Overview
Introduction
This programme applies advanced mathematics to real-world financial applications. You’ll study the mathematical theories that drive our financial markets and learn the quantitative methodologies and the computational tools that are essential in investment banking and other financial careers.
The curriculum covers a broad variety of topics in financial mathematics, including credit risk theory, stochastic processes and computational methods in finance. You can also choose from options in areas such as derivatives modelling, financial risk analysis, time series analysis, portfolio management and international finance.
You’ll develop industry-focused skills, including logical reasoning, quantitative analysis and technical presentation. Our graduates land high-earning roles in financial services, technology, accounting and data management.
This degree programme is run by the Department of Mathematics but taught in collaboration with the Departments of Finance and Statistics – giving you the benefit of multidisciplinary expertise and insights.
Entry requirements
Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in a mathematically-based subject, or a scientific, engineering or social science subject with an excellent mathematics background.
Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.
Overseas
English language requirements
The English language requirement for this programme is Standard. Read more about our English language requirements.
Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this doesn't guarantee you an offer of a place.
However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out.
Programme content
In addition to compulsory courses The Mathematics of the Black and Scholes Theory, The Foundations of Interests Rate and Credit Risk Theory, Stochastic Processes, Fixed Income Markets, and Computational Methods in Finance, you'll choose optional courses to the value of one and a half units. Choices include, Quantitative Methods for Finance and Risk Analysis, Machine Learning in Financial Mathematics, Derivatives Modelling, Markov Processes, Financial Risk Analysis, Portfolio Management, International Finance, and Forecasting of Financial Time Series.
Year 1
You'll begin by taking the compulsory pre-sessional course, which introduces some key concepts and techniques of relevant mathematical theory, such as probability.
You'll then take five compulsory courses and will choose optional courses from a range of options, including quantifying risk and modelling alternative markets, derivatives modelling, Markov processes, financial risk analysis, international finance, and forecasting of financial time series.
Courses to the value of one and a half units from a range of options
For the latest list of courses, please go to the relevant School Calendar page.
A few important points you’ll need to know:
Please note that the nine-month and ten-month full time master's programmes are not compliant with the Bologna process, which may affect the extent to which they're recognised. For more information, see Bologna process.
We may need to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees due to unforeseen circumstances. We’ll always notify you as early as possible and recommend alternatives where we can.
The School is not liable for changes to published information or for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study, due to developments in teaching practice, regulatory requirements that require us to comply, lack of demand, financial unviability of a course, or due to circumstances beyond our control, such as the loss of a key member of staff or where a location or building becomes unavailable for use.
Places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements so we cannot therefore guarantee you a place.
Changes to programmes and courses may be made after you’ve accepted your offer of a place – normally due to developments in the discipline or as a consequence of student feedback. We may also make changes to course content, teaching formats or assessment methods but these are made to improve the learning experience.
For full details about the availability or content of courses and programmes, please take a look at the School’s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department.
Some major changes to programmes/courses are posted on our updated graduate course and programme information page.
Why study with us
Discover more about our students and department below and read our alumni stories.
Meet the department
The Department of Mathematics aims to be a leading centre for the study of mathematics in the social sciences.
The department has a vibrant intellectual community, with fantastic students, internationally respected academics and high-achieving alumni. Our department has grown rapidly in recent years, with exciting developments in research and new teaching programmes and courses.
This research encompasses four main overlapping areas:
- discrete mathematics
- mathematical game theory
- financial and related mathematics
- optimisation and algorithms.
All aspects of our research were ranked world-leading or internationally excellent in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), submitted jointly with the Department of Statistics.
We embrace the School’s ethos of research-led teaching. Currently, we offer four undergraduate and three postgraduate programmes, as well as doctoral research opportunities on our MPhil/PhD in Mathematics. These programmes are all in high demand – attracting talented students from diverse backgrounds.
Our programmes are highly interdisciplinary and we have close ties with other departments at LSE, including Statistics, Economics, Finance, Management and the Data Science Institute.
Whatever your study route, you’ll benefit from a welcoming, inclusive and friendly learning environment where students and staff are supported to achieve their best.
Learn more about our programmes, recent research and regular events and seminars.
Why LSE
University of the Year 2025 and 1st in the UK in 2025 and 2026
Times and The Sunday Times - Good University Guide 2025 and 20261st in London for the 14th year running
The Complete University Guide - University League Tables 20265th in the world for the study of social sciences and management
QS World University Rankings by Subject 20266th in the world for leading the way in social and environmental sustainability
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026Your application
Overview
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.
We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:
- academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
- statement of academic purpose
- two academic references
- CV.
See further information on supporting documents.
You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.
When to apply
Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.
There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.
Fees and funding
The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.
You're charged a fee for your programme. At LSE, your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.
