What you will study
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- An introduction to finance and investment management
- Quantitative methods for finance
- Securities, futures and options
- Fixed income and equity investments
- Financial markets and instruments
- Portfolio management
- Risk management in investments
- Stochastic calculus and probability
- Financial econometrics
- Essentials of financial engineering
- Numerical methods for financial engineering
- Financial modelling and engineering with Microsoft Excel, MATLAB, R and Python
- Ethical and professional standards for investment practitioners
- Creating a portfolio of financial models and programming code files
You will be able to select any two optional courses* from the following LSFL course list to complete your qualification:
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- Corporate Finance
- Business Economics
- Business Mathematics
- Business Valuation Methods
- Investment Appraisal Methods
- Sources of Finance for Businesses
- Personal Financial Planning
- Inheritance Tax, Trusts and Estates
- Economic History
- Behavioural Economics and Finance
- Economics for Investment Decision-Making
- Sustainable Finance: Major Issues in ESG and SR Investing
* The optional courses are free if taken as part of this qualification. You will be sent details about registration for the optional courses after you start your studies with us.
Key features of the course
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- Flexibility to suit your needs – allowing you to study anytime, anywhere
- An emphasis on personal and professional development through independent learning
- Relevance of topics and practical examples to the context of your own professional practice
- Illustrative practice activities with solutions, “test your understanding” activities and tutor-marked assignments, including a portfolio of financial models and programming code files, to reinforce learning
- Advanced diploma from London School of Finance and Law upon course completion
This non-credit advanced diploma is intended for finance students and practitioners who want to upgrade existing knowledge and skills in areas relevant to the investment practice, including investment management, financial risk management and financial engineering.
The course can be taken alongside your degree or professional qualification studies elsewhere or as part of your informal career development programme. Since this is a highly technical programme, you must be equipped with strong mathematical skills and basic programming skills.
Learning outcomes
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- Knowledge and understanding of core subject areas
- Independent and critical thinking
- Problem-solving and reasoning
- Practical and professional skills
- Data handling, analytical skills and overall research literacy
- Communication, team working and time management skills
Career relevance
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- Financial software engineering
- Financial management
- Investment analysis and management
- Trading
- Risk management
- Business and financial journalism
- Professional training
Study method
Online learning with tutor guidance and support
How long it takes
12 months (384 hours)
You need to be able to spend approximately 8 hours per week on studying this course.
Teaching and assessment
A tutor will guide you throughout the study process and mark and comment on your written work. You and your tutor will primarily communicate with each other through email.
The course work includes online practice tests, tutor-marked assignments and end-of-course assessment. The end-of-course assessment is a portfolio of financial models and programming code files.
You must use the online VLE-system to submit your tutor-marked assignments and end-of-course assessment.
The Pass mark for the course is 50%.
Study materials
All study materials are provided on the course website.
Microsoft Office presentations and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of study material are available.
A computer with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this course. Functionality may be limited on mobile or tablet devices.
If you have a disability or particular study requirements, please tell us as soon as possible.
Fees and funding
Course fees for 2023/2024 academic year: £2,160
Course fees cover registration, course materials, tuition and assessment. Please note that you will also need to purchase a MATLAB licence for your personal use to complete programming tasks in MATLAB (£105 for UK-based students in 2022/2023).
LSFL course fees depend on the level and duration of courses: check all tuition fee rates for the current academic year here.
You may be eligible for tuition funding.
Registration
Applications for this course are now open for January 2025 start.
The module website will be available to registered students three days in advance of the module start. Module sessions will be opened every week or every two weeks to enable tutor-led, gradual progression through the study materials and continuous assessment.
Course registration is open, but please be aware that due to the increased demand it may take us longer to respond than usual.
Registration closes 10 May 2024 (places subject to availability)
Registration for current students:
Registration for new students:
You have to register as an LSFL student to study this course.
Future availability
Quantitative Finance and Financial Engineering starts three times a year – in January, May and September.
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English language requirements
There is no formal requirement to prove your English language proficiency to study our courses. If English is not your native or second language, or you would like to improve specialist language skills necessary for your profession, you may complete one of the following English language courses:
A full range of our English language courses can be viewed here.