University of Zurich, Department of Banking and Finance
ETH Zurich, Department of Mathematics

Joint Master's in Quantitative Finance

Portrait and Curriculum

The Master of Science in Quantitative Finance (MScQF) is a highly international specialised degree program offered by the University of Zurich, represented by the Department of Banking and Finance within the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics and the ETH Zurich, represented by the Department of Mathematics.

The MScQF - entirely taught in English - offers its students a unique blend of training in quantitative methods for finance and economics, covering the fundamental concepts associated with financial economics, financial markets, asset management, and risk management.

Students benefit from the expertise of leading research groups at two top institutions, from the proximity to the Zurich financial center (banks, insurance/reinsurance and consulting companies) and a well-established multi-dimensional cooperation with industry, including internships.

A distinguishing feature of the MScQF is its unique combination of economic theory and finance with mathematical methods (probability theory, statistics and econometrics, numerical analysis) for finance and insurance. Lectures are taught by worldwide leading scholars in the field, as well as by leading financial practitioners.

The program comprises core courses, elective courses and a master's thesis. Any course of the program is part of one of the 2 areas “Finance” or “Mathematical Methods in Finance”.

From the wide offer of electives, students can make individual focus choices within 6 thematic tracks:

• track 1: Machine Learning, AI and Data in Finance,
• track 2: Uncertainty and Risk Management,
• track 3: Mathematical Topics in Finance,
• track 4: Banking and Corporate Finance,
• track 5: Insurance,
• track 6: Portfolio Management and Asset Pricing.

The curriculum consists of two semesters of coursework followed by the writing of a Master’s thesis. Each student needs to acquire at least 90 ECTS credit points: 60 from the courses, 30 from the Master’s thesis. The diploma will be a joint diploma awarded by the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich.


Future Prospects after the MScQF

Graduates are prepared for excellent opportunities to work as specialists in quantitatively oriented areas of the financial services industry. We have high placement rates in risk and asset management and financial product development, as well as connections to top consulting firms.

Another career opportunity is to begin doctoral studies in a PhD program in (quantitative) finance, opening the door to an academic career.

Events with industry partners are organized each year to show possible career perspectives of a MScQF graduate and to give the students the possibility to connect with industry. As a further help to enter the industry we provide our students and alumni with job and internship openings.

An own Alumni organization of the program (Zurich Quantitative Finance Alumni), created in 2015, is organizing attractive networking events for alumni and actual students of the programme.


Admission requirements

German language is not necessary for the studies, but helpful to live in Zurich

A good level of English is required to be admitted to the University:

Certificate Required (Details: www.uzh.ch/cmsssl/en/studies/application/languagerequirements.html)

IELTS Academic* - 7

TOEFL iBT / MyBestTM Scores to TOEFL iBT** - 100

C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge English: Advanced, CAE) *** -

C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge English: Proficiency, CPE)*** -

Application on: www.msfinance.uzh.ch/en/admission.html
Read more: www.msfinance.ch


About the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich

UZH, since 1833

With its 28,000 enrolled students, the University of Zurich (UZH) is Switzerland's largest university. Founded in the year 1833, UZH was Europe's first university to be established by a democratic political system.

Today UZH is one of the foremost universities in the German-speaking world. Made up of seven faculties covering some 100 different subject areas, the University offers a wide variety of Bachelor's, Master's and PhD programs. In addition, UZH's continuing education programs offer excellent learning opportunities.

ETH, since 1855

Established in 1855 as the Federal Polytechnic School, ETH Zurich has, from the outset, been a national centre for education with international appeal, attracting talents from all over the world. ETH Zurich was given its present name, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule), in 1911. Over the decades that followed, it entered into solid partnerships with the state and with industry and invested increasingly in both applied and fundamental research, which were gaining in importance in relation to education. The university grew steadily.

ETH Zurich now has over 24,500 students from 120 countries. The long-standing tradition of ETH Zurich, combined with its ability constantly to adapt to new requirements, have brought great success to the university.

Today, it ranks among the world’s leading universities of science and technology.