Finance - Financial Data Science

Overview
Fintech (the merging of finance, data and technology) is transforming financial services. New and emerging technologies such as big data analytics, blockchain, machine learning and AI, cloud computing and cryptocurrencies are transforming how business is conducted. This exciting new masters will equip students for a career addressing global business needs for data science expertise particularly in the financial services industry.

The MSc in Financial Data Science is suitable for graduates of engineering, computer science, mathematics, and business (with quantitative modules), with a talent for and interest in applying data science to problems particular to the realm of financial services.

What are the benefits?

UCD College of Business has a significant number of academics who are leaders in the area of financial data science and digital technology and financial services.

Immerse yourself in how financial markets operate and the ongoing FinTech revolution in this space.

The programme features the theory and practice of cutting-edge quantitative analysis, optimisation, data science and machine learning on real financial data sets.

Graduates will attain skills and understanding in software programming, databases and applications of machine learning in finance.

Options include a FinTech start-up incubator program in the Summer Trimester in partnership with Nova UCD, (which offers guidance and support in bringing start-up ideas to market).

What will I learn?
Fintech is transforming financial services leading to the emergence of challenger digital banks, innovative fintech start ups and new and emerging technology companies, driving employment demand in the financial sector. UCD College of Business has a significant number of academics who are leaders in the area of financial data science and digital technology and financial services. Given this critical mass of academic expertise, a growing gap in the jobs market for professionals with excellent data and technological skills in a finance context it is opportune for us to launch a programme which will equip students with the market knowledge and financial data science skills to succeed in this new and emerging digital environment for banking and financial market transactions.

How will I benefit?
This is a new course at the cutting edge of emerging digital technologies and data analysis in Finance. The course will not only attract graduates from a number of different backgrounds but can also be tailored to a wide variety of academic and professional objectives, providing an enviable array of career options upon graduation. Students will benefit from practitioner inputs as well as international academic perspectives.

Curriculum
To achieve an MSc in Financial Data Science student's complete a series of core modules over Trimester 1 and Trimester 2. In Trimester 3 students can complete either the industry internship; a FinTech incubator project; or take 3 additional option modules.

Autumn Trimester
Quantitative Methods for Finance
Capital Markets & Instruments
Derivative Securities
Financial Analysis
Financial Econometrics
Financial Theory

Spring Trimester
Banking & Finance in the Digital Age
Programming for Financial Data Science
Financial Data Science
Machine Learning for Finance

Summer Trimester
Ethics in Financial Services

Students choose one of the Pathways below:

Pathway A:
Green Data Science
plus choose two modules from the list below
Mergers and Acquisitions
Financial Technology
Structured Finance
OR
Pathway B:
Summer Internship

OR
Pathway C:
FinTech Incubator Project

Please be advised that option modules listed are indicative of what has been delivered in previous years. What is offered each academic year is subject to change. Summer taught modules are delivered in blocks over one or two weeks.

Please review the entry requirements below. The UCD Smurfit Admissions Office staff have expertise in reviewing international qualifications from around the world and will be able to assess your application's comparability to the Irish entry requirement.

Please review the entry requirements below. The UCD Smurfit Admissions Office staff have expertise in reviewing international qualifications from around the world and will be able to assess your application's comparability to the Irish entry requirement.

Graduates with an undergraduate degree in Business, Finance or any degree with a significant quantitative element (such as engineering, physics or mathematics) are eligible to apply to this programme.

Applicants may be asked to undertake the GMAT or GRE at the Programme Director's discretion.

Two completed academic reference forms from referees who can assess applicant's maturity, motivation
and intellectual ability. Part-time students can provide employer references.

Note: Note that graduates of UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business are not required to submit the reference form

The first step is to collate the required documentation needed to assess your application. Please ensure that you have clearly scanned, titled and collated your documents in numerical order.

These can include but are not limited to:

TRANSCRIPTS AND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
CV
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST
REFERENCES
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION

You must apply online using our dedicated student information portal. You will be required to enter contact details, upload your documents and answer two essay questions (each approximately 300 words). We would ask that you seriously consider both essays and answer these in the context of the programme you are applying to. Try to not replicate your CV and demonstrate what makes you different from other applicants. There are no right or wrong ways to complete these essays.

Application Deadlines:
Applications are assessed on a rolling basis and courses will close once they are filled. We advise you to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Please note certain scholarships may require you to apply before a certain date – please refer to our scholarship page here. If you have any questions in relation to deadlines or availability please email smurfit.admissions@ucd.ie.

You will then be asked to submit your application and pay the €50 application fee. No application can be assessed until the fee has been paid. You can apply for multiple programmes with the one application fee, but please be sure to mark your preferred course.

Once submitted, it usually takes 2-3 weeks before a decision is made on fully completed applications. This time period can sometimes be longer and can vary at different times in the year and in different regions. We may offer you a conditional place based on the completion of a number of criteria, such as degree, English test, or another qualification. This reserves you a place on the course and once you have fulfilled this criteria we will issue you a full offer.

Acceptance is completed by paying a non-refundable deposit (varies from either €500 or €1000 depending on the programme. Most of our programmes require a €500 deposit). Your offer email will detail the exact deposit amount required. Once you have accepted you will then be supported by the Programme Office who will contact you with further course and start details.

12 months full-time, 24 months part-time.

Career Opportunities
Graduates of the MSc in Financial Data Science will find career opportunities in the following areas:

Data science
Financial Services
Investment Management
Risk Management
Banking & Credit Risk
FinTech