Entry requirements

These are the minimum academic and English language requirements for the MSc in Financial Mathematics at WBS. We cannot review individual eligibility before you apply. Our course selectors only consider applications when submitted, complete with all supporting documents.

Academic qualifications

For the MSc Financial Mathematics, we expect one of:

  • An excellent first degree from a United Kingdom university
  • The equivalent from an overseas university.

Your degree should be in a relevant subject such as mathematics, engineering, physics or statistics and you may need to research some extra material, such as probability theory and PDEs.

The MSc FM is demanding, so it makes sense to prepare well for it. We offer a sample maths test, so you can find out for yourself whether you have gaps in your knowledge. This is for self-evaluation, not part of the application. If you find any questions hard to do, then you will need to review those topics before you start the course. Some books are suggested at the end of the test.

If you are offered a place then your mathematical ability will be reviewed with a similar test at the end of the Fundamental Tools refresher module at the start of the course. You will be expected to meet this standard to be able to succeed in the course. If we are worried that your background is insufficient in some topics, we also provide help so that you do not fall behind.

GMAT & GRE

We do not require a GMAT or GRE score for this course. Neither will substitute for an academic qualification.

However, a good, well balanced GMAT score (700+) may strengthen your application.

English

If English is not your first language, we expect you to meet one of the following minimum overall standards:

Test Minimum overall score
IELTS 7.0 with maximum of two components at 6.0+
TOEFL iBT 100 with minimum component scores of L21, R22, W21, S23
PTE Academic 70 with 51+ in every section
CPE Grade C (CEFR level C2) or above
CAE Grade C scoring 60+, no worse than 3 component results at borderline and 1 at weak

English language continued

As well as an overall minimum score, we will also be looking for a good balance across all sections of the English language test.

We will require your language certificates as evidence. Your test should have been taken within two years of the start of the course.

We do not offer a pre-sessional English class as an alternative to achieving these scores. Any pre-sessional course should be viewed as a way of settling into living and studying in the UK and not as a way of boosting your IELTS or TOEFL score.

If you are a non-native speaker of English and you have been educated entirely in English for the duration of your degree and completed this qualification within the last 2 years, this may be sufficient to satisfy the University of your language skills. Please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Team if you are in any doubt about the suitability of your qualifications and experience, or for further information, please see the International page for English language requirements.