HEC Paris and École Polytechnique launch Data & Finance Double Degree

Building on the success of the Master of Science and Technology (MScT) in Data Science for Business, HEC Paris and École Polytechnique are forging ahead with their partnership and determination to combine their expertise. The two institutions will launch the Data & Finance Double Degree in the academic year starting September 2023. This program merges the Data Science for Business MScT and the Master in Finance from HEC Paris in a world first for data science applied to finance.

As the name suggests, the Data Science & Finance program, taught jointly by HEC Paris and École Polytechnique, combines twin expertise in data science and finance. The course is designed for students from across the world who have studied engineering, management and economics or science and math, and who are keen to perfect their skills and expand their professional opportunities. For the 2023 academic year, 20 students will be selected.

This double degree, which is unique in the world, is taught entirely in English and is delivered over two years. The first year, which is spent at École Polytechnique, focuses on data science with courses on statistics, probability, regression and classification, together with more targeted modules on optimization, machine learning and deep learning in particular. It also includes hands-on training in hard skills using the Python and R programing languages. In addition, the course begins to explore financial markets and the digital processing of financial data.

In the second year, students join the Master in Finance (MiF) program at HEC Paris. The first, generalist semester is intended to provide a training in all sectors of finance (corporate and financial markets). The second semester offers an elective data and finance specialization, with courses covering new frontiers such as blockchain technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence applied to finance, as well as technology regulations in the financial sector.

The Data & Finance program provides a first-rate training: the HEC-X alliance has already proven its worth with the Data Science for Business MScT, which is the leading European master’s degree and third worldwide in the QS Business Masters classification. At the same time, the MiF at HEC Paris has topped the Financial Times world rankings for over a decade.

A further advantage of this double degree is that it offers students made-to-measure classes that match their professional aspirations as closely as possible. These combine theoretical courses given by researchers with hands-on classes thanks to lectures from outside experts.

"We are very proud to be launching this ambitious program jointly with our partners at École Polytechnique", begins Olivier Bossard, Professor of Finance and Executive Director of the MiF at HEC Paris. "Over two years it combines the technical expertise and academic excellence of the best engineering school in France and the best master's in finance in the world".

"This new course once again demonstrates the excellent synergy between our two institutions", adds Erwan Le Pennec, Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics at École Polytechnique. "The twin expertise in data sciences and finance, which is unprecented in the world of higher education, will be an asset for our students, helping them develop skills that are highly prized by employers".

This project has received support from the French state managed by the National Research Agency as part of France 2030 with the reference "ANR -22-CMAS-0002".