The Quantitative Developer Certificate (QDC) - Self-Paced

The Quantitative Developer Certificate (QDC) - Self-Paced

About the programme 

This is the first of a kind course that teaches what the job of a quantitative analyst, developer or strat really is. There will be nearly no math in the course, but you will learn about the exact types of the quant jobs on the sell and buy-side, in consulting and in fintech, daily routines of different types of quants and their interaction among themselves and with other stakeholders, quant reports and other deliverables, quant library organization, the quant R&D process on the sell and buy-side and, finally, the skills that are really necessary beyond the technical ones and the career prospects. There is also a special section providing a very high-level view on the quant modelling for pricing, risk and trading strategy design. Sections on the organizational structure, quant job types and quant deliverables will be also useful for non-quants, including MBAs and CFA candidates.

Self-paced online learning

  • Progress through the course independently at your own pace.
  • Enjoy maximum flexibility to fit your own schedule, with no set deadlines to follow.
  • Access the module tests and final examination when you are ready to implement the knowledge and skills you have acquired during the course of the programme.
  • Once purchased you will receive instant access to the whole QDC.

FAQ: What is the difference between the live and self-paced courses?

The self-paced QDC offers instant access to the full cohort, and you take the course independently in your own time. The live course is taken weekly with structured lectures arriving on Monday and a follow up webinar the week after, the live course has a supporting faculty forum. Both scenarios have the same module tests to pass, final examination and on completion you will receive the QDC certificate and gain access to Alumni lifelong learning portal. The Lifelong learning portal will be starting in Q1 2025.

You will be able to receive up to 200 CPD points for completing this course

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 as the independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies. The CPD Certification Service provides recognised independent CPD accreditation compatible with global CPD principles.

www.cpduk.co.uk

Duration:
📅 Self-Paced: 50+ Lecture Hours

Format:
💻 Recorded Lectures Online. Instant access to all QDC lectures and supporting material.

Evaluation:
📊 Module Tests + Final Examination + Certificate

Time Commitment:
📆 Recorded lectures accessible any time. Take the QDC at your own pace. Up to 200 learning hours to complete.

Self-paced Online:
🕛 Students will have the opportunity to apply what they learn in hands-on projects throughout the course.

💳 Cost: £2195.00

Testimonials: ⬇️

Stefan Turalski

(Director) Software Engineer, UBS

"The instructors demonstrated breadth of knowledge and expertise and were keeping us engaged for the whole training."

Francesco Borderi

FX Options Trader, Goldman Sachs

"The quality of the material is outstanding."

Joachim Tigler

Head of Trading, Mirae Asset Securities (UK) Ltd

"There are people here with significance experience and influence."

Become the highly paid quantitative software development expert.  

Banks, hedge funds and financial technology companies (fintechs) employ thousands of quantitative software development experts with salaries averaging $124,762 per year (approximately £100,000 or €115,000) as reported by Glassdoor, with salaries for senior practiotioners and managers extending into seven and eight figures. Not only are these jobs financially lucrative, they are intellectually challenging and stimulating, and highly regarded socially. Employers include Tower Research Capital, Citadel, Bloomberg L.P., and all the major bulge bracket investment banks.

This course has been designed to empower individuals who work in or are seeking a career in quantitative finance. Throughout our unique QDC programme, candidates work with hands-on assignments to experience first-hand practical challenges in model development for derivative pricing and systematic trading. The QDC is a career-enhancing professional certificate, that can be taken worldwide

Key Outcomes 

 

    Established by industry leaders:File:Eo circle red white checkmark.svg - Wikimedia Commons 

This unique certification has been established by some of the most recognisable, leading names in the financial services industry.

File:Eo circle red white checkmark.svg - Wikimedia Commons    Our Syllabus: 

Learn exactly what you need to know to succeed in today’s challenging market. We revise and update our syllabus on a regular basis to cover the fundamentals and keep ahead of the current industry trends

File:Eo circle red white checkmark.svg - Wikimedia Commons    Project Ideas: 

As close to production as it gets: Try implementing some of the following project ideas programming is best learned through practice.

File:Eo circle red white checkmark.svg - Wikimedia Commons    Taught by leading industry experts, Supported by leaders in Education: 

We will take you from no or limited programming knowledge to excellence in quantitative development

Interested in learning as part of the live cohort?

You can also study the QDC certificate as part of a live cohort, accessing the 6-month course with fixed start dates starting three times per year. Our structured schedule gives you a clear timeline to learn alongside other algorithmic traders.

