Master of Science in Financial Technology and Computing

Overview

This Master offers a highly challenging programme that delivers key skills in a novel interdisciplinary domain. It has been designed to provide students with the necessary tools and skills for understanding fundamental problems in finance while, at the same time, learn about the advanced information technology that is needed to drive the next-generation financial services. 

A two-track structure ensures that the level of Computer Science courses is commensurate with each student's background: students with a Bachelor degree in Computer Science and related disciplines take the “Advanced Informatics” track of the program, featuring advanced informatics classes such as Distributed Systems, High-Performance Computing, and Machine Learning; students with no formal Computer Science degree instead enrol in the “Core Informatics” track, which features a set of intensive foundational classes, such as “Fundamentals of Informatics”, “Databases" and “Introduction to Programming”. 

In the first year, all students jointly take advanced courses in Finance and Financial Technology, such as “Blockchains and Digital Currencies” or “Data Analytics for Finance”, before being able to individually diversify their programme along with a large set of electives from both Finance and Informatics in year two, according to personal interests and abilities. Finally, the programme features a Master’s thesis that can then be done either within the context of a university research group or in collaboration with industry embedded in our Fintech Laboratory.

Career

Targeting informatics bachelors and students with related degrees, the FinTeC master provides students with an existing background in informatics the skills necessary to enter the exciting new field of Finance Technology. A core of carefully selected finance and informatics courses provide a thorough understanding of the domain, while a broad offering of electives from both finance and informatics offer a personal learning path tailored to the needs and interests of each student.

The primary labor market for the graduates of the programme is to be found in small Fintech startups, medium to large companies in the finance sector (e.g., banks, insurers, hedge funds) as well as the public sector, both in Switzerland and abroad. Many existing financial companies struggle with keeping up with recent developments in finance technology and thus are in great need of informatics professionals who have a thorough understanding of finance. 

Potential job profiles range from system architect to system developer to service designer to financial consultant. With a FinTeC master, students will be able to help banks, trading companies, and insurers master this new reality, or, alternatively, be well positioned to challenge existing players with their own startup.