Your Questions Answered

Yes, all courses at WQU are provided 100% online. Once you get accepted to any of our programs, you will be able to access your courses via the same login credentials you created to start your application.

WQU is licensed by and receives degree-granting authority from the Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC). The University has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). As an approved NC-SARA institution, WQU enrolls students in 49 US states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. The University also enrolls students in California under a non-profit exemption.

WQU delivers its programs on a purpose-built learning platform, which can be accessed here. 

WQU does not grant student visas. Our programs are delivered 100% online, and our students live in over 150 countries around the world.

No. As an entirely online institution that offers its programs free of cost, WQU does not participate in any financial aid or scholarship programs.

Absolutely! Collaboration is an integral part of WQU's mission and success. While our students live around the world, they are very much connected as they collaborate on group projects, engage in peer reviews, and participate in discussions with each other online. Think of it as joining a vibrant, global community of tenacious lifelong learners where you can build lasting personal and professional connections.

Igor Tulchinsky, the founder and CEO of WorldQuant, LLC, established the WorldQuant Foundation, which sponsors WorldQuant University.

As an entirely online institution, WQU does not have a campus.

Our mailing address is:

WorldQuant University
609 H Street NE, Suite 335,
Washington, D.C. 20002
USA

WQU offers a two-year Master of Science in Financial Engineering (MScFE) Program and two continuing education Applied Labs in Data Science and Deep Learning for Computer Vision. All offerings are entirely free and delivered 100% online.

As a not-for-profit, free of cost online university with students across many different time zones, WQU has limited resources. As such, we are currently unable to take incoming phone calls. Rather, all incoming calls are directed to a voicemail where you will have the opportunity to leave us a voice message. If you would like to leave us a voice message, please call +1 202-556-3402⁩ and provide your name and email address so we can get back to you as quickly as possible.

WorldQuant University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Distance Education Accrediting Commission
1101 17th Street NW, Suite 808
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 234-5100

Becoming accredited is a formal recognition that WorldQuant University and its programs have been vetted for quality and consistency. As part of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission’s (DEAC) accreditation process, WQU was evaluated in areas that include academic quality, curriculum requirements, faculty, student services, ethical business practice, academic support services, learning and research resources, administrative capacity, and financial capacity.

WorldQuant University is accredited in the United States and must follow US State Department regulations regarding sanctioned nations and regions. At this time we are not able to offer our programs to nationals of the following countries/regions: Crimean Peninsula, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.

No. Our course materials draw from a variety of open-access / open-source datasets, such as the Alpha Vantage Stock API. In other words, you just need to show up and start learning, with no data needed.

As part of our mission to bridge the gap between global talent and high quality educational opportunities, all programs at WQU are entirely free.

Applicants are are interested in enrolling in our MSc in Financial Engineering program who have not graduated from an institution where English is the language of instruction are required to submit English proficiency test scores and are responsible to cover the fees associated with these tests. WQU accepts the Duolingo English Test, TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE.

Upon acceptance into the Program, all students are required to submit official transcripts for their highest previously earned college or university degree. The potential cost of obtaining official transcripts is the only other fee students are expected to cover.

To graduate from WQU, students must have earned a total of 39 credit hours. According to our transfer credit policy, students can transfer up to 8 semester credit hours from previously completed coursework. For an overview of this policy and other graduation requirements, please have a look at the Catalog.

Traditionally, individuals with graduate degrees in Financial Engineering have worked in roles in the financial industry including:

• Portfolio Manager: These individuals help companies and traders optimally allocate capital among different investment strategies developed by investment managers.
• Trading Strategist: In this role, individuals create the models, software and strategies that drive trading at their organization.
• Risk Manager: Risk managers review strategies created by the trading strategist and develop risk management policies to comply with regulation.

With more and more businesses becoming increasingly data-driven, greater opportunities exist outside of traditional finance that lend themselves to the skills financial engineers have. Some of these fields include:

• Research: Whether through an academic institution or a technology company, more data in the world means we need more tools and products to make sense of it.
• Supply Chain: Assembly lines, and the supply chains that they connect to, create a wealth of data that needs to be modeled to keep distribution running smoothly.
• Healthcare: From genomics to drug discovery, healthcare is increasingly requiring individuals with machine learning experience to improve diagnosis and expedite discoveries.
• Agriculture: Feeding the growing population of the world will require data-driven financial planning, and the development of industry-specific financial products like crop insurance, and other risk management tools.

