Program Overview

PhD Computational Finance

Overview

The PhD Computational Finance is a research-based program that offers students the opportunity to investigate their chosen topic in depth and reach a profound understanding. The program is based in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering and provides a vibrant research environment. Students have the chance to publish papers in prestigious international conferences and often attract the attention of industry and government.

Research Areas

The program offers research supervision in the following fields:

• Agent-based modelling of financial markets
• Computational risk management
• High-frequency finance
• The use of computational-intelligence methods for investment decision making

Structure

A research degree doesn't have a taught structure, giving students the chance to investigate their chosen topic in real depth and reach a profound understanding. The program allows students to develop new high-level skills, enhance their professional development, and build new networks.

Assessment

The aim of undertaking the PhD within the Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents (CCFEA) is to become trained as an independent researcher who can critically assess other research work and have a comprehensive knowledge of their subject area. The PhD program is usually three to four years in duration. All students are initially registered as MPhil/PhD students, then transferred to the PhD in the first half of their second year of study if they have made satisfactory progress.

Dissertation

The PhD thesis is generally completed within three to four years and has a length of around 80,000 words. The PhD is awarded after the successful defense of the thesis in an oral examination, in which the student is interviewed about their research by two examiners, at least one of whom is from outside the University of Essex.

Fees and Funding

• Home/UK fee: Ł5,006 per year
• International fee: Ł19,650 per year Fees will increase for each academic year of study. There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of the course.

Entry Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

Students will need a good Master's degree, or equivalent, in a related subject. A well-developed research proposal is also essential. Students must be experienced in at least one high-level programming language (such as Matlab, Java, or Python). Students will normally be required to attend an interview/Skype interview for acceptance, and acceptance is subject to research expertise in the department.

International & EU Entry Requirements

The University of Essex accepts a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Students should get in touch with any questions they may have about the qualifications the University accepts.

English Language Requirements

If English is not the student's first language, then the University will require them to have IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component.

Related Courses

• MSc (by Dissertation) Computational Finance
• MPhil Computational Finance

Specialist Facilities

The Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents (CCFEA) is based within the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering. The School provides twelve laboratories exclusively for computer science and electronic engineering students. Three of the software labs are open for 24 hours a day, including weekends, and students have free access to the labs except when there is a scheduled practical class in progress. The labs are managed by an experienced and dedicated team of technical support staff who can assist students. Students also have access to the Bloomberg virtual trading floor in the Essex Business School.

Your Future

Graduates of the Centre have gone on to become quantitative analysts, portfolio managers, and software engineers at various institutions, including major investment banks like HSBC and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities. The University has an extensive network of industrial contacts through its City Associates Board and its alumni, while its expert seminar series gives students the opportunity to work with leading figures from industry. A number of students have held internships with prestigious City institutions, such as HSBC, Old Mutual, and the Bank of England.