PGCert in Business Informatics & Data Science
Emphasis on data, models and systems: programming, statistics, machine learning and market technology.
Postgraduate Certificates
Focused. With credits. Six months.
The Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) is a qualification with 30 ECTS at MQF/EQF Level 7 in one specialisation. It is the fastest entry into quantitative finance, financial markets or trading. It is also the first building block of a Master’s degree.
We offer Postgraduate Certificates in two fields, Business Informatics & Data Science and Business Administration, and in three specialisations. The field defines the methodological emphasis: data science and systems, or management and regulation. The specialisation defines the topics.
We teach and assess all modules at Master’s level. If you continue to the MSc or MBA, we recognise all credits of your PGCert.
Available certificates
PGCert in Business Administration
Emphasis on institutions, decisions and rules: strategy, risk governance, regulation and market conduct.
Structure
Three taught modules with 8 ECTS each and one applied capstone project with 6 ECTS. The modules run one after the other. Each module has live seminars, weekly tutorial assignments and an assessment.
Specialisation Quantitative Finance
- Module 1: Foundations of Quantitative Finance (probability, stochastic calculus, Itô calculus, SDEs and their applications)
- Module 2: Derivatives, Risk and Portfolio Analytics (Black-Scholes and extensions, hedging, volatility, VaR/ES, portfolio theory)
- Module 3: Data Science and Machine Learning for Finance (supervised and unsupervised learning, model validation, backtesting)
- Capstone: applied quant project with real market data (for example a pricing model, a risk engine or an ML strategy)
Specialisation Financial Markets
- Module 1: Financial Markets, Instruments and Institutions (cash and derivative markets, intermediaries, market data)
- Module 2: Market Infrastructure and Regulation (trading venues such as exchanges and MTF/OTF, CCPs and CSDs; MiFID II/MiFIR, EMIR, MAR; Swiss FinSA/FinIA and DLT Act)
- Module 3: Asset Management, Digital Assets and Sustainable Finance (funds under UCITS/AIFMD, tokenised assets, ESG)
- Capstone: applied project (for example a regulatory gap analysis, a market design case, or a product or compliance concept)
Specialisation Intraday, Day & High-Frequency Trading
- Module 1: Market Microstructure and Order Book Dynamics (price formation, liquidity, spreads, market impact)
- Module 2: Systematic Intraday and Day Trading (strategy research, backtesting, risk and money management, evaluation)
- Module 3: Algorithmic Execution, HFT and Regulation (execution algorithms, market making, latency, MiFID II requirements for algorithmic trading)
- Capstone: documented strategy or execution study in the SIDF simulation environment
Who is this programme for?
- Analysts, risk managers, traders and portfolio managers who want to formalise and deepen their skills
- Software engineers and data scientists who move into finance
- Compliance, legal and regulatory professionals who work with markets and digital assets
- Graduates who want an entry with credits into a Master’s degree
Admission requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognised institution. We can consider relevant professional experience.
- English at level B2 or higher (certificate or interview)
- For the Quantitative Finance specialisation: a quantitative background (mathematics, engineering, economics, computer science) or successful completion of the SIDF primers
Assessment
- Module assessments (written examinations, assignments, coding tasks)
- Capstone project with a written report and a presentation
- Grades follow the ECTS grading scheme. You receive a transcript and a Europass Diploma Supplement.
Next steps
- All 30 ECTS count towards the MSc in Business Informatics & Data Science or the MBA in Business Administration
- You can combine two PGCerts in different specialisations
- We advise you individually on the most efficient route to a Master’s degree
Frequently asked questions
Is a Postgraduate Certificate a degree?
A PGCert is a higher education qualification at Master’s level (MQF/EQF Level 7) with 30 ECTS. It is not a full Master’s degree. It is a formal award with credits, and the credits count towards a Master’s degree.
How much time do I need per week?
Plan 15 to 20 hours per week. This includes live seminars, tutorial assignments and self-study.
Can I change to the Master’s programme later?
Yes. We recognise all 30 ECTS when you continue to the related MSc or MBA.
SIDF faculty, EIM faculty and guest lecturers teach the courses. The guest lecturers come from banks, trading firms, market infrastructures and supervisory authorities.
Ready for the next step in digital finance?
Apply for a Postgraduate Certificate, a Master’s programme or the PhD. Or talk to us first.