proprietary trader in exotic derivatives, or a software specialist or a quantitative analyst supporting the traders.

There are excellent opportunities on the buy-side, with hedge funds and investment institutions, as well as in investment banking and in software analytics. Opportunities in quantitative research, or with a rating agency, are among the many other attractive alternatives. Outside of mainstream banking and investment, you might also consider firms involved in commodity and energy trading, or the treasury divisions of leading multinationals and management consultancies.

Professional accreditation

ICMA Fixed Income Certificate

To obtain the requisite knowledge to pass the rigorous FIC exam, students are required to take the ICMA Centre Fixed Income Cash and Derivatives Markets module at Part 2. In order to receive the FIC certificate, students will need to register and pass the FIC exam through ICMA.

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Global capital and money markets are rapidly evolving and critical expertise is highly sought after. If you’re interested in a professional career in finance and investment, this Masters will equip you to apply your problem-solving skills to the financial markets.

You’ll be introduced to advanced concepts and practices in essential topics including international investment, financial modelling, corporate finance and security investment analysis.

Thanks to our excellent links with industry, commerce and professional bodies, you’ll gain a practical understanding of how essential financial theory is applied in practice. Case study exercises and simulations test your knowledge in real business scenarios, connecting you with the latest challenges and issues in the financial markets.

You’ll learn from leading academics with research and consultancy expertise to gain a qualification valued worldwide in the finance and investment industry.

Academic excellence

As a student, you will be able to access the knowledge of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Study in Finance (CASIF), the Institute of Banking and Investment (IBI) and the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC). This research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MSc Finance and Investment; you will benefit from a curriculum that is informed by the latest knowledge and critical thinking.

You will also benefit from our strong relationships with the finance, credit and accounting professions. This provides a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments, giving you a masters degree that is relevant to the contemporary environment.

Course content

Throughout the course we support you to develop the professional skills that will be critical for a successful career in the financial services.

You’ll build knowledge of key topics in finance and investment such as financial modelling, corporate finance, security investment analysis and international business finance. You’ll apply this knowledge of financial theory to solve real problems and explore international investment in depth.

Your choice of optional modules will allow you to gain specialist knowledge in areas that suit your career plans. You’ll be expected to take at least one of Corporate Governance or Behavioural Finance, but you could also study accounting, financial derivatives, forensic finance and more.

The programme will improve your understanding of research methods in finance, during a dedicated module led by experts currently involved in cutting-edge research. You’ll apply this knowledge to design and carry out your own research dissertation on a related topic of your choice, developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

You’ll take eight compulsory modules including your dissertation.

• Security Investment Analysis 15 credits
• Corporate Finance 15 credits
• Applied Finance 15 credits
• Financial Modelling and Analysis 15 credits
• International Investment 15 credits
• Accounting and Finance Dissertation 45 credits
• Critical Skills for the Finance Professional 15 credits

Optional modules

You’ll also take two optional modules, one of which must be either Behavioural Finance or International Business Finance.

• Portfolio Risk Management 15 credits
• International Business Finance 15 credits
• Forensic Accounting and Finance 15 credits
• Behavioural Finance 15 credits
• Financial Derivatives 15 credits
• Corporate Governance 15 credits
• Discrete Time Finance 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Finance and Investment MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

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 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.

In addition to the assessed modules and research dissertation, you benefit from professional training activities and employability workshops. Thanks to our links with major companies across the business world, you can also gain a practical understanding of key issues.

For example, students have developed their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation delivered in partnership with Amplify Trading. Read more about professional development activities for finance students.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. They include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations and reflective logs.

Career opportunities

As a graduate of this course you will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of core finance and investment principles, and the numerical and analytical skills to succeed in this rapidly changing complex environment.

Graduates have a broad appeal to employers in the worldwide finance sector. Many have gone on to careers such as traders, risk managers, portfolio managers and security analysts.

Our unique combination of business and mathematics modules enables you to perform successfully in a business environment by making the best use of your analytical and programming skills.

Careers support

We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support and training as part of the course. You benefit from the support of a Professional Development Tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.

We’re committed to offering a wide range of development and training opportunities. Recent activities have included field trips, CV building and interview sessions, professional risk management workshops and commercial awareness networking events.

