On 26 April, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, released the 2023 Employment Quality Report for graduates of the Master of Science Programme in Financial Engineering. Despite the increasing number of university graduates and accompanying job market pressures, the employment rate (including further studies) for the 2023 cohort rose from 97.5% to 97.8%. The number of graduates securing employment or pursuing further studies increased from 78 in 2022 to 87 in 2023. The average annual salary for these graduates was RMB 302,000, with a median salary of RMB 297,000 and a maximum salary reaching RMB 800,000. Compared to the 2022 cohort, the maximum annual salary saw a 23% increase, and the employment deferral rate decreased from 2.5% to 2.2%.

Graduates primarily secured high-quality, technical, and future leadership roles in financial research, financial risk management, financial technology, and tech and internet companies. Specifically, 32.5% of graduates took research positions (76.9% in buy-side research and 23.1% in sell-side research), and 20% entered middle and back-office roles (including risk and compliance management), showing a significant increase from 2.5% in 2022. Additionally, 8.8% of graduates secured management trainee positions. Other graduates found roles in financial technology, sales, technology and internet sectors, civil service, investment and financing, investment banking, trading, and financial management. Most graduates started their careers in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, joining esteemed companies such as CICC, Huatai Securities, China Merchants Bank, WeBank, China Asset Management, and Huawei.

These statistics highlight the robust competitiveness of CUHK-Shenzhen’s M.Sc. in Financial Engineering graduates in the current job market. President Xi Jinping has emphasized the critical role of finance in modern economies, stating that effective financial work under new conditions is essential for promoting high-quality financial development and accelerating the building of a strong financial nation. The M.Sc. in Financial Engineering programme at CUHK-Shenzhen is guided by this philosophy, underscoring the importance of finance in national development. The impressive employment outcomes of the 2023 graduates affirm that the programme’s educational philosophy aligns well with market demands, equipping graduates with the skills needed to tackle the challenges of rapidly evolving Chinese and international financial markets.