Master of Quantitative Finance

Degree Level Postgraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
February

Campus
City West

Duration
2 year(s) full-time

Program Code
DMQN

SATAC Code
4CM072 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry requirements
Applicants are required to have:
- A completed Bachelors degree in a related discipline from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent; OR
- A completed Graduate Diploma in a related discipline from a recognised higher education institution;
Applicants would normally have completed a recognised bachelor degree, or an equivalent qualification. In addition, a mathematical background equivalent to Calculus and Linear Algebra and a statistical background equivalent to Statistical Methods are assumed knowledge for this program. Students without this assumed knowledge are counselled to formulate a plan with the program director to acquire the appropriate background during the first study period of the program.

A qualification from one of the following disciplines will normally be considered acceptable: Management, Engineering, Marketing, Business, Computing and IT, Science, Mathematics, Accounting and Commerce.
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This program has no further intakes, please view our full suite of current Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences programs here.

Aim

The program is designed to train graduates as quantitative finance professionals. A solid grounding in finance is developed and then used to study topics of increasing mathematical and financial complexity. At the conclusion of the program, students may seek employment in a wide range of financial areas, or specialise further into financial planning, actuarial studies, investment analysis, or financial risk management.

Content & Structure

A total of 72 units of study must be completed for the degree. The first year provides a solid foundation in mathematics, statistics and probability, as well as finance and actuarial science. In the second year, courses utilise this fundamental knowledge and develop further expertise in the analysis of financial products and operations. The courses Master in Quantitative Finance Project 1 and 2 and Advanced Topics in Quantitative Finance, will allow students to study an area of financial mathematics or actuarial science not covered elsewhere in the curriculum, as well as develop research and professional communication skills needed for today’s dynamic workplace environments.

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From 4 August 2025, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students.

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What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Elective		4.5	Note(s): 2
Theory of Interest M	MATH 5039	4.5
Statistical Foundations M	MATH 5040	4.5
Investments	MATH 5034	4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Derivatives I: Futures	MATH 5030	4.5
Life Contingencies M	MATH 5035	4.5
Stochastic Calculus	MATH 5019	4.5
Corporate Finance	BUSS 5233	4.5
SECOND YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Derivatives II: Options	MATH 5031	4.5
Fixed Income Securities	MATH 5033	4.5
Financial Time Series M	MATH 5032	4.5
Masters in Quantitative Finance Project 1	MATH 5043	4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Risk Theory M	MATH 5038	4.5
Multivariate Statistical Analysis M	MATH 5036	4.5
Masters in Quantitative Finance Project 2	MATH 5044	4.5
Advanced Topics in Quantitative Finance	MATH 5041	4.5	Note(s): 3
OR
Decision Making Under Uncertainty	MATH 5001	4.5

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units

Financial Theory and Financial Markets	BANK 5014	4.5
Calculus M	MATH 5042	4.5

Rules & notes

Notes

1. The intake for this program is in Study Period 2 only.

2. Students without sufficient prerequisite knowledge in Calculus are given the opportunity to undertake Calculus M (MATH 5042) as an elective option. This elective option can also allow those who do have knowledge of Calculus to take a course such as Financial Theory and Financial Markets (BANK 5014) as their elective.

3. Special area of Finance or Insurance to be named and details of the content provided for each offering of the course, in line with current topical research in the discipline.