Program Overview

Financial Mathematics MSc

The Financial Mathematics MSc degree provides students with knowledge of advanced finance concepts, while developing their quantitative, mathematical, and research skills. This course is ideal for those who have previously studied mathematics, statistics, finance, economics, physics, or computing and are interested in applying their skills to financial markets.

Course Overview

Taught by experienced academics from Leeds University Business School and the School of Mathematics, the course covers key topics including financial derivative pricing, discrete and continuous time models, risk management, statistical and machine learning, and portfolio optimization. Students will be equipped with a rare combination of mathematical and business finance knowledge, a skillset highly sought after in the financial sector by banks and investment companies.

Course Highlights

• This course is shaped by the latest knowledge and critical thinking through the work of advanced specialist research units.
• Benefit from strong relationships with finance, credit, and accounting professions, connecting students to the latest practitioner and policy developments.
• Access to two on-campus trading rooms and the world's top financial databases, such as Bloomberg and Refinitiv Eikon.
• Guest lectures from high-profile industry speakers or regulatory bodies share current trends and valuable real-world insights.

Course Structure

The course includes compulsory and optional modules, providing a broad understanding of corporate finance and how financial theory relates to practice in business and financial markets. Students will develop skills in quantitative risk management and discrete time stochastic processes in finance, and acquire necessary computational skills by learning R and Python.

Compulsory Modules

• Corporate Finance
• Dissertation in Financial Mathematics
• Discrete Time Finance
• Continuous Time Finance
• Risk Management
• Computations in Finance
• Research Methods in Financial Mathematics

Optional Modules

• Security Investment Analysis
• Portfolio Risk Management
• Behavioural Finance
• Financial Derivatives
• International Investment
• Statistical Computing
• Time Series Data Analysis
• Advanced Statistical Modelling
• Modelling Complex Data
• Multivariate Data Analysis

Learning and Teaching

Students will be taught using a range of methods, including lectures, tutorials, seminars, and workshops, with additional support from the Virtual Learning Environment. The course is taught by expert academics and industry professionals, providing students with connections to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasize both knowledge and essential skills development, including formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays, and written assignments.

Entry Requirements

• A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a related subject.
• International qualifications are accepted.
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.

Fees

• UK: £18,750 (Total)
• International: £35,500 (Total)

Scholarships and Financial Support

There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Scholarships are also available to help fund the Masters.

Career Opportunities

Graduates have a wide range of opportunities, including quantitative analysis, risk management, investment banking, financial consultancy, insurance, accounting, and academia. Previous graduates have secured employment with organizations such as Allianz, AstraZeneca, Barclays, and the UK Government Actuary's Department.

Careers Support

The University offers careers support and professional development activities built into the course, including advice and guidance on career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, and support to boost employability.

Work Placements and Industry Experience

The Global Industry Programme provides students with the unique opportunity to gain real-world industry experience, developing key professional skills and gaining invaluable insight into working in their chosen field.

Related Courses

• Accounting and Finance MSc
• Economics and Finance MSc
• Finance and Investment MSc
• Financial Risk Management MSc
• Statistics MSc