Finance-Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (Dual Degree)

Both the Finance and Mathematics disciplines at Tongji University possess strong research and teaching capabilities, maintain close cooperation at various levels over the long term, and have significant advantages in cooperative education foundations. Firstly, Tongji University’s Applied Economics discipline construction began in the mid-1990s. Leveraging the geographical advantages of Shanghai and the influence of Tongji University as a prestigious institution, it rapidly developed into a complete disciplinary system with finance as the leading discipline: the Finance undergraduate program was established in 1998, the Finance master’s program was approved in 2000, the doctoral program in Financial Engineering and Management was obtained in 2007, the first-level disciplinary doctoral program was acquired in 2011, and the Finance undergraduate program was selected as a Ministry of Education first-class undergraduate program in 2019. After more than ten years of development, the Finance discipline has a strong faculty, significant scientific research results, excellent education quality, extensive academic exchanges, and remarkable social service achievements. It has formed research features such as modern financial markets and investment, financial engineering and risk management, and has strong influence in the financial field both domestically and internationally. Secondly, Tongji University’s Mathematics discipline was established in 1945. Since the 1980s, it has introduced many renowned domestic mathematicians, and in the new century, it has introduced a group of mid-career academic leaders such as experts from the National Thousand Talents Plan and recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. The comprehensive strength in teaching and research has continuously increased, having great influence in the domestic and international education and academic circles. It has successively obtained master’s programs for all secondary disciplines in mathematics, doctoral programs for the Basic Mathematics and Applied Mathematics secondary disciplines, and the first-level disciplinary doctoral program in Mathematics, and established a postdoctoral research station in Mathematics. In 2019, the school was selected for the Ministry of Education’s “Strong Foundation Plan,” and in 2020, the “Mathematics and Applied Mathematics” major was selected for the national first-class undergraduate program construction list. The courses “Advanced Mathematics” and “Financial Mathematics” were selected as Ministry of Education top-quality shared courses. Emphasizing the cultivation of university students’ innovation ability, the “Advanced Mathematics” textbook won the “National Outstanding Textbook Special Award” in 2021, fully reflecting the fine tradition of Tongji University’s older generation of mathematicians who attached great importance to teaching and textbooks.

This project is based on the “Financial Mathematics Innovation Pilot Zone” for undergraduates established in 2015 at Tongji University and has offered the dual bachelor’s degree program in “Finance – Mathematics and Applied Mathematics” for undergraduates since 2023. This project integrates the two major professional advantages of Finance and Mathematics & Applied Mathematics at Tongji University, combining knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines such as Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science. It requires students to be able to develop, design, and combine new financial instruments and trading methods, engage in investment and financing management, financial trading operations, financial product pricing, financial analysis, financial risk management, and other financial business and management activities. Additionally, students must possess solid mathematical quantification abilities, mastering economic mathematics, mathematical modeling, and empirical methods. Furthermore, they must be able to flexibly apply the acquired professional knowledge in practical activities, discern various domestic and international financial information, process and analyze data, thereby providing countermeasures and suggestions for solving practical problems for government, enterprises, financial institutions, and other departments. They should also be able to utilize professional theoretical knowledge and modern economic research methods, possessing outstanding scientific research capabilities and creativity.