Read more about our careers and professional development support.

The University of Leeds 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.

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The MSc Oil and Gas Finance course is a one year postgraduate course designed to offer advanced study of finance in relation to oil and gas projects and ventures.

With growing demand for energy and a challenging external financial environment, the course responds to the need for specialist finance professionals versed in financial decision making in the petroleum industry. Building on RGU’s expertise in oil and gas and close association with the industry in Aberdeen (including a new Oil and Gas Institute), the course is intended to provide students with the opportunity to develop the relevant knowledge and skills to engage with the industry’s complex finance issues.

It emphasises practical problem-solving, analytical financial modelling and essential transferrable skills in researching, quantifying, evaluating and managing the financial risks and rewards of oil and gas investments. The course is a useful preparation for a career in the oil and gas industry and related roles in energy and financial markets.

Visit the website https://www.rgu.ac.uk/business-management-and-accounting/study-options/postgraduate/accounting-and-finance/msc-oil-and-gas-finance

Course detail

The course has been meticulously designed to meet the demands of the sector and to tackle a full range of topics. Specifically, the course offers a dynamic mix of theoretical and practical elements required for effective financial management and investment decision making within the oil and gas industry. The MSc Oil and Gas Finance builds on RGU’s multidisciplinary expertise across the oil and gas value chain to explore the role of the finance and investment function within this spectrum as a means for creating value.

In Semester 1 students study two generic finance modules and two additional modules to provide quantitative finance basis and an understanding of specific corporate finance considerations for the oil and gas industry. Semester 2 further develops the finance and industry specific skills. The skills required for an extensive study into a particular aspect of oil and gas finance will also be developed during this semester. These are essential in Semester 3 when each student will be required to prepare and produce a self-directed dissertation.

Semester 1

• Oil and Gas Management
• Finance Theory
• Quantitative Methods for Finance
• Energy Finance

Semester 2

• Research Methods
• Petroleum Economics and Asset Management
• Financial Modelling and Valuation of Oil and Gas Projects
• Oil and Gas Markets and Derivatives

Semester 3

• Dissertation

Format

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshop sessions. These comprise of a mix of group study, discussion, simulation and presentations of findings by teams and individuals. You will work as an individual and also as part of a team on case studies, team activities, presentations and discussions.

Teaching is a mixture of case studies, simulations, guest seminars, lectures, tutorials, computer labs, video footage, and individual or group work. Access to our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle, is also provided giving you access from home to the learning materials (including videos, e-books and journals).

Course Benefits

You will gain knowledge and practical skills in financial modelling, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and problem solving, through active simulation assignments and group discussions in seminars and tutorials culminating in the dissertation. We aim to produce independent thinkers who are ready and able to address the complexities and challenges of oil and gas finance faced by organisations. In collaboration with RGU’s International Oil and Gas Institute and the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen, this course is a suitably paced curriculum for providing students with the means for acquiring these relevant knowledge and skills. The unique modules and the different desirable skills and knowledge they offer are reinforced by the integrative elements of the extended dissertation and the inputs from industry. Overall, you will learn to:

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of relevant theories, concepts, principles and frameworks of finance and a critically reflective knowledge of the basis and rationale for evaluating, analysing and synthesising key contemporary issues oil and gas industry finance.

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of appropriate analytical and modelling tools, mechanisms and markets for securing finance (through equity, debt or other suitable vehicles), optimising return and minimising risk in oil and gas investments (including derivatives).

• Demonstrate extensive detailed knowledge of the oil and gas industry data and information sources (in context within the full energy spectrum) and relevant research methods for generating and communicating original, academic, professional or practical and creative solutions to problems and issues in the area of finance.

• Critically appraise and capture the implications of complexities of oil and gas industry’s cost sharing arrangements, joint venture agreements, tax rules, environmental regulations, economic/fiscal arrangements and financial reporting standards and the international dimension of these issues in the financing/investing decision.

• Develop and authoritatively use financial tools and methodologies to extend knowledge of and critically evaluate issues in the international oil and gas industry.

• Demonstrate originality and creativity towards explaining, providing an informed opinion and advising main stakeholders on international oil and gas finance and markets.

