With all the new regulations, growing risks, and an explosion of data, there’s a huge demand for professionals in quantitative finance. Often called “quant finance,” it is the backbone of many tools, like pricing options and managing risk. For example, hedge funds use quant strategies to predict market trends and make investment decisions. Big banks rely on quants to manage portfolios and optimise returns.
Experts who can blend data analysis with a human touch to make strategic decisions are in hot demand because the field drives decisions from stock trading to retirement planning. This is where University of California, San Diego’s Master of Quantitative Finance (MQF) programme comes in. Offered by Rady School of Management, it is STEM-designated and affiliated with the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute and the Global Association of Risk Professionals.
But what sets the school apart is its deep focus on financial modelling and data analysis. The MQF prepares you to analyse the large — and often multiple — real-time data sets that drive financial decision-making and risk management. This programme fuses empirical methods derived from the university’s own world-renowned econometrics research.
Core courses completed over four consecutive quarters cover Investment Analysis, Advanced Financial Risk Management, Financial Econometrics and Empirical Methods, and Collecting and Analysing Financial Data. These can be paired with 19 electives, such as Financial Accounting and Data Science for Finance. The programme concludes with a capstone project with Rady’s industry partners, which include BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Moody’s, PIMCO and more.
The Rady Master of Quantitative Finance equips students to analyse large, multiple, and real-time data sets crucial for financial decision-making and risk management. Source: University of California, San Diego
Rishab Singh is a prime example of the programme’s impact. Previously an undergraduate major at UC San Diego, he joined the MQF to gain cutting-edge knowledge on algorithms that run our lives. “The programme has surpassed my expectations,” Singh says. “I have learned much more than just financial theory. The programme helps us build strong financial foundations and allows us to apply this knowledge practically through projects and data analysis tools like Python.”
Much of this is due to the professors. Described as “amazing” and “will never leave any student behind,” they inspired Singh. “They love the subject and want us to share that passion,” he says. “They genuinely want us to succeed and excel in our goals. Their enthusiasm inspired me to discover what I love about finance and to keep learning and growing in the field.”
Another student, Kate MacNaughton from Portland, agrees. At first, she found mathematics and science challenging. But with the support of professors, teaching assistants, and classmates, she conquered the rigorous coursework. “Our professors often went out of their way to connect me with relevant opportunities and experiences,” she says. “The close-knit community at Rady, combined with faculty commitment, has significantly contributed to my understanding and skills in quantitative finance.”
A Rady Master of Quantitative Finance graduate will excel in financial analysis and problem-solving, ready to contribute significantly to investment institutions, insurance companies, and regulatory agencies. Source: University of California, San Diego
Many students find the MQF highly applicable thanks to the many tools at their disposal. Access to the Bloomberg Terminals gives students up-to-the-minute financial data and news on publicly-traded and private companies – the very same used by professionals. “Having access to a Bloomberg terminal was essential,” Singh says. “It’s a tool every financial professional uses, and being familiar with it gives us an edge when applying for jobs. Employers appreciate candidates who can handle the technology integral to the industry.”
Another standout feature of the MQF programme is the Rady School’s focus on career support. Students benefit from ongoing assistance from the Rady Career Management Centre, which runs workshops to refine resumes, sharpen interview skills, and prepare for job searches and internships.
MacNaughton has interned in Portland, La Jolla, and New York City, where she worked on finance, marketing, and business operations. She is currently an intern at Allied Universal, working with the private security and staffing company’s Marketing Analytics and Communications departments. “This experience is allowing me to implement a lot of the theoretical knowledge I’ve gained throughout my degree, working with data management and manipulation, as well as marketing data,” she says. “My degree in finance has given me an entire quantitative toolkit that I can use in many functions other than finance.”
As much as MacNaughton’s enjoying her time there, she can’t wait to return to La Jolla, where UC San Diego is located. Known as “San Diego’s Jewel by the Sea,” it is one of the most popular beach destinations in California that’s ringed on three sides by the sea and backed by the steep slopes of Mt. Soledad. With nightlife, niche neighbourhood eateries and unrivalled outdoor adventures along its 70 miles of coastline, California’s second largest city has captured the hearts of many UC San Diego students.
For MQF graduates, there’s another edge to living and learning here: career opportunities. As the third-largest life sciences market in the nation and a hub for tech investment, San Diego is a launchpad for Rady students and graduates. The region’s business culture is collaborative, mission-driven, and focused on life-changing impact – exactly what Rady’s MQF students are all about.
Apply to the UC San Diego Rady School of Management today.
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