The programme is oriented to providing students with specific high-level specialisation in mathematical, statistical and computing techniques applied to financial and insurance markets and a full command of the tools required to:
i) assess financial and insurance assets consistently with commodity pricing;
ii) measure the risk of financial products and develop risk hedging techniques using both static and dynamic optimisation tools;
iii) design quantitative tools for portfolio management which are able to combine statistical information from historical sources and implied information in the current prices of financial products;
iv) design quantitative procedures for assessment, replication and hedging of life and casualty insurance products, using cutting-edge financial and actuarial statistical techniques.
For this purpose, the study programme is structured to provide:
- the necessary complementary mathematical, statistical and economic skills;
- in depth study of quantitative methods for financial applications;
- specialised study in one of the following areas: pricing, risk management, asset management, insurance.
The study programme includes quantitative learning areas, adopting instruments to develop quantitative finance applications, studies in the economic and legal fields, designing the context of application, as well as in the financial and actuarial fields, with a view to producing the professional figures targeted by this programme. It therefore includes a large number of course units in mathematical subjects, distinguishing itself from other 2nd cycle financial degree programmes, and by the inter-disciplinary merger of contents referring to other subject areas: Mathematical Methods for Economics and Actuarial and Financial Sciences, Statistics, Econometrics, Numerical Methods and information technology, Corporate Finance. The latter sector is considered the context in which all quantitative knowledge is applied. Students are also offered the chance to carry out an internship in financial intermediation, insurance or consulting firms.
The study programme is completed with the production of an original dissertation written in English. The dissertation is produced under the supervision of a professor and both the selection of the topic and methods are evaluated to assess the student autonomous ability at identifying a problem and proposing a rigorous, applicable solution.