General Information
The MSc in Computational Finance MSc in Computational Finance (MSc CF) is a technically-oriented 12-month, full-time programme which has been designed to balance theoretically rigorous coursework with a practical emphasis on the acquisition of advanced technical skills combined with an intuitive understanding of the dynamics of risk in financial markets.
Employment Prospects
Graduate placement and employment prospects continue to be exceptional with major international firms like:
- Deutsche Bank
- Pioneer Investments
- Susquehanna
- AIB Financial Risk
- ESB International
- Commerzbank Wealth Management and global leaders in the financial derivatives software sector like: First Derivatives; Murex; Lacima; Fincad actively recruiting from the programme for Financial Engineer, Quantitative Developer, Risk analyst, Wealth Manager, Structuring and Trading Operations roles.
In addition to an outstanding placement service offered by the University's Careers Office, graduate placement prospects have been further enhanced with the establishment of a LinkedIn Group for students and alumni of the MSc Computational Finance programme. The site is regularly updated with announcements of job opportunities by alumni and employers, and can be accessed by students who have registered on the programme.
From Academic Year 2012-13 onwards, registered students will be able to avail of an accredited Trading Floor Certification exam, and an extra-curricular Bloomberg Aptitude Test (BAT) both of which will be invigilated in the University's state-of-the-art campus Trading Floor. Details of student performance on the BAT test are stored in a Bloomberg database and can be accessed directly by global financial institutions who subscribe to Bloomberg. Completion of the Trading Floor Certification module and the Bloomberg Aptitude Test can therefore considerably enhance the international employability of graduates of the MSc in Computational Finance programme.
Course Structure
Autumn Semester (30 Credits)
Corporate Responsibility (6)
Implementing Market Models (6)
Dynamic Asset Pricing Theory (6)
Derivative Markets (6)
Trading Floor Certification (3)
Research Methods in Finance 1(3)
Spring Semester (33 Credits)
Core Electives - Choose 1
International Economic Issues (6)
Project Management (6)
Leadership, Influence & Change (6)
Mandatory Modules
Fixed Income Models (6)
Credit Risk & Derivative Products (6)
Portfolio Risk Analysis (6)
Research Methods in Finance 2 (3)
Electives - Choose 1
Wealth & Portfolio Management (6)
Financial Engineering (6)
Financial Regulation (6)
Modelling Risk in Nature & Industry (6)
Econometrics (6)
Summer Semester (27 Credits)
Dissertation in Finance 1 (12)
Dissertation in Finance 2 (12)
International Business Workshop (3)
Careers
Typical career positions might be in quantitative analyst support roles to proprietary trading and risk-management functions; as investment analysts in any of the equity / fixed income / credit / energy commodity asset classes; as investment strategists or traders in hedge funds; as financial analysts in structured finance and/or private wealth management institutions; as risk-managers in middle-office regulation and compliance roles or as risk-analysts in financial regulatory institutions.
Graduates of this programme will be equipped with the requisite skills to operate effectively in the global financial services industry and can expect to find interesting and rewarding careers on graduation from the programme. Graduates of the programme will also be well positioned for consideration for entry onto PhD in Finance programmes. A PhD in (Computational) Finance is increasingly seen as a pre-requisite qualification for many of the specialist front-office trading and risk-management jobs now becoming available in the international financial services industry.
Entry Requirements
The MSc in Computational Finance is aimed at highly numerate graduates from Ireland and abroad with a background in a cognate discipline such as Economics and Finance and with a grade of 2:2 or higher in a Level 8 primary degree.
Based on positive feedback from employers and recent alumni experiences, graduates from Engineering, Mathematical Sciences (financial mathematics, actuarial finance, statistics and/or applied probability theory), or Computer Science programmes are in particular encouraged to apply for entry to the programme.
Recognition of Prior Learning Applications from industry professionals with relevant prior experience in investment or credit institutions, and looking to up-skill in the area of quantitative finance and/or quantitative risk management, are also encouraged to apply.
For international students, evidence of satisfactorily meeting the entrance requirements will be assessed by the International Office in the University of Limerick.
All qualified applicants will be required to undergo an interview prior to formal admission. In the case of international students, the interview can be conducted by telephone or by Skype.
Delivery
Full-Time
Now into its 5th year, the MSc CF programme has been acknowledged by its academic external examiners as being academically rigorous consistent with the best international standards for peer-group programmes.
Delivered with a strong focus on experiential-learning, backed-up with extensive priority access to a state-of-the-art Bloomberg-equipped campus Trading Floor, the programme has in addition acquired a reputation for being particularly innovative and industry-facing in its delivery mechanisms by prospective employers in the international financial services industry.
Teaching of key modules is also informed by the 'translational' or industry-relevant research programmes of faculty. In the case of Finance faculty engaged on the MSc in Computational Finance programme for example, some of this research has been funded by competitive grants from State Agencies such as Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Partnership scheme and has therefore been critically assessed as being both highly innovative and industry-facing in nature.
Graduate Profiles (click to view)
Application Process
Application process is Open for the 2012/13 Academic Year:
Fees for AY2011/12 (under review for AY2012/13)
EU students €8,250
Non-EU students €12,000
Contact
Programme Director : Dr. Bernard Murphy
Department of Accounting & Finance
Tel: +353-61-202134
Fax: +353-61-213188
Email: Bernard.murphy@ul.ie
Programme Co-ordinator: Kathy Ryan
Taught Postgraduate Programmes
Tel: +353-61-234389
Email: kathy.ryan@ul.ie
Web: MSc in Computational Finance
