Structure & Content
Curriculum/Table of Class Hours
You will find all important information about the Quantitative Finance Master's programm in our new brochure.
Download the brochure here.
Course of Studies
First Year
Preparatory Courses
highly recommended prior to program startThe bridging courses will refresh and deepen your skills and knowledge in the relevant fields and prepare you for the classes of the first semester. We strongly recommend that you attend these courses.
The bridging courses will be offered in September prior to the program start. The bridging courses can only be attended by students already admitted to the Master Program in Quantitative Finance.
Bridging Course Mathematics
Dr. Andrea WagnerBridging Course in Finance
Prof. Stefan Pichler
1st semester
Phase 1 (Oct-Nov)
| Course | ECTS | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CourseMathematics | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| CourseMicroeconomics | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| CourseComputing | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
Phase 2 (Dec-Jan)
| Course | ECTS | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CourseProbability | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| CoursePrinciples of Finance | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| CourseStatistics 1 | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
2nd semester
Phase 3 (Mar-Apr)
| Course | ECTS | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CourseCorporate Finance | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| CourseFinancial Markets and Instruments | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| CourseStatistics 2 | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
Phase 4 (May-Jun)
| Course | ECTS | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CourseAsset/Risk Management I | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| CourseMathematical Finance | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| CourseEconometrics | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
Second Year
In your second year, you specialize. You can choose the Science Track to prepare for an academic career or the Industry Track to train for a career as a quant. You will combine expertise on financial models with computational skills and apply your knowledge in real-world settings in cooperation with our corporate partners.
Advanced Courses for both Tracks
| Course | ECTS | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CourseStatistical and Machine Learning | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| CourseAsset/Risk Management II | ECTS5 | Hours2 | TypePI |
Specialization Science Track
Science Track Mandatory Courses
| Course | ECTS | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoursePaper Reading and Writing | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypeFS |
| CourseResearch Seminar I: Finance or StatMath | ECTS2 | Hours2 | TypeFS |
| CourseResearch Seminar II: Finance or StatMath | ECTS2 | Hours2 | TypeFS |
| CourseMaster Thesis Seminar | ECTS2 | Hours2 | TypeFS |
Electives (5 to select)
| Currently, we are offering the following electives | ECTS | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesAdvanced Topics in Computing | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesAsset Pricing | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesData and Text Mining | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesMachine Learning in Finance | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesFinancial Time Series Analysis | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesBayesian Econometrics | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesAdvanced Topics in Continuous Time Finance | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesQuantitative Risk Management | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesCredit Risk | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesFinancial Engineering | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesOptimization | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesAdvanced Mathematical Methods | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesPortfolio Management - Applications | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesSustainable Finance | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesAdvanced Topics in Banking | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesMarket Microstructure: Theory and Applications | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesEmpirical Methods in Finance | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electivesGame Theory | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypeP |
Specialization Industry Track
Industry Track Mandatory Courses
| Course | ECTS | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CourseIndustry Lab | ECTS8 | Hours4 | TypeFS |
| CourseMaster Thesis Seminar | ECTS2 | Hours2 | TypeFS |
Electives (5 to select)
| Currently, we are offering the following electives: | ECTS | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Advanced Topics in Computing | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Asset Pricing | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Data and Text Mining | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Machine Learning in Finance | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Financial Time Series Analysis | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Bayesian Econometrics | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Advanced Topics in Continous Time Finance | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Quantitative Risk Management | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Credit Risk | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Financial Engineering | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Optimization | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Advanced Mathematical Methods | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Portfolio Management - Applications | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Sustainable Finance | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Advanced Topics in Banking | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Market Microstructure: Theory and Applications | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Game Theory | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
| Currently, we are offering the following electives:Empirical Methods in Finance | ECTS4 | Hours2 | TypePI |
Master Thesis
| ECTS | Hours | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Thesis | ECTS20 | Hours | Type |
For Industry Track students the process will be structured in a Master Thesis Seminar.
Science Track students will define their topic within the Paper Reading and Writing Seminar while the Master Thesis Seminar will have a different focus.
Master Thesis Process:
Kick-off meeting of the seminar in end of October/beginning of November
List of topics / subjects areas provided by potential thesis supervisors
Structured allocation process, to be completed before Christmas
Presentation of proposals in January
Final presentation of thesis findings in June
Quantitative Finance
Office hours: by appointment (qfin@wu.ac.at)