Financial Technology with Data Science

Entry requirements

You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in a Numerate Science, Computer Science, or Engineering. The following degrees are also acceptable:

• Accounting
• Astrophysics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Econometrics
• Economics
• Finance
• Genetics
• Geology / Earth Sciences
• Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Operations Research
• Physics
• Psychology

If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.

We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.

If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications:

• evidence of significant, relevant paid work experience (minimum two years) in one of the following sectors: a technical role as a data analyst, data engineer, data scientist, quantitative analyst, software developer/engineer.
• a relevant postgraduate qualification.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Months of entry

September

Course content

From crowdfunding to cryptocurrencies, and from automated trading to Alipay, recent innovations in financial technologies have revolutionised the way we spend, save, borrow, and invest. Companies in the financial services sector are now able to intelligently harness data to provide tailored products and services; big technology corporations offer financial services to customers through their social media accounts; and disruptive technology startups have quickly scaled to challenge the dominance of traditional banks by developing new forms of finance from the ground up.

This MSc offers an opportunity to join the financial technology revolution. You will learn the key design features of a number of financial technology applications and will develop skills to implement, assess and engineer these technologies. You will also develop an understanding of the computational, statistical and machine learning principles necessary for insightful large-scale data analysis used in data-driven finance.

Hosted by a world-leading engineering faculty, this is a technology-focused MSc and not a finance or accounting programme that is traditionally provided by a business school. Therefore, we expect applicants to have a strong background in computer science, engineering or a numerate science. A background in economics or finance is not expected or required.

This MSc is likely to appeal to applicants looking to start or advance their careers in data-driven finance and technology. The UK is a world leader in financial technology and the Bristol region has a flourishing fintech ecosystem. The programme has been co-designed with industrial partners and will offer opportunities to engage with industry on real-world commercial projects

Information for international students

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Fees and funding

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.