• Provide critical input for and meticulously maintain cross-functional linkages for use of the finance function within projects in the oil and gas domain and the extended business environment.

Placements and accreditations

Our oil and gas courses are accredited by the Energy Institute and we expect that the MSc Oil and Gas Finance course will join this list in recognition of its quality and relevance to the industry. The course also shares some finance modules with the MSc Financial Management course that is recognised by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute in their University Recognition Program

Careers

A postgraduate qualification in Oil and Gas Finance provides the graduate with extensive opportunities for a career with local, national and international companies in the fields of oil and gas finance, policy and economics.

The course structure will provide a breadth of coverage to allow graduates to pursue a variety of roles and careers in the oil and gas industry within, for example, energy companies, government departments or regulatory bodies and parastatals, consulting and research companies, and various roles in energy and financial markets and institutions, including oil and gas trading, financial analysis, equity research, benchmarking and intelligence. The qualification can also be a stepping stone for advanced research degrees (e.g., PhD) in finance.

How to apply

To find out how to apply, use the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline

Funding

For information on funding, including loans, scholarships and Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) please click the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/future-students/finance-and-scholarships/financial-support/uk-students/postgraduate-students/postgraduate-students/

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About the course

Mathematical finance is an area of applied mathematics where concepts and techniques that lie close to the heart of pure mathematics are applied routinely to solve a great variety of important practical problems arising in the day-to-day business of the world's financial institutions.

The objective of the Brunel MSc in Financial Mathematics is to guide students through to a mastery of the sophisticated mathematical ideas underlying modern finance theory, along with the associated market structures and conventions, with emphasis on:

- The modelling of the dynamics of financial assets, both in equity markets and in fixed-income markets
- The pricing and hedging of options and other derivatives, and
- The quantification and management of financial risk.

Candidates are also provided with the means to master the numerical and computational skills necessary for the practical implementation of financial models, thus enabling you to put theory into practice and putting you in a good position to carry out work for a financial institution. We therefore offer a programme that provides a balanced mixture of advanced mathematics (including modern probability theory and stochastic calculus), modern finance theory (including models for derivatives, interest rates, foreign exchange, equities, commodities, and credit), and computational technique (GPU-based high-performance computing).

The MSc in Financial Mathematics offers a range of exciting modules during the Autumn and the Spring terms, followed by an individual research project leading to a dissertation that is completed during the Summer term.

Aims

Financial mathematics is a challenging subject, the methods of which are deployed by sophisticated practitioners in financial markets on a daily basis. It builds on the application of advanced concepts in modern probability theory to enable market professionals to tackle and systematically resolve a huge range of issues in the areas of pricing, hedging, risk management, and market regulation. The main objective of the Brunel MSc in Financial Mathematics is to provide candidates with the knowledge they need to be able to enter into this exciting new area of applied mathematics and to position themselves for the opportunity to work in financial markets.

Among the main distinguishing features of our programme are the following:

We aim to teach the key ideas in financial asset pricing theory from a thoroughly modern perspective, using concepts and methods such as pricing kernels, market information filtrations, and martingale techniques, as opposed say to the more traditional but old-fashioned approach based on the historical development of the subject.

In our programme candidates are asked at each stage to undertake a critical re-examination of the hypotheses implicit in any financial model, with a view to gaining a clear grasp of both its strengths and its limitations.

The programme includes courses on high-performance computing that provide candidates with the techniques whereby financial models can be implemented.

Course Content

Programme structure

The programme offers five "compulsory" modules, taken by all candidates, along with a variety of elective modules from which students can pick and choose. There are lectures, examinations and coursework in eight modules altogether, including the five compulsory modules. Additionally, all students complete an individual research project on a selected topic in financial mathematics, leading to the submission of a dissertation.

Compulsory modules:

Probability and stochastics
Financial markets
Option pricing theory
Interest rate theory
Financial computing I

Elective Modules:

Portfolio theory
Information in finance with application to credit risk management
Mathematical theory of dynamic asset pricing
Financial computing II
Statistics for Finance
Financial Mathematics Dissertation

Special Features

The Department of Mathematics, home to its acclaimed research centre CARISMA, has a long tradition of research and software development, in collaboration with various industry partners, in the general area of risk management.

