Quant Analyst
Quantitative Analysts apply advanced mathematics, statistics, and programming to price derivatives, build trading strategies, and manage financial risk at banks, hedge funds, and proprietary trading firms. In India, demand is concentrated in Mumbai and Bengaluru at firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Optiver, and Tower Research Capital. Top quants from IITs command some of the highest starting salaries in the country, often exceeding those of software engineers.
Actions for your grade
- Attempt RMO (Regional Math Olympiad) — quant firms actively seek olympiad backgrounds
- Learn Python basics through NPTEL or freeCodeCamp; write small scripts to build intuition
- Explore probability puzzles and brain-teasers that mirror actual quant interview questions
Your complete path from Grade 10 to Quant Analyst
Every step you need — from now to your first job.
Most direct path; IIT brand unlocks on-campus recruitment from global investment banks and HFT firms.
- NowScience Stream
- ExamsJEE Advanced
- DegreeB.Tech in CS / Mathematics & Computing / Electrical Engineering (4 years)
- CollegesIIT Bombay · IIT Delhi · IIT Kanpur
- CareerQuant Analyst
BITS dual degrees combining CS with Maths or Finance are especially valued by quant recruiters.
- NowScience Stream
- ExamsBITSAT
- DegreeB.E. CS or Mathematics + M.Sc. Finance / Mathematics (5 years dual degree)
- CollegesBITS Pilani · BITS Goa · BITS Hyderabad
- CareerQuant Analyst
Supplement with competitive programming, open-source finance projects, and CFA/FRM certifications.
- NowScience Stream
- ExamsJEE Main
- DegreeB.Tech in CS / Mathematics & Data Science (4 years)
- CollegesNIT Trichy · NIT Warangal · IIIT Hyderabad
- CareerQuant Analyst
ISI B.Stat is the gold standard but has its own entrance; follow with an IIT M.Sc. or IIM MBA for top placements.
- NowScience Stream
- ExamsCUET UG
- DegreeB.Sc. Mathematics / Statistics (3 years) + M.Sc. or MBA (2 years)
- CollegesDelhi University · St Stephens College Delhi · Loyola College Chennai
- CareerQuant Analyst
Entrance exams
| Exam | Eligibility | Difficulty | Window |
|---|---|---|---|
JEE Main NTA | Class 12 PCM | Very Hard | Jan & Apr |
JEE Advanced IIT (rotating) | JEE Main top 2.5L | Very Hard | May |
BITSAT BITS Pilani | Class 12 PCM, 75%+ | Hard | May-Jun |
CUET UG NTA | Class 12 (any stream) | Medium | May-Jun |
Where to Study
Institutes known to offer this career pathway in India.