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Quantitative Finance with Data Science at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This MSc Quantitative Finance with Data Science continues Birkbeck’s long and successful history of addressing in-demand skills in the financial sector. It provides you with a comprehensive curriculum that delivers fundamental quantitative knowledge for financial markets, practical programming skills in Python and R, a solid foundation in statistics and the application of data science tools in a financial context. Why choose this course?

  • This course is ideal if you want to develop your quantitative skills and use them to succeed in a wide range of roles in finance.
  • It offers you in-depth coverage of both market and credit risk management which are especially relevant in today’s recruitment arena.
  • You will benefit from being taught by experts in the fields of economics and international finance and learn alongside committed, enthusiastic students with a diverse range of experiences.
What you will learn With an emphasis on practical application, this MSc is designed to equip you with the necessary skills to embark on an exciting career within the modern financial landscape. You will gain in-depth knowledge of data science tools alongside quantitative and statistical techniques and specialist knowledge of financial modelling and risk quantification, including:
  • identifying and managing major sources of risk in financial markets
  • understanding the role of financial derivatives, their use (and misuse) and how they are modelled
  • using Python and R to perform mathematical and statistical investigations using data science tools
  • analysing financial data with a view to detecting trends, forecasting financial variables and building risk models.
How you will learn You will be able to choose between full- and part-time study on this course. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening, so you can balance your studies with other commitments, including work and family. Teaching on this course is via lectures on campus which are also pre-recorded so you can return to them for further investigation. You will also gain valuable opportunities to broaden your knowledge by attending seminars and networking events both inside and outside of Birkbeck. Highlights
  • Birkbeck was one of the first to offer postgraduate finance courses. With this experience, our qualifications are highly regarded by the financial industry.
  • Our finance courses bring together research and teaching across economics and finance, mathematics and statistics.
  • Our teaching is renowned for its high quality and we provide in-house training for government departments and City firms and banks, including the Treasury and the Bank of England.
  • Birkbeck was ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Economics and Econometrics research in the most recent 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • We offer a range of postgraduate courses in finance. Read an overview of each course to find the right one for you.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this MSc you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including in:
  • problem-solving
  • time management
  • conducting independent research
  • reading and understanding research papers and articles with confidence.
You will find quantitative finance and data science graduates progressing their studies further at PhD level or in the following quantitative analyst/developer roles across a range of financial institutions, including investment banks, hedge funds and insurance firms:
  • analyst/adviser in the risk management sector
  • financial model validator
  • data scientist
  • portfolio manager
  • financial data scientist
  • investment strategist for a bank, pension fund or hedge fund
  • analyst within the Bank of England or Treasury.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Examinations, assessed coursework and a dissertation.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

The normal entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2) or above from a UK university, or overseas equivalent, in a quantitative subject such as mathematics, physics, statistics, economics or engineering. Graduates from other disciplines such as computer science will be accepted if their degree contains a major quantitative element. In some circumstances, we are able to admit students with an undergraduate degree that is less than the 2:2 standard, provided that your subsequent work experience and/or education and training is considered to have brought you to an equivalent standard. Alternatively, a merit or higher in a Graduate Diploma in economics, mathematics or statistics would be suitable. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £7260 Year 1
Northern Ireland £7260 Year 1
Scotland £7260 Year 1
Wales £7260 Year 1
International £12300 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Quantitative Finance with Data Science at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS