Finance
The School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science offers the new programme MSc in Finance, Investment and Risk in response to the future need in the financial services industry for people with strong quantitative skills as well as a thorough understanding of financial markets, products and risk.
The programme is a flexible qualification for those intending to follow careers in the financial sector. It will provide many career opportunities for high-calibre students with a broad knowledge base in principles and applications of finance, investment analysis and portfolio and financial risk management.
Degree programmes
Taught programmes
Finance, Investment and Risk MSc (Subject to approval)
The programme is well supported by the staff at the School, and draws on specialisations within the School in areas of finance, mathematics, statistics and actuarial science. The School has a high research reputation and many members of staff are professionally qualified, with practitioner experience. The quantitative, actuarial and finance expertise within the Department is well positioned to respond to the new developments in the interface between finance and insurance. The strength of this interface is shown by the emergence of new financial and insurance products, mergers across industries and the use of modern financial mathematics in insurance and risk. The School maintains a close relationship with the insurance industry and will develop its links further with the financial sector.
The School provides short courses for industry as part of Continuous Professional Development for practitioners.
Under the guidance of internationally renowned researchers in the School, postgraduates in MSc in Finance, Investment and Risk develop analytic, communication and research skills, and will be well prepared, should they wish to follow a research path in areas of finance, investment or risk.
Facts
| Location: | Canterbury. |
|---|---|
| Attendance: | One year full-time. |
| Start: | September. |
| Entry requirements: | A good degree in a relevant subject, such as accounting, finance, economics, business, engineering or other sciences. Graduates with degrees without a substantial mathematical content, will be required to attend a two-week preparatory course in mathematics and statistics prior to the start of the programme in September. |
| Fees: | See the funding website. |
Course content
- Corporate finance
- Investment analysis
- Financial reporting and analysis
- Quantitative methods for finance and risk
- International financial markets
- Financial Instruments
- Financial risk management
- Portfolio management
- Derivatives
- Research methods for finance and risk
The above is supplemented by a list of electives which focus on specific areas of finance, investment, risk or insurance. Stock market games and competitions judged by professional and practitioner bodies will be offered to enhance learning and provide practical training.
Assessment
Assessment for most modules is by coursework and an end-of-year written examination paper for each subject.
Research
Staff research interests
Dr Lothar Breuer: Reader in Statistics
Stochastic processes; queueing theory; risk theory; Markov-additive processes.
Professor Paul Sweeting: Professor of Actuarial Science
Pensions; mortality trend risk; mortality rating; Longevity markets.
Dr Pradip Tapadar: Lecturer in Actuarial Science
Economic capital and financial risk management; genetics and insurance; Haplotyping analysis via genetic algorithm.
Mr R Guy Thomas: Honorary Lecturer in Actuarial Science
Genetics and insurance; insurance economics; accident compensation.
Professor Stephen Walker: Professor of Statistics
Bayesian inference; Bayesian nonparametric methods; time series; survival analysis; MCMC; matrix algebra.
A unique programme
The recent crisis in the financial sector has highlighted the importance of understanding and management of risk as an integral part of the body of knowledge required for finance and insurance industries. Increasingly, firms seek to employ finance graduates who possess the essential quantitative and product skills in risk management as well as in finance. The MSc in Finance, Investment and Risk is a unique programme which provides the essential knowledge required in finance and investment with financial risk analysis playing an important role.
The programme has an international perspective and aims to offer academic rigour combined with practical application and vocational orientation. Accreditation for the programme will be sought from professional and practitioner bodies.
Resources
The University’s Templeman Library houses a comprehensive collection of books and research periodicals. Within the Department, postgraduate students can use a range of specialist software packages used in quantitative analysis and in finance. The School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science is a multicultural learning environment, with a supportive approach to teaching, accessible staff, friendly environment and pleasant location.
Funding
Funding information
To find out more about university support and tuition fees see our student finance pages. For additional funding opportunities see our postgraduate scholarships pages.
Every department at Kent offers one or two University of Kent postgraduate research studentships, each available for three years and covering fees at the home level and a stipend up to the UK Research Councils’ level of £13,290 (2009/10 rate).
Further information
Admissions enquiries
T: +44 (0)1227 827272 E: information@kent.ac.uk
Subject enquiries
The Postgraduate Admissions Officer,
School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science,
Cornwallis Building,
University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF,
UK
T: +44 (0)1227 827181
F: +44 (0)1227 827932
E: imsadmin@kent.ac.uk
