Hello every one! What would you people consider as the best option of the following, and if u have time then plz answer the "WHY" of it as well. 1- M.Sc. Finance and Economics at L.S.E. 2- M.Sc. Finance and Economics at the University of Warwick. 3- M.Sc. International Securities and Investment Banking at Reading's ISMA center. I would especially want Veegan and Hands to answer this query if they can, as their discussion on the other thread (Warwick Vs. Reading's ISMA Centre) was quiet informative. Thanks.

Hello,I would like to know your opinion about the MCs Mathematical Trading and Financeof the City University Business School, London.Thanks.

Hello Taki, What exactly would you like to know about Mathematical trading and Finance?Value for money I don't think that's its worth going to CIty, but it depends on what the alternatives are....They have some relative good people, and the are getting some better ones (like Nick Webber), but you can find far better schools on Math Finance in EnglandBest, Antonis

Taki,I've just taken the course at City and have mixed feelings about the experience.On the up side it does do exactly what it says on the tin. If you like maths and want to learn about modelling and econometrics you'll get both in spades. (Find the sylabus on : Text) The teaching is generally good and you shouldn't have a problem doing a dissertation in the industry.However the course is run as much for practitioners as for full time students so all the lectures are held in the evenings (this came as a shock to me!) Also the course administration is pretty disorganised - coursework comes back perhaps a month after submission.On balance City Business school is on the up and they've a shiny new building to move into for next year. However if you're not nuts about math or becoming a night owl doesn't appeal, spend your 15k with Warwick or LSE.rgds

<< <i>.....but you can find far better schools on Math Finance in England</i> >>Anton,I'm sure an elaboration of your thoughts on the above, would be of benefit to all.rgds,skyrats P.S. Newterm, did you have the pleasure of Paul Dawson teaching you?

Hows about I add one more name to the list - Oxford's Applied Math program.Not a true FinMath program - but they have classes in it. Any thoughts on what it takes to get in/how it is perceived?Thanks,Ty

skyrats,Yup, he presented a course on swaps & futures and was excellent. We also had Giovanni Barone-Adesi as a guest lecturer - who's quite well known.

Any thoughts on what it takes to get in/how it is perceived? >>Had an interview there. biggest bunch of tw*ts I have ever met in my life. Bearded Math Prof with terrible dress sense and not a clue what goes on in the markets. Too abstract and too stuck up for my liking.... Would not enroll if they paid me.My advice, if you are dead set on Oxford do their economics Phd

Yup, he presented a course on swaps & futures and was excellent >>Not sure I have ever seen the words excellent and Paul Dawson in a sentance together. Arrogant, egotistic, under-qualified and always in black, yes. But never excellent!!

remind me not to ask you for a reference, skyrats P

In regard to the comments about programs taking place in the evening providing equal access to practioners as well as full-time students. This situation is pretty muchthe same everywhere. In New York, at Columbia and NYU the programs all are in theevening no matter if you are full or part time. I too don't like this but there you have it.I am sure that other schools do not do this but when you attend school in one of the worldsleading financial centers this is what you get.I am surprised to hear some of the comments relating to City since for the most part peopleseem to speak quite highly of the program in general; however, no program is perfect and to be frank I have never really liked any of the schools I have attended not the least of which was Columbia. I guess once you attend some place you get to know all the dirty secrets etc ... andpeople and places never look as good close up as it were. In general you only get out what youput in no matter where you go. My sister attended Cambridge and had mixed feelings also regardingher experience because the degree is ultimately what you make of it I suppose. Relating to Math Finance programs I was actually not all that impressed with the caliber of studentsat Columbia. While some of them were quite bright a goodly number of the other students were sort ofOh my God! how did this guy get in here! I guess it is the same everywhere. A good friend of mine went toStanford for Math Fin. and was less than impressed with the experience as the faculty basically admitted thatonce you graduate you are on your own as far as finding a job. Additionally, a lot of the courses were apparently to theoretical and they were just taking math classes with engineers, scientists and mathematiciansso the finance applications were virtually not present. It is a real crap shoot my friends at Columbia FE the program basically is an OR degree with a bit of FE thrown in for fun. In any case, if your school has a halfdecent reputation I guess and is in a good geographic location, I suppose you can get a job. Also, if you can do your dissertation with an organization that is pretty good so I guess I wouldn't complain to much especially if it leads to a job. Anyway, it seems that City has a good rep. in the City supposedly; however,it seems like it puts more emphasis on the applied finance side of things and maybe sacrifices a little of themath rigor since it is not in a math dept. I am only guessing.take care a

Hello Mortal, welcome to the Forum.Unfortunately, I do not think I am qualified to help you with your request. When I had to choose between Reading and Warwick, my emphasis was on the Financial Mathematics side of things. From the courses you listed you seem to be more interested in the traditional front office roles such as sales and trading with the more commercial, less technical outlook. I am not familiar with these courses in any great depth. All I can do is redirect you back to the Warwick Vs. Reading thread because I can add nothing further to it (except for my next paragraph), and wish you luck with your request. I am sure that there are other forum members who are better placed than I to give you advice on this matter (although I think a lot of them are on their summer hols given the level of activity on the forum recently-it seems to be picking up now though).In my opinion LSE just beats Warwick on prestige, though both are very good institutions, however the Reading Course is very highly polished. The Reading and Warwick degrees you mention are the sister degrees to the MSc FEQA and MSc Financial Mathematics respectively. So you should expect the Warwick MSc Finance and Economics to be more technical than the Reading MSc ISIB, because the sister degrees share some modules and Warwick's MSc Financial Maths syllabus is more rigourous and technical than Reading's MSc FEQA. I would not like to speculate on the technical level of LSE's syllabus.I am sorry I could not be more help but I do not want to give inaccurate advice. I know what it is like to be in your position.RegardsVeegan

Quoteremind me not to ask you for a reference, skyrats Paul,I always speak very highly of you and recommend you to all my friends...... (although a free copy of Paul Wilmott on Quantitative Finance would definitely widen my recommendation field ). However I do think there are a lot of Wilmott wannabes out there, that dont really have the expertise or experience to enhance the field of finance.Best Wishes,Skyrats

and what about imperial college?there is an MSc in Finance and one in Maths and Finance

I attended a summer school course on the topic 'Options, Futures, and other derivatives' at LSE (2001), whereafter I did a MSc in Financial Engineering and Quantitative Analysis (FEQA) at the ISMA center in 2001/02. If you have a strong interest in quantitative topics, I wouldn't recommend ISMA to you, but LSE (or Kings College) instead. On the other hand, if you want to set up a good network with other people and to get a good (but not too exciting) job in an investment bank, then ISMA might be the right thing.At ISMA you'll meet many people from various countries (majority from Asia)which might be an advantage. However, the lectures and the classes are on a rather low level and not worth the money your pay for. At least you'll get a diploma which is highly regarded in Asia, Greece, and Middle East.