ST303      Half Unit
Stochastic Simulation

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Xiaolin Zhu

Availability

This course is available on the BSc in Actuarial Science, BSc in Data Science and BSc in Mathematics, Statistics and Business. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is not available to General Course students.

Course capped at 60. 

Pre-requisites

Students must have completed:

EITHER Probability, Distribution Theory and Inference (ST202) OR Probability and Distribution Theory (ST206)

AND Stochastic Processes (ST302).

While the course ST306 is not a formal pre-requisite some examples from this course will be used. Students that have not taken ST306 might have to do a bit of extra reading to familiarise themselves with them.

Course content

An introduction to using R for stochastic simulation as well as methods of simulating random variables, complicated quantities involving several random variables and paths of stochastic processes. Applications will focus on examples from insurance and finance.

Teaching

This course will be delivered through a combination of classes, lectures, help and demonstration sessions totalling a minimum of 30 hours in the  Winter Term. 

Formative coursework

Weekly exercises usually involving computing.

Indicative reading

  • Introducing Monte Carlo methods with R (main reference), by G. Robert and G. Casella.

Useful reading:

  • Stochastic Simulation, Algorithms and Analysis by S. Asmussen.
  • Monte Carlo Methods in Financial Engineering by P. Glasserman.

Assessment

Project (40%) in the WT.
Project (60%) in the ST.

Key facts

Department: Statistics

Total students 2022/23: 61

Average class size 2022/23: 30

Capped 2022/23: Yes (60)

Lecture capture used 2022/23: Yes (LT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills