The combination of financial deregulation, increased globalization and technological advances in recent years has led to huge increase in the nature and volume of financial derivatives contracts traded around the world. This, together with the mathematical work of Markowitz, Sharpe, Scholes, Merton (Nobel Laureates in Economics in 1990 and 1997) and Black, has led to a massive demand within financial institutions for mathematically trained graduates with an awareness of markets and their operations. The primary aim of this proposed programme is to produce graduates with strong mathematical and statistical skills and a thorough understanding of their applications in the world of modern investment and finance. The education is to develop students’ ability in quantitative analysis, critical thinking and communication skills, which will enable them to pursue a variety of careers such as investment banking, fund management, risk management and financial product development and pricing.

Mathematics and statistics are fundamental yet constantly developing fields. As well as being disciplines in their own right, they form the basis of modern commercial, industrial and technological activities. Mathematical / Statistical models underpin many aspects of management today. The secondary aim of the programme is to provide a solid theoretical foundation of investment science, mathematics and statistics to its students, who will then be able to develop an outlook and methodology that remain valuable in whatever career they pursue in the fast moving world of business and commerce.