Quant Guide 2020: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The Master of Science in Financial Mathematics at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has 90 full-time and nine part-time students in its latest class, the largest intake of the three Hong Kong master’s programmes in this year’s quant guide.

The syllabus retains an emphasis on instruction from practitioners; half the degree’s teaching staff have an industry affiliation. Visiting staff teach 250 hours of the degree course – about half the required hours to graduate. The programme can be completed in 18 months on a full-time basis or in 30 to 36 months for those studying part-time. The programme reports a 50/50 gender split.

Professor of mathematics Kani Chen is the academic programme director. Leanne Zhong, programme manager, says change is afoot in the curriculum. Recently, a lab for data analytics was added, she says. “Data analysis is a trend both in industry and academia in the era of big data and artificial intelligence, so it has become more important for the programme to have a unit of this kind,” she says.

She explains that the new lab will provide services both to the university campus and the general public, as well as organising events and projects that will allow students to get involved in practical financial-data analysis work. Other additions include course content focused on artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain.

Zhong adds that career paths are shifting for the university’s financial mathematics graduates, with more students taking up data analysis positions. Graduates are also moving into roles in mainland China, she says.

View this institution’s entry in the 2019 guide

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