Quantitative Asset and Risk Management (ARIMA) is an internationally oriented, full-time Master’s degree program delivered in English. The aim of the specialization is to offer an extensive know-how in the area of asset and risk management with a main focus on its practical applications.

The specialization aims at students with high affinity to quantitative aspects in finance and insurance.

The program gives an opportunity to get (besides the title “magister” from Universty of Economics in Katowice) a Double Degree diploma from one of following universities:

• (Austria) University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna;
• (Italy) University of Bologna;
• (Italy) University of Florence;
• (Romania) Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iaşi.

The studies are aimed at acquiring knowledge and competences by the students in the areas of: 

• quantitative methods and finance;
• financial econometrics;
• derivative pricing;
• risk measurement;
• asset management;
• research methods;
• asset liability management and risk management;
• banks, insurances and pension funds;
• private banking and family office;
• compliance and regulatory reporting.

Graduate's profile

A graduate has knowledge and skills to:

• assess financial risk and manage it;
• describe and analyze the connections between asset and risk management;
• quantify and assess risk types in risk management;
• infer measures for integrated steering of banks and insurance companies;
• analyze various asset classes and their products;
• carry out portfolio selections, and calculate key risk figures;
• apply the methods of financial mathematics and statistics to model development;
• use IT tools for effective analysis of financial data (Matlab, R, VBA);
• work in teams to solve problems and work on projects;
• use general English and ESP language skills in economics, finance and business.

Career

After graduation, it is possible to work as:

• portfolio / asset manager;
• risk manager;
• middle- and top-level manager;
• financial analyst;
• financial advisor;
• management consultant;
• independent entrepreneur and business owner.

Examples of institutions and companies in which students can work after graduation:

• domestic and international non-financial corporations;
• domestic and international financial institutions (banks, insurance companies, investment funds, stock exchange);
• tax and accountancy offices;
• consulting companies;
• central and local governmental entities;
• private banking and family office;
• compliance and regulatory reporting.

Teaching methods and scientific staff

The teaching methods are in general oriented towards the inclusion of students into the didactic process. The methods most widely used are especially the following: case studies, group discussion, team building exercises, group work, and student presentations. The active lectures using multimedia – as more classical teaching methods – are also the obvious choice for some teaching in chosen subjects. Teachers aim to facilitate students’ activities, which suit the philosophy of graduate learning. The problem-based teaching and studying approach challenges students to develop the ability to think critically.

The teaching staff has domestic and international scientific achievements (implemented research projects, participation in international conferences, publications in English language) and high didactic competences (teaching abroad, cooperation with foreign universities). Some of the teachers have also practical experience in business and financial sector.

Additional information

Accreditations

• Fields of study (major) Finance and Accounting has an accreditation of Polish Accreditation Commission till 2020.
• CFA accreditation [read more]

Exam exemption

Alumni of the specialization Quantitative Asset and Risk Management ARIMA will be eligible for exemption from PRM exam I and II (out of four exams) [read more]

Cooperation with partner companies

• UBS (a cooperation in preparation and teaching the subject “Advanced Topics”).
• HSBC (a cooperation in preparation and teaching the subject concerning derivatives).
• Verisk (a cooperation in preparation and teaching an insurance subjects).

Partner Universities

The program gives an opportunity to get (besides the title “magister” from Universty of Econbomics in Katowice) a Double Degree diploma from one of following universities:

• (Austria) University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna;
• (Italy) University of Bologna;
• (Italy) University of Florence;
• (Romania) Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iaşi.

Mobility options

Two mobility options were established during a Strategic Partnership Project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

The INTQUANT network are envisaged for enrolled master’s degree students in their last semester of studies:

Short term mobility option (2 weeks): Students will participate in the course “Advance Topics“ abroad at one partner university. They can choose from different specialization options.

Double degree option (1 semester): Students spend the whole 4th semester of their program abroad at one partner university. The successful completion of the extended mobility track leads to a double degree.

The program also gives a student an opportunity to spend 2nd (in Austria) or 3rd semester (in Austria, Italy, Romania) at partner universities.

In case of University of Florence, to get a double degree there is a need to spend the 2nd year at partner university.

Graduates about the program

"Studying ARIMA program I believe was a very good decision. It was incredibly interesting time, spent among remarkable and ambitious students under supervision of professional academic teachers. Both by my fellow students and academic teachers I was treated as equal partner in gaining and developing knowledge (unlike during my other studies). The studying was difficult and engaging but brought a lot of satisfaction all the same. Undoubtedly my linguistic skills have also improves. Most valuable and worth recommendation element of the program is the mobility option.

Having completed the program I had no problems whatsoever beginning professional career. It is no secret that a great deal of the credits should go to the mentioned program".

                                                                                                                              Bartłomiej Sysak