At LSE, your tuition fees, and eligibility for any financial support, will depend on whether you’re classified as a home or overseas student (known as your fee status). We assess your fee status using The Higher education (Fee Limit Condition) (England) Regulations 2017.
Fee reduction
Students who have completed and passed an undergraduate degree at LSE and are beginning taught graduate study at the School are eligible for a 10 per cent tuition fee reduction.
Students who have completed and passed two or more Summer School courses are eligible for a five per cent reduction.
If you meet the eligibility criteria for both discounts, the higher 10 per cent discount rate will apply.
Find out more about the LSE alumni discount.
Scholarships and other funding
We recognise that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town/city or country and we provide generous scholarships to help both home and overseas students.
We offer some needs-based awards for this programme, including the Graduate Support Scheme and LSE Excellence Scholarship. Competition for these awards and scholarships is strong. To apply for an award, you must have an offer of a place and submit a Graduate Financial Support application before the funding deadline.
The funding deadline for needs-based awards from LSE: 23 April 2026.
In addition to our needs-based awards, we offer scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for certain subjects.
You can’t apply for a Graduate Support Scheme or LSE scholarship once you’ve joined the School.
You can also apply for Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding when you apply as part of a 1+3 research programme. The 1+3 scheme provides funding for a one-year research training master's linked to a three-year PhD. It is designed for students who have not completed an ESRC-recognised programme of research training at MSc level.
To be considered for ESRC funding, you need to supply your application (and any supporting documents) before the funding deadline.
Funding deadline for ESRC funding: 14 January 2026.
Please note: we do expect students who register for a programme to have sufficient funds for the duration.
Government tuition fee loans and external funding
The UK Government offers a postgraduate loan for eligible students studying for a first master’s programme. This is designed to help with fees and living costs. Some other governments and organisations also offer tuition fee loan schemes.
Find out more about tuition fee loans.
Further information
Learn more about fees and funding opportunities.
Learning and assessment
How you learn
Contact hours and independent study
Within your programme you'll take a number of courses, often including half unit courses and full unit courses. In half unit courses, on average, you can expect 20-30 contact hours in total and for full unit courses, on average, you can expect 40-60 contact hours in total. This includes sessions such as lectures, classes, seminars or workshops. Teaching usually equates to approximately 12 contact hours per week in the two main teaching terms (depending on the course modules chosen – there may be some variety of practice depending on which department teaches the course). Lecturers also offer weekly office hours. You can view indicative details in the Calendar within the Teaching section of each course guide.
You're also expected to complete independent study outside of class time. This varies depending on the programme, but requires you to manage the majority of your study time yourself, by engaging in activities such as reading, note-taking, thinking and research.
Teaching methods
LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only. You can view indicative details for the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant course guide.
Academic mentor: you’ll meet with your academic mentor regularly to discuss your work. Your mentor can provide advice and guidance on academic issues and, where appropriate, personal concerns.
Other academic support: at LSE, we offer lots of opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom.
The Learning Lab is the place to discover and develop the skills you’ll need to reach your academic goals at LSE.
Through the Learning Lab, you can:
- attend practical workshops and one-to-one sessions on essay writing, conducting research, and on managing your reading lists, workloads, and deadlines
- develop your academic writing, reading, and critical-thinking skills to meet degree-level expectations
- work in study groups to strengthen collaboration, cross-cultural communication, and teamwork skills in a supportive environment.
Disability and Mental Health Service: we want all LSE students to achieve their full potential. Students can access free, confidential advice through our Disability and Mental Health Service. This is the first point of contact for students.
How you're assessed
All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.
Graduate destinations
Overview
Our students have found employment in the following companies:
- Accenture
- Ali baba
- Atkins
- Bain & Company
- Barclays
- Bloomsberg
- Blue Sky Analytics
- British Business Bank
- Capula Investment Management
- causalLens
- CdR Capital
- China Export & Credit insurance
- Credit Suisse
- Deloitte
- Department for Education
- DiDi
- Dish Network
- Emirates
- European Central Bank
- Farrell Management
- Goldman Sachs
- Guodu Securities
- Johnson & Johnson
- KPMG
- Kagool
- Laskaridis Shipping
- Lanner Capital
- ION Group
- Janes Consulting
- LET consultancy
- Leeds Building Society
- Mazars
- McKinsey & Company
- Management Solutions
- Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
- Minsheng Securities
- Nomura
- PMSI Strategy
- Parasol international
- People’s Insurance Company
- Pramerica Fosun
- Proctor & Gamble
- PwC
- Red Bull
- Riverstone
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Samba TV
- State Street
- Smartodds
- Tudor Group
- Turner Townsend
- UnionPay
- YOOX Net-a-Porter Group
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
Career support
From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.
Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.
See LSE Careers for further details.
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