MSc Algorithmic Trading at University of Essex

On our MSc Algorithmic Trading, we equip you with the core concepts and quantitative methods in high frequency finance, along with the operational skills to use state-of-the-art computational methods for financial modelling.

We enable you to attain an understanding of financial markets at the level of individual trades occurring over sub-millisecond timescales, and apply this to the development of real-time approaches to trading and risk-management.

The course includes hands-on projects on topics such as order book analysis, VWAP & TWAP, pairs trading, statistical arbitrage, and market impact functions. You have the opportunity to study the use of financial market simulators for stress testing trading strategies, and designing electronic trading platforms.

In addition to traditional topics in financial econometrics and market microstructure theory, we put special emphasis on areas:

• Statistical and computational methods
• Modelling trading strategies and predictive services that are deployed by hedge funds
• Algorithmic trading groups
• Derivatives desks
• Risk management departments

Our Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents is an innovative and laboratory-based teaching and research centre, with an international reputation for leading-edge, interdisciplinary work combining economic and financial modelling with computational implementation. We are supported by Essex’s highly rated Department of Economics, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, and Essex Business School. More than two-thirds of our research rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent' (REF 2014).

Why we're great.

• Develop the essential operational skills needed for state-of-the-art computational methods for financial modelling
• Study the use of financial market simulators for stress testing trading strategies, and designing electronic trading platforms
• Our Employability and Careers Centre is on hand to help with careers advice and planning. You will also have opportunities to present your research and travel to international conferences

Your future

We have an extensive network of industrial contacts through our City Associates Board and our alumni, while our expert seminar series gives you the opportunity to work with leading figures from industry.

Our recent graduates have gone on to become quantitative analysts, portfolio managers and software engineers at various institutions, including:

• HSBC
• Mitsubishi UFJ Securities
• Old Mutual
• Bank of England