Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Mathematics at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
The MSc Mathematics course has been designed for students who wish to build on their BSc, extending their range of mathematics expertise across a broader spread of topics, and demonstrating their literature research skills through an extended dissertation.
Such a qualification will mark graduates out as having a broader and deeper understanding of mathematics, and the skills required to pursue a significant project with a high level of independence, presenting their results in a written report. This will give MSc Mathematics graduates an edge in the ever more competitive jobs market.
On the Mathematics course you will study different elements of mathematics in a broad sense - including mathematical elements of computing if desired - in addition to developing your research, project management, and written communication skills through a project you will undertake. As a student of MSc in Mathematics, you will be fully supported to ensure that your project further develops an excellent foundation for your future career plans.
Modules on the MSc Mathematics include:
• Algebraic coding theory
• Biomathematics
• Black-Scholes theory
• Data science
• Differential geometry
• Fourier analysis
• Ito calculus
• Lie theory
• Numerical analysis
• Partial differential equations
• Stochastic processes
• Statistical mechanics
• Topology
Please visit our website for a full description of modules for the MSc Mathematics.
On top of the Mathematics modules you study, you will also complete a dissertation as part of your studies.
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.
Mathematics students will benefit from the £31m Computational Foundry for computer and mathematical sciences which will provide the most up-to-date and high quality teaching facilities featuring world-leading experimental set-ups, devices and prototypes to accelerate innovation and ensure students will be ready for exciting and successful careers. (From September 2018)
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, statistically analysis, marketing and sales.
Some of our Mathematics students have been employed by AXA, BA, Deutsche Bank, Shell Research, Health Authorities and Local Government. Teaching is another area where Mathematics 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.
http://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/science/mscmathematics/
"Further to my studies at Swansea University as a Master of Science graduate in Financial Mathematics, I am currently working at Deutsche Bank in London as part of the Structured Financial Services team providing client services for corporate lending and debt portfolios. The complex nature of the Mathematics course has helped me become a logical decision maker and a highly skilled problem solver. These transferable skills are very useful in the world of Finance since the role is highly challenging working towards deadlines and structured transaction targets. My studies at Swansea University have also enriched me with leadership, motivational skills and have enhanced my communication skills. I work in a close team of 10 people within a large department which encourages a culture that strives towards learning and effective teamwork. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Swansea University and cherish the many fond memories. I am so pleased to be expanding my horizon within a major financial centre."
Rhian Ivey, BSc Mathematics, MSc Mathematics and Computing for Finance
Computational Mathematics, in particular the physical applied areas and the theory and implementation of numerical methods and algorithms, have wide-ranging applications in both the public and private sectors. More recently, in this era of ubiquitous and cheap computing power, there has been an explosion in the number of problems that require us to understand processes by modelling them, and to use data sets that are large. Thus the subject of Computational Mathematics has become increasingly prominent. Consequently there is high demand also for computational modellers and data scientists. This programme concentrates on the overlap and synergy between these fields.
The programme consists of 120 credits of courses in total during Semesters 1 and 2, followed by a 60 credit dissertation which is completed during the Summer. The courses taken will be dependent on the availability of courses each year which may be subject to change as curriculum develops to reflect a modern degree programme.
The first semester is composed of a combination of compulsory and optional courses. The compulsory courses will build strong applied mathematical and computational foundations. The curriculum is completed with optional courses in related subjects such as statistics and optimization.
The second semester is again composed of a combination of compulsory and optional courses, building on the skills gained in Semester 1. The compulsory courses include Research Skills, which will prepare you for the Summer Dissertation Project. The optional courses cover a wide range of areas including, for example, data science, high performance computing, and related disciplines such as Informatics and Physics.
The 60 credit individual dissertation will take the form of a supervised research-style project on a topic proposed by a staff member of the Applied and Computational Mathematics group. The aim of the project is to provide practical experience and skills for tackling scientific problems which require both computational approaches and mathematical insight. This will include identifying and applying appropriate mathematical and numerical techniques, interpreting the results, and presenting the conclusions.
This programme will provide training in the tools and techniques of mathematical modelling and scientific computing, and will provide students with skills for problem solving using modern techniques of applied mathematics.
The MSc in Computational Mathematical Finance (CMF) is a dynamic new programme with the aim to deliver high quality training in the theory of Mathematical Finance with strong emphasis on computational methods.
