Masters Degrees (Quant)

Programme overview

The Advanced Master in Quantitative Finance offers prospective students a rich curriculum combining finance, statistics, econometrics, programming and mathematics. This Master guarantees a full coverage of financial disciplines, such as asset and derivative pricing, numerical methods and programming skills. This advanced course work is designed for students with a quantitative background, obtained either from recent education or through professional experience.

Programme objectives

The main objective of this master is to train a new generation of quants. You will gain cutting-edge knowledge in quantitative finance and will learn how to apply it to real-life problems.
You will not only be exposed to up-to-date models, but you will also understand their advantages and limitations, both in theory and in practice.

By the end of the year, you will be able to:

• Become an analyst and/or manager in a quant group
• Price equities and bonds
• Construct and programme structured products
• Perform tail-risk analysis
• Extract information from massive databases
• Understand and trade in complex derivative products such as volatility derivatives

Job opportunities

The obvious companies for such profiles are large financial institutions, private banking, and hedge funds, seeking to fulfil positions like quant team member, risk manager, quant analyst/risk modeller, asset liability manager, derivatives specialist, financial supervisor and product structure.

Geographically, job opportunities are not only concentrated to Europe, in particular London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Zurich, but are extended to the rest of the world (e.g. Singapore, Hong Kong and New York).

However, to successfully grow in your professional life and make the right choices for your career, it is fundamental to define your goals and have the tools to achieve them. The Solvay Brussels School’s career service will help you in building your career thanks to its strong connection with the business sector and to its dynamic team who will accompany each participant into the professional world. From self-assessment to networking opportunities, our team will assist participants to realise their full potential. Through a full range of seminars, coaching sessions, workshops, events and other resources, we help our participants to discover the career path best suited to their personal fulfilment.

Interested? Visit http://am.solvay.edu/quantitative-finance/

Application Deadline

July 31st 2017
Non-EU citizens shall check visa procedure and length before applying.

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Students develop an advanced knowledge of computational methods in finance, which is a prerequisite for a successful career in the financial industry within 'quant' teams. 'Quants' (development analysts) design and implement complex models and are sought after by banks, fund managers, insurance companies, hedge funds, and financial software and data providers.

Degree information

This degree comprises advanced modules on quantitative and modelling skills, which are essential for 'quant' roles in trading research, regulation and risk. This applied MSc programme is distinctive in that it provides a solid mathematical and statistical foundation together with an education in advanced-level programming.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).

Core modules
-Market Risk Measures and Portfolio Theory
-Numerical Analysis for Finance
-Financial Data and Statistics
-Financial Market Modelling and Analysis

Optional modules
-Operational Risk Measurement for Financial Institutions
-Stochastic Processes for Finance
-Financial Engineering
-Supervised Learning
-Programming & Mathematical Methods for Machine Learning
-Financial Institutions and Markets
-Networks and Systemic Risk
-Market Microstructure
-Algorithmics
-Database Systems
-Software Engineering
-Applied Computational Finance

Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of about 10,000 words or 50 pages. Usually this will be undertaken during a summer placement in an industry environment arranged by the department.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, and project work. It comprises two terms of teaching, followed by examinations an a dissertation. Assessment is through coursework, unseen examinations and a dissertation.

Careers

This is a relatively new programme and therefore no information on graduate destinations is currently available. UCL Computer Science graduates typically find work in financial institutions such as Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and Deutsche Bank as financial analyst application developers, quant developers, and business managers. The University of Cambridge and UCL are among top further study destinations.

Employability
Our graduates are particularly valued as a result of the department's international reputation, strong links with industry, and ideal location close to the City of London. Graduates are especially sought after by leading finance companies and organisations.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL was ranked first in the UK for computer science and informatics in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014. UCL Computer Science hosts the Doctoral Training Centre in Financial Computing and Analytics, which is the only one of its kind in the UK. UCL's central London location ideally places it close to one of the world's most important financial centres, with which UCL pioneers industrial/academic engagements. Students on the Computational Finance MSc will benefit from teaching input from City of London practitioners.

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This programme provides you with advanced analytical training, quantitative knowledge and the practical skill sets required by modern financial institutions. It aims to equip you with a solid education in financial analysis, risk management and financial engineering for a successful career in the finance and banking industries. It is heavily maths/quant weighted with advanced maths modules and programming modules designed with practical applications in mathematical/quant finance.

