Advance Your Quantitative Finance Career
Maryland Smith’s Master of Quantitative Finance (MQF) program allows you to put your quantitative, technology and problem-solving skills to full use as you guide companies toward making strategic financial decisions. You’ll gain in-depth, specialized knowledge of financial markets, institutions and the latest analytics techniques. Our MQF students are methodical problem solvers who are highly proficient in statistics, calculus and other quantitative subject areas.
Why Get a Smith Master of Quantitative Finance Degree?
Maryland Smith’s MQF prepares you to excel in the challenging, specialized quantitative roles within financial institutions. Your experience in the program helps refine your critical thinking and technological skills, positioning you to stand out when seeking future opportunities.
Manage Maryland’s Global Equity Fund
Manage $500,000 of the university’s endowment fund with your peers.
Use Cutting-Edge Technology
Gain access to cutting-edge analytics resources to refine your programming, data management and global investment skills.
Solve Complex Finance Challenges
Participate in case competitions and network with major employers who hire our students.
Alumni Profiles
Our MQF students pursue competitive and exciting opportunities in their fields after graduating. Their experiences at Maryland Smith help them to expand their network, solidify their career goals and prepare them to perform their job responsibilities a step above the rest.
“When I first came to Smith, what stood out to me most was that the student-run clubs came together to make our experience better professionally and personally. Everyone looked out for us.”
Poulami Ghosh
Master of Quantitative Finance ’21
“The logic behind many programming languages is connected. I came into the program already familiar with Java and C+ from my computer engineering background. It felt easier to transfer that knowledge when learning new languages for finance, like Python and R.”
Wenrui Liu
Master of Quantitative Finance ’20
Credit Analyst, Ivy Direct
“As a finance student, I’m representing Smith in the CFA Institute Research Challenge. It is a competition where my team and I have the chance to compete with other students from around the world.”
Xiaotong Zhang
Master of Quantitative Finance ’21
Master of Quantitative Finance at a Glance
3 or 4
Semesters
36
Credits
Average tuition money saved by pursuing a business master’s degree through the Plus 1 program compared with a traditional graduate program path.
Available as a Plus 1 Program
If you’re a current University of Maryland freshman, sophomore or junior, you can pursue your Master of Quantitative Finance degree through the Plus 1 program. You'll save time and thousands of dollars on graduate tuition though this accelerated business master’s program.
Apply and Receive Admissions Benefits
Maryland Advantage can make it easier for applicants who have completed their undergraduate and/or graduate degree in the United States to transition into the business master’s program by helping them save money on tuition, skip graduate entrance exams and get personalized career counseling before starting their program.
Advanced Skills You’ll Use
As an MQF student, you’ll lean into a wide range of concepts ideal for a career in corporate finance, risk management or asset management. You’ll put your quantitative skills to full use as you explore concepts and tools, such as:
Industry-Specific Tools and Skills:
- Big data and machine learning in finance
- Financial data analytics
- Financial programming
- Python, R and SAS
- Risk modeling
Key Topics:
- Financial engineering
- Financial programming
- FinTech
- Institutional asset management
- Numerical methods and simulation
- Portfolio management
- Quantitative investment
- Textual analysis
Learn from Expert Faculty
Your professors are industry experts and scholars who are invested in your success and will challenge you to take your skills to the next level. They are well-connected business leaders who offer guidance as you navigate through your professional journey.
Cliff Rossi
Former Finance Executive at Citigroup, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Washington Mutual
Expert in Risk Management, Bank Capital Issues and Housing Finance Reform
Founding executive director of the Federal Statistical Research Data Center at Maryland Smith.
Expert in mergers and acquisitions, investments, and corporate governance.
Steve Heston
Former fixed income arbitrage and asset management executive at Goldman Sachs.
Creator of the Heston model - an asset volatility model widely used in the finance community.
Expert in financial derivatives and investment strategies.
Where Your Degree Can Take You
$101k
Median salary of financial analysts working in securities and investment
41%
Employers planning to hire candidates with a master’s in finance
2X
Faster than average 10-year job growth for financial analysts
Sources: Financial Times, 2018; Maryland Smith’s Office of Career Services; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Picture Yourself in These Job Roles
Data analytics
Financial analyst
Financial or securitization consultant
Financial engineer
Economic or statistical research
Research analyst
"The MQF program has not only deepened my understanding of equity market dynamics and big data analytics in finance, but also cultivated the curiosity and relentlessness within me.”
Emma Li
Master of Quantitative Finance ’19
Analyst, BlackRock
Businesses who have hired our Master of Quantitative Finance Grads
Boost Your Professional Skills
Maryland Smith’s Office of Career Services (OCS) can help you bridge the gap between being a student and an employed professional. You’ll have one-on-one access to a career coach who will provide you with personalized tips on how to articulate your strengths when interacting with your future employer.
Connect With Your Classmates
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make connections at Smith and engage in exciting social activities through the Smith Master’s Student Association. You can join a finance-related club or others that provide you with general connections and skills.
Contact Us
Business Master’s Office
2303 Van Munching Hall
College Park, Maryland 20742-1815
Phone: 301-405-2559
E-mail: SmithMasters@umd.edu
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Interested? Connect with us.
