Globally, financial tools, products and software are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated. There's a demand for market-aware graduates who can demonstrate an understanding of mathematical models used in these products.
The MSc in Quantitative Finance – an innovative cross-faculty alliance between the Strathclyde Business School and the Faculty of Science – has been developed to address this need. The course has been designed so that students who have a strong aptitude for mathematics, statistics and computing but who have not studied these topics in detail in their first degree can learn the necessary skills to move into the financial industry.
This masters course will prepare you for a career in financial engineering and risk management. Careers include roles as a hedge fund manager or financial analyst.
You’ll gain:
The curriculum provides a balance between finance and mathematical theory, computer implementations of this theory, and practical skills and knowledge.
Core classes are undertaken in the first semester, and address themes such as principles of finance and quantitative methods for finance, as well as foundation classes in mathematics, statistics and computing science.
You may be able to undertake an industrial based MSc project. This takes place in the third semester of the course between June and September. The placement can be based in the UK or in another country and are typically paid internships.
The Department of Mathematics & Statistics has teaching rooms which provide you with access to modern teaching equipment and access to University computing laboratories with all necessary software available.
You'll also have access to a common room facility which gives you a modern and flexible area which can be used for individual and group study work and is also a relaxing social space.
Classes are delivered by a number of teaching methods:
Teaching is student-focused, with students encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and development. Classes are supported by web-based materials.
The form of assessment varies from class to class. For most classes the assessment involves both coursework and examinations.
Our graduates have gone on to find careers with reputable companies such as Deloitte, PWC, Bank of Ireland and BlackRock to name a few.
Job titles include:
Financial tools, products and software are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated and there's a need for the finance industry to self-regulate as it witnesses unprecedented growth. Market-aware finance graduates, who understand the mathematical models used to develop these products and their computer implementations will be much in demand by international organisations.
Drawing on expert academic input from three departments – Accounting & Finance, Mathematics & Statistics, and Computer & Information Sciences – this one-year programme has been developed to prepare participants for careers within areas such as financial engineering and risk management, and for highly quantitative roles, such as hedge fund managers and financial analysts.
We also work closely with the University's Careers Service. They offer advice and guidance on career planning and looking for and applying for jobs. In addition they administer and publicise graduate and work experience opportunities.
This degree programme prepares students for entry into the fast growing and exciting investment industry. It provides a practical knowledge of portfolio management and quantitative finance, together with an applied set of courses looking at industry structure and trends. Students benefit from professional guest speakers drawn from the heart of the global investment industry in the City of London, only a short distance away.
During the course you will develop expertise in a range of specialised areas such as trading strategies, portfolio and fund management, alternative and responsible investments, ethics in investment management and risk management, among others. You will also have the opportunity to apply this knowledge in practice through the use of simulations, case studies and take part in the portfolio management challenge designed for MSc Investment Management students.
Integral to the academic course is the parallel study of the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA® ) programme, level 1. The two programmes support and reinforce the other, ensuring that graduates acquire both the academic and professional knowledge and qualifications required to succeed in the investment management industry.
The tuition for this programme includes the candidate’s registration in the June CFA Level I exam that is written just after the end of the academic year. The tuition also includes substantial CFA teaching outside of the academic teaching.
The ICMA Centre is a CFA University Affiliate; this is in recognition that this degree covers at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, the CFA Institute Ethical and Professional Standards, and other requirements.
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
Part 1 compulsory modules
Part 2 compulsory modules
Part 2 optional modules
Students on the 9-month (12-month) programme can select 50 (30) credits from the following modules:
Part 3 optional modules
Students on the 12-months programme should take 20 credits from the following:
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.
After completion, our graduates are qualified to work in a variety of investment functions, including as portfolio managers, hedge fund managers and traders, within a diverse range of organisations such as investment banks, regulators, fund management firms and consultants.
The wide recognition of the programme contributes to the majority of our graduates securing employment offers within 6 months of graduation.
CFA Level 1
Studied alongside the degree.
CISI Diploma
The ICMA Centre is a Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI)
Centre of Excellence. Centres of Excellence are a select group of UK universities, recognised by the CISI as offering leadership in academic education on financial markets. Students who are on a financially-related masters course recognised by the CISI are eligible for exemptions and membership.
ICMA Centre students who register and successfully complete two CISI Diploma in Capital Markets modules (Securities and Bonds & Fixed Interest Markets) are eligible for an exemption from the third module (Financial Markets).
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.
Consistently acclaimed one of the best Schools in Europe, CATÓLICA-LISBON not only presently ranks 26th in the Financial Times ranking for Top European Business Schools, as it also integrates the restricted 1% of Business Schools worldwide accredited with the Triple Crown.
Our school is located in heart of Lisbon, a major capital that offers much more than history and uniqueness, well known for its vibrant culture, young atmosphere and its temperate climate.
The MSc in Finance is a rigorous and comprehensive program which aims at developing finance professionals with strong ethics and an in-depth knowledge of the field, both in financial investments and corporate finance.