The Department is a member of the London Graduate School in Mathematical Finance, which is a consortium of mathematical finance groups of Birkbeck College, Brunel University London, Imperial College London, King’s College London, London School of Economics, and University College London. There is a strong interaction between the financial mathematics groups of these institutions in the greater London area, from which graduates can benefit. In particular there are a number of research seminars that take place regularly throughout the year which students are welcome to attend.

Assessment

Assessment is by a combination of coursework, examination, and dissertation. Examinations are held in May. The MSc degree is awarded if the student reaches the necessary overall standard on the taught part of the course and submits a dissertation that is judged to be of the required standard. Specifically, to qualify for the MSc degree, the student must: (a) take examinations in eight modules including the four compulsory modules, (b) attain the minimum grade profile (or better) required for a Masters degree and (c) submit a dissertation of the required standard. If a student does not achieve the requirements for the degree of MSc, they may, if eligible, be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.

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Why take this course?

If you are from a non-financial background, this course provides a viable route to financial management roles in a variety of organisations.

It is a practically orientated course based on financial, computational and modelling studies related to financial decision making and analysis. You’ll apply your improved decision-making ability in a range of areas including investment, risk management, budgeting, planning and forecasting.

What will I experience?

On this course you can:

Use the University’s Bloomberg terminals to monitor and analyse real-time financial market data movements and trade
Receive guided support and mentoring from staff through formal meetings and via our use of social media
Tap in to our Library’s vast selection of electronic resources, which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection

What opportunities might it lead to?

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) offer exemption for their five Certificate level papers on successful completion of this course.

For the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), we currently have exemptions from Fundamentals Level papers F1 - F3.

The University is recognised as a centre of excellence for finance teaching by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI).

Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:

Commercial banking
Corporate finance
Financial planning
Insurance
Investment banking
Money management
Real estate

Module Details

You will study a total of five units which incorporate a range of topics covering decision and risk analysis, strategic management accounting, investment strategies and business valuation. We will also guide you in applying sophisticated forecasting techniques to help you understand and anticipate business trends, and with our guidance you will learn how to design and deliver research to the highest standards. The course then concludes with your dissertation where you’ll engage in research on a topic of your choice.

Here are the units you will study:

Financial Analysis and Modelling: This will enable you to gain a critical awareness of the financial environment from both an accounting and finance perspective. You will learn to understand, analyse and interpret company reports, examine the role of the regulatory framework for corporate reporting and the stock market, and explore the pricing of securities. You will also cover the key areas of decision and risk analysis, alongside the process of decision making, key statistical concepts, and selecting and using appropriate analytical software tools as aids to decision making.

Strategic Business Planning and Control: You will start on this unit by considering the internal perspectives of the firm in areas such as business planning and control including issues such as budgeting, the design of management control systems and the development of spreadsheet-based decision support systems. You will then build on this foundation by developing a more strategic corporate perspective. You will explore the relationships between strategy, strategic management and strategic management accounting and set the latter in the context of the historical development of management accounting in general.

Managerial Finance and Financial Markets: You will be introduced to key theoretical issues relating to financial markets and institutions, investments and corporate financial management and their practical applications and limitations. The areas covered will encompass shareholder value and the goals of the firm and the process of shareholder value creation, project evaluation and the discounted cash flow model, capital market theories including the efficient markets hypotheses and the ideas of modern portfolio theory. From this core understanding you will move on to look at the psychological, institutional and agency theory factors that impact upon financial markets. You will consider key empirical research on the explanatory and predictive power of models in the context of implementing investment strategies. This will be assisted by guided critical analysis of research and analysis of live data.

Corporate Finance and Valuation: This unit will give you the opportunity to consider the primary financial decisions of the firm focussing on advanced capital budgeting techniques and the strategic analysis of capital investment decisions, capital structure theories and financing policy, and dividend policy. You will appraise theories in the context of empirical research to facilitate critical understanding of the issues. Advanced study in business valuation will give you a practical understanding and further enable you to apply key professional techniques, which is particularly relevant for mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and private equity transactions.

Research Methods and Dissertation: This is a scheme of independent research. We offer comprehensive training via lectures and workshops throughout the year to develop skills commensurate with standards of good research practice. On completing this programme you will be ideally placed to develop your own research projects and work within professional research teams.

