Teaching and learning

The Financial Mathematics MSc is a taught postgraduate programme requiring students to take eight modules, four of which can be selected from a list of electives. In addition, students are required to write a research dissertation on a topical project during the summer months. The MSc project is supervised by an academic or a suitable industry practitioner. Some of the MSc modules include a coursework component. All modules include exercise sets allowing students to practice the taught material regularly.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, practical classes, tutorials and problem-solving exercises. Assessment is through written papers, coursework, examinations and the research report and presentation.

Typically, each taught module has 30 hours of lectures. About 20-25 hours a week are recommended for independent study. In addition, students are encouraged to use office hours provided by the lecturers. Research projects require a similar amount of time although the work is mostly individual accompanied by regular meetings with the project supervisor.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

In terms one and two full-time students can typically expect between 10 and 12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, crits and tutorials. In term three and the summer period students will be completing their own research project, keeping regular contact with their supervisors.