The next cohort starts on 21 April, 2025

Modules: ⬇️

All modules can be individually purchased on the Quants Hub

  • Module 1: Python for finance: 8 hours
    • THE LINGUA FRANCA OF DATA SCIENCE, MACHINE LEARNING, AND FINANCE
    • Module 1 Test
       
  • Module 2: Databases in finance – Kdb+/q: 9 hour 30 minutes
    • AN UNRIVALED TOOL FOR BIG DATA AND HIGH-FREQUENCY DATA
    • Module 2 Test
       
  • Module 3: C++ fundamentals with use cases from finance: 6 hours
    • PERFORMANCE, PRODUCTION STABILITY, AND PORTABILITY
    • Module 3 Test
       
  • Module 4: Data structures and algorithms in C++: 5 hours
    • THE CORE OF COMPUTING
    • Module 4 Test
  • Module 5: Designing algorithmic trading applications: 8 hours 45 minutes
    • STATE-OF-THE-ART CONTENT
    • Module 5 Test
       
  • Final Examination
     
  • Module 6: QUANTITATIVE Analyst Developer Strat: THE PROFESSION: 15 hours 30 minutes
    • Extra career enhancing content: Are you an aspiring quant, or you wish to try a different quant job

Module 1: Python for finance: 8 hours ⬇️

THE LINGUA FRANCA OF DATA SCIENCE, MACHINE LEARNING, AND FINANCE

QDC Lecture 1 (Module 1): Introduction to Python by Saeed Amen: 2 hours

  • Installing Anaconda and PyCharm - Instructions

QDC Lecture 2 (Module 1): Data Analysis in Python by Saeed Amen: 2 hours

  • Data Analysis in Python - Forum

QDC Lecture 3 (Module 1) Analysis of financial data using Python by Saeed Amen: 2 hours

  • Analysis of Financial Data Using Python - Forum

QDC Lecture 4 (Module 1): Financial market case studies using Python by Saeed Amen: 2 Hours

  • Financial Market Case Studies Using Python - Forum

Module 1 Test

Module 2: Databases in finance – Kdb+/q: 9 hour 30 minutes ⬇️ 

AN UNRIVALED TOOL FOR BIG DATA AND HIGH-FREQUENCY DATA

QDC Lecture 5 (Module 2): Overview of kdb+/q by Paul Bilokon: 1 hour 50 minutes

  • Installing kdb+/q - Slides
  • What is kdb+/q? – Slides
  • Variables, types, and operators - Slides (no solutions)
  • Overview of kdb+/q – Self Study Forum

QDC Lecture 6 (Module 2): Foundation of the q programming language by Paul Bilokon: 1 hour 36 minutes

  • Lists - Slides
  • Dictionaries - Slides 
  • Foundation of the q programming language – Forum

QDC Lecture 7 (Module 2): Working with tables by Paul Bilokon: 1 hour 50 minutes

  • Control Flow – Slides
  • Iterators  – Slides
  • q-sql - Slides
  • Working with tables – Forum

QDC Lecture 8 (Module 2): Kdb+/q for big data and machine learning by Paul Bilokon: 1 hour 45 minutes

  • q-sql - Slides
  • Big Data in kdb+/q - Slides
  • Parallelisation - Slides
  • Joins - Slides
  • kdb+/q for big data and machine learning – Forum

QDC Lecture 9 (Module 2): Kdb+/q in practice by Paul Bilokon: 2 hours

  • Big Data in kdb+/q - Slides
  • kdb+tick - Slides
  • kdb+/q in practice – Forum

Module 2 Test

Module 3: C++ fundamentals with use cases from finance: 6 hours ⬇️ 

PERFORMANCE, PRODUCTION STABILITY, AND PORTABILITY

QDC Lecture 10 (Module 3): C++ introduction by Ivan Zhdankin: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • QDC Tutorial 1 Curve Interpolation - Slides
  • QDC lecture 1 Intro – Slides
  • Sample Code - Lecture1
  • Sample Code - Tutorial1
  • coderpad(3)
  • coderpad (1)
  • C++ introduction – Forum

QDC Lecture 11 (Module 3): Introduction to OOP in C++ by Ivan Zhdankin: 1 hour 40 minutes

  • Lecture Intro OOP – Slides
  • Tutorial Algo IR risk hedging – Slides
  • Sample Code - Lecture2
  • Sample Code - Tutorial2
  • Introduction to OOP in C++ - Forum

QDC Lecture 12 (Module 3): Defining your own structures in C++ by Ivan Zhdankin: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • QDC Tutorial 3 – Slides
  • QDC lecture 3 – Slides
  • Sample Code - Lecture3
  • Sample Code - Tutorial 3
  • Defining your own structures in C++ - Forum

QDC Lecture 13 (Module 3): Introduction to Standard Library by Ivan Zhdankin: 1 hour 20 minutes

  • QDC Tutorial 4 – Slides
  • QDC lecture 4 – Slides
  • Sample Code - Lecture4
  • Sample Code - Tutorial 4
  • Introduction to Standard Library – Forum

Module 3 Test

Module 4: Data structures and algorithms in C++: 5 hours ⬇️

THE CORE OF COMPUTING

QDC Lecture 14 (Module 4): Git and GitHub by Ivan Zhdankin: 1 hour 20 minutes

  • Git and GitHub - Webex Link
  • Git and GitHub - Recording Link
  • Data Structures and Algorithms - Slides
  • What is Git? – Slides
  • Git and GitHub – Forum

