The B.Sc. in Financial Mathematics and Economics

The BSc in Financial Mathematics and Economics (BSc in FME) programme is a four-year degree programme consisting of courses in mathematics, economics, statistics/probability, applied mathematics, accounting and business finance, and computer science.

The programme’s aim is to equip students with expertise in quantitative subjects, with a particular focus on financial economics, actuarial mathematics and statistics.

Career opportunities

There is a high demand from financial institutions for well-qualified students with quantitative skills, and in an expanding market, highly numerate professionals are being sought, particularly in the areas of insurance, investment and finance. Typically in such employment, you would be predicting the long-term financial consequences of current and past decisions, taking account of various risk factors, and designing solutions to problems that involve financial risk or uncertainty.

The degree should appeal to people who enjoy mathematics and are interested in studying economics and other subjects in the financial area. (Please note that you do not have to study economics for the Leaving Certificate to be admitted to this course.) This degree has an advantage over other programmes, including specialised actuarial programmes, as it is broad and suits students not yet ready to specialise.

The course is administered jointly by the College of Science and the College of Business, Public Policy and Law. The entry requirements of either college may be applied, according to whichever is more advantageous to the applicant.

Course outline

Year 1

  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Economics
  • Mathematics of Finance
  • Statistics and Probability
  • Mathematical Methods I
  • Financial Management

Year 2

  • Analysis I
  • Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • Probability
  • Mathematical Methods II
  • Intermediate Microeconomics
  • Algebra
  • Introduction to Financial Economics
  • Algorithms
  • Discrete Mathematics
  • Modelling, Analysis and Simulation
  • Statistical Inference
  • Analysis II

Year 3

  • Applied Statistics
  • Groups I
  • Topics in Microeconomic Theory
  • Annuities and Life Insurance
  • Money and Banking
  • Metric Spaces
  • Economics of Financial Markets
  • Topics in Macroeconomic Theory
  • Actuarial Mathematics I
  • Business Finance
  • Mathematical Modelling
  • Topology

Year 4

  • Financial Theory
  • Actuarial Mathematics II: Life Contingencies
  • Numerical Analysis
  • Measure Theory
  • Final-year Project (over 2 semesters)
  • Non-Linear Systems
  • Derivatives and Risk Management
  • Neural Networks
  • Stochastic Processes
  • International Monetary Economics
  • Differential Equations with Financial Derivatives