Financial Mathematics with Foundation Year

Financial mathematics is the application of rigorous mathematical methods to the problems of modern finance, building the quantitative frameworks that underpin pricing, risk management and investment decisions across banking, insurance and financial markets. It is a discipline that draws on probability theory, stochastic calculus, differential equations and statistical inference, applying them to questions about the value of derivatives, the structure of portfolios, the measurement of risk and the behaviour of interest rates and asset prices over time.

At Surrey, this four-year programme includes a foundation year, providing an extended route into the degree for students who need to build or consolidate the mathematical foundations needed for degree-level study in this technically demanding field. The foundation year develops your mathematical skills and your understanding of the quantitative sciences, preparing you fully for the rigorous content of the main degree. Surrey has excellent connections to industry across mathematics and finance, and the programme benefits from teaching by experts who are engaged in shaping the field.

The mathematical education is complemented by an understanding of the financial and computational contexts in which these techniques are applied.

Across the main three years of the programme you will develop fluency in the core mathematical areas of financial mathematics, including probability, stochastic processes, mathematical modelling and numerical methods, alongside knowledge of financial instruments, risk and investment theory.

Graduates of financial mathematics programmes are sought by investment banks, asset managers, insurance companies, hedge funds and financial regulators for roles in quantitative analysis, risk management, derivatives pricing and actuarial work. The analytical skills also translate well into data science and technology roles. Many graduates pursue professional qualifications in actuarial science, investment or risk, and postgraduate study in mathematical finance or data science is a natural option.