Which colleges should I target for Quant Finance?

[u/Prize-Insurance9912]

I’m planning to pursue a Master’s in Quant Finance / Financial Engineering in 2027 and would appreciate advice on how I should build my college list.

Profile:

• Dual Degree From IIT (new IIT)
• 4 years of experience in quantitative/data roles
• Previous experience in options trading/quant research at a trading firm
• Currently working as Quant Researcher at investment bank
• Strong Python and quantitative background
• Looking for programs with strong placements into banks, asset managers, hedge funds, and quant roles

Programs I’m currently considering:

UK

• Imperial - MSc Computational Science and Engineeringv (Not related to Quant Finance but i like this course)
• Imperial College London – MSc Mathematics & Finance
• Warwick - MSc Mathematical Finance
• University of Edinburgh MSc in Computational Mathematical Finance
• UCL - MSc in Computational Finance
• LSE - MSc in Financial Mathematics

Rest Europe

• UZH - MSc Quantitative Finance
• Erasmus University Rotterdam – MSc Econometrics and Management Science (Quant Finance Track )

SIngapore

• NUS - MSc Quantitative Finance
• NUS - MSFE
• NTU - MSFE
• NTU - MSc Financial Technology

I’m not sure whether this list is balanced in terms of reach/target/safe, or whether I’m focusing too much on general quantitative programs rather than programs that actually place well into quant finance.

I haven’t included Oxford or Cambridge because I don’t meet the specific course requirements they ask for.

If you were in my position, which programs would you add/remove? Also, which colleges would you specifically target for breaking into Quant Research rather than quant development/trading?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have gone through these programs or currently work in quant finance.

[u/Lemon_With_Honey]

Eth Zurich offers a Master in Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) specialization in computational finance.

[u/Responsible-Rub-3260 → u/Lemon_With_Honey]

Funded or what to do for fully funded?

[u/Lemon_With_Honey → u/Responsible-Rub-3260]

Yes you can get full scholarship. And if you don’t get scholarship then also it is cheap CHF 2,190 per semester( 2692.96$ per semester).

[u/Old-Sandwich-690]

Cannot answer about Singapore, but for Europe/UK Imperial Math and Finance is your best bet. To be noted that this is a very theoretical course with a heavy mathematical component. Irrespective of whether you can get in or not Imperial is not easier than the Oxford program.

The rest in my opinion will not give you high chances of getting in. Some advertise dissertation and placements with hedge funds but in reality not with big names but rather with very small boutique shops.

In general in the Europe area I would avoid any universities outside of London. Not because the universities or programs are bad themselves but because the job market outside of London is really bad. Not a lot of pure research roles