For more information, check out the full Guide to Financial Engineering on the WQU blog.

In order to graduate from WQU and be awarded a Master of Science in Financial Engineering Degree, students must:

✅ Successfully complete all required courses, including the Capstone course

✅ Earn a total of 39 semester credit hours

✅ Be in Good Standing: Maintain a cumulative average score of at least 80%, and complete the MScFE Program within the Maximum Time Frame (MTF) of three (3) years

Once graduation requirements have been verified, the student will be notified via email and the diploma will be awarded.

Your application and all required supporting documents are submitted online. You can find more information about the application process here.

As an online institution, WorldQuant University issues digital diplomas and transcripts to students who have met all graduation requirements. Once the graduation requirements have been verified, the student will be notified via email and the diploma will be made available.

WQU accepts new students into the MSc in Financial Engineering Program four times a year - in January, April, July, and October. Students can begin their studies on the closest academic session start date following the acceptance of their application. We recommend completing an application at least 3 weeks prior to the desired start date. For an overview of our academic calendar, please visit our Apply page.

For administrative or technical questions about the Master of Science in Financial Engineering at WorldQuant University, please visit our Help Center, where you can search for help articles covering a vast variety of topics. You can also use our chatbot by clicking on the icon in the bottom right corner of our Help Center.

Yes. A completed bachelor’s degree is the minimum academic requirement for admission into the MSc in Financial Engineering Program. If you do not have a bachelor’s degree but believe your credential/degree/certification would be considered equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, you can get it evaluated by a member of NACES such as the Foundation for International Services (FIS) or World Education Services (WES). If the evaluation determines that your qualifications are equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, provide WQU with your evaluation results and your application can be considered for acceptance.

Higher National Diplomas (HND) are not considered equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree, which is the minimum academic requirement for admission into the MSc in Financial Engineering Program at WQU.

Our students are career-driven, computer-savvy quantitative thinkers. They come from a wide range of countries and have diverse backgrounds. They want to advance their career and seek life-changing, quality education. They are persistent, resilient, and committed to meeting the demands of our rigorous program and to mastering advanced concepts. They understand the value of collaborative work and value sharing knowledge as much as acquiring it.

If you have a background in one or more of the following areas, our MScFE program could be a great fit for you:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field, e.g. physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, or economics
• Experience in algorithm development and/or at least one programming language such as Python or R
• Experience in analyzing datasets
• Relevant work experience

Lastly, students are expected to commit 25 hours per week between lecture videos, assignments, group projects, and individual study.

Once you are ready, visit https://learn.wqu.edu/signup to create an account, take the Quiz, and complete a profile about your educational and professional background.

For more information, check out the full Guide to Financial Engineering on the WQU blog.

The Quantitative Proficiency Test consists of 60 questions covering advanced algebra, linear algebra, differential calculus, integral calculus, differential equations, discrete mathematics, probability, and statistics. A portion of the test is dedicated to measuring fundamental knowledge of Python programming and Python data structures. Make sure you prepare thoroughly for the test and for the successful completion of the Program.

You can find a document with sample questions here. Use this list of (free!) online resources to strengthen your mathematical, statistical, and programming skills.

The minimum passing grade for the test is 75%. It must be completed in one sitting with up to a total of two (2) hours to finish. You have a maximum of two (2) attempts to complete the test.

If English is not your first language and you have not* graduated from a college or university where English is the language of instruction, you must submit English proficiency test scores as part of your application for our MSc in Financial Engineering program. WQU accepts the Duolingo English Test, The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English (PTE). For more details on pricing and minimum test scores, visit https://www.wqu.edu/apply/.

*If you have graduated from a college or university where English is the language of instruction, this requirement is waived and you are not expected to submit English proficiency test scores.

If you are applying for admission to our MScFE program, you must provide the following documents as part of your online application:

• Transcripts for highest previously earned degree (bachelor’s degree required)*
• Scanned copy of a government-issued photo ID
• English language proficiency test scores (if applicable)**

* As part of your MScFE application, you may submit a scanned copy of your transcript for the highest college or university degree you have earned. Upon acceptance into the Program, you are required to submit official transcripts, which are sent directly from your former college or university to WQU via postal mail or email. Official transcripts that are not in English will need to be evaluated by a member of NACES and submitted to the University for review. Please refer to the policy in the University Catalog.