Programme Assessment

We use a combination of teaching methods from lectures, seminars and tutorials to student presentations, case studies and practical sessions in our Bloomberg Suite. We are committed to best practice in learning and encourage group participation promoting discussion and debate in a friendly, yet challenging class environment.

You are assessed in a variety of ways to reflect the individual topics. Our approaches to learning, assessment and feedback are varied and constructive, to help you build the personal management and employability skills that are essential for a fulfilling career.

Student Destinations

This course is designed to provide you with powerful analytical tools and methods to understand the complexities of modern financial markets. These skills are in high demand and you’ll be strongly placed to enter industry in the finance and industrial sectors. Previous graduates have gone on to secure roles in accountancy and general management as well as investment analysis, financial consultancy and project management in financial institutions. Alternatively, this course is also beneficial if you are aiming for careers in corporate financial management in non-financial companies or consultancy firms, government departments and international agencies.

Roles our graduates have taken on include:

Commercial finance analyst
Bid pricing executive
Finance internship
Graduate econometrician
Hedge fund manager

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Course structure

This Master's is suitable if you aim to build your financial skills set so that you are able to take up key roles in corporate finance or risk management within different sectors. 

You will develop your knowledge and critical understanding of the varied financial management and treasury needs of organisations in both domestic and international financial activities.

The design of this degree takes into account the need for businesses to address the consequences of globalisation and global operations on financial management with emphasis being placed on risk assessment and management. You will also undertake a dissertation enabling you to demonstrate your deeper understanding in a subject of your choice.

Student diversity

The Master's finance suite of programmes has a typical intake of over 80 students with over 30 nationalities. This provides you with an excellent opportunity to exchange viewpoints on global financial impacts with peers from around the world.

Greenwich is one of the top two most globally diverse universities in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand, by Hotcourses Diversity Index.

We have also been named as one of the "most international" universities on the planet by Times Higher Education magazine.

Industry experts

Industry experts provide guest lectures, career development advice and curriculum input. Sector professionals are involved in developing content and teaching on various courses. As part of our continuing Big Picture guest seminar series, senior executives from Northern Trust and Barclays are invited to pass on their insights and experience.

Rankings

Our accounting and finance subjects at the University of Greenwich are ranked:

• Third in London for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2017
• Third in London for course satisfaction in the Guardian University Guide 2016.

Outcomes

The degree aims to:

• Develop your financial knowledge in the context of the global economy
• Provide an intellectually demanding academic programme of study which develops your knowledge and critical understanding of the varied financial management and treasury needs of organisations.

What you'll study

Full-time

Year 1

Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

• Business English for Academic Purposes - Level 4
• Research Methods (15 credits)
• Foundations of Scholarship (Dept ACC) (15 credits)
• Dissertation (Postgraduate Accounting and Finance Suite) (45 credits)
• Principles of Finance (30 credits)
• Financial Markets and Risk (30 credits)
• International Financial Management (15 credits)
• Risk Measurement and Modelling (15 credits)

Students are required to choose 1 course from this list of options.

• Financial Analysis and Valuation (15 credits)
• Project Finance (15 credits)
• Business and Corporate Banking (15 credits)

Part-time

Year 1

Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

• Business English for Academic Purposes - Level 4
• Foundations of Scholarship (Dept ACC) (15 credits)

Students are required to choose 45 credits from this list of options.

• Financial Analysis and Valuation (15 credits)
• Project Finance (15 credits)
• Principles of Finance (30 credits)
• Financial Markets and Risk (30 credits)
• Business and Corporate Banking (15 credits)
• International Financial Management (15 credits)

Year 2

Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

• Research Methods (15 credits)
• Dissertation (Postgraduate Accounting and Finance Suite) (45 credits)

Students are required to choose 60 credits from this list of options.

• Financial Analysis and Valuation (15 credits)
• Project Finance (15 credits)
• Principles of Finance (30 credits)
• Financial Markets and Risk (30 credits)
• Business and Corporate Banking (15 credits)
• International Financial Management (15 credits)
• Risk Measurement and Modelling (15 credits)

Assessment

Students are assessed through:

• Examinations
• Coursework
• A dissertation.

