MSc Risk Management and Financial Engineering
Designed to prepare recent graduates for careers in financial engineering and risk management.
Overview
Our Master’s degree in Risk Management is a one-year course, providing technically-minded graduates with an analytical study of risk management and financial engineering.
The course is run by Imperial College Business School and equips our students with the cutting-edge risk management tools and strategies utilised by world-leading financial firms.
You will learn how to put the latest academic thinking and business strategies into practice from leading practitioners and world class faculty, giving you a thorough and hands-on understanding of risk management.
Study programme
The course begins with core modules in the autumn term that continue into the spring term.
You also complete a number of online interactive primer modules that you must pass but which do not contribute to your final grade. These foundation modules introduce you to the modern tools of finance.
In the spring term, you choose a number of elective modules as well as choosing between two different types of projects. The individual Applied Project comprises of a 3,000-word report and a short presentation and the individual Research Project involves an original piece of work of around 10,000 words. You carry out your chosen project over the summer term. Students who complete a Research Project are required to take one less elective.
Careers
Our graduates are well prepared for jobs in a wide range of industries in the UK, Europe and further afield, with employers including Barclays, RBS and Prudential.
Find out more about MSc Risk Management and Financial Engineering
Professional accreditation
We are among a handful of business schools worldwide to achieve triple accreditation:
- Association of MBAs (AMBA)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS)
We have also been recognised for our work in tackling gender inequality in higher education with a Bronze Athena SWAN award.
Structure
This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
Page last reviewed on 25 October 2021.
Structure
Core modules
- Financial Statistics
- Foundations in Risk Management and Financial Engineering
- Investments and Portfolio Management
- Risk Management and Valuation
- Stochastic Calculus
- Empirical Finance: Methods and Applications
- Financial Engineering
- Ethics and Professional Standards in Finance
Non-assessed modules
- Accounting Primer
- Foundations for Career Success
- Finance Careers Primer
- Introduction to Finance
- Introduction to Maths
- Plagiarism Awareness
- Study Skills
Optional modules
- Advanced Options Theory
- Advanced Financial Statistics
- Applied Trading Strategies
- Asset Allocation and Investment Strategies
- Banks, Regulation and Monetary Policy
- Big Data in Finance I
- Big Data in Finance II
- Blockchain and Applications
- Computational Finance with C++
- Corporate Governance and Stewardship
- Corporate Finance for Practitioners (International Elective)
- Credit Risk
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Fixed Income Securities
- Insurance
- International Finance
- Innovation and Strategy in FinTech
- Introduction to Quantitative Investing (International Elective)
- Machine Learning and Finance
- Private Equity and Venture Capital
- Real Estate Investment
- Structured Credit and Equity Products
- Text Mining for Economics and Finance
- Wealth Management and Alternative Investments
Project
- Applied Project
- Research Project
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
- Case studies
- Equipment/technique demonstrations (e.g. Bloomberg, Datastream)
- Formal presentations
- Group work exercises
- interactive content including video and module quizzes
- Lectures
- On-line discussion forums
- On-line lecture materials
- Practical classes
- Pre-programme on-line modules
- Seminars
- Work Placement Opportunity
- Workshops
Assessment methods
- Case Studies
- Continuous assessments
- Essays
- Formal Presentations
- Multiple Choice Tests
- Participation
- Reports
- Written Examinations/Tests
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
For advice on the requirements for the qualifications listed here please contact the Department (details at the bottom of this page).
Entry requirements
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in a highly quantitative subject.
You are also required to have a well-researched career plan with clear short and long term goals.
International qualifications
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications. For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed here are the minimum for entry to the College.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the ICBS requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for Business School applicants.
Competence standards
Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
View Imperial College Business School's competence standards [pdf]
We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.
Imperial College Business School
T: +44 (0)20 7589 5111
E: business.school@imperial.ac.uk
How to apply
Making an application
Apply online
All applicants must apply online.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
If you are applying to the Business School, you may only be considered for one programme per admissions cycle, with the exception of applicants to our Finance Master's programmes, who may select two programmes.
Application fee
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for taught Master's applications (excluding MBAs)
- £135 for MBA applications
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
ATAS certificate
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Further questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions. Answers cover COVID-19, English language requirements, visas and more.
Tuition fees and funding
The fees for MSc Risk Management and Financial Engineering are the same for UK and international students.
Find out more about fees and funding opportunities.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies. Find out more about our scholarships to see what you might be eligible for.
There are a number of external organisations also offer awards for Imperial students, find out more about non-Imperial scholarships.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
Got a question?
T: +44 (0)20 7589 5111
E: business.school@imperial.ac.uk
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