Overview

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Course overview

Develop advanced quantitative finance expertise for careers at the intersection of finance, mathematics and data-driven decision-making.

  • Build specialist quantitative, analytical and financial modelling skills used in investment management, financial analysis, risk management and financial services careers.
  • Study in Manchester, a global business city and home to one of Europe's leading accounting and finance research communities.
  • Learn how to design financial products and apply advanced quantitative methods to real-world financial decision-making.
  • Join the course with a strong grade (2:1+) in a highly-quantitative subject as your undergraduate and use this course to apply your skills to the financial sector.
  • Study at Alliance Manchester Business School, ranked 7th in the UK and 26th in the world for Finance (QS Business Master's Rankings 2026).

Open days

Alliance Manchester Business School and the university both hold regular events throughout the year, including webinars, information sessions and the annual on-campus PGT Expo. All of which offer the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses from our academic and admissions staff.

This year sign up for webinars as part of our ‘ Original Thinking for the Next Generation ’ Webinar series, exclusively at Alliance Manchester Business School. Join a webinar to hear from academics and employers about the skills students gain, how they are applied in the workplace, and where they could take you next.

We also attend a number of education fairs both in the UK and overseas throughout the year.
For more details on how you can meet us, View upcoming events >>

Contact details

School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School
Contact name
Master's Admissions Team
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 306 1339
Email
Website
https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/msc-quantitative-finance/
School/Faculty overview

Alliance Manchester Business School was established in 1965 as one of the UK's first two business schools. Today, we are the UK's largest campus-based business and management school, and 'Original Thinking Applied' is at the heart of everything we do. Find out more .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

Werequire a First or Upper Second class honours degree (2:1, with 60% average) from a UK university or the overseas equivalent.

  • You ideally need a degree in finance, economics, mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, actuarial or decision sciences and have taken or be taking a significant number of modules in quantitative subjects, such as differential equations, econometrics or mathematical statistics in the final year of your degree, with excellent results.
  • A GMAT/GRE is not required to apply for this course but in some cases The Admissions Team may request this after the initial review of your application if your degree does not contain enough relevant quantitative modules.
  • When assessing your academic record, we take into account your grade average, position in class and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

English language

For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our  language requirements .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements see  entry requirements for your country .

Fees and funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £22,600
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £36,800

The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.

Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .

Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.

Learn more about - student finance options for UK students.

Learn more about - fees and finance for international students.

Graduates of The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University can receive a 10% discount on their master's degree tuition fees as part of our Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount scheme.

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply online

Staged admissions

We operate a staged admissions process for this course, see more information on how to apply and our deadlines.

Tuition fee deposits

If you are successful in receiving an offer, you will be required to pay a tuition fee deposit of £2,500 by the deadline stated in your offer letter to confirm your place. We ask for the deposit as competition for places is high and there is limited availability. The deposit amount is then deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

Advice to applicants

Your statement of purpose should cover the areas outlined below: 

  • Tell us why you are interested in the MSc Quantitative Finance course at Alliance MBS and how the course will impact on your future
  • List any other economics, mathematics, quantitative, or finance courses or qualifications you have taken in addition to your undergraduate degree
  • Describe what makes you an outstanding applicant and describe your potential to contribute to all aspects of the course.

How your application is considered

We can only process applications with the following documents:

  • valid English language qualification
  • first and second year transcript (scanned copies are accepted at the time of application)
  • list of final year modules (where possible this should be included within the same document as your first and second year transcript)
  • statement of purpose (this is included as part of your application form, you do not need to email your statement of purpose directly to the Admissions Team)

Deferrals

To defer your offer to the following year, you must contact your admission officer to get a copy of the deferral form.  You can only defer your place for one year.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

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Why study Quantitative Finance at Alliance Manchester Business School?

Develop the advanced quantitative, analytical and technical expertise needed to solve complex financial challenges in a data-driven global economy. This specialist master's programme combines finance, mathematics and econometric analysis to provide a thorough understanding of the quantitative methods used in modern financial industries.

You'll explore both the theoretical and practical foundations of quantitative finance, learning how financial models are developed, evaluated and applied across investment, risk management and financial markets. Throughout the programme, you'll strengthen your numerical, computational and problem-solving capabilities while developing the ability to assess uncertainty, interpret financial data and support evidence-based decision-making.

