I've two offers from both IPTA and IPTS.

1. Electronic Engineering UTHM Johor
2. Financial Mathematics UTAR, Setapak

First of all, I didn't apply for Electronic Engineering at all for my UPU. But unfortunately (damn our education system is rotten) that is what is given to me. I'm a Biology student in STPM with pointer 2.84, Muet Band 4. Therefore, I have zero interest in Electronic Engineering. I struggled in my SPM Physics and that's the only B in my certificate now.

I applied for Financial Mathematics at UTAR Setapak. Got a reply 4 days after I sent my application. I scored with 2.67 for Mathematics T and among all the 3 science subjects, Maths and Bio are my strongest.

I want to ask if there is a prospect for me in taking Financial Mathematics. I applied for it because it is Maths. I did plan for Actuarial Science but seeing the difficulty and all, I chose not to take risks. After all, seeing my results, I am not that kind of genius.

So, I want to ask your opinions about taking this course. Anyone is pursuing it or does anyone already graduated? What is the job prospect? Would it be easy to get a job? Thanks.

It's going to be a vigorous program....go for it. If you come out in one piece, you should be able to do almost anything.

If I were you, I'll go for engineering at UTHM.

But that's you, not him! You can furnish relevant factual data and let him evaluate and decide.

He is asking for opinion, where is your stand here? Of course everybody must have a stand.

You can provide your personal opinion. And you should also give relevant or supporting reasons that strengthen your opinion.

Merely stating your stand without supporting reasons is an uninformed opinion.

Furthermore, TS asked for opinions about taking Financial Mathematics course. Telling TS to go for engineering at UTHM is irrelevant to the issue under consideration. Don't you think so?

Yeah. I heard it is quite difficult too. But last time when I decided to enter STPM, everyone says STPM is really tough but I was still really stubborn to continue study it. Although my pointer is just the average but still in one piece. But thinking again, there is nothing easy in this world. Haha. Thanks by the way. =)

Uhm. I'm a girl. That's why I don't think Electronic Engineering suits me. Unless I really have passion for it which I don't have at all. That's why I decided to choose Financial Maths at UTAR. I guess I'm looking for assurance. I did Google looking for Financial Maths job prospects but I still hope to hear from people who really undergo this particular course and have experience related to this field. And I want to find out what to expect from learning this course, what kind of job oppurtunity that's open for me in future, what kind of company that hire people with this cert and other things like that.

After all, going for Bachelor Degree, we are learning things more in-depth. Subjects are being narrowed down. It's quite a big step -- picking which to pursue.

This post has been edited by moonnightsilver: Aug 30 2014, 09:58 PM

Financial mathematics is a field of applied mathematics that synthesizes a highly technical and abstract branch of maths, measure-theoretic probability theory, with practical applications that concerned with financial markets and derivatives pricing.

Banks need high-level financial maths skills because that is how the bank makes money!

Financial maths will be a relatively tough and intense program with a lot of number crunching i.e. stats, probabilities, data analysis. There will be demand from banks, insurance companies for the successful degree holder. Make sure you take some economics/accounting/investment electives, which will help you getting through job interviews for investment banking/investment research/asset management positions. Better job prospects will be found in large financial hubs like HK, Singapore for quants analysts, for example.

GOOD LUCK!

There's going to be a lot of mathematics involved. Not pure mathematics but applied mathematics. So you need to be very comfortable with modelling, numerical methods, probabilities etc.

Only you can decide if you are ok with that much of that type of mathematics. Some people like calculus, some people like analysis, some people like logic, some people like modelling. 4 years is a long time to be spent on something that you have wish of learning.

Not exactly difficult or tough. However, like feynman's advice, you need to be “very comfortable” with the mathematical tools and derivatives pricing models.

I see. I'm okay with Calculus and probably need to work harder on numerical analysis. As the others, it isn't in STPM syllabus so... I guess I'll just go with it. I think I read somewhere it involves some computer related software and I am very okay with it too.

Thank you for the advice. Appreciate it a lot.

*By the way, I guess it's no harm asking. Is there such things as studying 1 semester at IPTS and on the 2nd semester, write a letter to IPTA to transfer for the same course? I've only read that students could appeal for transferring between IPTA after studying for 1 semester but I have found none about IPTS to IPTA. Anyway, possible? Or no one has tried before?

This post has been edited by moonnightsilver: Aug 31 2014, 04:31 PM

Maple Finance Package and MATLAB Financial Toolbox are commercially available. These financial math tools enable you to estimate risk, analyze interest rate levels, price equity and interest rate derivatives, and measure investment performance. If you have MS Excel on your computer, you can use some built-in formulas, and functions to build a good financial model.

There are off-the-shelf modelling tools.

I'm not sure about UTAR. Some more quantitative programs go deeper, requiring knowledge of some programming languages. I think the differences would be in the title of the program. Financial Engineering vs Financial Mathematics.

Just as you'd said, there are elective courses for the course I'm taking. I will take note of it when I'm going to enter Year 2 since we are only required to choose it in Year 2. Thank you so much! =D

Here is my course subjects: http://www.utar.edu.my/media/Programmes/Fi...y%202014%29.JPG and it's also mentioned that they will teach MATLAB, SAS, R and etc. Guess I would be okay with the software since I don't have much problem learning using computer -- except Photoshop which I still have no idea how to use the Wacom tablet to draw. Sorry out of topic. :'D

By the way, how to differentiate between Financial Engineering and Financial Mathematics. I Google around and people mentioned that there are differences. I tried to read it but was still clueless. Is there any simple answer for this one?

It appears that there will be some programming involved.

You know the difference between a chemist and a chemical engineer? It is similar to something like that.

Make sure you master every subject in FM Elective Group I.

(1) Real Analysis
(2) Calculus III — Multivariable Calculus
(3) Operations Research — related to Decision Science & Optimization
(4) Applied Statistical Modeling
(5) Data Analysis
(6) Statistical Simulation for Insurance & Finance
(7) Stochastic Process

Oh. Now I get it. o.O Thanks!

It shows choose only 3 units though. I'm not sure if we are allowed to choose more than 3 but that's what is written... :'D

I know, but it doesn't matter, because I'm telling you to learn on your own. Learning alone is your opportunity to search for and choose your own learning material. Students in traditional classrooms usually don’t get to decide how they are going to master course content, because the lecturers decide for them in the form of textbook selection, quizzes, tests, group assignments, etc. As an independent learner, you can make your study time more effective by using only the learning methods that work for you.