Master of Science - Computational Finance

The MSc Computational Finance equips students with the core concepts and mathematical principles of modern quantitative finance, plus the operational skills to use computational packages (mainly Matlab) for financial modelling. The University of Essex provides practical, hands-on learning about how modern, highly computerized financial markets work, how assets should be priced, and how investors should construct a portfolio of assets. In addition to traditional topics in derivatives and asset pricing, the University of Essex places a special emphasis on risk management in non-Gaussian environment with extreme events.

Students will master these areas through studying topics including:

• Non-linear and evolutionary computational methods for derivatives pricing and portfolio management • Applications of calculus and statistical methods • Computational intelligence in finance and economics • Financial markets

Students also graduate with an understanding of the use of artificial financial market environments for stress testing, and the design of auctions and other financial contracts.

The Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents is an innovative and laboratory-based teaching and research centre, with an international reputation for leading-edge, interdisciplinary work combining economic and financial modelling with computational implementation.

Research is geared towards real-world, practical applications, and many of the academic staff have experience of applying their findings in industry and in advising the UK government.