What mathematics should I revise before applying for a quantitative finance postgraduate course?
Revise single- and multivariable calculus, linear algebra, probability, statistics, differential equations, and mathematical optimisation. Numerical methods and basic discrete mathematics can also help. If the course covers derivatives pricing or stochastic models, review conditional expectation, random processes, and introductory stochastic calculus where relevant.
Key points
- Practise applying concepts to models, proofs, and quantitative problem-solving rather than memorising formulas alone.
- Refresh matrix operations, eigenvalues, partial derivatives, integration, probability distributions, estimation, and regression.
- Basic programming, especially Python, may support the mathematics and numerical work, even though it is a separate skill.
Things to check
- The balance of mathematics varies between quantitative finance, financial mathematics, and computational finance courses; check the target programme’s stated prerequisites, syllabus, and any diagnostic or admissions test.