Master of Financial Engineering (MFE)
A 16-month Anderson programme that pairs stochastic calculus, econometrics and fixed income with machine-learning and data analytics courses. A summer fieldwork term and a seven-month corporate-sponsored capstone project give it a strong applied slant, with placement spread across trading, quant research, risk and data science.
What you’ll study
Core
- Investments
- Financial Accounting
- Econometrics
- Stochastic Calculus
- Empirical Methods in Finance
- Fixed-Income Markets
- Financial Risk Measurement and Management
- Financial Data Analytics and Machine Learning
- Applied Finance Project (capstone)
- Fieldwork/Research in Financial Engineering
- Career Development Series
Electives
- Derivative Markets
- Trading, Market Frictions, and FinTech
- Behavioral Finance
- Quantitative Asset Management
- Advanced Computational Methods
- Credit Markets
- Introduction to the Finance of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
- Statistical Arbitrage
- Advanced Financial Data Analytics and Applications of AI
Source: anderson.ucla.edu ↗
Before you apply
- Background
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; no specific major, most students hold quantitative degrees
- Maths
- linear algebra; multivariate calculus; differential equations; numerical methods; advanced statistics and probability
- Programming
- C++, R or Python; MATLAB experience
- Tests
- GRE or GMAT required except for PhD holders; no minimum published
- English
- TOEFL or IELTS required for non-native speakers; TOEFL iBT 100+ or IELTS 7.5+ waives the UCLA English placement exam
- Other
- Work experience recommended (admitted students average about three years); interview by invitation
Source: anderson.ucla.edu ↗
After graduation
- Employment
- 91% employed, class of 2025 (per programme page; definition not stated there)
- Typical first roles
- Quant trading and sales trading, Data science, Quantitative research and analysis, Strats and modelling, Portfolio management, Risk management, Consulting and valuation
- Employers
- BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, PIMCO, Wells Fargo, State Street, UBS, Fidelity, Capital One
Source: anderson.ucla.edu ↗
Want to see what employers ask for? Browse open quant roles.
STEM-designated. Round 1 deadline Nov 30, 2026. QuantNet ranking figures not retrieved (quantnet.com returned 403 and search budget was exhausted).
Checked 6 November 2026 against the sources linked on this page. Fees, units and requirements change each year, so confirm them on the programme’s website before applying.