ST303 Half Unit
Stochastic Simulation
This information is for the 2022/23 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Yufei Zhang
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Actuarial Science, BSc in Data Science and BSc in Mathematics, Statistics and Business. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is not available to General Course students.
Course capped at 60.
Pre-requisites
Students must have completed:
EITHER Probability, Distribution Theory and Inference (ST202) OR Probability and Distribution Theory (ST206)
AND Stochastic Processes (ST302).
While the course ST306 is not a formal pre-requisite some examples from this course will be used. Students that have not taken ST306 might have to do a bit of extra reading to familiarise themselves with them.
Course content
An introduction to using R for stochastic simulation as well as methods of simulating random variables, complicated quantities involving several random variables and paths of stochastic processes. Applications will focus on examples from insurance and finance.
Teaching
This course will be delivered through a combination of classes, lectures, help and demonstration sessions totalling a minimum of 30 hours in the Lent Term.
Formative coursework
Weekly exercises usually involving computing.
Indicative reading
- Introducing Monte Carlo methods with R (main reference), by G. Robert and G. Casella.
Useful reading:
- Stochastic Simulation, Algorithms and Analysis by S. Asmussen.
- Monte Carlo Methods in Financial Engineering by P. Glasserman.
Assessment
Project (40%) in the LT.
Project (60%) in the ST.
Student performance results
(2019/20 - 2021/22 combined)
Classification | % of students |
---|---|
First | 64.9 |
2:1 | 13.2 |
2:2 | 10.5 |
Third | 8.8 |
Fail | 2.6 |
Key facts
Department: Statistics
Total students 2021/22: 46
Average class size 2021/22: 24
Capped 2021/22: Yes (60)
Lecture capture used 2021/22: Yes (LT)
Value: Half Unit
Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills