What is Mathematical Finance?
The finance industry increasingly relies on complex mathematical models and highly sophisticated mathematical tools, e.g., for derivatives trading and risk management. Mathematical Finance provides their scientific foundation on a variety of levels and deals with a wide range of theoretical and practical issues. On a general theoretical level, students study topics such as the probabilistic structure of financial markets or the choice of a consistent way to measure risk. From a more application-oriented point of view, the concrete valuation of a financial product or the quantification of risk via numerical procedures are of interest. Methodologically, the mathematical focus is on probability, statistics, numerics, optimisation, and analysis.Master's programme Mathematical Finance
The Master's programme in Mathematical Finance leads to an MSc within two years. Combining mathematics, financial engineering, economics, and statistics, it provides all the knowledge for a successful career in finance. The Master's programme is particularly aimed at graduates with a BSc in Mathematics. Applicants with a Bachelor's degree in Physics, Engineering, or Economics are also welcome if they have a solid background in university-level mathematics. Knowledge of German is not mandatory in order to successfully complete the programme and be awarded the MSc.Why should I study Mathematical Finance in Kiel?
The Master's programme is embedded into a very active research environment in the departments of mathematics and economics. It is distinguished by tailor-made courses with a strong emphasis on the interplay between mathematical and economic methods for financial engineering. Relying on a dedicated teaching staff from the departments of mathematics and economics, students are offered a great variety of courses from the participating disciplines. They also benefit from the links to the more economics-oriented MSc programme in Quantitative Finance.
Requirements
Entry Requirements
Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS credit points) in mathematics with grade 3.0 or better, provided that contents, extent, and scientific level are comparable to BSc in Mathematics from Kiel University, or
Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS credit points) in another subject with grade 2.5 or better, if at least 30 credit points are in analysis, linear algebra, probability theory, and statistics, again with grade 2.5 or better (If necessary, admission can be granted conditionally under the condition that students take additional Bachelor's courses in the first two semesters of the programme.)
In any case, be aware that the mathematical level in the Master's programme in Mathematical Finance is very high. For an alternative Master's programme with a stronger focus on economics rather than mathematics, consider the Quantitative Finance programme: www.wiso.uni-kiel.de/de/studium/master/quant-fin
Precise prerequisites can be found in §16 of the "Fachprüfungsordnung" (presently only in German: www.studservice.uni-kiel.de/sta/fachpruefungsordnung-mathematik-und-finanzmathematik-bachelor-master-1-fach.pdf)