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University College London - MSc Computational Finance

University College London - MSc Computational Finance

Mathematics, finance, data science and machine learning
Overview Rankings Jobs Admissions Tuition Applications Reviews (12)
Location
London, UK
Application deadline
Mar 27
The UCL MSc Computational Finance is a distinctive blend of Mathematics, Finance, Computer Science and Statistics / Data Science / Machine Learning. It is taught in the UCL Department of Computer Science by the Financial Computing and Analytics Group, which is made of top academics with a strong research record and industry connections. It concludes with a three-months summer project done usually in an industry placement in London with both an academic and an industrial supervisor. This gives students experience of conducting project work in a real-life setting. Most projects are organised by UCL staff; to a minor extent, students find their own internship or opt for a research-intensive project with only an academic supervisor.

Admission requires previous studies in a quantitative subject which includes exams in mathematics. The transcripts should show exams in calculus and linear algebra, and optionally also differential equations, probability, statistics, econometrics and similar. Students come from undergraduate degrees in mathematics, physics, statistics, computer science, engineering, economics, finance and a few other related topics.

UCL CS Financial Computing and Analytics Group: Financial Computing and Analytics
Director: Germano Guido

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2025 Ranking Data
Rank
3
Total Score
90
Peer Score
3.3
Employed at Graduation (%)
88%
Employed at 3 months (%)
100%
Base salary
£69,965
Cohort Size
49 FT
Acceptance Rate (%)
22.7%
Tuition
£47,100
Views
11,217
First release
Last update

Ratings

4.75 star(s) 12 reviews 4.83 star(s) Students Quality 4.83 star(s) Courses/Instructors 3.58 star(s) Career Services
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Latest reviews
Headline
Great programme for converting to Quant
Graduation Class
2025
Reviewed by Verified Member
Great course overall!

Good academic course structure with great lectures, strong instruction and an excellent range of optional specialisations.

Admissions process was seamless.

Most lectures were excellent, they offered good teaching and quick and helpful responses.

Career support could have been better and the course seem to lack industry connections.

Overall a great course offering a great conversion to Quant.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
3.00 star(s)
Upvote 0 Downvote
Headline
Interesting course with great flexibility
Graduation Class
2024
Reviewed by Verified Member
This MSc in Computational Finance helps you enhance your fundamental knowledge required for the quant industry. From courses in probability theory, machine learning to algorithmic trading and market microstructure, there is great flexibility to optimize your learning to fit the buy-side or the sell-side. The professors are truly one of a kind always making sure to adjust their curriculum to keep up with the most relevant advancements in the quant field. The only downside is that apart from the thesis dissertation carried with an industrial partner there is not much exposure in other career opportunities.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
3.00 star(s)
Upvote 0 Downvote
Headline
Great course, intuitive teaching and plenty of support.
Graduation Class
2026
Reviewed by Verified Member
In terms of content, it matches my expectation, as I did a nice amount of digging beforehand but the teaching itself has exceeded my expectations. Lecturers lead by intuition which makes it far more interesting, and also easier in application.

The module selection is fantastic. We can take 4 optional modules but you’d want to take 6/7! Super interesting. I was also pleasantly surprised that we could audit these modules of interest if we didn’t choose them.

Our individual academic tutors are also super helpful. Always happy for a call and to look through their contact book for summer project pairings. Although there hasn’t been a lot of career fairs or efforts to talk about the future, if you make a little effort yourself to meet with lecturers or your academic tutor, you’ll find all that you’re looking for.

There is a warm feeling around campus, and my cohort is supportive - always happy to collaborate!

Overall, feel grateful to be here!
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
4.00 star(s)
Upvote 0 Downvote
T
Headline
Highly recommend UCL brand
Graduation Class
2022
Reviewed by Verified Member
Prior to the programme, I worked in finance but struggled to get into the quant roles I was interested in but since then I have many opportunities to choose from. My earnings have doubled since before the MSc as well.

Very good programme. I learned a lot, and was able to choose electives which interested me, and improved mathematical, statistical and coding skills.

