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MSc Finanical Math from Cass or Warwick

Hi Guys - A friend of mine got admitted to Financial Math programme at Warwick, Cass and Machester. Howvere, after much deliberations he was able to get down his list to two. Striking out Manchester. But now he cant decide between cass and warwick. Both seem to have a nice programme with qite a few pros going for them. To name a few:

Pos for Cass:
1) Located in london (near financial sector, big banks and investment banks)
2) Cass business school's brand famous for its postgraduate degrees.
3) The restructuring of the Financial Math programme last year which has seen known instructors from Imperial joining Cass. Definitely worth considering.

Pros for Cass:
1) Good rating for the all the four depts that combine to give this degree at Warwick.
2) Very strong mathematical dept with world class faculty and research.
3) Seems like a more well rounded programme, includes topics like Economic Analysis and Time Series apart from Core Financial Math module.

So guys what do you think please shed some light on what in your opinion should be the programme of choice - please answer taking into account the quality of education, reputation and employability of the programme.

Btw My friend's background: He will graduate this July with BSc (Honours) Math and minor in Economics. He has a GPA of 3.6 and GRE quant score of 800.

Please your input will be really appreciated!

Reply 1

HoodTrader

I would suggest it depends a lot on what your friend wants to go into after the course. I know that both schools are equally reputable, however for me location would be a big thing. Being in London means you are able to attend more events by Banks or other city firms etc. and possibly you are spending more time with people with those who want to work in the city (networking opportunities etc)

Reply 2

PortfolioManager

7

By all means go to WARWICK. The number of people from Warwick from Msc Maths/Finance that end up in IB is quite high. Deutsche Bank has good links with the Maths/Economics department. Warwick is hot at the moment. Ive studied there and I know almost 15ish people that are in banking who have done maths/economics/accounting&finance.

Reply 3

finmath7

1

MSc Financial Math @ Warwick has very good placement records. If you were comparing this to other MSc programmes at Cass, I would strongly suggest Warwick. But MSc Financial Math @ Cass (not MTF or QF pls), though relatively new, has attracted brilliant ppl and as a result their placement this year has been great I heard. I personally know of 2 ppl there who have got quant positions.

It's a tough call really. But I like the Warwick curriculum better. In any case, interviews take place from Oct-Dec, and hence it doesn't really matter which school you go to. Your past academic results and online tests will determine whether you get called to the 1st round.

Reply 4

johnriver

You need to highlight to your friend the importance of living in the city and being able to attend seminars and events... warwick is a very good school in a very badly picked location. Cass is one of the best b-schools in the London... I think the answer should be crystal clear to be honest.
But then again I am not sure about both school's performance in Financial Math.
I know Cass is very well known for Msc in Finance and mostly the MTF program (Mathematical Trading and Finance) which is an excellent course to choose if you would like to specialize in derivatives and options.
It all depends on what type of job you actually wish to get but definetly Cass has more advantages to offer in this case.

Reply 5

zeramzi

Cass vs Warwick in Financial Math...

Well lets see:

Pros for Warwick:
1- Good school reputation overall
2- Very focused on mathematics
3- cheaper living costs

Pros for Cass
1- Great reputation in the city
2- Located in central London
3- A lot of instructors worked in IBs before
4- Big network of grads working in the city

Cass is a little more expensive but I think defintly worth it... because to be a good candidate for interviews, you have to attend multiple seminars and conferences that are held in London. Also, Cass business schools is more prestigious in my opinion than Warwick Business School.
But then again... it all depends on what you are looking for

Reply 6

Gunner_For_Life

OP

Another thing to consider here is that my friend will be coming as an international student so dont know what kind of effect wud that have. Btw agree with a post above that says warwick's curriclumum seems better. Even i suggested the same. Anyways i know its not that easy a decision to take. but anyways guys thankz for ur views.

Reply 7

Gunner_For_Life

OP

ohh yes @finmath, he got admitted to Financial Math prog at Cass.. and not MTF or QF. Btw i've heard QF prog is in the middle of nowhere.

Reply 8

finmath7

1

Yeah QF is basically another programme thrown in to make money. MTF is not as rigorous and intake is about 80. FM admits 30 a year.

