Frequently asked questions

Applicants should normally possess at least an upper second-class honours degree in a mathematically based subject from a UK university or an equivalent standard elsewhere. The most important pre-requisite for admission to the degree is a strong background in mathematics. In order to demonstrate that you meet this requirement you would normally need to have excellent grades in a substantial number of mathematics courses as part of a mathematically based degree.

Further information on the LSE's minimum entry requirements for master's degrees can be found here.

If you have more specific queries that are not addressed on this page or elsewhere on the LSE website, contact the Student Marketing and Recruitment office.

No. This is because the very large number of enquiries we receive every year. You can address your queries to administrative staff in the Department, and the School's Graduate Admissions or Student Marketing and Recruitment teams.

Applications open in October each year, for admission the following September. 

Full details about the application process are available on the Graduate Admissions website. Ensure that you send your application and any related material to Graduate Admissions - sending material directly to the Department will only delay it.

There are no official application deadlines for this programme, but you are advised to apply as early as possible because competition for places is fierce. We are only able to make a certain number of offers, and late applicants may be placed on a waiting list.

You can check whether this degree programme is currently open for applications on this page.

No, this is not required. However, you should check whether your alternative degree choice, if you have selected one, requires a GRE/GMAT score, in which case your combined application will require a GRE/GMAT score, even though we don't need it.

Work experience is not a requirement for this degree. However, relevant experience may strengthen your application, provided you also meet the minimum academic requirements.

If your first language is not English, or if the language of instruction in your previous degree was not English, we ask you to provide evidence of your command of English. Please consult the relevant Graduate Admissions pages for further information.

If you have successfully completed a degree taught in English, then you are not required to submit an IELTS or TOEFL score.

We do not interview for places on the degree.

All applicants will be given access to the Graduate Application Tracker.

It is a 10-month programme, beginning in September.

Yes, in full. The pre-sessional course (MA400) forms a vital part of the degree and it is essential that you are able to commit to the full two weeks of pre-sessional teaching. It is very unlikely that you will be able to register for the degree programme if you miss any of this course, as it is intensive and is a pre-requisite for numerous courses over the year.

The pre-sessional course is taught from early to mid September. For example, in 2017 the dates were Monday 4 September until Friday 15 September (inclusive), with registration for the programme on Friday 1 September 2017. It is a compulsory course and must be attended. This is followed by Welcome Week (no teaching, just welcome events), before the start of normal teaching on (in 2017 this was Monday 25 September).

The academic year consists of three terms. Michaelmas Term (Sep–Dec) and Lent Term (Jan–Mar) are both 11 weeks long, and Summer Term (Apr–Jun) last 7 weeks. The majority of teaching normally takes place in Michaelmas and Lent Terms, with only revision lectures and exams in Summer Term. Term dates can be found here.

Courses run by the Department of Mathematics will usually consist of two hour-long lectures and one hour-long class per week during the two main teaching terms. Lectures and classes are spread over the week, and are taught in various teaching rooms at the School.  Timetabling of courses run by other departments is not under our control, and it is possible that some clashes may occur.

Students on the MSc in Financial Mathematics are required to take courses to the value of 4.0 units. Please see the Programme Regulations for more details.

Further information on each course is available here.

Students have until the end of the third week of the first term (Michaelmas Term) to finalize their options. Courses are selected online using LSE for You (LFY). Instructions and tutorials are provided online, but the process will also be explained at Orientation. Each student's Academic Mentor and the Programme Director will then access these initial course choices to approve them (or not—if they are not felt to be suitable to the requirements of the degree). 

When a student would like to take a course option outside the Department, they may need to ask the permission of the lecturer on that course as certain restrictions may apply. Students also require the approval of the Programme Director if these outside options are not explicitly stated in the Programme Regulations. 

Further information is available on the Graduate Course Choice page.

On one of the compulsory courses, MA417 Computational Methods in Finance, students will be required to submit a project based on independent study. The project is a written report and is normally submitted in May/June.

The Department sends out an information pack to successful applicants in August. This will include information on course content, timetabling, and recommended preparatory reading.

The Department also offers a MSc in Applicable Mathematics and MSc in Operational Research & Analytics.

No, this course is only available to full-time students.

For up-to-date information on fees and financial matters, consult the School's Fees pages.

The LSE makes funding available via a range of scholarships, bursaries and award schemes. Details can be found on the Financial Support website.  

Not directly, but LSE Careers can provide advice and support to students seeking internships, part-time/vacation work, and full-time positions after completing their studies. Numerous employers specifically target mathematics students at LSE, through LSE Careers.

Our graduates have gone on to good jobs in a wide range of industries, particularly in the banking and finance sectors. We also believe our MSc programmes are good preparation for a PhD here or elsewhere.

Specific destinations of former MSc Financial Mathematics students include Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, BlackRock, BBVA Group, BNP Paribas, Citibank, Commerzbank, Credit Suisse, Elara Capital, Goldman Sachs, Jackdaw Capital, KPMG, Markit, Nomura, RBS, Towers Watson, and UBS.