The career service could be better.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
4.00 star(s)
Upvote 0 Downvote
Headline
Great Program with Good Contents and Project Exposures
Graduation Class
2024
The Financial Engineering program at UCL, uniquely housed within the Computer Science department, emphasizes practical and career-focused quantitative finance, blending finance with cutting-edge computational skills. Taught by seasoned industry professionals, the program offers real-world expertise and technical rigor. While it may not yet match the career exposure of Oxford or Cambridge, UCL’s reputation is steadily growing to join the first tier league of world's MFE programs.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
4.00 star(s)
Upvote 0 Downvote
Headline
Enjoyed Program with Great Opportunities
Graduation Class
2024
I enjoyed this program for its wide range of modules and the in-depth knowledge they provided. The curriculum was well-designed, the professors and lecturers were supportive and created many opportunities for professional growth and networking.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
4.00 star(s)
Upvote 3 Downvote
Headline
Great theoretical base and vast choice of topics
Graduation Class
2024
The course provides a strong mathematical and theoretical foundation in both computational finance, statistics, and machine learning. The professors are highly knowledgeable, and there is a wide selection of modules to tailor the learning experience to individual interests. It’s easy to build strong relationships with faculty, making this a solid pathway into PhD programs and advanced academic research. However, the program’s career services are a notable weakness. While there is the option to complete a thesis in an industrial setting, which can vary greatly in quality and rarely leads directly to employment, there is limited support for job placement and the courses offer little in regards to interview preparation.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
3.00 star(s)
Upvote 2 Downvote
  • Anonymous
  • 5.00 star(s)
Headline
Great Programme with Good Career Progress.
Graduation Class
2023
Reviewed by Verified Member
From what I see, the Quant course for those interested in DeFi. A well designed course that has left me with a paper published and a job within DeFi. The faculty care.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Upvote 2 Downvote
Headline
Great programme for those looking to break into the Quant world.
Graduation Class
2023
The MSc Computational Finance at UCL provides a unique and necessary blend of mathematics, programming and finance knowledge for those looking to break into the quantitative finance industry, or for those who wish to continue with academia. Furthermore, the programme offers courses on financial engineering, market risk, numerical methods, machine learning, which are crucial to securing a quant role within a bank, hedge fund or trading firms. Additionally, the lectures are distinguished experts in their fields, being both enthusiastic and understanding, thus creating a very friendly environment for all to learn.

This MSc provides a dissertation final project, which can be done in collaboration with industry partner to give real-world experience in applying what you have learned throughout this course. Being based in the heart of London also provides a unique opportunity for networking with people in industry or potential employers.

Like any university programme, challenges are bound to emerge. In particular, the quality of some of the lecture rooms were not amazing, especially considering how much you are paying for the course (which is another point on its own). Moreover, the career service is somewhat lacklustre in certain aspects, and this in conjunction with the poor administration is really a let-down.

To conclude, my experience during this course was definitely a positive one, not just in regard to the skills it has equipped me with, but also to the interesting people I met along the way. If you’re looking to be a quant, you won’t regret choosing this course.
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
5.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
3.00 star(s)
Upvote 2 Downvote
Headline
MSc Computational Finance
Graduation Class
2023
The knowledge conveyed during this program is excellent, especially for anyone who wants to continue a career in the financial industry, particularly in quantitative finance, and also for those aiming to pursue academia. This is because the curriculum offers a great mix of computational and mathematical finance, complex systems, physics, and machine learning. The lecturers are leaders in their respective research fields, which provides a unique perspective on the different topics mentioned.

Through the final project or dissertation, students can choose to either collaborate with important players in the financial industry or focus on purely academic research and publish a paper. This is very helpful for securing a full-time position in the industry or a Ph.D.

As with any program or university, there are issues, especially in terms of organization. For instance, for one course, we had to move to a new room for each lecture. Also, in my opinion, one should be sure about pursuing this master's as it is expensive.

Overall, it was a great experience. I got to know interesting people and I learned a lot.
I can recommend it to everyone!
Recommend
Yes, I would recommend this program
Students Quality
4.00 star(s)
Courses/Instructors
5.00 star(s)
Career Services
5.00 star(s)
Upvote 2 Downvote
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