Financial Mathematics - 8161
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Contact: http://www.maths.unsw.edu.au
Campus: Sydney
Career: Postgraduate
Typical Duration: 1.5 Years 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 8
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 72
Award(s):
Master of Financial Mathematics
View program information for previous years
Program Description
The program is intended for students who have completed a degree in Mathematics or Statistics, or a Science degree with a major in mathematics or statistics, and who wish to further their knowledge of mathematical finance and statistics. The program offers intensive, high-level training in principles of financial modelling and its mathematical foundations, statistical techniques, risk assessment, and computational techniques of financial mathematics. The program was introduced in order to provide students with a route to high quality careers in the financial industry and to provide the financial sector with a stream of highly trained specialists in Quantitative Finance. In addition, the program will provide a means of obtaining the necessary preparation for further research in mathematical finance.
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
- Graduates will have acquired advanced disciplinary knowledge and skills in financial mathematics, and an ability to apply these in a range of contexts
- Graduates will have developed an understanding of enquiry-based learning and demonstrate analytical skills as they relate to financial mathematics
- Graduates will have developed advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Graduates will be able to communicate effectively to a range of audiences in both written and oral forms, and be capable of independent and collaborative enquiry and working effectively with others
Program Structure
The program consists of 72 units of credit (UOC) comprised of 36 UOC of compulsory core coursework subjects, 24 UOC of electives chosen from the School of Mathematics and Statistics and/or outside the School of Mathematics and Statistics, and a compulsory supervised research project worth 12 UOC.
Core Courses (30 UoC)
The core set of compulsory courses listed below is designed to give students a deep knowledge of the fundamentals of financial mathematics with a special emphasis on financial modelling, pricing of financial derivatives and risk management.
Students must complete all of these courses:
Core Courses (30 UoC)
The core set of compulsory courses listed below is designed to give students a deep knowledge of the fundamentals of financial mathematics with a special emphasis on financial modelling, pricing of financial derivatives and risk management.
Students must complete all of these courses:
Elective Courses (30 UOC)
Students must choose 30 UOC from a list of elective graduate level courses from the School of Mathematics and Statistics (see below).
Students are allowed to take up to 18 UOC from outside the School of Mathematics and Statistics provided that the courses are at a postgraduate level and approved by the Postgraduate Coursework Coordinator.
Students are excluded from taking MATH5846 and MATH5856 in this program.
Project Course (12 UOC)
The 12 UOC project course is compulsory for all students. Students typically enrol into it in their third semester of study, and enrolment is subject to academic performance.
Students must choose 30 UOC from a list of elective graduate level courses from the School of Mathematics and Statistics (see below).
Students are allowed to take up to 18 UOC from outside the School of Mathematics and Statistics provided that the courses are at a postgraduate level and approved by the Postgraduate Coursework Coordinator.
Students are excluded from taking MATH5846 and MATH5856 in this program.
Project Course (12 UOC)
The 12 UOC project course is compulsory for all students. Students typically enrol into it in their third semester of study, and enrolment is subject to academic performance.
- MATH5925 Project (12 UOC)
Students should seek the guidance from the School of Mathematics and Statistics at an early stage of study to ensure that the study plan being followed is best suited to lead to the project.
Mathematics and Statistics Postgraduate Courses
Note: not all of these courses are offered every semester. Please refer to the School of Mathematics and Statistics ( http://www.maths.unsw.edu.au/currentstudents/course-titles) for a list of courses available in a particular semester.
Mathematics and Statistics Postgraduate Courses
Note: not all of these courses are offered every semester. Please refer to the School of Mathematics and Statistics ( http://www.maths.unsw.edu.au/currentstudents/course-titles) for a list of courses available in a particular semester.
