Objectives
This programme in Operational Research (OR) and Finance is designed to provide a firm grounding in financial knowledge suitable for a career in financial institutions, while combining this with training in a broad range of additional numerate skills covering mathematical modelling and optimization. You will be provided with training and education in the techniques, method and approaches of operational research, together with their application to practical problems arising in organisational contexts, and in financial markets and corporate finance. The structure allows you to select options from a range of additional topics as well as further aspects of operational research. While studying for your degree, you will develop key work skills, such as written and oral communication, presentation skills, the use of IT, teamwork, time management, and basic research skills including the use of the web and the library. The aims of the programme are to: -introduce you to the ideas of mathematical model building; -introduce you to the main techniques, methods and approaches of operational research emphasising both the underlying concepts and their practical application; -introduce you to the operation of financial and derivative markets; -introduce you to the fundamentals of corporate finance; -offer you the opportunity to study more specialised topics selected from a range of options, within a coherent framework; -develop your skill for problem solving, including modelling of deterministic and stochastic systems, and designing solution approaches; -give you the practical experience of applying the problem–solving skills you have learned, by working on a project, normally with an external organisation;* -develop key transferable skills, including personal organisation, teamwork, finding and using information, and written and oral communication. (* Applies only to the programme leading to the award of MSc.)
Entry requirements
The OR approach usually starts by building a model of the system or problem of interest. The model is then analysed, and a suitably chosen solution technique is selected or designed. For this programme, many of the models are for financial problems. The programme requires numeracy skills, and is suited to students who enjoy problem solving. However, a first degree in Mathematics is not essential; a degree in business, computer science, quantitative economics, engineering, physics or statistics may form an acceptable entry qualification.