The programme will equip you with:
• intellectual skills and theoretical understandings appropriate for the study of financial mathematics and quantitative analysis at postgraduate level
• practical mathematics and object-oriented programming skills linking finance theories to real-world application
• skills in research, evaluation and analysis and the quantitative techniques to evaluate and interpret complex data and research literature
• skills and abilities to devise, plan and undertake complex research projects in the field of financial mathematics

Core Modules

• Advanced Modelling Methods in Finance
• Advanced Financial Econometrics
• Computational Methods in Finance
• Continuous Time Finance
• Advanced Statistics
• Stochastic Calculus
• Dissertation

Elective Modules

• Microeconomics for Financial Mathematics
• Quantitative Methods
• Numerical Computation in Finance
• Advanced Risk Management

What are my career prospects?

A graduate degree in financial mathematics gives you many employment opportunities in the business world such as in banks, investment firms, insurance companies, consulting services to financial industries, government regulators, business entities, and teaching and research at universities or research institution, and government entities.

NOTE: ICAEW ACCREDITATION IS STILL OUTSTANDING. APPLICATION IN PROGRESS.

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The MSc in Quantitative Finance develops sophisticated statistical, programming and economic skills for roles in areas such as quantitative asset management and risk management.

The MSc in Quantitative Finance will equip you with a rigorous understanding of the theory behind asset pricing, fixed income securities and risk management, supported by solid knowledge of numerical analysis and programming languages; special emphasis is on econometric techniques as forecasting and market microstructure analysis.

Typical career paths of graduates from our MSc in Quantitative Finance include research positions (in both financial and academic institutions), or roles involving the assessment of market microstructure across a number of exchanges, stress testing/scenario analysis, development and improvements of asset allocation models and analysis of potential investment vehicles across different asset classes, such as Hedge Funds Risk Analyst, Financial Analyst and Asset Allocation Analyst.

The demand for recruits with strong quantitative skills has spread beyond the pure derivatives area, and graduates from the course move into a range of careers in the financial sector. Cass's proximity to the City of London helps graduates to access outstanding career opportunities, especially as Cass has close links with many City institutions.

Visit the website: http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/courses/masters/courses/quantitative-finance

Course detail

There are two Induction Weeks The Quantitative Finance course starts with two compulsory induction weeks, focused on:

• an introduction to careers in finance and the opportunity to speak to representatives from over 75 companies during a number of different industry specific fairs.

• a reminder course of advanced financial mathematics, statistics and basic computing which forms a prerequisite of the core modules in term 1.

Format

To satisfy the requirements of the degree programme students must complete:

• eight core courses (15 credits each)
and
• two additional core modules plus three electives (10 credits each)
or
• three electives (10 credits each) and an Applied Research Project (20 credits)
or
• one elective (10 credits) and a Business Research Project (40 credits)

Assessment

Assessment of modules on the MSc in Quantitative Finance, in most cases, is by means of coursework and unseen examination. Coursework may consist of standard essays, individual and group presentations, group reports, classwork, unseen tests and problem sets. Please note that any group work may include an element of peer assessment.

Career opportunities

Although investment and hedge funds remain the biggest users and innovators in quantitative finance, other financial sectors such as commercial banking, insurance and fund management are now keenly interested. Fund managers and hedge funds, for example, make extensive use of quantitative techniques to develop trading strategies, optimise portfolios and assess risk.

Some examples of where graduates from the MSc in Quantitative Finance class of 2014 are working are:

• Capita Asset Services - Analyst
• RBS - Graduate Risk Analyst
• Dong MeKong Construction Manufacture and Trading - Project Assistant
• nPOWER - Quant Risk Analyst

How to apply

Apply here: http://www.city.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying-to-city

Funding

For information on funding, please follow this link: http://www.city.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/funding-and-financial-support

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The MSc Financial Mathematics draws on tools from applied mathematics, computer science, statistics and economic theory to prepare you for roles in which you will combine in-depth knowledge of financial products and risk with sophisticated technical and programming skills.

You will acquire solid knowledge of probability theory and stochastic processes, numerical analysis and programming languages, asset pricing theory and risk analysis, with special emphasis on valuation and risk management.

Typical career paths of graduates from our MSc Financial Mathematics include research positions (in both financial and academic institutions), or roles involving the development, management and improvement of derivatives models using advanced programming languages, and model validation such as Equity/Equity Derivatives Quant, Quantitative Financial Engineer, or Quantitative Risk Analyst.

This programme is rigorous with respect to the mathematics but also places great emphasis on linking theory with real world developments. You will often be exposed to the teaching of real world practitioners from the City of London.

Cass's proximity to the City of London, and our close links to many of its institutions, will help you to access outstanding networking and career opportunities.

Visit the website: http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/courses/masters/courses/financial-mathematics

Course detail

There are two Induction Weeks The Financial Mathematics course starts with two compulsory induction weeks, focused on:

• an introduction to careers in finance and the opportunity to speak to representatives from over 75 companies during a number of different industry specific fairs.

• a reminder course of advanced financial mathematics, statistics and basic computing which forms a prerequisite of the core modules in term 1.

Attendance is mandatory.

Format

To satisfy the requirements of the degree course students must complete:

• eight core courses (15 credits each)
and
• two additional core modules plus three electives (10 credits each)
or
• three electives (10 credits each) and an Applied Research Project (20 credits)
or
• one elective (10 credits) and a Business Research Project (40 credits)

Assessment

Assessment of modules on the MSc in Financial Mathematics, in most cases, is by means of coursework and unseen examination. Coursework may consist of standard essays, individual and group presentations, group reports, classwork, unseen tests and problem sets. Please note that any group work may include an element of peer assessment.

Career opportunities

Many graduates from the MSc in Financial Mathematics progress to one of two fields:

• derivatives valuation and portfolio management within investment houses
• research departments within banks and consultancy firms

Some examples of where graduates from the MSc in Financial Mathematics class of 2014 are working are:

• Bank of China - Management Trainee
• Santander - Credit Fraud Analyst
• Renaissance Re - Analyst
• Deutsche Bank - Bookrunner

How to apply

Apply here: http://www.city.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying-to-city

Funding

For information on funding, please follow this link: http://www.city.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/funding-and-financial-support

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This programme is designed to help students understand how prices and values for claims to uncertain payments are derived, by using fundamental principles from economics and finance, and includes claims such as company shares and dividends, financial derivatives, real assets such as metals and commodities as well as insurance claims.

Why this programme

◾This programme will give you a thorough knowledge of the mechanisms used to determine asset prices, knowledge which is fundamental for all types of investor.
◾You will learn about the latest and most sophisticated techniques in asset pricing and investment theory and you will receive training on Bloomberg software in the school's dedicated training suite.
◾You will acquire the practical skills to implement and calibrate these models in a computer-based learning environment using empirical and econometric techniques.

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.

You will be taught in lectures, some of which may also be accompanied by class/group discussions. You will attend workshops to help define and develop your dissertation proposal and you will be assigned an individual dissertation supervisor who will provide guidance and comments as you complete your dissertation.

Core Courses
◾Economic fundamentals and financial markets
◾Empirical asset pricing
◾Investment, finance and asset pricing
◾Portfolio analysis and investment.

Optional Courses
◾Advanced portfolio analysis (Portfolio analysis and investment is a co-requisite for this course)
◾Applied computational finance
◾Basic econometrics
◾Corporate finance and investment
◾Financial derivatives (Mathematical finance is a co-requisite for this course)
◾Financial market micro structure
◾Intermediate econometrics
◾Mathematical finance.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme will typically find employment in financial institutions (asset management, investment banks, the quant sector and consulting); governmental bodies involved in financial decision-making; and organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, Central Banks etc. Companies which have employed graduates include Morgan Stanley, Lloyds Banking Group, the European Parliament, and the Arcadia Group.

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

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• 2-year Master’s programme that gives students strong preparation in contemporary economic theory and econometric analysis methods enabling them to analyze and forecast economic processes;
• Good skills in economic theory and econometric methods and training in solving real life problems using state-of-art economic analysis techniques;
• Internationally competitive economic education: lectures from TOP international economics PhD programmes and leading economists in Estonia;
• Research experience or apprenticeship training in Estonian financial and public sector institutions;

Tuition fee: 3200 EUR/year. Tuition-waiver scholarships available.

More info: http://www.ut.ee/quant

Application deadline: April 16

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The objective of the Specialised Programme in Quantitative Finance is to train top level specialists able to advance in today’s global financial sector characterised by constant change and continuous innovation.

This 12-month programme has been developed to help graduates from engineering schools and universities, possessing a strong background in mathematics, computer science, physics and similar areas of expertise, launch their career in quantitative finance. After completing this specialised programme, graduates take up various positions like Risk Manager, Financial Engineer or ‘Quant’, Asset Manager, Fund Manager and others.

The academic courses include both the fundamentals of management as well as specialised courses like quantitative methods, economic and financial environments, life insurance and pension funds management. This academic part is complemented by a 6 month period in-company.

The Specialised Programme in Quantitative Finance takes place in our campus in Paris.

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