Mathematics Degrees

Mathematics Degrees:

Relying upon math experts and enthusiasts to define the subject is likely to lead to a variety of conflicting and wide-ranging answers. Let’s be safe, then, and call upon dictionary solutions to this question. Most non-specialist dictionaries define mathematics by summarizing the main mathematics topics and methods.

The Oxford English Dictionary states that mathematics is an “abstract science which investigates deductively the conclusions implicit in the elementary concepts of spatial and numerical relations, and which includes as its main divisions geometry, arithmetic, and algebra”. The American Heritage Dictionary sums up the subject as the “study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols”.

What to expect from mathematics degrees

If you’re studying mathematics at undergraduate level, you’ll probably undertake a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Mathematics. A few institutions in Australia, Canada, India, Russia, the US and the Philippines also award the Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) degree – but the difference is usually only in the name. Note that the undergraduate mathematics degree at the University of Cambridge is referred to as the ‘Mathematical Tripos’.

Most undergraduate mathematics degrees take three or four years to complete with full-time study, with both China and Australia offering the fourth year as an “honors” year. Some institutions offer a Masters in Mathematics (MMath) as a first degree, which allows students to enroll to study mathematics to a more advanced level straight after completing secondary education. Some institutions arrange placement years for students to work in industry, providing opportunities to apply mathematics skills and knowledge in a real-world setting.

Mathematics is typically taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, with students spending a lot of time working independently to solve problems sets. Assessments vary depending on the institution; you may be assessed based on examinations, practical coursework or a combination of both.

A typical mathematics degree program involves a combination of pure (theory and abstract) mathematics and applied (practical application to the world) mathematics. Some institutions also offer pure and applied mathematics as separate degrees, so you can choose to focus on just one. Mathematics is also often offered as a joint-honors degree, paired with subjects including business management, computer science, economics, finance, history, music, philosophy, physics, sports science and statistics.

Entry requirements for mathematics degrees

Entry requirements for mathematics degrees usually only emphasize an academic background in mathematics. Applicants may be required to have studied some or all of the following: further mathematics, pure mathematics, mechanics and complex numbers. Experience of studying other scientific subjects may also be welcomed, and can help provide an additional dimension to your studies.

Some universities in the UK (such as Cambridge and Warwick) require students to take the Sixth Term Examination Papers (known as the STEP exam) or the Advanced Extension Award (AEA). You may also need to prove your proficiency in the language you will study in, by taking an approved language proficiency test, and some institutions provide pre-sessional language courses. Other preparatory courses are also available, including the option of taking a foundation mathematics program if your mathematics is below the level required for undergraduate study.

If you have exceptional pre-university grades, some institutions allow exemption from the first year’s study so you can enter directly into the second year, or enroll in an ‘advanced entry’ program – both options will allow you to complete your undergraduate mathematics degree in one year less than usual.

Entry requirements for mathematics degrees

Entry requirements for mathematics degrees usually only emphasize an academic background in mathematics. Applicants may be required to have studied some or all of the following: further mathematics, pure mathematics, mechanics and complex numbers. Experience of studying other scientific subjects may also be welcomed, and can help provide an additional dimension to your studies.

Some universities in the UK (such as Cambridge and Warwick) require students to take the Sixth Term Examination Papers (known as the STEP exam) or the Advanced Extension Award (AEA). You may also need to prove your proficiency in the language you will study in, by taking an approved language proficiency test, and some institutions provide pre-sessional language courses. Other preparatory courses are also available, including the option of taking a foundation mathematics program if your mathematics is below the level required for undergraduate study.

If you have exceptional pre-university grades, some institutions allow exemption from the first year’s study so you can enter directly into the second year, or enroll in an ‘advanced entry’ program – both options will allow you to complete your undergraduate mathematics degree in one year less than usual.

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