Quant Guide 2020: University of Florence

Florence, Italy

 

The University of Florence’s MSc in Finance and Risk Management has grown since it last appeared in Risk.net’s quant guide. Its latest cohort numbers 88 students, a jump from the previous year’s 55. Its average employment rate in finance six months after graduation has also increased to 89% from 82%.

Employment routes have shifted too, but only slightly: more Florence grads now take positions in asset management and fintechs, while banking roles have become a little less popular. Maria Elvira Mancino, professor in the department of sciences for economics and business, is the programme director.

The two-year programme is split into a number of tracks with specific career paths in mind. On the common track, a number of broad quantitative finance classes are available, including computational finance and European capital markets law. Students on the common track complete an internship in their second year.

Students on the insurance and risk management track complete dedicated modules in insurance and risk models, and in pensions, solvency and financial reporting. Candidates are also required to complete two workshops, one in actuarial practice and one on credit, liquidity and integration risk. Students on the corporate finance and banking track take specialist classes in merger and acquisition valuations, and international accounting. Their workshops focus on advanced corporate finance and ethical finance.

The final track, in quantitative finance, has one dedicated module – portfolio choice and bond markets – and workshops on bond markets and quantitative finance.

The programme also hosts workshop and lecture events for all students. Recent events include lectures on Poisson processes by a professor from Paris Diderot (which has since merged into the University of Paris); a lecture on risk management for sovereign finance by a professor from the University of Palermo; and a risk management workshop, delivered in collaboration with consultancy Prometeia.

View this institution’s entry in the 2019 guide

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