Financial Mathematics MSc
Year of entry 2026
- Start date
- September 2026
- Delivery type
- On campus
- Duration
- 12 Months (Full time)
- Entry requirements
- A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a related subject.
Full entry requirements - English language requirements
- IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component
- UK fees
- £18,750 (Total)
- International fees
- £35,500 (Total)
- Contact
- masters@lubs.leeds.ac.uk
Course overview
This degree provides you with knowledge of advanced finance concepts, while developing your quantitative, mathematical and research skills.
Taught by experienced academics based in both Leeds University Business School and the School of Mathematics, you’ll cover key topics including financial derivative pricing, discrete and continuous time models, risk management, statistical and machine learning and portfolio optimisation.
You’ll be equipped with a rare combination of mathematical and business finance knowledge, a skillset highly sought after in the financial sector by banks and investment companies.
This course is ideal if you’ve previously studied mathematics or statistics, finance, economics, physics or computing, and are interested in applying your skills to financial markets. It’s also excellent preparation if you’re interested in pursuing further academic research.
Course Highlights
This course is shaped by the latest knowledge and critical thinking through the work of our advanced specialist research units, including the Centre for Advanced Studies in Finance, the International Banking Institute, the Credit Management Research Centre, and the Financial Mathematics group.
Benefit from our strong relationships with finance, credit and accounting professions, connecting you to the latest practitioner and policy developments.
You’ll have access to our two, on-campus trading rooms, and the world’s top financial databases, such as Bloomberg, WRDS, CSMAR, Refinitiv Eikon and Datastream.
Guest lectures from high-profile, industry speakers or regulatory bodies share current trends and valuable real-world insight. Recent speakers have included the Chief Risk Officer from the Royal Bank of Canada, and the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England.
On all Masters courses at Leeds University Business School you’ll have an opportunity to apply for a place on a week-long international study tour which will include company visits, guest lectures and networking events, as well as an opportunity to visit local places of interest. Previous study tours have included visits to Berlin, Frankfurt, Milan and Zurich.
This course is jointly taught by Leeds University Business School and the School of Mathematics.
Find out more about studying your Masters at Leeds University Business School.
Guaranteed work experience
While studying at Leeds, you’ll have the chance to work with a business and gain consultancy experience as part of a 2-week virtual Global Industry Programme.
As well as giving you the opportunity to build key industry connections, you’ll also develop invaluable professional and practical skills that are highly valued by employers.
Accreditation
Accreditation
Course details and modules
You will develop a broad understanding of corporate finance and how financial theory relates to practice in business and financial markets. This will put your mathematical studies into context, while developing your skills in quantitative risk management, and discrete time stochastic processes in finance. At the same time you will acquire the necessary computational skills by learning R and Python.
You’ll study topics such as continuous time stochastic processes, and computational methods for stochastic processes. You’ll also gain specialist knowledge in topics that suit your career ambitions, such as risk and investment, and behavioural finance.
The course will improve your research skills and allow you to explore different research methodologies, including those employed by our own leading academics. This will prepare you for your dissertation – an independent research project on a topic of your choice that you’ll submit by the end of the year.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.
Year 1 compulsory modules
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Corporate Finance | 15 |
| Dissertation in Financial Mathematics | 45 |
| Discrete Time Finance | 15 |
| Continuous Time Finance | 15 |
| Risk Management | 15 |
| Computations in Finance | 15 |
| Research Methods in Financial Mathematics | 15 |
Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Security Investment Analysis | 15 |
| Portfolio Risk Management | 15 |
| Behavioural Finance | 15 |
| Financial Derivatives | 15 |
| International Investment | 15 |
| Statistical Computing | 15 |
| Time Series Data Analysis | 15 |
| Advanced Statistical Modelling | 15 |
| Modelling Complex Data | 15 |
| Multivariate Data Analysis | 15 |
Learning and teaching
You’ll be taught using a range of methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. The rest of your time will be spent in independent learning, allowing you to develop your skills in research and analysis.
Our Virtual Learning Environment will help support your studies. This is a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your course and modules.
On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
Assessment methods emphasise both knowledge and essential skills development. This may include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations and reflective logs. This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.
Applying
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a related subject such as finance, economics, mathematics, physics, computing or engineering.
International qualifications
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.
International qualifications
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Business (6 weeks) and Language for Business (10 weeks).
We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional.
You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.
How to apply
Documents and information you need
- a copy of your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
- contact details for two academic references
- a personal statement
- an up-to-date CV
- your approved English Language test* (if applicable)
- a letter of sponsorship, if you need one.
* Applicants who have not yet completed an approved English language test may apply for a Masters course prior to taking a test.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2026
This course is taught by
Leeds University Business School
School of Mathematics
Contact us
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Email: masters@lubs.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:
Fees
UK: £18,750 (Total)
International: £35,500 (Total)
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Additional cost information
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.
Scholarships are also available to help fund your Masters. Find out more and check your eligibility below:
Career opportunities
From day one, we encourage you to think beyond your time at Leeds and reflect on a meaningful career. You have a wide range of opportunities open to you as a Financial Mathematics graduate, including quantitative analysis, risk management, investment banking, financial consultancy, insurance, accounting and academia.
Previous graduates have gone on to secure employment with a range of organisations, including Allianz (London), AstraZeneca, Barclays, CITIC Group, Deloitte, Gaz de France, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the UK Government Actuary’s Department.
Careers support
Careers support and professional development activities are built into your course. You can access advice and guidance on your career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, and support to boost your employability. You’ll also receive coaching on developing the professional skills needed to start a successful career, and how to evidence these to prospective employers.
As part of the Accounting and Finance Department, you can benefit from commercial awareness networking events and guest lectures from high-profile speakers from industry or regulatory bodies. Students have had the opportunity to develop their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation with Amplify Trading.
You’ll also benefit from the University’s award-winning Careers Service, where you can access range of support to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions, even after you graduate.
Read more about our careers and professional development support.
Work placements
As a Masters student at Leeds, you’ll have the unique opportunity to gain real-world industry experience with our Global Industry Programme.
You’ll develop key professional skills and gain invaluable insight into working in your chosen field, helping to solve a real business problem from a live company brief.
This experience will enhance your CV, helping you to stand out in the competitive graduate jobs market and improving your chances of securing the career you want.
Benefits of the Global Industry Programme:
- Fully online and designed to fit around your studies.
- Opportunities to make professional networks in areas such as digital marketing, business growth, sustainability and artificial intelligence.
- Build consultancy experience with a UK or international organisation.
- Gain invaluable insight into working as a consultant on a time-limited brief.
- Work as part of a team across disciplines to tackle real business needs.
- Advance your experience and hands-on skills by putting the course teachings into practice.
- Improve your employability prospects.