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).
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 40 (20) 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.
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.
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.
This masters is run jointly with Heriot-Watt University. It provides you with expertise in financial mathematics, including stochastic calculus, and a range of practical techniques for analysing financial markets. You will also learn quantitative skills for developing and managing risk that are in high demand since the recent financial crisis.
Adding depth to your learning, our work placement programme puts you at the heart of organisations such as Aberdeen Asset Management, Moody’s Analytics and Lloyds Banking Group.
This programme involves two taught semesters of compulsory and option courses, followed by a dissertation project.
Compulsory courses:
Option courses:
Graduates typically work in major financial institutions or continue their studies by joining PhD programmes.
Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Stochastic Processes: Theory and Application at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
The MRes in Stochastic Processes: Theory and Application is delivered through optional modules for the taught element followed by a large research project that contributes to the field in an explicit way, rather than merely applying existing knowledge.
The Department of Mathematics hosts one of the strongest research groups in probability theory, especially in stochastic processes, in the UK. The senior members of this group are world leaders in their fields.
The Department’s research groups include:
Algebra and Topology Group
Areas of interest include: Noncommutative geometry, Categorical methods in algebra and topology, Homotopy theory and homological algebra and others.
Analysis and Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations Group
Areas of interest include: Reaction-diffusion and reaction-diffusion-convection equations and systems, Navier–Stokes equations in fluid dynamic, Complexity in the calculus of variations and others.
Stochastic Analysis Group
Areas of interest include: Functional inequalities and applications, Lévy-type processes, Stochastic modelling of fractal, multi-fractal and multi-scale systems, Infinite dimensional stochastic analysis and others.
Mathematical Methods in Biology and Life Sciences Group
Areas of interest include: Mathematical pharmacology; heat and mass transfer models for plant cooling; modelling cellular signal transduction dynamics; mathematical oncology: multi-scale modelling of cancer growth, progression and therapies, and modelling-optimized delivery of multi-modality therapies; multi-scale analysis of individual-based models; spreading speeds and travelling waves in ecology; high performance computing.
The Department of Mathematics hosts one of the strongest research groups in probability theory, especially in stochastic processes, in the UK. The senior members of this group are world leaders in their fields.
As a student on the MRes Stochastic Processes programme you will study a range of topics for the taught element including:
Stochastic Calculus based on Brownian Motion
Levy processes and more general jump processes
The advanced Black-Scholes theory
Theory and numerics of parabolic differential equations
Java programming
The Stochastic Processes: Theory and Application course consists of a taught part (60 credits) and a research project (120 credits). Students will have a personal supervisor for their research project from the start of their studies.
Research projects could be of a theoretical mathematical nature, or they could be more applied, for example in financial mathematics or actuarial studies. Some of the research projects will be of an interdisciplinary character in collaboration with some of Swansea's world class engineers. For such projects it is likely that EPSRC funding would be available.
The Aubrey Truman Reading Room, located in the centre of the Department of Mathematics, houses the departmental library and computers for student use. It is a popular venue for students to work independently on the regular example sheets set by their lecturers, and to discuss Mathematics together.
Our main university library, Information Services and Systems (ISS), contains a notably extensive collection of Mathematics books.
The ability to think rationally and to process data clearly and accurately are highly valued by employers. Mathematics graduates earn on average 50% more than most other graduates. The most popular areas are the actuarial profession, the financial sector, IT, computer programming and systems administration, and opportunities within business and industry where employers need mathematicians for research and development, statistical analysis, marketing and sales.
Some of our students have been employed by AXA, BA, Deutsche Bank, Shell Research, Health Authorities and Local Government. Teaching is another area where maths graduates will find plenty of career opportunities.
The results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 show that our research environment (how the Department supports research staff and students) and the impact of our research (its value to society) were both judged to be 100% world leading or internationally excellent.
All academic staff in Mathematics are active researchers and the department has a thriving research culture.
