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Master of Quantitative Finance

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A masters degree in quantitative finance concerns the application of mathematical methods to the solution of problems in financial economics.[1] There are several like-titled degrees which may further focus on financial engineering, financial risk management, computational finance and/or mathematical finance.

In general, these degrees aim to prepare students for roles as "quants" (quantitative analysts), including analysis, structuring, trading, and investing; in particular, these degrees emphasize derivatives and fixed income, and the hedging and management of the resultant market and credit risk.

Formal masters-level training in quantitative finance has existed since 1990.[2]

Structure

The program is usually one to one and a half years in duration, and may include a thesis component. Entrance requirements are generally multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations and some exposure to computer programming (usually C++);[3] programs emphasizing financial mathematics may require some background in measure theory.

The curriculum builds quantitative skills, and simultaneously develops the underlying finance theory:

The title of the degree will depend on emphasis,[4] the major differences between programs being the curriculum's distribution between mathematical theory, quantitative techniques and financial applications.[3][spam link?] The more theoretically oriented degrees are usually termed "Masters in Mathematical Finance" or "Masters in Financial Mathematics" while those oriented toward practice are termed "Masters in Financial Engineering" (MFE or MSFE), "Masters in Computational Finance" (MCF or MSCF), or sometimes[9][10] simply "Masters in Finance" (MFin). "Masters in Quantitative Finance" is the more general degree title, although "MQF" degrees are often less theoretical and more practical. The practice oriented programs are often positioned as professional degrees (and in the United States, are sometimes offered as Professional Science Masters[11]). Programs are sometimes offered as a Master of Engineering,[12] or as a Master of Operations Research.[13][14]

Comparison with other qualifications

The program differs from a Master of Science in Finance (MSF), and an MBA in finance, in that these degrees aim to produce finance generalists as opposed to "quants", and therefore focus on corporate finance, accounting, equity valuation and portfolio management. The treatment of any common topics—usually "derivatives", financial modeling, and risk management—will be less (or even non) technical. Entrance requirements are similarly less mathematical. Note that Master of Finance (M.Fin.) and MSc. in Finance degrees, as distinct from the MSF, may be substantially similar to the MQF.

There is some overlap with degrees in actuarial science,[15][spam link?] and both degrees are occasionally offered by the same department.[16] Nevertheless, the programs are almost always separate and distinct.[17] Specifically, whereas actuarial programs cover risk and uncertainty as applied to pensions, insurance and investments, quantitative finance programs are broader (although offer less depth in these areas), and prepare graduates for various of the highly numerate roles in finance[15] and for other areas that require "quants".[18]

There is similarly overlap with a Master of Financial Economics, although the emphasis is very different. That degree focuses on the underlying economics, and on developing and testing theoretical models, and aims to prepare graduates for research based roles and for doctoral study. The curriculum therefore emphasises coverage of financial theory, and of econometrics, while the treatment of model implementation (through mathematical modeling and programming), while important, is secondary. Entrance requirements are similarly less mathematical. Some Financial Economics degrees are substantially quantitative, and are largely akin to the MQF.

For students whose interests in finance are commercial rather than academic, a Masters in Quantitative Finance may be seen as an alternative to a PhD in finance. At the same time though, "Masters in Mathematical Finance" programs are often positioned as providing a basis for doctoral study.

History

The first quantitative finance masters programs in the US were offered by Illinois Institute of Technology in 1990, under Dr. Michael Ong.[19][spam link?] (The programs offered were the "Masters of Science in Quantitative Finance" and "Masters of Science in Financial Markets and Trading", and were combined in 2008 to become the "Masters of Science in Finance, with Financial Engineering Concentration".[20]) The NYU-Poly Financial Engineering degree was the second program of its kind.[21] Carnegie Mellon introduced its "Masters of Computational Finance" program in 1994.[22] OGI's Computational Finance Program (1996, now discontinued) was the first such program based in a computer science department.[23][24] Other pioneering programs include those at NYU's Courant Institute, Columbia, Princeton, UCLA and MIT.

Subsequent growth in the number and location of programs has paralleled the growth of financial engineering—with its growing importance across all aspects of the financial services industries—and of risk management as professions.[25] Programs are now widely offered internationally—see links below—and in some cases are available online or via distance education (e.g. Washington,[26] York,[27] Stevens,[28] USC,[29] NUS[30]). In a few cases, a quantitative-finance MBA-specialization is offered. [31][32][33] More recently undergraduate programs are available, both in the US (e.g. Ball State,[34] James Madison,[35] McIntire.[36]) and internationally (e.g. Essex,[37] HKUST,[38] UNISA[39]).

See also

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2012-01-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2008-06-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2008-06-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "MSc Finance (Quantitative Finance) - Centre for Financial and Management Studies - SOAS University of London". www.cefims.ac.uk.
  6. ^ [2]
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2008-06-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Curriculum - Financial Engineering, MS". NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
  9. ^ [3]
  10. ^ "Enroll in a Top Master of Finance Program - MFin - MIT Sloan School of Management". mitsloan.mit.edu.
  11. ^ [4]
  12. ^ "Master of Engineering - School of Operations Research and Information Engineering - Cornell Engineering". www.orie.cornell.edu.
  13. ^ "MS in Financial Engineering". ieor.columbia.edu.
  14. ^ "Operational Research MSc Programmes".
  15. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2008-06-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Curriculum - Financial Engineering, MS". NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
  17. ^ [5]
  18. ^ Derman, Emanuel. "Emanuel Derman" (PDF). www.ederman.com.
  19. ^ [6]
  20. ^ "Master of Science in Finance - IIT Stuart School of Business". www.stuart.iit.edu.
  21. ^ "Finance and Risk Engineering". NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
  22. ^ [7]
  23. ^ [8]
  24. ^ [9]
  25. ^ "FEN Special Report: 2007 Survey of Worldwide Graduate Education Programs in Financial Engineering, Mathematical Finance, Computational/Quantitative Finance and Risk Management". 23 March 2008. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-03-31. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ^ "Mathematics - Mathematics, The University of York". maths.york.ac.uk.
  28. ^ "StevensOnline". Stevens Institute of Technology.
  29. ^ "MS in Financial Engineering - USC Viterbi - Prospective Students".
  30. ^ "nus.edu.sg (Archived copy)". Archived from the original on 2015-10-07. Retrieved 2015-10-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Full-time MBA - Quantitative Finance - NYU Stern". www.stern.nyu.edu.
  32. ^ "Financial Risk Management - Schulich, York".
  33. ^ "Computational Finance at Purdue - MS in Management with CF Specialization". www.stat.purdue.edu.
  34. ^ "Financial Mathematics - Ball State University". cms.bsu.edu.
  35. ^ "Program of Finance and Business Law". www.jmu.edu.
  36. ^ "Undergraduate Quantitative Finance - UVA McIntire School of Commerce". www.commerce.virginia.edu.
  37. ^ "BSc in Computational Finance (Archived copy)". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ BSc in Quantitative Finance, ust.hk
  39. ^ "Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Financial Modelling". www.unisa.ac.za.
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