- MATH5165 Optimization (6 UOC)
- MATH5175 Special Topics (Appl Maths) A (6 UOC)
- MATH5185 Special Topics (Appl Maths) B (6 UOC)
- MATH5285 Fluids, Oceans and Climate (6 UOC)
- MATH5295 Special Topics (Appl Maths) D (6 UOC)
- MATH5305 Computational Mathematics (6 UOC)
- MATH5335 Comput'l Methods for Finance (6 UOC)
- MATH5425 Graph Theory (6 UOC)
- MATH5505 Computational Combinatorics (6 UOC)
- MATH5515 Special Topics (Pure Maths) A (6 UOC)
- MATH5525 Special Topics (Pure Maths) B (6 UOC)
- MATH5535 Special Topics (Pure Maths) C (6 UOC)
- MATH5605 Functional Analysis (6 UOC)
- MATH5615 Banach and Operator Algebras (6 UOC)
- MATH5645 Number Theory (6 UOC)
- MATH5665 Algebraic Topology (6 UOC)
- MATH5685 Complex Analysis (6 UOC)
- MATH5705 Analysis (6 UOC)
- MATH5715 Harmonic Analysis (6 UOC)
- MATH5725 Galois Theory (6 UOC)
- MATH5735 Modules of Represent'n Theory (6 UOC)
- MATH5785 Geometry (6 UOC)
- MATH5805 Special Topics in Statistics (6 UOC)
- MATH5806 Applied Regression Analysis (6 UOC)
- MATH5816 Continuous Time Fin'l Model'g (6 UOC)
- MATH5825 Measure, Integ & Probability (6 UOC)
- MATH5826 Stat Methods in Epidemiology (6 UOC)
- MATH5835 Stochastic Processes (6 UOC)
- MATH5836 Data Mining (6 UOC)
- MATH5845 Time Series (6 UOC)
- MATH5846 Intro to Prob and Stoch Proc (6 UOC)
- MATH5855 Multivariate Analysis (6 UOC)
- MATH5856 Intro to Stats and Stat Comput (6 UOC)
- MATH5885 Longitudinal Data Analysis (6 UOC)
- MATH5895 Nonparametric Statistics (6 UOC)
- MATH5905 Statistical Inference (6 UOC)
- MATH5906 Clinical Trials (6 UOC)
- MATH5916 Survival Analysis (6 UOC)
- MATH5945 Categorical Data Analysis (6 UOC)
- MATH5960 Bayesian Inference & Comput'n (6 UOC)
- MATH5965 Discrete Time Fin'l Modelling (6 UOC)
- MATH5975 Intro to Stochastic Analysis (6 UOC)
Academic Rules
- Each candidate's proposed program of study requires the approval of the Head of School or Nominee.
- Enrolment into a particular research project is subject to appropriate research and supervision resources being available.
- Students seeking to enrol into a project are required to have the approval of the Head of School or Nominee and normally will be required to have attained a WAM of 70 or higher in the first eight (8) courses (48 UOC) of the program.
- For the elective component, students may choose from a wide variety of courses within the School of Mathematics and Statistics, or elsewhere within the University. Enrolment in courses chosen from outside the School of Mathematics and Statistics must be approved by the head of the School or Nominee and is subject to a maximum of 18 UOC.
- A list of courses to be offered in each year is available on the School of Mathematics & Statistics website
- Students who do not attain a WAM of 70 or higher in the first four (4) courses (24 UOC) of the program will normally be required to transfer to 7659 Graduate Certificate in Mathematics and Statistics.
- Students who do not attain a WAM of 70 or higher after the first eight (8) courses (48 UOC) of the program will normally be required to transfer 5659 Graduate Diploma in Mathematics and Statistics.
- Students who receive advanced standing (up to a maximum of 48 UOC) based on previous study (see Admission Requirements) will receive advanced standing for the coursework component of the program only, and must still complete the supervised research project.
- Students may complete this program on a part-time basis. However, the project must be done over two consecutive semesters.
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: UNSW Fee Website.
Admission Requirements
To gain entry to this program, students must:
- Have completed a Bachelor of Mathematics or a Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree with a major in mathematics or statistics; and
- Have sufficient mathematical and/or statistical background, as indicated by an average of 65 or above in level III mathematics and/or statistics university courses.
Advanced Standing
Honours graduates in Mathematics or Statistics from UNSW (or equivalent) may receive advanced standing of up to a maximum of 24 UOC and may complete the degree within 48 UOC, or one year of full time study.
Students with a Graduate Diploma in Mathematics and Statistics from UNSW with a weighted average mark of ≥ 70 may receive advanced standing of up to a maximum of 48 UOC and may complete the degree with 24 UOC, or 0.5 year of full time study.
The specific advanced standing to be awarded will be determined at the time of admission and will be based on the student’s background and previous study.
Notes
In addition, students must have permission of the Head of School or Nominee to be admitted into the program.
Prospective international students should note they will need to meet the University’s English language requirements (http://www.unsw.edu.au/english-requirements-policy).
Students with a Graduate Diploma in Mathematics and Statistics from UNSW with a weighted average mark of ≥ 70 may receive advanced standing of up to a maximum of 48 UOC and may complete the degree with 24 UOC, or 0.5 year of full time study.
The specific advanced standing to be awarded will be determined at the time of admission and will be based on the student’s background and previous study.
Notes
In addition, students must have permission of the Head of School or Nominee to be admitted into the program.
Prospective international students should note they will need to meet the University’s English language requirements (http://www.unsw.edu.au/english-requirements-policy).
Exit Provisions
Students enrolled in this program will be permitted to transfer to program 7659 Graduate Certificate in Mathematics and Statistics after successfully completing 24 UOC, subject to meeting the program rules and requirements of that program.
Students enrolled in this program will be permitted to transfer to program 5659 Graduate Diploma in Mathematics and Statistics after successfully completing 48 UOC, subject to meeting the program rules and requirements of that program.
Students enrolled in this program will be permitted to transfer to program 5659 Graduate Diploma in Mathematics and Statistics after successfully completing 48 UOC, subject to meeting the program rules and requirements of that program.
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