** The English proficiency requirement applies to MScFE applicants who have not attended a college or university where English is the language of instruction. WQU accepts the The Duolingo English Test, The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English (PTE).

Students take one course at a time in a prescribed sequence. Each course runs for 7 or 8 weeks with a 2-week break between each course session (one week for the grading process and one week for subsequent course registration). There is an additional 2-week break at the end of the year. Each course is organized into week-long modules. The learning week begins on Tuesday when the content module is released and ends on the following Monday.

Upon successful completion of a course, you are required to self-register in the next course. If you do not earn a passing grade for a course, you may retake that course. Each course is a prerequisite to the following course. You can see the complete list of courses in the prescribed sequence here. For more details on the grading and attendance policies, please refer to the Catalog.

WorldQuant University awards semester credit hours. A 4-semester credit hour course requires students to spend approximately 180 hours engaged in coursework over seven or eight weeks (20-25 hours/week). Coursework includes 60 hours of academic engagement (i.e., instructor-led activities such as watching video lectures, participating in interactive discussions via online or in live sessions) and 120 hours of preparation (i.e., completing reading assignments, preparing to take weekly quizzes, developing and executing code, conducting research, completing group work projects).

Applicants may be enrolled into the MSc Program upon submission of unofficial transcripts (scanned copies of your transcript) as long as the transcripts demonstrate the graduation date and the cumulative GPA from the previously completed degree program.

Students are required to submit their official transcript of their highest degree earned prior to enrolling in the second MScFE course. WQU highly recommends that students request official transcripts from their previously attended institution(s) immediately upon acceptance.

Official transcripts must be sent directly from the previously attended institution via email (preferred) or via postal mail.

Institutions that issue digital official transcripts may submit them via email to admissions@wqu.edu along with relevant details on the digital transcript validation process.

Institutions that issue paper copies only must send them via postal mail in a sealed envelope to the following address:

WorldQuant University
609 H Street NE, Suite 335,
Washington, D.C. 20002
USA

In both cases, the official transcripts must be signed by the appropriate university official and must include the University stamp or logo, as well as the grading scale used by the institution.

If your transcript is in a language other than English, you are required to obtain an official equivalency from an organization recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), such as World Education Services (WES).

Failure to provide an official transcript by the end of the second course in the Program will result in immediate suspension from the MScFE degree Program. Once the official transcript is received, the student may return to the University and resume their Program at the next available course start.

If you have any questions on official transcripts, please do not hesitate to contact us at admissions@wqu.edu.

Students can receive transfer credit for a maximum of 8 semester credit hours in the MSc in Financial Engineering Program (20.5% of the credit hours required to graduate). If you have previously completed similar graduate-level coursework, you might be eligible for transfer credit. We recommend that you apply for transfer credit before enrolling at WQU. Your request will be evaluated by the Academic Dean and you will be notified of the decision. For more details on the transfer of credit policy at WQU, please refer to our Catalog.

The transferability of credits earned at WQU is at the discretion of the receiving institution to which students seek to transfer. WQU does not in any way imply or guarantee the transferability of credits to other institutions.

For more details about the University's transfer of credit policy, please refer to the Catalog.

Financial Engineering is a field where mathematical techniques are used to solve financial problems. It is an interdisciplinary specialty that leverages skills and tools from computer science, statistics, economics, and applied mathematics, enabling practitioners to address financial challenges and opportunities, and in some cases, develop new products and services. As more businesses and organizations become data-driven, there are growing opportunities for financial engineers outside of the financial industry, including healthcare, the supply chain, agriculture, and more.

For a more detailed breakdown of how this field emerged, what it takes to become a financial engineer, and what kinds of jobs financial engineering graduates pursue, head over to the WQU blog and check out the Guide to Financial Engineering.

You will need access to a computer and a high-speed internet connection in order to participate in the online courses. For proctored quizzes, you will also need a webcam.

You can access MScFE Program content from any web-enabled computer. There are no necessary plug-ins. You do not have to use the same computer to log into the Program every time. We recommend that you have installed the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Applicants who are required to submit English proficiency test scores are responsible to cover the fees associated with these tests. WQU accepts the Duolingo English Test, TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE.

Upon acceptance into the Program, all students are required to submit official transcripts for their highest previously earned college or university degree. The potential cost of obtaining official transcripts is the only other fee students are expected to cover.