Careers

Graduates from this programme may find employment in industry as financial managers, corporate treasurers or risk analysts.

Employers of our graduates include AES Corporation, Ahorro Corporation, European Dynamics, Headstrong, Piraeus Bank and Polish Telecom.

We have developed strong relations with companies in the financial centres in London, including in the City, Canary Wharf and Fenchurch Street. This offers you networking, mentoring and internship opportunities, making it a perfect location to develop your career.

You can also reach out to top employers through our dedicated Business School Employability Office (BSEO). Our team focuses on developing your employment skills through CV support, interview skills workshops and guidance through mentors to progress in the industry. This includes the opportunity to network with employers and recruiters at career fairs.

The BSEO team was shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards, which shows its dedication to actively support your career development.

Extra-curricular activities

We encourage you to join societies such as the Trading and Investment Society and take part in student competitions like the UK Trading Challenge. We are proud that our team of first year Greenwich students won the competition, beating teams from many other universities.

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Our department's Master’s program encompasses three fields: Statistical Theory, Actuarial Science and Financial Modelling. Students in the Statistical Theory field will study probability, inference, statistical computing and data analysis in depth. Students in the Actuarial Science field will learn about survival analysis, risk, ruin, mortality and their connections with finance. Students in the Financial Modelling field will learn the theory and application of deterministic and stochastic models used in the banking industry.

Visit the website: http://grad.uwo.ca/prospective_students/programs/program_NEW.cfm?p=140

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please see: http://grad.uwo.ca/prospective_students/applying/index.html

Financing your studies

As one of Canada's leading research institutions, we place great importance on helping you finance your education. It is crucial that you devote your full energy to the successful completion of your studies, so we want to ensure that stable funding is available to you.
For information please see: http://grad.uwo.ca/current_students/student_finances/index.html

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Financial engineering involves the creation of financial products that are aimed specifically at the needs of investors, rather than the conventional approach of defining assets on the basis of borrowers' requirements. Central to Financial Engineering are relative value (sometimes called arbitrage) trading strategies and the structuring of financial products, and the closely associated process of securitisation. Structuring involves the transformation of cash flows derived from an asset and improving the risk profile of the structured product. The contemporary derivative markets are driven by the process structuring, both in terms of transforming cash flows through “swaps” and credit enhancement through credit derivatives.

The programme aims to develop the skills and knowledge required by the modern investment and asset management industry where relative value trading strategies and structuring dominate. The emphasis is on developing a range of practical skills rather than develop an abstract "theory of everything". This reflects the need for practitioners to be able to employ different techniques in the ever changing world of contemporary finance.

The material is based substantially on the PRIMIA syllabus for risk management and the Actuarial Profession’s Specialist Technical (ST) syllabus to value and manage the risks associated with a portfolios of derivatives.

The taught component of the degree makes up 120 credits. There are seven mandatory courses leading to 75 credits and consisting of:

• Enterprise Risk Management (15 credits, Semesters 1) - a comprehensive treatment of Financial Risk Management focusing on quantitative aspects.

• Derivative Markets and Pricing (15 credits, Semester 1) - an introduction to derivative markets and how derivative products are priced.

• Modelling and Tools (15 credits, Semester 2) - the fundamental techniques of deterministic and probabilistic mathematical modelling.

• Financial Engineering (15 credits, Semester 2) - provides a thorough grounding in the mathematics underpinning Financial Engineering. Topics include non-standard derivatives, securitisation and structuring, modelling interest rates (including Libor Market Models and valuing swaptions) and contemporary issues in asset management (relative value and pairs trading strategies).

• Credit Risk Modelling (15 credits, Semester 2) - a detailed treatment of the mathematics underpinning Basel Accord on banking supervision and Solvency II for insurance.

Students will also choose three of the following five optional courses leading to a further 45 credits

• Statistical Methods (15 credits, Semester 1) - a foundation course in probability and statistics.

• Financial markets (15 credits, Semester 1) - an introduction to the financial markets.

• Time Series Analysis and Financial Econometrics (15 credits, Semester 2) - analysis and modelling of financial data.

