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An honours programme to a deeper understanding of finance. Discover new insights. Develop a broad vision.
Modelling financial data
A large mutual fund is trying to set-up a quantitative model for dynamic, active asset management. Can you assess whether the model is good enough to generate economic profits?
Trading risks
An international re-insurer is worried about its exposure to the risk of river flooding in the wake of potential climatic change. How can it spread this risk across financial markets using new products, and at what price?
Career prospects
The career prospects for graduates of the Masters programme in Quantitative Finance are excellent. There is a strong demand for people who can provide solid quantitative analyses of financial and economic issues. Such expertise is only available on a limited scale. Examples of jobs within your reach upon completion of your Masters include derivates specialist, hedge fund manager, asset/liability manager, financial consultant, risk manager, investment banker, and financial product developer.
Many companies recognize the added value of an international Chartered Financial Analyst qualification (CFA) or a Dutch FBA qualification as a financial and investment analyst. In most cases, you can study for these qualifications alongside your job, and your Masters programme in Quantitative Finance gives you a very good starting position.
The Quantitative Finance programme is an 84-credit Honours programme that is part of the Masters programme in Finance. You will take three core courses in finance (Investments, Derivatives, and Quantitative Risk Management), and three advanced methodological core courses in econometrics and financial mathematics.
You can select three electives from the Masters programmes in Finance, Econometrics, Mathematics, Business Studies, Economics and others. This freedom of choice allows you to select your own specialization and create your own career profile. You will be able to emphasize fundamental, methodological subjects or focus on the application of advanced methodology.
In the course of one year you will attend lectures, complete case study assignments, give presentations and conduct extensive research assignments. The programme is taught in English. Graduates receive the title of Master of Finance.
Tackle quantitative problems in Finance, Risk Management, Investments
The Quantitative Finance Honours Programme is a demanding programme that fully prepares you to apply modern scientific methodology to the challenges faced by the contemporary financial world. It does so by offering you an integrated curriculum for the three core disciplines in this field: finance, econometrics and mathematics.
You will learn the financial theories behind financial markets and price formation, and how to map this knowledge into profitable investment strategies. You will become conversant with the various ways to assess risks and the methods and products that can mitigate those risks. You will also build an extensive, advanced toolkit for applying existing models or for building and applying your own models to financial data.
You will also gain practical skills by setting up a research project, gathering and processing the relevant data, conducting the research and testing research hypotheses, and by presenting a solid and credible research product verbally and in writing.
First semester
In the first semester of the programme, you will become familiar with the basic building blocks of quantitative finance and you will take one optional course. You will also implement your new knowledge by working on a team research project or advanced case study. You will work on refining your verbal and written presentation skills as part of the project.
Second semester
You will take three final core courses in the second semester and two more optional courses. This will allow you to specialize further or to broaden your perspective on methodological aspects or in terms of financial applications. You will also write your Masters thesis in which you will demonstrate your ability to set up and carry out academic research.
There are strict admission criteria. These are set by the Admissions Board, which also decides on individual applications. The requirements are split up into Master specific requirements and general requirements (faculty website). Please read them both carefully.VU University Amsterdam requires all applicants to take an English test and to submit their score as a part of the application. In order for you to be admitted unconditionally you must send us a certificate from a recognised authority concerning your proficiency in English including the writing/composition test (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge International Examinations CAE: A/B or CPE: A/B/C). Check the specific Language Requirements. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 75 (Grade B) TOEFL paper-based test score : 580 TOEFL iBT® test: 92
Scholarships / Grants:
Neso Indonesia:
StuNed Scholarships for Master studies, short courses and customized training programmes are available for Indonesian professionals with at least two years work experience in a development-related organization.
For additional information: Website
Nuffic:
The Orange Tulip Scholarship Programme supports promising Taiwanese graduates and young professionals intending to pursue postgraduate degree programmes at a Dutch higher education institution.
For additional information: Website
VU University Amsterdam:
VU University Amsterdam awards its own scholarships to outstanding students joining our international Master's degree programmes. The VU Fellowship is an amount of money between 2.500 and 15.000 Euros to cover a part of the study expenses. The general criteria for selection are excellence, motivatio
For additional information: Website
Accreditation
All degree programmes of VU University Amsterdam are accredited by NVAO. If the procedure for accreditation of a programme not yet is completed, this is indicated in the description of te programme. NVAO (Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie) is the Accreditation Organisation of The Netherlands and Flanders. NVAO is entrusted by law to accredit all existing bachelors and masters degree courses and to validate new study programmes at government-funded higher education institutions as well as
institutions approved (but not funded) by the Dutch government.