CS 476Numerical Computation for Financial Modelling
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Subject
- Computer Science
- Cross-listed
- ACTSC 447
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
The interaction of financial models, numerical methods, and computing environments. Basic computational aspects of option pricing and hedging. Numerical methods for stochastic differential equations, strong and weak convergence. Generating correlated random numbers. Time-stepping methods. Finite difference methods for the Black-Scholes equation. Discretization, stability, convergence. Methods for portfolio optimization, effect of data errors on portfolio weights.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Complete 1 of the following
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5733 | 0 / 80 | MW 13:00–14:20 |
| LEC 701 | 2200 | 65 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TST 101 | 6305 | 0 / 80 | Mar 3 16:30–18:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
33% liked it58% easy43% useful
From 24 ratings and 8 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Useful content, though not that much focus on CS content compared to Math. Content can be somewhat not straightforward and sometimes fast paced, but prof covers well, and assignments + practice exam problems are very helpful. Exams were quite fair.
Apr 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Eric Hintz teaches this course very well and makes assessments much easier than the actual course content
Apr 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Probably my favourite CS course at waterloo. The math can be difficult but the exams and assignments are fair. Erik Hintz is a great prof at teaching the course
Dec 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Not easy; they say you do not need a financial background, but it helps a lot to know them to actually understand the concepts. It felt like more of an extension of AFM 322 for me. You can use python starting W23. There was a curve on the final exam but be prepared for it
May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Useful course, but did not like it. Lectures were hard to follow and only made sense till one actually gets his hands dirty and does the assignments. The assignments are nice and are must-do in order to understand the material.
May 2022 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
171 posts and comments in 131 threads mention CS 476, December 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
For those in mathfin 6 points, 5 comments
“I know this is a hard major but what courses do you think are a good indicator of whether or not you’re fit to pursue it? …”
u/Mysterious_puppy777: “… Alumni who graduated in Mathfin, I would say it gets hard when it comes to the last PMATH course 4xx, and CS 476 is also pretty hard. For actsc it is decently tough. …”
Spring 2024
CS Minor Possible? (Math) 18 points, 12 comments
“I’m entering my 2A term for Math and want to pursue a Stats major and continue seeing CS minor as an option on the Math Faculty page. …”
u/Intelligent-Show-815: “Cs230 cs234 cs246 cs371 cs436 cs487 cs476 cs475 cs479 cs431 cs338 cs330 cs136 cs135”
u/jtnrnfjfj: “Math 239, cs 135, cs 136, cs 245, cs 246, cs 371, cs 475, cs 476, cs 489 cs 487 should all work I feel like this isn't as hard as others are making it sound”
Fall 2023
Course Workload: CS476, CS487, CO353, STAT441, ACTSC446 2 points, 1 comment
u/slavic_salve: “Opinions on this course load for next semester? It seems pretty brutal to me, but I'd be able to get a CS Minor.”
I messed up. HARD. Can you just tell me things are gonna be okay 45 points, 34 comments
“Thinking of dropping a course because I'm failing so badly idek I don't want to retake. Maybe I should drop out cuz I'm a failure.”
u/Neat-Economy-5801: “I’ve taken CS 476 in winter 2022 and winter 2023 dropped it every single time. Sometimes some courses aren’t for you doesn’t make you a loser and doesn’t mean the course is unreasonable sometimes it just not right. …”
Spring 2023
Easiest level 300/400 math course 24 points, 14 comments
“I know there is a post about this, but that is five years old, and looking at UWflow, some courses have been restructured. Any advice on what courses may still fit into this?”
u/Important_Winter_651: “CS476 CS487”
Which of these CS course would you not take if you were me (and why) 0 points, 6 comments
u/AdAshamed1997: “- CS 343 - CS 451 - CS 452 - CS 458 - CS 466 - CS 476 - CS 479 - CS 480 - CS 486 - CS 488”
u/asdfg_lkjh: “Who are you?”
u/AdAshamed1997: “I’m interested in cryptography, ML, computer graphics and finance, which is why I want to take CS 458, CS 480, CS 488 and CS 476. Apart from those, I just want to take generally useful or interesting courses.”
Winter 2023
CS476 and CS479 7 points, 6 comments
u/Ebb_Novel: “I was wondering if CS476 course is any useful practically? It's about Numeric Computation for Financial Modelling, so would it be necessary in a data science/engineer perspective? Would the same apply to CS479 Neural Networks”
u/Fatdayuu: “based on my 2 fintech coops, the CS476 seems not useful, but my answer maybe biased :)”
u/LuK413: “I would encourage you to not take CS476, just based off my experience this term. Poorly delivered course.”
u/GuessEnvironmental: “Cs 476 teaches you some things on option theory and using Matlab to do some calculations, but the course is poorly conducted in honesty. The material of the course is probably easier and a better use of your time outside of the course.”
bruh 💀what's going on in cs476 1 point, 0 comments
A course about understanding finance and why ppl don’t chase quant jobs 10 points, 7 comments
“I’ve seen a course called topics in mathematics with application in finance (from an unknown Waterloo of the south impostor school). …”
u/Nebel12345: “… CS476 is ok too. Then there's also the 4xx actsci courses and also the grad level time series classes but those aren't directly applicable. Also idk but I felt like wehn I was in my masters degree everyone around me was super into either quant or biostat or ML. …”
u/adhdbitch: “CS 476, ACTSCI 476, STAT 433/441 cover some of that stuff”
Useful courses for Upper-Year CS? 24 points, 17 comments
“Wondering what courses you have taken as an Upper-Year CS Major (doesn’t have to be CS courses) that you thought were really useful?”
u/StatslineNBC: “If you’re interested in finance: CS476”
CS 335 or CS 476 1 point, 0 comments
u/DVDWK: “Currently in FARM, any survivors or recommendations for these two courses? I think CS476 is extremely difficult, but I already took CS371, if I choose to take CS335 I need to remove my credit for CS371.”
Fall 2022
Which course best prepared you for quant jobs in the future 5 points, 6 comments
“Let me first start by saying I'm not really aiming for any quant jobs as a co op because I heard the preparation was intense af and I just wanna chill and enjoy my life -- I just wanna prepare them …”
u/StatslineNBC: “CS 476 probably helped me the most (close second/third are ACTSC 445/446).”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them