Use applied mathematics to analyse complex economic issues and financial markets
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
1 year full-time
Department of Economics and Related Studies, Department of Mathematics, School for Business and Society
September 2025 (semester dates)
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Upcoming eventsTake advantage of multidisciplinary expertise as you combine applied and computational mathematics with econometrics and quantitative finance.
Led by the Department of Mathematics, the MSc Financial Engineering is part of our uniquely multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary suite of finance Masters programmes. These programmes together expertise from the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Economics and Related Studies.
Discover contemporary tools, methods and approaches to tackle applied, professional and academic challenges in finance.
We'll train you in core skills for financial engineering, and you'll learn to use the key mathematical models that are fundamental to analysing financial issues. Our option modules will allow you to explore the topics in finance that you are particularly interested in.
Our expert tutors will help you to lay the foundations for a career as a quantitative analyst in top financial institutions, as well as opening opportunities in other careers involving financial management or analysis.
This intensive course is featured on RiskNet.
At the University of York we offer a number of different courses as part of our finance suite, including general, focused and specialised programmes. Learn more about our range of finance Masters offered at York.
You'll develop your skills and knowledge in econometrics and quantitative finance alongside applied and computational mathematics, guided by experienced and enthusiastic lecturers from the Departments of Mathematics and Economics.
You'll benefit from cutting-edge expertise across a wide range of disciplines in the field of financial engineering. Our course will equip you for a role in fund management, insurance, the actuarial profession, taxation, or for further study at PhD level. You'll be able to use use the financial mathematical language and tools that underpin a wide range of applications in science, technology and industry.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You'll complete a piece of independent research or dissertation of up to 10,000 words, carried out over three months of the summer. It will offer you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £16,810 | £33,700 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Our teaching is informed by the latest research, meaning you can focus on the latest ideas and models.
We use a wide range of teaching methods including:
For some modules you may also attend practical classes, computer laboratories or workshops.
Lectures describe new concepts you will have to learn, and in problems classes you'll put them into practice. Seminars are small, interactive sessions which allow us to focus on your individual needs. You'll be able to use our Virtual Learning Environment to supplement lectures and seminars.
While you're working on your project and your dissertation you'll have regular meetings with your academic supervisor who will offer advice and support. We aim to give you a supervisor with specialist knowledge of the area you're investigating.
The course is taught by the Department of Economics and Related Studies and the Department of Mathematics. Your teaching will take place in both departments on Campus West.
You'll gain access to our schools' and departments' shared resources and financial databases, including:
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Taught modules are assessed by a combination of the following types of assessment:
The closed book written exam assesses your subject-specific knowledge through theoretical and practical questions, in an array of targeted and broad, open-ended problems. These require topic knowledge and the ability to recognise, compare and critically evaluate different knowledge areas.
The coursework and projects consist of problems and practical tasks that might require the use of software. You'll develop your subject knowledge and analytical skills as well as your ability to apply, implement and interpret theory.
Presentations are specifically designed to enhance your communication skills for a range of audiences, from subject experts to the general public.
In the independent study module, you'll conduct a piece of applied research. You'll continue to develop your critical reasoning and digital literacy skills, including programming. As this module is assessed with a dissertation, your training is rounded off by consistently working on your written communication skills.
This course will build the foundations necessary for a successful career as a quantitative analyst in top financial institutions worldwide. It is also an ideal basis for progression to a PhD.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in a discipline with sufficient background in mathematical sciences, economics and finance. In certain cases, you may be required to complete the online pre-sessional course in Mathematical Foundations of Quantitative Finance with a final grade of at least 60%. |
| Other qualifications and experience | Professional experience in quantitative finance will be an advantage, but not a prerequisite, and can compensate to some extent for limited formal training. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.0, minimum 5.5 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 169, with no less than 162 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | 105, minimum 95 in all other components |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | C or above |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 65 with a minimum of 60 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 426-458, with 396-425 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Pass with Merit overall, with Pass in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 79, minimum 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing |
| Trinity ISE III | Pass in each component |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
Department of Economics and Related Studies, Department of Mathematics, School for Business and Society
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