Studying at Alliance Manchester Business School, you'll benefit from research-led teaching, an international perspective and exposure to contemporary issues shaping global finance. The programme prepares graduates for specialist careers across quantitative finance, investment management, risk analysis, banking and financial technology, while also providing a strong foundation for future research and doctoral study.

Special features

Prepare for the CFA qualification
Through our partnership with Kaplan Schweser, the 20 highest-performing students from Semester 1 who demonstrate a strong interest in the CFA qualification receive access to Kaplan's CFA Level I preparation resources. Support includes tuition materials, online question banks, progress tests, mock examinations, tutor guidance and one-to-one support. The CFA programme develops advanced investment analysis and portfolio management expertise and provides the first step towards earning the globally recognised Chartered Financial Analyst® credential.

Discover financial markets through Trading BootCamp Week
Delivered in partnership with Amplify Trading, this immersive experience gives students the opportunity to work on a simulated live trading floor alongside experienced traders using specialist software. You'll respond to live market developments, economic data and geopolitical events while applying classroom learning to different asset classes in a practical financial markets environment.

Access industry-standard datasets through the Finance Zone
Benefit from access to one of the UK's most comprehensive collections of specialist financial and business databases used by researchers and finance professionals around the world. Resources include Bloomberg, Datastream, Thomson ONE, Compustat, WRDS and Capital IQ, helping you develop the data analysis and research skills expected across the finance industry.

Learn within a recognised finance research environment
The programme is linked to The Manchester Accounting and Finance Group, one of Europe's leading accounting and finance research units. Research-informed teaching ensures you engage with contemporary developments in financial markets, investment and corporate finance throughout your studies.

Build a foundation for professional and academic progression
The programme holds both CFA Institute Affiliate status and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) status, supporting career development within the finance sector while also providing a strong foundation for progression to doctoral research.

Coursework and assessment

The course teaching is shared by Alliance Manchester Business School and the School of Mathematics and Statistics and delivered through lectures, case studies, seminars and group project-based work. Assessment varies depending on course units taken.  It may include a combination of course work and examination.

Course unit details

During the course you will be taking 180 credits in all. The eight taught units during semester one and two total 120 credits and consists of both compulsory and optional taught units which can be viewed in the list below.

Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation, worth 60 credits. The dissertation gives you the opportunity to apply what you have learned in the taught part of the course. Our topics are aligned with the research interests of leading financial institutions from the City of London and internationally.

Examples of recent dissertation project topics include:

  • Using derivatives to predict financial markets
  • Large Language Model (LLM) analysis of climate-finance semantics and their financial impact
  • Sustainability risk premia in asset pricing
  • Machine learning and stock characteristics to predict stock returns
  • The cross-sectional predictability in the corporate bond market
  • Mutual/hedge funds performance evaluation
  • The term structure of returns and cash flows

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
BMAN63012 15 Mandatory
BMAN70141 15 Mandatory
BMAN70381 15 Mandatory
BMAN71122 15 Mandatory
BMAN71541 15 Mandatory
BMAN71572 15 Mandatory
BMAN70211 15 Optional
BMAN71152 15 Optional
BMAN71171 15 Optional
BMAN74112 15 Optional
MATH60082 15 Optional
MATH69111 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 12 course units
Display all course units

Course collaborators

Worshipful Company of International Bankers Affiliation
Our accounting and finance division courses are affiliated with the Worshipful Company of International Bankers (WCIB). Every year the best dissertation out of the following four courses will receive the WCIB Prize worth £300.

  • MSc Accounting
  • MSc Accounting and Finance
  • MSc Finance
  • MSc Quantitative Finance

The winner will also enter the competition for the prestigious WCIB Lombard Prize .
Professional and transferable skills

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

This course provides ideal preparation for a career in the finance industry specialising in designing and trading financial instruments. These financial engineers are expected to be proficient in computer programming and strong in financial mathematics. They have to be at ease with complex derivatives and creative enough to find solutions for pricing and hedging. The course also provides research skills for those who wish to pursue an academic career by studying at doctoral level.

Recent recruiters

Armacell, Bank of Thailand, Barclays Capital, Bloomberg, China Merchants Bank, CIBC World Markets, Citigroup, Hewitt Associates, KPMG, Matrix, MFC Fund and Schlumberger.

Read more about graduate career destinations >>

Read about our Postgraduate Careers Service >>

Read the latest information on visa changes and opportunities in the UK for international students >>

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.