• Modern Portfolio Theory (15 credits, Semester 2) - classical portfolio theory based on maximising expected utility

• Bayesian Inference & Computational Methods (15 credits, Semester 2) - a course on modern Bayesian statistical inference and involving implementing the Bayesian approach in practical situations

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This programme will look at the economic and financial determinants of financial risk including market risk and some elements of liquidity and counterpart risk. You will learn how to take advantage of the opportunities inherent to financial risk.

Why this programme

◾You will learn about the determination of interest rates in bind markets, about risk management, bank regulation and the preventive role of financial regulation.
◾You will learn from internationally published academics in financial economics, many of whom have worked as research collaborators or consultants with the IMF, World Bank, numerous central banks and HM Treasury.
◾The University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School celebrates the legacy of Adam Smith by developing enlightened, enterprising and engaged graduates and internationally-recognised research with real social impact.

Programme structure

You will take four core courses, two optional courses and complete a substantial independent piece of work, normally in the form of a dissertation.

Teaching is based on lectures which also allow opportunities for class discussion. Technical subjects are supported by weekly or fortnightly small tutorials, which provide opportunities for you to engage with some issues or questions in a group format. Some courses also involve lab sessions using specialised software.

Core courses
-Basic econometrics
-Economic fundamentals and financial markets
-Financial markets, securities and derivatives
-Financial risk analysis.

Students can drop Basic Econometrics and take Modelling and Forecasting Financial Markets as a core subject if they have a strong background in Econometrics.

Sample optional courses
-Advanced portfolio analysis (Portfolio analysis and investment is a co-requisite for this course)
-Applied computational finance
-C++ in Finance (Mathematical finance is a co-requisite for this course)
-Corporate finance and investment
-Corporate finance theory
-Empirical asset pricing
-Financial derivatives (Mathematical finance is a co-requisite for this course)
-Financial market micro structure
-Financial services
-Game theory with applications in economics and finance
-Hedge fund risk management
-International finance and money
-Mathematical finance
-Modelling and forecasting financial markets
-Portfolio analysis and investment

Career prospects

As a graduate you will be qualified to work in organisations such as central banks, investment banks, the IMF and the World Bank, asset management firms and governments bodies. Recent graduates have gone on to work at Morgan Stanley, HSBC, Deloitte, Development Bank of China, and different banks around the world.

Our dedicated College of Social Sciences Employability Officer works with students to enhance their employability.

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Overview

Financial Mathematics is a branch of Mathematics where advanced mathematical and statistical methods are developed for and applied to financial markets and financial management. Its main aims are to quantify and hedge risks in the financial marketplace.

Effective computational methods are crucial for the successful use of mathematical modelling in finance. The MSc in Financial and Computational Mathematics is designed to reflect this combination of knowledge and skills so that its graduates are well equipped to enter the competitive job markets of quantitative finance and related fields.

The course is focused on computational techniques and mathematical modelling used in the financial industry and on the required background in finance. The course is provided by the School of Mathematical Sciences with valuable input from the School of Economics. To ensure that the degree keeps pace with changes in employer expectations and employment opportunities, the course has its own advisory board which consists of leading experts from the financial industry and academia.

Key facts:

- The School of Mathematical Sciences is one of the largest and strongest mathematics departments in the UK, with over 60 full-time academic staff.
- In the latest independent Research Assessment Exercise, the school ranked 8th in the UK in terms of research power across the three subject areas within the School of Mathematical Sciences (pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics and operational research).
- In the last independent Teaching Quality Assessment, the School scored 23 out of 24.
- The course has its own advisory board (see below) consisting of leading experts from the financial industry and academia.
- The course is offered in collaboration with the School of Economics.

Module details

Core modules include: financial mathematics, advanced financial mathematics, scientific computing and c++, advanced scientific computing, financial mathematics dissertation.

Optional Stream 1 (Maths/Stats and Computing): Optimisation, Time Series and Forecasting, Statistical Foundations.

Optional Stream 2A: Econometic Theory, Financial and Macro Econometrics, Time Series Econometrics, Mathematics for Engineering Management, Game Theory.

Optional Stream 2B: Microeconomic Analysis, Financial Economics, Options and Futures Markets, Mathematics for Engineering Management, Game Theory.

English language requirements for international students

IELTS: 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any element)

Further information

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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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