In recent years, finance has been one of the areas where high-calibre mathematicians have been in great demand. With the advent of powerful and yet economically accessible computing, online trading has become a common activity, but many have realized that a certain amount of mathematics is necessary to be successful in such fields.

The University of Essex Postgraduate Diplomas last for six to nine months (full-time) and include the modules and assessed work of a Masters, without a dissertation. This allows students to proceed to a Masters in mathematics if their undergraduate degree was in a different subject.