Cass to launch joint finance masters with SMU

This September will see the first students enrol on a new master of science in quantitative finance offered jointly by City University’s Cass Business School and Singapore Management University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business.

The launch of this specialised one-year programme is a product of the strengthening partnership between the two business schools and also represents the first degree to be jointly taught and awarded involving the London-based school.

The collaboration is part of Cass’ intention to establish an international strategy of selective partnerships. “For a partnership to be a success, it is essential that schools truly want to work with each other”, says Susan Roth, director of specialist masters programmes at Cass. Ms Roth emphasises the similarities between the schools, located in the heart of two of the world’s principal financial centres and their faculty research.

The joint programme will follow the syllabus of Cass’ established masters in quantitative finance degree, with the first semester to be taught in Singapore by SMU faculty. In the second semester, this cohort will join Cass single programme students for classes in London, before returning to Singapore for elective modules.

While the programme does not currently offer Cass students the option to study for a semester in Singapore, this is not something that is ruled out for the future. “The next level would be full reciprocation”, says Ms Roth, “and indeed some our professors already teach electives at SMU”.

SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business was established in 2000, and four years later received a combined $200m gift from the Lee Foundation and the Singapore government. Since 2010, the school has been led by Howard Thomas, previously dean of Warwick Business School for 10 years.