Financial Engineering is a field where mathematical techniques are used to solve financial problems. It is an interdisciplinary specialty that leverages skills and tools from computer science, statistics, economics, and applied mathematics, enabling practitioners to address financial challenges and opportunities, and in some cases, develop new products and services. As more businesses and organizations become data-driven, there are growing opportunities for financial engineers outside of the financial industry, including healthcare, the supply chain, agriculture, and more.

For a more detailed breakdown of how this field emerged, what it takes to become a financial engineer, and what kinds of jobs financial engineering graduates pursue, head over to the WQU blog and check out the Guide to Financial Engineering.

No. While you may be able to take some portions of the courses on a smartphone or tablet, a computer (desktop or laptop) is required to access the entire course content, including assignments.

The Applied Data Science Lab is a credentialed offering that integrates data skill development with real-world, applied projects to prepare students for professional, demanding business settings.

To succeed in this sixteen-week continuing education offering, you need to have beginner-level Python skills and be familiar with basic statistics.

Assignments are automatically evaluated, providing students with instant feedback and a score. Grading is on a pass/fail basis and all assignments must be completed to earn the credential.

No, this professional development opportunity does not require you to have any prior degrees or credentials.

Upon successful completion of the Applied Data Science Lab, students receive a digital badge via Credly, the digital credentialing leader.

You are welcome to apply to the Applied Data Science Lab. For some students, the development of applied Python skills may be a very useful supplement to their MSc studies. Keep in mind that this Lab requires significant time investment in addition to your MScFE work. The Applied Data Science Lab does not award institutional credit.

The Applied Data Science Lab and the MScFE Program are independent offerings. Admissions for each are processed separately, and admission or completion of either the Lab or the MScFE does not guarantee admission into the other.

The Applied Data Science Lab is a credentialed offering that integrates data skill development with real-world, applied projects to prepare students for professional, demanding business settings.

To succeed in this sixteen-week continuing education offering, you need to have beginner-level Python skills and be familiar with basic statistics.

For administrative or technical questions about the Applied Data Science Lab at WorldQuant University, please visit our Help Center, where you can search for help articles covering a vast variety of topics. You can also use our chatbot by clicking on the icon in the bottom right corner of ourHelp Center,

No, this professional development opportunity does not require you to have any prior degrees or credentials.

Before you can start the Applied Data Science Lab, you need to take a short Admissions Quiz. We want to make sure you have a solid foundation on which you can build the skills we teach in our program.

We ask that you not use supplementary materials, so close your textbooks and any other browser windows. We recommend that you have a pencil and paper ready in case you want to write out a problem.

Most applicants complete the quiz in 10 to 20 minutes. The minimum passing grade for admissions is 66%. The time limit is 45 minutes.

To prepare for the Quiz, we recommend the following resources:

• Algebra Basics at Khan Academy: Foundations, algebraic expressions, linear equations and inequalities, graphing lines and slope.
• Statistics and Probability at Khan Academy: Displaying and comparing quantitative data, summarizing quantitative data, modeling data distributions.
• Python at LearnPython.org: Learn the Basics.

If you fail the Admissions Quiz, you have a second (and final) attempt after a 7-day waiting period.

If you fail the Admissions Quiz for the Applied Data Science Lab, you have a second (and final) attempt after a 7-day cooling off period. If you fail a second time, you are unable to enroll in the Lab.

Students need access to an internet connected computer capable of streaming video.

The Applied Data Science Lab is divided into 8 two-week projects and was designed to be completed in 16 weeks. Though the Lab is self-paced, the recommended time commitment is 10 to 15 hours per week. In order to get the maximum benefit from the Lab’s project-based approach, students are highly encouraged to complete the Lab in the 16-week timeframe.

WorldQuant University is an accredited not-for-profit with the mission of making advanced, quality education accessible to capable students everywhere. We are able to leverage technology at scale and deliver entirely free online offerings including the Applied Data Science Lab. You do not need to purchase any books or materials.

The Applied Data Science Lab is divided into eight two-week projects and was designed to be completed in approximately 16 weeks. Following a prescribed sequence, students complete one project at a time. The projects range from exploring housing prices in Mexico to predicting air quality in Kenya. Students work with publicly available datasets, upon which they can develop larger portfolio projects. The curriculum is deployed on virtual machines, allowing you to code along while you watch project video lectures, collaborate with colleagues in the forums, and receive instant feedback on your work.

We recommend that you commit roughly 10 to 15 hours per week between lecture videos, assignments, office hours, and individual study.