The program combines theoretical rigor with a practical hands-on approach. Students have the opportunity to explore hedge fund strategies, discuss corporate restructuring, empirically test investment strategies, and immerse themselves in private equity or M&A deals.
CATÓLICA-LISBON offers a unique opportunity to prepare for the internationally recognized CFA® Level 1 exam during the degree. You can also pursue an extra exchange semester or a Double Degree at a top international business school.
Our graduates pursue high-level careers in investment banks, other financial institutions, consultancies, and other major corporations all over the world.
DOUBLE DEGREE: Your passport for an international career
Spend one year at CATÓLICA-LISBON followed by a second year at a partner school of your choice and get two diplomas. You have the possibility to spend the second year in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland or United Kingdom.
APPLICATIONS
2018 intake
1st round: February 1st, at 10:00 am, to February 28th, at 11:59 p.m. (GMT. Greenwich Mean Time).
2nd round: March 1st to March 26th
3rd round: April 3rd to April 27th
ADMISSION
- 1st cycle degree with quantitative background
- High academic standing
- English Proficiency
- Professional experience/internship (up to 2 years)
- International exposure (exchange, summer school or internship)
- Extra curricular achievements
- When considering your application we take into account your academic performance and the reputation of the institution awarding your degree.
- Our MSc courses are pre-experience programmes for newly qualified graduates yet to start their career.
SCHOLARSHIP
Católica Top+ is a scholarship program for students with an outstanding academic record.
Implemented by CATÓLICA-LISBON, this program allows high-potential students to complete their MSc at CATÓLICA-LISBON with a partial waiver of tuition fees.
We encourage outstanding students to apply to these scholarships; especially those that have completed their first cycle degree at the top of their classes.
The following criteria are highly valued by the jury:
- Undergraduate GPA
- International Experience
- Extracurricular activities
- Professional experience (e.g. internships)
- Contribution to the diversity of the group
- Contribution to School activities
Loans:
Top international bank institutions offer low-interest loans to students that cover tuition fees and study-related expenses. The applications for these loans should be submitted directly to the bank.
In addition, we strongly encourage you to check out the financial institutions in your home country.
Find more information about the MSc in Finance
As well as covering key financial concepts, MSc Finance will develop your quantitative and analytical skills. The degree provides a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical techniques that will make you highly employable in the finance and banking sectors.
If your career ambitions are in the finance or banking sector, MSc Finance will equip you for success. This popular masters degree provides a comprehensive grounding in key areas of finance, such as stock market analysis, corporate finance and portfolio management.
MSc Finance also places a stronger emphasis on quantitative and analytical techniques than you’ll find on many other similar UK masters courses, enabling you to gain critical insights into the financial markets. You’ll be able to practise your skills using industry-standard software and live company data from our extensive range of databases.
In addition, you’ll be taught by academics with extensive professional and research experience, who will enable you to put your finance studies into a real-world context.
MSc Finance will be of interest whether you are looking to specialise following your undergraduate studies or progress in your current career. We welcome applicants who have undertaken some quantitative study or who have relevant professional experience.
This degree will prepare you for a career in the banking, financial and insurance sectors. You could become a financial analyst, hedge fund manager, credit analyst, stockbroker or risk analyst in a major bank or financial institution. Or you could choose to work in financial market regulation, financial journalism, or academic or commercial research.
Our graduates have gone on to work for organisations including:
• PwC
• J.P. Morgan
• Barclays
The MSc Finance (Asset Management) is designed to prepare students for careers in the international asset management and finance industry. As a participant on the course, you will focus on developing your analytical and professional skills, culminating in an applied quantitative research project. Uniquely this finance MSc programme provides the opportunity for candidates to study for the CFA® level I and/or CAIA® level I exams at the same time as the MSc Finance (Asset Management).
This finance course has been designed in conjunction with industry to ensure it meets the skills needs of employers. Upon completion of the MSc Finance (Asset Management), you can expect to have excellent career prospects with investment management, insurance, proprietary trading, pension funds, and finance firms.
Students on the programme have access to a dedicated lab with Datastream and other financial and hedge fund databases.
Induction Week The course begins with an induction week [which commences 3rd September, 2018] providing you with the necessary preparation for the Core Modules in Semester 1. Here, the focus is on: team-building skills; IT skillscommunication and presentation skills.
Core Modules
The core modules take place mainly in Semester 1 (September to December) and two running in Semester 2. These modules provide you with the in-depth knowledge to analyse and apply solutions to topics such as Valuation, Project Finance and Analysis of Debt Instruments. These modules:focus on analysis and application;have a quantitative element; include regular student presentations.
Specialised Modules
The specialised modules begin in Semester 2 (January to March) and here you will learn and apply this knowledge to areas of real relevance to your future career such as aircraft leasing, risk management and funds. The modules here: focus on understanding and application; are case study and lecture driven; employ analysis using business IT systems.
Business Leader Series
In this innovative module beginning midway through Semester 1 and finishing in Semester 2, you will get the opportunity to interact with senior executives and industry leaders from both the financial services sector. This module provides the perfect opportunity to hone your networking, communication and presentation skills.
