Finance

There are several ways to study Mathematics and Statistics with Finance at UNSW: 

• Choose the four-year combined degree in Commerce and Science (BCom/BSc), with majors in Finance in the BCom and in Mathematics or Statistics in the BSc. Students with good results may enrol in one or both of the Honours Science or Honours Commerce programs for another year (one extra year each) to complete Honours in Finance, Mathematics or Statistics. 
  
• Choose the five-year combined degree in Commerce and Advanced Mathematics, with a major in Finance in the BCom half. This includes an honours year in the Advanced Mathematics major. An Honours year in Commerce can be added. 
• Choose the five-year combined degree in Commerce and Advanced Science, program 3593, with a major in Finance in the BCom half and either Mathematics or Statistics in the BSc half. This includes an honours year in the Mathematics or Statistics major. An honours year in commerce can be added. 
• (Not available to student who began at UNSW after 2017) Choose the four-year Quantitative Risk study plan within the Advanced Mathematics Degree Program. Administered by the School of Mathematics and Statistics, this is a Mathematics degree slanted towards the type of Mathematics and Statistics that is useful in banking, together with substantial studies in Finance and with some other supporting studies. An Honours degree is given on merit after four years. This plan is also available in the combined BCom/Advanced Maths degree. 

All programs are designed for highly motivated students with strong mathematical skills and a high ATAR result. The combined programs with Commerce are adminstered by the UNSW Business School; the Advanced Mathematics program is administered by the Faculty of Science. 

What do I study in the programs?

In the first year you will study Mathematics, Accounting and Financial Management, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Capital Markets and Institutions, and either another Commerce option or a recommended Computing course. Statistics studies start in second year. 

Mathematics and Statistics in both programs can be studied at the Ordinary level or at the Higher level depending on your interests and abilities, but study at the Higher level is recommended and may be necessary for certain courses in later years. 

For formal details and informal descriptions of individual Mathematics and Statistics courses, see the Details of Courses page. 

In the final year of the Advanced Mathematics or Advanced Science dual programs, or if you do the extra fifth (Honours) year of the combined degree in Mathematics or Statistics, you will undertake a project in Mathematics or Statistics and could focus on its applications to a selected area of Finance. Such a project is likely to involve cooperation with the finance industry and its implementation will use industry-standard computing techniques.  

Note that these programs demand a high level of mathematical ability and are not recommended for students whose Mathematics marks are less than a combined mark of 140 out of 150 in Mathematics and Mathematics Extension 1, or 180 out of 200 in Mathematics Extension 1 and Extension 2.  

To continue in the Advanced Science or Advanced Mathematics halves of a dual degree, you are expected to have an average mark each term of at least 70. If your average drops significantly below that, you may be transferred to program 3529. 

How do I get further information about these programs?

School of Mathematics and Statistics 
Phone: (02) 9385 7111 
Fax: (02) 9385 7123 
Email: ug.MathsStats@unsw.edu.au 

You can also see the UNSW Business School.