Be an active participant and organize your time. Prioritize your tasks and assignments each week by allocating time slots in your diary or calendar. For work that requires a lot of concentration, schedule multiple short slots in the week to help you avoid cramming and to give your brain a chance to absorb and retain the information. Take advantage of the goal-setting feature on our learning platform to set yourself reminders and engage with your colleagues in our forums.

Yes, all live sessions and office hours are recorded and made available to students.

Completing the Lab does not confer college or university credit, but students receive an easily shareable credential upon successful completion of the Lab.

The Applied AI Lab is an advanced learning opportunity designed to help you master the core concepts behind neural networks through six hands-on projects ranging from image classification to generative AI. Applicants are expected to have the following prerequisite skills:

• Intermediate-level Python programming
• Ability to manipulate basic data structures like lists and dictionaries, and write definitions for functions and classes
• Familiarity with essential machine learning concepts, including supervised and unsupervised learning, overfitting and regularization, and training, validation, and test sets

All applicants must pass an Admissions Quiz with a minimum passing score of 66%. Before you attempt the Admissions Quiz, we recommend that you use the following free resources to help you prepare:

• Python at LearnPython.org: Learn the Basics.
• Applied Data Science Lab: WQU’s own Applied Data Science Lab is free and always available. The Applied Data Science Lab teaches you the Python and Machine Learning skills needed to succeed in the Applied AI Lab.
• Linear Algebra from Khan Academy: study the mathematical foundation for key concepts in neural networks, data transformations, and optimization algorithms that power machine learning models.
• College Algebra: A full course with companion python code on YouTube.
• Mathematics for Machine Learning: A free eBook available online and as a PDF.
• Practical Deep Learning for Coders: A free course designed for people with some coding experience, who want to learn how to apply deep learning and machine learning to practical problems.

The Applied AI Lab is an advanced learning opportunity designed to help you master the core concepts behind neural networks through six hands-on projects ranging from image classification to generative AI. Applicants are expected to have the following prerequisite skills:

• Intermediate-level Python programming
• Ability to manipulate basic data structures like lists and dictionaries, and write definitions for functions and classes
• Familiarity with essential machine learning concepts, including supervised and unsupervised learning, overfitting and regularization, and training, validation, and test sets

All applicants must pass an Admissions Quiz with a minimum passing score of 66%. Before you attempt the Admissions Quiz, we recommend that you use the following free resources to help you prepare:

• Python at LearnPython.org: Learn the Basics.
• Applied Data Science Lab: WQU’s own Applied Data Science Lab is free and always available. The Applied Data Science Lab teaches you the Python and Machine Learning skills needed to succeed in the Applied AI Lab.
• Linear Algebra from Khan Academy: study the mathematical foundation for key concepts in neural networks, data transformations, and optimization algorithms that power machine learning models.
• College Algebra: A full course with companion python code on YouTube.
• Mathematics for Machine Learning: A free eBook available online and as a PDF.
• Practical Deep Learning for Coders: A free course designed for people with some coding experience, who want to learn how to apply deep learning and machine learning to practical problems.

The Applied AI Lab is structured around six hands-on projects, each to be completed in sequence. These projects address real-world challenges, such as wildlife conservation, crop disease monitoring, and traffic flow analysis, allowing students to apply their skills in impactful, practical contexts.

The Lab is self-paced, so there’s no fixed deadline to complete it. Most students finish within 100-150 hours. All project work is completed on virtual machines, enabling students to code alongside video lectures and engage with peers in collaborative forums.

If you fail the Admissions Quiz for the Applied AI Lab, you’ll have a second chance to retake it after a 7-day waiting period. If you do not pass the Quiz on the second attempt, you may reapply to the Lab after a 6-month waiting period.

Please note that the Lab is intended for learners with these prerequisite skills:

• Intermediate-level Python programming
• Ability to manipulate basic data structures like lists and dictionaries, and write definitions for functions and classes
• Familiarity with essential machine learning concepts, including supervised and unsupervised learning, overfitting and regularization, and training, validation, and test sets

Financial engineers pursue professional roles such as quantitative researchers, quantitative developers, quantitative traders, algorithmic traders, and portfolio managers for financial institutions. Some focus on public policy, working for governments developing state and federal financial policies, or conducting research at think tanks. There is a tremendous amount of fluidity between different financial-engineering careers, as well as transferable skills that allow professionals to easily move between these opportunities.