University of Birmingham

Department of Economics

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MSc Mathematical Finance

This Masters degree provides the skills which will enable technically skilled graduates, including in Mathematics, Science and Engineering, to apply their quantitative training to financial analysis. The degree is taught jointly by the School of Mathematics and the Department of Economics.

We expect that, in most cases, graduates from this Masters will take positions in quantitative analysis (or similar) in major financial institutions, such as in the City of London. The degree should also prepare them for postgraduate research, either for purely academic ends or to further qualify them for work in financial institutions.

SPECIAL EVENTS

2009

17 March: John Holden (Numerical Algorithms Group), "Numerical algorithms in finance" Learning Centre LG-53, 1pm.
NAG is a not-for-profit organisation that has developed the industry-standard library of numerical algorithms for an expanding range of applications, now including finance, since 1970.

2008

29 September: induction day
G27 Economics, 9am
All students on the MSc Mathematical Finance are invited to join us for an induction day. This will include an introduction to the programme, a presentation by a London-based Managing Director from a bulge bracket investment bank on careers in the financial services industry and individual discussions between you and the programme directors.

20 June: Dr Matthias Frost (Deutsche Bank), �Quantitative Analysis in the Rates Business�
222 Watson, 4pm
Matthias has a PhD in Pure Mathematics and has been working at Deutsche Bank, Global Rates Trading for several years. He belongs to the development team of DB's Rates Analysis Tool TradeFinder.

19 March: Dr Nicu Mera (Evolutionary Technologies LLP, London)
222 Watson, 2pm
Nicu has a PhD in Applied Mathematics.  He currently applies genetic algorithms to automatic trading.

11 March: Dr Phil McCabe (ABN AMRO)
222 Watson, 4pm
Phil is a mathematician who has been working in mathematical finance for several years; see also this web-site.

2007

28 September: induction day
G27 Economics, 9am
All students on the MSc Mathematical Finance are invited to join us for an induction day.  This will include an introduction to the programme, a presentation by a London-based Managing Director from a bulge bracket investment bank on careers in the financial services industry and individual discussions between you and the programme directors.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Students on the MSc take 140 credits in compulsory modules, including a 40 credit dissertation, and 40 credits in optional modules. Credits are listed in brackets in the table below. When a module runs for both terms, the credits for that term alone are listed with a "+".

Term 1 (October - December)
Compulsory Modules:
Econometrics with Financial Applications (15+)
Mathematical Finance (10+)
Computational Methods and Frontiers (10+)

Optional Modules:

International Banking and Finance (20)
Macroeconomics (30)
Multicriteria Decision Making (10)
Nonlinear Programming I (10)
Topics in Management Mathematics (10)
Topics in Money and Banking (10)
Integer Programming (10)
A graduate course offered elsewhere in the University subject to the programme director's approval
Relevant maths modules for those without requisite undergraduate training, including: PDEs, Transform Theory, Complex Variable Theory for Physicists
Christmas Break
Term 2 (January - March)
Compulsory Modules:
Econometrics with Financial Applications (+15)
Mathematical Finance (+10)
Computational Methods and Frontiers (+10)
Economics of Financial Markets (20)
Risk Analytics (10) or Risk, Uncertainty and Information (10) 

Optional Modules:

Non-Linear Programming II (10)
Combinatorial Optimisation (10)
Further Mathematical Finance (10)
Heuristic Optimisation (10)
Research Frontiers in Management Mathematics (10)
A graduate course offered elsewhere in the University subject to the programme director's approval
Relevant maths modules for those without requisite undergraduate training, including: Numerical Methods in Linear Algebra, Programming
Easter Break
Term 3 (May - June) Examination Period
July - September Dissertation (40)

FEES

Full Time: home/EU/overseas - £10,200 for 2009-10

Part Time: home/EU/overseas - £5,100 for 2009-10

Thus, fees for this programme are the same for home/EU and overseas students. This ensures that we only have incentives to pick the most qualified students for the programme, regardless of nationality.  Non-native speakers of English can find our English language requirements listed under Business in the table displayed here. Applicants who have studied in English at the University level do not need to provide further evidence of proficiency.

See the University's student accommodation page for information on housing.

APPLICATION PROCESS

We encourage you to apply online. The programme code for the full-time MSc in Mathematical Finance is 7006; the part-time MSc is 7007. Students are also strongly encouraged to submit by post any additional material that will help us consider their application, especially results of standardised assessments such as the GRE, (one page) CVs, and detailed descriptions of the mathematics courses that they have taken as undergraduates. Standardised assessments are particularly helpful in evaluating applicants from countries with which we are less familiar.

SCHOLARSHIPS

A variety of scholarships are available to help students on the MSc in Mathematical Finance fund their studies. All applicants are automatically considered for Fisher Scholarships, awarded to attract the most able students to the MSc, regardless of nationality. Fisher Scholarships normally cover all tuition costs. A list of scholarships to which international students may apply can be found at The International Office. The Fisher Scholarships, available from 2008, have been made possible by a generous private gift from Andrew Fisher (Birmingham economics, 1982; CEO, Towry Law). More information on funding opportunities is provided by the Student Funding Office.

CONTACT
Dr Colin Rowat (Director, MSc Mathematical Finance) has a PhD in Economics from the University of Cambridge, and a Certificate in Advanced Risk and Portfolio Management from Baruch College. He is a member of the CFA Institute.
Dr Yunbin Zhao (Deputy Director, MSc Mathematical Finance; Maths)
Emma Steadman (Administrator, MSc Mathematical Finance)

FOR EXISTING STUDENTS

Click here to visit the msc-mat-fin discussion list archive.