Master in Quantitative Asset and Risk Management

Master in Quantitative Asset and Risk Management is one of 32 English-taught Business Administration programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 19 institutions. 29 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 727 to EUR 1,453; this programme lists EUR 727 a year. 18 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

The Master's in Quantitative Asset and Risk Management at the University of Applied Sciences for Business and Society BFI Vienna trains you for the quantitative side of finance. It is taught entirely in English and runs for four semesters (120 ECTS) as a career-parallel programme, with classes three evenings a week and on Saturdays.

What you study

The curriculum covers both asset management and risk management, with a strong focus on data and quantitative methods. You work with the programming languages and tools used in the finance industry: Python, R, SAS, SQL and Bloomberg. Courses named on the programme page include Introduction to Asset Management, Alternative Investments, Asset Class Equity, Asset Class Credit Products, Asset Class Interest Rate Products, Asset Class Foreign Exchange, Measurement of Credit Risk, Measurement of Market Risk and Measurement of Life Risk. You also study structured products and their valuation. The programme says you can earn certificates alongside your degree, such as the SAS Joint Certificate.

How the programme is organised

The programme is part-time and career parallel, so it is built for people who work during the day. Teaching takes place three times a week in the evening and on Saturdays during the day, at the campus in Wohlmutstrasse in Vienna's second district. A semester abroad is obligatory in the second academic year, in blocked form, for example two weeks at a partner university. The programme recommends going abroad in the third or fourth semester. You can also graduate with a double degree by studying at a partner university for a whole semester. An onboarding programme with warm-up courses and support from academic staff helps you prepare for the mathematical and statistical content, even if your previous degree did not cover it in depth.

Who it suits

This programme suits people with an affinity for mathematics and statistics who want to work in banking, insurance or asset management. It is also for those already working in finance who want to move into more quantitative roles without stopping their career. The programme states that German is not necessary, so it is open to international students. You need a bachelor's degree with at least 9 ECTS in economic sciences and at least 6 ECTS in mathematics or statistics. If you are missing ECTS, the university offers free bridging courses from May to July.

Admission, language and next steps

Admission is a written application, an online multiple-choice test and a structured interview. The application period for EU/EEA citizens runs from 1 October to 15 May (the page also lists 31 May, so check the current dates on the university's own page). You need English at CEFR level C1; your English is assessed in the admission test, and a supplementary examination may be required. The teaching language is English. As a university of applied sciences, the institution sets its own tuition fee, which is shown on the programme page. There is no central application portal: you apply directly to the university.

In the Quantitative Asset and Risk Management master’s programme students will gain knowledge and practical skills through intensive, practice-based training in the fields of financial risk management and asset management. Comprehensive insights of industry experts focussing on banking and insurance will further enhance the learning. This unique combination opens up exciting prospects for a highly successful career in the finance sector.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Applied Sciences for Business and Society BFI Vienna. Universities of applied sciences set their own application periods and admission procedures, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: Admisson procedure. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.