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Numerical Solution of Stochastic Ordinary Differential Equations
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:40
Abstract
This course is on the numerical approximations of stochastic ordinary differential equations (SDEs) driven by Brownian motions and Lévy processes. SDEs have several applications, for example in financial engineering.The contents cover stochastic processes, stochastic calculus, well-posedness results for SDEs, strong and weak approximations of SDEs, and simulation via Monte Carlo methods.
Objective
The aim of this course is to enable the students to carry out simulations and their mathematical convergence analysis for stochastic models originating from applications such as mathematical finance. For this the course teaches a decent knowledge of the different numerical methods, their underlying ideas, convergence properties and implementation issues.
Content
Mathematical Formulation of random number generation Brownian motion and Lévy processes: definitions and basic properties Stochastic integration and stochastic Ito-calculus Stochastic ordinary differential equations (SDEs): existence, uniqueness, continuous dependence, integrability. Numerical approximations of SDEs: strong and weak convergence, Euler-Maruyama scheme, Single- and Multilevel Monte-Carlo, Milshtein-scheme, Stochastic Runge-Kutta, Talay-Tubaro Extrapolation. Stochastic simulation and Monte Carlo methods Euler-Maruyama for Lévy-driven SDEs: strong and weak convergence, Multi-level Monte Carlo, and efficient increment simulation.
Resources
Lecture Notes
There will be English, typed lecture notes for registered participants in the course.
Literature
P. E. Kloeden and E. Platen: Numerical Solution of Stochastic Differential Equations. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1992. Bertoin, Jean: Lévy processes. Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics, 121. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996. x+265 pp. ISBN: 0-521-56243-0 Cont, Rama; Tankov, Peter: Financial modelling with jump processes. Chapman & Hall/CRC Financial Mathematics Series. Chapman & Hall/CRC, Boca Raton, FL, 2004. xvi+535 pp. ISBN: 1-5848-8413-4
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- end-of-semester examination
- Mode
- written 120 minutes
- Aids
- None
- Digital
- The exam takes place on devices provided by ETH Zurich.
Registration & Places
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture |
Numerical Solution of Stochastic ODEs
%% in Abklaerung, ob Mi 14-17 auch moeglich ist (statt Mi 14-16 und Fr 14-15)
%% oder vielleicht besser Mi 13-16 ?
|
No time listed | 3 h weekly |
| exercise |
Numerical Solution of Stochastic ODEs
%% allenfalls Fr 14-15 (?)
|
No time listed | 1 h weekly |
Offered In
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Electives (For the Master's degree in Applied Mathematics the following additional condition (not manifest in myStudies) must be obeyed: At least 14 of the required 26 credits from core courses and electives must be acquired in areas of applied mathematics and further application-oriented fields.)
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Quantitative Finance Master (see Students in the Joint Degree Master's Programme "Quantitative Finance" must book University of Zurich modules directly at the University of Zurich. Those modules are not listed here.)
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MF (Mathematical Methods in Finance) (For possible additional course offerings see )
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Doctorate Mathematics (More Information at: )
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Subject Specialisation (The list of courses eligible for doctoral students is published each semester in the newsletter of the ZGSM.)
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Graduate School (Official website of the Zurich Graduate School in Mathematics: )
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