Currently graduates in this field are expected to have a working knowledge of advanced computational finance (including construction of algorithms and programming skills) as well as a sound knowledge of the theory of Probability and Stochastic Analysis. These are the core theories needed in the modern valuation of complex financial instruments.
This MSc programme delivers:
You must obtain a total of 180 credits to be awarded the MSc. Over semesters 1 and 2, you will take compulsory courses worth a total of 85 credits and optional courses worth a further 35 credits. Successful performance in these courses (assessed through coursework or examinations or both) allows you to start work on a three-month dissertation project, worth 60 credits, for the award of the MSc degree.
There are two streams: the Financial stream and the Computational stream.
Compulsory courses (both streams):
Optional courses - Computational stream:
Optional courses - Financial stream:
At the end of this programme you will have:
Graduates can expect to go on to work in major financial institutions or to continue their studies by joining PhD programmes.
This Masters degree provides you with knowledge of advanced finance concepts, whilst developing your quantitative, mathematical and research skills.
Taught by experienced academics based in both Leeds University Business School and the School of Mathematics, you’ll cover key topics including financial derivative pricing, discrete and continuous time models, risk management and portfolio optimisation, as well as statistical methods for finance.
You will be equipped with a rare combination of mathematical skills and the latest business finance knowledge, which is highly sought after in the financial sector by banks, investment and consultancy companies. It’s also excellent preparation if you’re interested in pursuing further academic research.
This course is ideal if you’ve previously studied finance, economics, mathematics, physics or computing, and are interested in applying your skills to financial markets.
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 Financial Mathematics; 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.
In your first semester you’ll develop a broad understanding of corporate finance and how financial theory relates to practice in business and financial markets. This will put your mathematical studies into context while you develop your skills in applied statistics and probability, optimisation methods and discrete time finance.
You’ll build on these skills in topics such as continuous time finance, risk management and computational methods. You’ll also gain specialist knowledge in topics that suit your career ambitions such as risk and insurance, actuarial science and behavioural finance.
The programme will improve your research skills and allow you to study different research methodologies, including those employed by our own leading academics. This will prepare you for your dissertation – an independent research project on a topic of your choice that you’ll submit by the end of the year.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
You'll also take two optional modules.
For more information on typical modules, read Financial Mathematics MSc in the course catalogue
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.
Recent activities have included CV building and interview sessions, professional risk management workshops and commercial awareness events. For example, students have developed their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation. Read more about professional development activities for postgraduate finance students.
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.
This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.
You have various opportunities open to you as a Financial Mathematics graduate, including: quantitative analysis, risk management, investment banking, financial consultancy, insurance, accounting and academia.
Previous graduates have gone on to secure employment with Allianz (London), AstraZeneca, Barclays, Cathay Life Insurance, CITIC Group, Commerzbank, Deloitte, First Direct, Gaz de France, HSBC, KPMG, Moody’s, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Royal Bank of Scotland, RSA and UK Government Actuary’s Department.
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.
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. Find out more at the Careers website
The course provides you with a strong mathematical background with the skills necessary to apply your expertise to the solution of real finance problems. You will develop skills so that you are able to formulate a well posed problem from a description in financial language, carry out relevant mathematical analysis, develop and implement an appropriate numerical scheme and present and interpret these results.
The course lays the foundation for further research in academia or for a career as a quantitative analyst in a financial or other institution.
You will take three introductory courses in the first week. The introductory courses cover partial differential equations, probability and statistics and MATLAB.
The first term focuses on compulsory core material, offering 80 hours of lectures and 40 hours of classes/practical. The core courses are as follows:
In the second term, three streams are offered; each stream consists of 32 hours of lectures and 16 hours of classes/practical. The Tools stream is mandatory and you will also take either the Modelling stream or the Data-driven stream.
As well as the streams, the course includes a compulsory one-week (24 hours of lectures) intensive module on quantitative risk management which is to be held in/around the week before the third term.
The third term is dedicated to a dissertation project which is to be written on a topic chosen in consultation with your supervisor.
The second component of the financial computing course, Financial Computing with C++ 2 (24 hours of lectures and practicals in total), is held shortly after the third term.
The examination will consist of the following elements:
MSc graduates have been recruited by prominent investment banks and hedge funds. Many past students have also progressed to PhD-level studies at leading universities in Europe and elsewhere.
