   
UCL provides world-class opportunities in Financial Computing:
- in Taught Masters programmes
- in PhD research
The MSc in Financial Computing is a "generalist" MSc suitable for graduates from a first degree that is not Computer Science ("Computing" / "IT") and who have no or very little experience of computer programming.
The MSc in Financial Systems Engineering is a "specialist" MSc with a Financial Systems track that is suitable for graduates whose first degree is in Computer Science (or a similar degree with a substantial programming element).
Graduates who are interested in Financial Computing PhD research may either apply for a 3-year programme (normally self-funded) or a 4-year programme as part of the new Doctoral Training Centre.
What are we banking on?
The world's financial institutions are currently in turmoil. We have entered a period of global recession for western economies; some financial institutions have already failed, and perhaps more may fail. So why consider a career in financial services technology?
We can't predict the future, but here's our current assessment of the situation (as of February 2009):
- the financial institutions were first into trouble and are likely to be the first out of trouble (before the rest of the economy recovers)
- a modern western economy can't exist without the financial markets
- the financial markets cannot operate without computers
- financial institutions will need bright and talented graduates to help find innovative solutions to the current problems
- having laid off so many staff now, the financial institutions will not have enough staff to support growth once they are out of trouble
- those graduates who get hired will be those with a specific advantage - for example, the advantage of being directly and personally taught by investment bank technology staff
- our current best guess is that the large financial institutions will be strongly hiring technology staff in Q4 of 2010.
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