Minimum 2.1 Honours degree (Upper second class) or international equivalent (~ around 60–65 % or GPA ~3.0/4.0 depending on Indian scale). Preferred backgrounds: strong quantitative/finance, economics, mathematics, engineering, statistics, actuarial science, or similar degrees. Subject prerequisites: evidence of quantitative aptitude through prior coursework (e.g. statistics, econometrics, mathematics, financial modelling). Students without sufficient background may be asked to show proof via transcript or bridge modules.