NANYANG Financial Engineering

FINANCIAL ENGINEERING DEGREE OPENS THE DOORS TO DREAM CAREERS FOR THIS COUPLE

Lu Danqing was working in a bank for a few years when he realised his passion for derivatives valuation. “I decided that I wanted to be in derivatives for the long term in my career, so I chose a master’s degree in financial engineering,” he says.

He opted for Nanyang Business School (NBS) after attending a few seminars and consulting friends and colleagues who have graduated from a similar programme. “I was convinced that the Nanyang Master of Science in Financial Engineering (MSc Financial Engineering) could offer the best structure with the most depth in derivatives valuation,” says the alumnus from NBS Class of 2019.

The programme delivered. First, it helped to boost Danqing’s qualifications, and he became eligible for the screening stage of a potential job. Danqing was delighted to clinch the job upon graduating from the programme: it was a role in valuation control in American hedge fund firm, Point72 Asset Management.

Next, the programme trained him well in the skills and knowledge required for the new role. “Today, part of my scope involves the pricing of structured products across different asset classes. I’ve been up to the task,” he says. “The networks have also been important. There was a seven-week term at Carnegie Mellon University. It helped me to gain context and form closer relationships with some of my colleagues, who have graduated from top U.S. universities.”

Danqing did not stop at enrolling himself in school. He also got his wife on board. Zhang Xiaomeng joined the following academic year. “My husband encouraged me, as he knows that the degree would fit my interests in mathematics and programming,” she says. “At the same time, I was considering a career change.”

Upon completion of the MSc Financial Engineering programme, Xiaomeng successfully made a career switch by joining Standard Chartered Singapore as a model validation manager.

“Model validation requires hard knowledge in stochastic calculus and programming—skills that I acquired in the programme. I especially enjoyed the course on Stochastic Calculus for Finance. It was a challenging but interesting course: I continue to be impressed by how uncertainties in stock prices and interest rates can be modelled with the random motion of particles, which is an idea from physics.”

Xiaomeng treasures the highly enthusiastic faculty as well. “For example, Professor Charlie Charoenwong has been so passionate in teaching and interacting with students,” she says. “Through his class, I started to truly appreciate the connection between mathematics and finance. My course mates are smart and hardworking people, they inspire me.”

There was a period where Danqing and Xiaomeng’s academic calendars coincided and this was a unique experience that brought back good memories. “We’ve known each other for 20 years since we were classmates back in high school,” Xiaomeng says. “Studying together again makes us feel 20 years younger!”

Danqing jokes: “When I first started on the programme, I sometimes received complaints from Xiaomeng about spending the weekends doing homework. Now that Xiaomeng is deep in it, she is experiencing how demanding the master’s degree can really be.”

Quick tip: You will be challenged. And rewarded.
Danqing says, “The programme is extremely intensive. Be prepared! But don’t worry, as you will study with a group of very smart and sweet faculty and classmates.” Xiaomeng adds, “Don’t take the learning journey for granted. Grasp every opportunity and you will grow. Don’t hesitate to ask questions because this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, where you will learn from the best faculty and peers.”