QDC Lecture 15 (Module 4): Analysis Tools, Recursion and Sorting by Ivan Zhdankin: 1 hour 5 minutes

  • Analysis Tools, Recursion and Sorting - Recording Link
  • Analysis tool, Recursion - Slides
  • Interview Questions
  • Pricing Vanilla instruments and Derivatives - Slides
  • Analysis Tools, Recursion and Sorting – Forum

QDC Lecture 16 (Module 4): Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks and Queues by Ivan Zhdankin: 1 hour 5 minutes

  • Queues Sorting - Slides
  • Code / Interview Questions
  • Data Structures and Algorithms, Risk-Factor Simulation - Slides
  • Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks and Queues – Forum

QDC Lecture 17 (Module 4): Trees and Graphs by Ivan Zhdankin: 1 hour 25 minutes

  • Data Structures and Algorithms in C++ - Maps and Hash Tables, Trees, Graph Algorithms - Slides
  • Data Structures and Algorithms - Risk-Factor Simulation, Aggregation - Slides
  • Trees and Graphs - Forum

Module 4 Test

Module 5: Designing algorithmic trading applications: 8 hours 45 minutes ⬇️

STATE-OF-THE-ART CONTENT

QDC Lecture 18 (Module 5): The hardware of electronic trading by Paul Bilokon: 2 hours 5 minutes

  • The hardware of electronic trading – Slides
  • The hardware of electronic trading – Forum

QDC Lecture 19 (Module 5): The networking of electronic trading by Paul Bilokon: 1 hour 50 minutes

  • The networking of electronic trading – Slides
  • The networking of electronic trading – Forum

QDC Lecture 20 (Module 5): Low-latency programming by Paul Bilokon: 1 hour 45 minutes

  • Low-latency programming – Slides
  • Low-latency programming – Forum

QDC Lecture 21 (Module 5): Event-driven architecture by Paul Bilokon: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • Event-driven architecture – Slides
  • Event-driven architecture - Forum

QDC Lecture 22 (Module 5):The workflow of a trading platform by Paul Bilokon: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • The workflow of a trading platform - Slides
  • The workflow of a trading platform - Forum

Module 5 Test

Final Examination ⬇️

Candidates will sit a formal examination on a computer. The exam is taken online by students globally.

Marking Classifications:

Students achieving an overall mark of 70% or higher will be awarded the Certificate with Distinction. The total mark is calculated as equally weighted marks for module tests and final exam.

  • Distinction: 70-100%; US equivalent: A/A+
  • Merit: 60-69%; US equivalent: B+/A
  • Pass: 50-59%; US equivalent: B-/B

Module 6: QUANTITATIVE Analyst Developer Strat: THE PROFESSION: 15+ hours ⬇️

Extra career enhancing content: Are you an aspiring quant, or you wish to try a different quant job

Course curriculum

This is the first of a kind course that teaches what the job of a quantitative analyst, developer or strat really is. There will be nearly no math in the course, but you will learn about the exact types of the quant jobs on the sell and buy-side, in consulting and in fintech, daily routines of different types of quants and their interaction among themselves and with other stakeholders, quant reports and other deliverables, quant library organization, the quant R&D process on the sell and buy-side and, finally, the skills that are really necessary beyond the technical ones and the career prospects.

There is also a special section providing a very high-level view on the quant modelling for pricing, risk and trading strategy design.

Sections on the organizational structure, quant job types and quant deliverables will be also useful for non-quants, including MBAs and CFA candidates.

Introduction

  • Welcome
  • The course outline
  • Who is this course for?
  • Evolution of the profession
  • Pricing and signal vs Risk and Return
  • The ultimate motivation
  • Why becoming a quant?
  • (Special topic) Probability vs Statistics vs ML
  • (Special topic) Why everything needs to be priced?

Financial firms and quant roles

  • Financial businesses and risks
  • Sell-side organisation
  • Sell-side quants
  • Buy-side organisation and quants
  • Financial Consulting
  • Fintech and financial software vendors

Daily tasks and reports

  • Daily operations of a trading desk or a POD
  • Products, positions, books; ageing and position effects
  • Evolution of the quant and IT responsibilities
  • FO Reports: Position and PNL
  • FO Reports: Scenarios and Risk
  • FO Reports: PNL explain and PNL predict
  • Regulatory reports and limits

Quant libraries and systems

  • Quant library. Use cases and deployment
  • Quant library organization
  • The pricing function
  • End user tools
  • Case Study: Numerix

Required skills

  • Introduction
  • Required skills. Part 1
  • Required Skills. Part 2

Grades. Progression and pay.

  • Grades. Progression and pay. Introduction
  • Grades. Progression and pay 

£2,195.00