Agree with the rest that location is important. But Warwick is far stronger in math and they have spent a lot of resources on their FM programme. You might want to contact both schools and ask for their placement records. I've heard Warwick has been consistent in this aspect for years. I've always thought the FM programmes in IC and Warwick are the top in UK.

Gunner_For_Life

ohh yes @finmath, he got admitted to Financial Math prog at Cass.. and not MTF or QF. Btw i've heard QF prog is in the middle of nowhere.

Reply 9

Gunner_For_Life

OP

Thank FinMath. Btw whats ur take on Mathematical Finance programme at Manchester. Is it any good ???....

Ohh btw i've quite a few of ur posts on the forum... mind sharing a bit of ur background ?

Reply 10

The Orientalist

10

Warwick Mathematics Institute is one of the best maths departments in the world within one of the best universities in the UK, its msc financial maths program is widely considered as being one of the best in the UK with Imperial's and (soon to come) Oxford's. I've heard Birckbeck's financial maths program is pretty good too.

Cass business school has a very good reputation from what I hear, but does seem to be quite infamous within popular financial maths forums like Wilmott (where a lot of quants "hang out" :P), criticising the lack of structure in the program and its financial maths program being a "cash cow".
Just my 2 cents.

EDIT: Sorry little mistake here, financial maths is run by Warwick Business School (which has a much better international reputation than CASS) of course, not Warwick mathematics institute (although the latter is highly involved in the course).

Reply 11

finmath7

1

Yep, so The Orientalist shares my view that IC and Warwick have the best MSc FM. Oxford will be starting a MSc Math & Comp Finance this year, how good it'll be in the industry is anyone's guess, but you can't go wrong with the Oxford brand you'll say. The Oxford MFE in it's first year didn't go very well, but things have changed this year.

Yeah over at Wilmott, there are ppl complaining at the quality of Cass courses. What I do know from current Cass students is that the FM courses are really quite good, while MTF and QF are quite a joke. Btw, MTF is very popular, many professionals in the industry take it part-time, along with Birbeck MSc Fin Engin.

@ Gunner_for_Life: I'm currently reading MSc Finance & Econ at LSE.

Reply 12

The Orientalist

10

finmath7

Yep, so The Orientalist shares my view that IC and Warwick have the best MSc FM. Oxford will be starting a MSc Math & Comp Finance this year, how good it'll be in the industry is anyone's guess, but you can't go wrong with the Oxford brand you'll say. The Oxford MFE in it's first year didn't go very well, but things have changed this year.

Yeah over at Wilmott, there are ppl complaining at the quality of Cass courses. What I do know from current Cass students is that the FM courses are really quite good, while MTF and QF are quite a joke. Btw, MTF is very popular, many professionals in the industry take it part-time, along with Birbeck MSc Fin Engin.

@ Gunner_for_Life: I'm currently reading MSc Finance & Econ at LSE.

Yeah CASS students on the Wilmot forum do seem uninspired by their course really. A problem regarding how the course is structured, how bad most of the lecturers are, how badly the assignments are marked etc etc. But I've heard CASS are restructuring their course, anyway I'm sure you've seen the post on Wilmott.

I really do think that Oxford's new program is going to become THE financial maths program to attend. They have recruited some of the biggest names of financial mathematics in such a small period of time to teach the new recruits, it's quite impressive. But yeah for now, Imperial Warwick and, I forgot to mention, LSE top it in my opinion. So tell your friend to go for Warwick.

finmath7, what are your plans after your Msc? Quant job?

Reply 13

finmath7

1

@ The Orientalist: yeah, I'll be interning as a research quant starting end June.

Reply 14

Gunner_For_Life

OP

yea i guess the popular consensus rests with Warwick. and my friend has also decided to pursue the degree at warwick. its final.

Reply 15

Gunner_For_Life

OP

hey btw just for curiosity sake i was just wondering why the finanial math program never get a mention in any discussion. Is the program/university reputation that bad???

Reply 16

hungry_hog

9

People who say location is a big draw for CASS; you should consider that the banks will have milkround events in Warwick (and other events). It's not like going to 5 events over the year will give you an edge - your app will still have ot go through the same processes like everyone elses

MSc Finanical Math from Cass or Warwick

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