BSc (Hons) Financial Mathematics
The course
- UCAS code
- GGC3
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Delivery type
- Full-time
Contact
Got questions about this programme?
Contact our enquiries team.
Overview
If you are looking for a career in the world of finance and love mathematical challenges, then BSc (Hons) Financial Mathematics is the degree for you. Just as civil engineering deals with the design, construction and maintenance of buildings and roads, financial mathematics is concerned with the design, construction and maintenance of financial products. It is well known that careers in financial mathematics offer some of the best salaries of all professions, and graduates working in this area thrive on being offered many interesting challenges on a day-to-day basis.
Our Financial Mathematics programme develops the skills and knowledge required by the modern investment and asset management industry, where structured finance and relative value trading strategies dominate. The emphasis is on developing a range of practical skills relevant to the increasingly mathematical and ever-changing world of contemporary finance.
Financial Mathematics isn't just for aspiring bankers. Graduates are also attractive to the treasury function of international corporations and to the trading arm of commodities companies.
Students on the Financial Mathematics degree follow the same programme as Actuarial Science students for the first two years. The programmes diverge in third year and in the fourth year Financial Mathematics students will be able to study courses alongside Master's students on the Quantitative Finance and Mathematics programme. The aim is for Financial Mathematics graduates to acquire a skill set comparable to those graduating with a Master's degree.
Global College pathway for this degree
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, have a look at Heriot-Watt Global College, where you can follow an accelerated pathway which will get you onto the second year of this degree.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Royal Statistical Society.
Go Global
This course is currently only delivered at our Edinburgh Campus and there are no current opportunities to study at exchange partner institutions.
However, other Go Global opportunities may be available. Please contact goglobal@hw.ac.uk for more information
Course content
Year 1
Introduction to Statistical Science; Calculus; Introduction to University Mathematics; Professional Development Planning; Finance; Economics and practical work.
Year 2
Probability and Statistics; Actuarial and Financial Mathematics; Linear Algebra; Real Analysis; Multivariate Calculus; Numerical Analysis and practical work.
Year 3
Portfolio Theory and Asset Models; Derivative Markets and Discrete-Time Finance; Stochastic Processes; Statistical Modelling; Vector Analysis; Numerical Analysis; Bayesian Inference and Computational Methods.
Year 4
Advanced Derivative Pricing; Continuous-Time Finance; and options from a wide choice, including Statistical Machine Learning, Optimisation, Risk Theory and Time Series.
More in-depth information on the content of the courses listed above, how they are assessed and the learning outcomes can be accessed via our current student portal.
Discover Uni course data
Discover Uni provides data on each university's degree courses across a range of measures including student satisfaction, graduate jobs and salaries.
Employability
Work and study
This is what our BSc (Hons) Financial Mathematics students are doing 15 months after graduating:
- 70% are working
- 5% are studying
- 20% are working and studying.
Salary
- The average salary of students 15 months after graduating: £32000
- The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course: £30000
Potential career paths
- Business, Research and Administrative professionals
- Finance professionals
Entry requirements
Year 1
Standard entry requirements
- Highers AAAB including Mathematics at A
- A-Levels AAB - AAA including Mathematics at A
- Int. Baccalaureate 28 points with higher level Mathematics at 6
- BTEC DDD including sufficient Mathematics
Minimum entry requirements*
- Highers ABBC including Mathematics at A
- A-Levels ABC including Mathematics at A
* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:
- live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
- are care experienced.
We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements
Year 2
- Advanced Highers AAB including Mathematics at A plus excellent Highers
- A-Levels AAA including Mathematics
- Int. Baccalaureate 30 points with higher level Mathematics at 7
- BTEC DDD including sufficient Mathematics
- Global College Successful completion of our Science with Accelerator Programme
Additional information
- You may have the opportunity to transfer to our Malaysia Campus for one semester or for one academic year, subject to satisfactory academic progress. Learn more about campus transfer and exchange opportunities.
- If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
- For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.
- Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
- To find out about the difference between the 3 and 4 year honours courses, please watch our video to help you decide which route is best for your qualifications and experience so far.
English language requirements
- The minimum requirement for English language for all our undergraduate Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics courses is IELTS 6.5. Please see our English language requirements.
Fees
| Status* | Scotland | England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland | International** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | Paid by SAAS | £9,250 | £18,704 |
* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.
** 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above). Read more about the application process for EU nationals.
Additional costs
You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.
Scholarships and bursaries
Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:
- Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.