Programmes
The Financial Technology program aims at providing students with essential knowledge to apply new technology, especially information technology and data science techniques, to a variety of financial services. After four years of all-round education, students are expected to be able to derive and develop financial and managerial insights from big data, design and engineer innovative solutions to meet financial service needs, optimize financial decisions in complex business environments and understand and analyze the social, economic, security, and legal impact of their solutions. In collaboration with Peking University, we also offer a dual degree program from which graduates receive a BENG degree in Financial Technology and a BSc degree in Financial Mathematics.
Nurturing Future Talent in FinTech
A new programme in Financial Technology (FinTech) is born. Financial Technology is an emerging engineering discipline that focuses on employing technological innovations in financial practices. Leveraging on the cutting-edge developments of engineering, particularly information technology and data sciences, it demonstrates an unprecedented potential to offer innovative solutions to existing problems and revolutionizes the nature of the traditional financial services industry.
‘The programme in FinTech at CUHK is the first of its kind in Hong Kong,’ remarked programme director Prof. Chen Nan. ‘It aims to educate and equip students with the essential knowledge and capabilities to apply technological innovations to financial services, as well as to nurture leadership and entrepreneurship for the next generation of financial talent in support of Hong Kong’s development into an international FinTech hub.’
Led by the Faculty of Engineering, the FinTech programme features a strong multidisciplinary training as courses are offered by the Faculties of Business Administration, Law and Social Science. Students are able to acquire cutting-edge technical skills and a broad understanding of potential legal, economic and societal impacts of financial technology.
The programme collaborates closely with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) to offer internship and overseas exchange opportunities for its students. It is also actively seeking collaboration opportunities with Cyper Port, Science Park and other private companies to organize FinTech-specific internships. Students can also join the Placement and Internship Programme (PIP) centralized by the Faculty of Engineering for a variety of opportunities for work-study, long-term or short-term internships and student exchange.
To ensure new students adapt and thrive, major foundation courses will be offered in the first two years of their studies to introduce some basic information on the subject. Admission scholarships will also be provided by the Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management to eligible students. Apart from focusing on the study of FinTech, students also enjoy the freedom to enroll in a minor programme offered by any Faculty or Department at CUHK according to their interests.
‘The Hong Kong government regards FinTech as one of its main strategies to maintain the competitiveness of local financial industry and also encourages FinTech talent in Hong Kong to set the standards for the latest financial technologies within the region. The employment opportunities for innovative young talent who are trained in this specific field are thus abundant,’ said Professor Chen.
Graduates of the FinTech programme will be ideally suited for positions that require strong quantitative and technological skills in the financial services industry. Prospective career opportunities include investment and commercial banking, insurance, asset management, internet finance, government regulatory agencies and FinTech startups. They can also pursue further studies in finance, management sciences and engineering, computer sciences, information engineering and other related fields.
The programme is receiving around 40 new students each year. ‘We look for secondary school graduates who are strong in mathematics with good communication skills and have an interest in engineering technology and its applications in finance. Students of our programme will enjoy the opportunities to study with classmates who share the same academic interests and faculty members who care for both their intellectual as well as their career development,’ said Professor Chen.
Published: Summer 2017
Last Updated: Summer 2019