Mathematics

What would I study and how do courses differ?

Mathematics at degree level covers Pure and Applied Maths, Statistics, Computing, Analysis and Applications. All students follow broadly the same programme for the first year and then in subsequent years tailor their degree according to their own interests. Most courses will cover analysis, algebra and geometry in their first year; however, this will be very different from algebra and geometry at A Level. You are greatly urged to research some first year material before committing to a Mathematics Degree.

There are many related degrees that can be studied, such as Actuarial Maths, Philosophy of Maths, Statistics, Applied Maths, Computing Maths, Environmental Maths and many more. There are also many Joint Honours Degrees, even Maths with a foreign language.

You must do your own research by looking at the individual university websites for details as well as www.ucas.ac.uk where there is a very useful tool called Course Search which gives a great deal of information on courses.

What are the typical entry requirements?

IGCSE Maths and English are obviously required. Highly competitive universities will often demand A*A*A with the two A*s in Maths and Further Maths. However, there are four extra Maths exams that universities can also ask for. These are:

STEP (Cambridge) MAT (Oxford) TMUA (Durham) AEA;.

These exams are required by Cambridge, Oxford and Durham respectively. However, other universities (such as Warwick, Imperial, Bristol and Bath) have also asked applicants to take these exams. There are plenty of good universities which offer Maths. There are some which will not ask for Further Maths (FM) and the offer could be as low as BBC. Do your research.

Are there any essential or recommended A Levels?

At highly competitive universities, it is expected that a student from Haberdashers’ will be able to offer Maths and Further Maths as two separate A Levels. It is important to realise that if a university says ‘FM is recommended’ then it really means, “if your school offers FM, then you must take it”. You must speak to your Maths teacher/ Head of Maths to ask about your suitability to study FM. There are some universities which do not require FM. Go to www.ucas.ac.uk for precise entry requirements.

Which are the best universities for Mathematics?

Go to www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk to find the top ranked universities for Maths. Currently they are Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, Warwick and Durham.

However, the top ranked universities may not necessarily be the most suitable for you. You must do your research; visit them on special Open Days and so on. Do you like a Campus or a City University? Does their course content appeal to you? There are lots of factors involved – think about all of them.

Is there any special advice for Oxbridge applicants?

Cambridge will normally require a ‘1’ in Step Papers Two and Three (which are sat shortly after your A2 papers). Only exceptionally able students should apply (typically those in the top part of Set One). You would have a number of A*s at GCSE, strong AS results (typically above 95 % in mathematics) and would be predicted to achieve very high marks in A2 and STEP papers. You are able to tackle challenging, ‘off syllabus’ topics and read widely around the subject. Students who meet most of these criteria will be invited to an interview. The Cambridge Maths course is extremely theoretical and abstract. Oxford has its own Admissions Test, usually in November of U6. Much the same goes for Oxford, except that the Admissions Test result will determine which students are interviewed. Oxford offers a three year course leading to BA in Mathematical Sciences and a four year course leading to MMath in Mathematics.

What is important for my personal statement or interview?

You have to demonstrate a real passion for Mathematics. Questions asked in interviews are mostly all on Mathematics and are designed to test creative thinking in problem solving and aptitude for understanding new ideas. Interview practice is vital and you must speak to the Head of Maths about this.

Do I need to do work experience?

It is not a requirement for this academic subject, but if you have done any relevant work in a topic that interests and enhances your subject knowledge then write about it.

Which jobs can I do with Mathematics?

Graduates can be found throughout industry, business and commerce, the public and private sectors, with large employers and in small organisations. Employers value the intellectual ability, rigour and reasoning skills that mathematics students have acquired, their familiarity with numerical and symbolic thinking, and their analytic approach to problem-solving. In virtually all areas of life-Science, Industry and Commerce, Community, Design, Engineering, Manufacturing and Finance- in fact just about anywhere you can think of, Mathematics is a skill that is highly valued.

Additional information

More Mathematics related information can be found at: http://nrich.maths.org/public/ http://www.lms.ac.uk/