NB:We may charge a deposit (likely to be approximately £1,000) to students starting this programme in or after September 2010. Details will be announced in January 2010)
The programme aims:
- to provide graduates with a strong mathematical background with the skills necessary to apply their expertise to the solution of real finance problems.
- to provide students with a systematic understanding of core areas in mathematical models, techniques and numerical analysis in finance as well as source advanced topics in one or more of these areas.
- to develop the student's skills so that they are able to
- formulate a well posed problem from a description in financial language.
- carry out relevant mathematical analysis.
- develop and implement an appropriate numerical scheme.
- present and interpret these results.
- Lay the foundation for further research or for a career as a quantitative analyst in a financial or other institution.
The course will consist of examined lecture courses and a written dissertation. Details can be found on the COURSE WEBSITE.
The course will be based around the standard three-term year, but it will end in July. The vacation periods will be used intensively.
Programming will be taught throughout the year in the form of a Matlab course at the beginning of the year and two intensive C++ courses during the christmas vacation and the summer vacation. Students will carry out extensive practical (programming) work during the course using these programming methods.
There will be a heavy course load during the early terms and most mini-projects will be written in the vacations, which will also be used for preparation for the written examination. The dissertation will be written during Trinity Term.
Lectures and classes take place in the Mathematical Institute and in Dartington House, both of which are close to the Radcliffe Science Library, the scientific section of the University Library (the Bodleian). All students have access to this library, which holds, or can readily obtain, all books and periodicals of interest, and also to the Whitehead Library in the Mathematical Institute.
Students have access to a wide range of computing facilities. These include an extensive network of Linux workstations at the Mathematical Institute. The machines are connected to the University-wide network, and the Internet, so it is possible to access many of them from terminals and workstations in the Mathematical Institute, University Colleges and Departments, and from home.
Every office in the Mathematical Institute has at least one PC. In addition, there are four public access computer rooms available for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Oxford University Computing Service also has computer rooms for student use, as well as a help desk and a shop for purchasing software for use at home.
Oxford University is a collegiate university and each College forms an autonomous community with its own social, cultural and sporting facilities. The older, undergraduate colleges have a substantial number of graduate students: the younger, graduate colleges admit only graduates. Every student on the course is required to become a member of a college and may offer a list of preferences at the time of application.
Applications
The course code is
000171
Further information on applying for the course can be obtained from Laura Auger.
Formal details of admission to the University and to the Colleges are contained in the Graduate Studies Prospectus, which is published annually. A copy of this can be found on the University web pages at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/postgraduate/.
Frequently asked Questions
Please refer to Frequently Asked Questions.
This page is maintained by Laura Auger. Please use the contact form for feedback and comments.