Maths Degree

Setting off into the working world with a degree in Maths provides you with a number of excellent career prospects. But other than the obvious - because we are always in need of good maths teachers - but are there any decent jobs with maths degree available?

So is a maths degree worth it?

What to do with a Maths degree

As you might expect, the majority of Maths degree jobs are in the banking, financial, insurance and pensions sectors. You could become an auditor, an economist or an accountant. Accountancy comes in all shapes and sizes including chartered accountant, chartered certified accountant, management accountant, tax accountant and forensic accountant. It’s also a role that exists in all sectors: the private sector, the public sector (local government, hospitals, schools), and the charity sector.

There’s good money to be made in a city job such as a stockbroker, and you could consider other risk-related professions such as insurance underwriter, investment analyst, statistician, or actuary. Some computing roles are well-suited to graduates with a Maths degree, such as programming or software engineer jobs and will help with other maths degree careers.

You might have a Maths and computer science degree, or pure maths, because your skills, precision and numerical abilities will be essential to the job. Similarly, you might decide to go into IT as a systems analyst or in a research role.

A data analyst or data scientist career is also perfectly suited to a mathematician, as is market researcher for businesses. Logistics, intelligence analysis and operational research can also be a good fit.

Graduates will be employable in areas such as teaching, financial services, technical careers, consulting, management and computing.

What can you do with a Maths degree?

So you at this point, you're probably asking what can I do with a maths degree?

Well, there is a plethora of pathways available to graduates with a Maths degree or an online maths degree or a distance learning maths degree, but what if you decide to take the route less travelled? There are several options which allow you to take your degree in Maths into a training programme or a conversion course, so now check out some of these alternative career ideas.

Perhaps academia is your thing, and you simply want to expand your knowledge exponentially. Look for a master’s or PhD programme so that you can dedicate your career to mathematical research. Whilst not one of the most obvious jobs with a maths degree, a maths graduate might use their analytical skills, numerical precision and attention to detail to take a law conversion course, and end up specialising in a technical field such as tax legislation or patent agency.

The government’s civil service fast stream is a graduate entry programme open to all subject backgrounds, making it another possibility for a person with a Maths and computer science degree or even someone with a maths and modern languages degree. And finally, because it would be wrong to talk about Maths degree jobs without mentioning it - you could train for a year at postgraduate level to become a maths teacher in secondary school or sixth form college, a primary school teacher, or a private tutor.

If you’re patient and a good communicator, then society needs you to educate the mathematicians of tomorrow!

Operational research (OR) is also known as management science and focuses on the analysis of decision-making processes – especially in large companies or the military. Well-known areas include the analysis of voting systems or game theory, which is also touched on in a part time maths degree too.

Statistics is driven by real-world problems, mostly issues that can’t be broken down into simpler parts and statisticians can make difficult decisions by carefully examining the data. Statistics, as an example, allows the effectiveness of a product, or a new drug, or the predictions of flooding easier to determine.

Maths is at the heart of the world that we know, and Maths is interested in shapes, space and numbers and how to break complex problems into smaller and simpler ones, this is touched on in a maths foundation degree and born out from there too.

What A Levels do I need?

Studying Maths at A-level is essential for enrolling onto the course at undergraduate degree course and will impact the maths degree entry requirements. Exact university entry requirements will differ from each institution, and students are advised to check with their chosen institutions and degree programmes to ensure they understand what they need to gain admission to the course. Most universities will require students to hold an A-level in Maths in a grade B, and above, as well as a high UCAS tariff points score.

You can also see our Maths personal statement examples; these will help you to gain an insight into what you need for your personal statement.

It is perfect for those who are naturally talented at solving puzzles, working through problems, and like to apply logical thinking.

What are my study options?

Maths can be divided into two sections when studied at undergraduate level; pure Maths degree and applied Maths degree. Applied maths involves real-world problems, while pure maths is concerned with theory, much like a maths and music degree would, given that they are both very theoretical based or even a chemistry with maths degree.

Most degrees in this area will cover both of these areas, but allow individuals to narrow their focus and choose their modules in the second and third year to tailor their degree to their interests.

The majority of a degree in maths will be three years in length; however, some universities offer MMAth (Masters of Maths) courses which are integrated degrees. Integrated degrees are four years in length and are a combination of a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree (undergraduate, and postgraduate). Also, other degree options include a combined degree where students can study two areas in depth, and these tend to be similar subjects that complement each other, such as; economics (sometimes studied as part of a maths and economics degree), finance, physics, and psychology.

Students will learn through many modules and classes, and the subjects tend to include: calculus, mechanics, computational Maths, statistics, number theory and group theory.

What should I expect from studying Maths?

Studying Maths is not easy, and if students are finding it difficult to comprehend the work, they should contact their personal tutors and lecturers for help. Maths will also involve problem-solving and probably feel as if the issue will never be resolved – which can be frustrating.

There will be lots of deadlines and coursework set during undergraduate study, and one difficult task is being able to manage these as well as attend lectures, study and have a social life.

How will I be assessed?

These subject areas are usually taught – meaning it is through coursework, essays, examinations and presentations.

What skills will I learn from studying Maths?

This type of course, will equip individuals with a range of critical thinking abilities, logical thinking and design and analyse skills. Communication skills will be established as well as problem-solving and assess risk.

Students who attend university gain skills in organisation and time-management through the completion of coursework and working towards a deadline, as well as social skills through group work and presentations.

Also, Maths, statistics and/or develop skills in numeracy and the ability to present complex and technical ideas, whether it be in writing or verbally. These skills will aid graduates in mathematical sciences after obtaining their degree.

Operational research (OR) is also known as management science and focuses on the analysis of decision-making processes – especially in large companies or the military.

Why study Maths?

Math can be a satisfying subject to study as there is always a right answer to find, even in a maths degree online! It is perfect for those who are naturally talented at solving puzzles, working through problems, and like to apply logical thinking.

Math is also a universal language, providing international career opportunities from the get-go and other careers with maths degree. Additionally, it overlaps and connects with other sciences and number-based subjects, such as biology, physics, economics and engineering.

What happens after I graduate?

Job prospects tend to be quite rewarding for maths graduates, with the opportunity to work within the accounting, banking and finance (which is where a maths and finance degree can come in useful too) sectors, as well as, marketing and law.

Will it help me get a job?

The skills of logic and reasoning, analysis and problem-solving are highly sought after by organisations seeking graduates, which is touched on in a range of combined degrees as well, such as a chemistry and maths degree. These skills are transferable throughout the employment industry as many job roles will benefit from this range of talents.

Even a maths degree online UK will be useful for you! You don’t just need physical degrees, an online degree from a registered university is useful too.

As you might expect, the majority of Maths degree jobs are in the banking, financial, insurance and pensions sectors.

What jobs can you get with a maths degree?

Graduates will be employable in areas such as teaching, financial services, technical careers, consulting, management and computing. There will also be graduate schemes available in banking, accountancy and insurance sectors too. Logical and analytical skills are attractive to the energy, deficiency and healthcare industries and useful when looking for careers with a maths degree.

What can I study after Maths?

Students who want to continue with their studies after they graduate can complete a Masters of Science (MSc), Masters of Research (MRes), and Masters of Philosophy (MPhil) in related courses, as well as studying a PGCE, which allows individuals to teach.

Famous Maths Studies alumni

Britain’s Rachel Riley, who is in charge of the numbers on Countdown obtained four A grades at A-level and went on to study Maths at the University of Oxford! Also, Dara O’Briain, the comedian who has appeared on Mock the Week and QI studied Maths and Theoretical Physics (sometimes referred to as a maths and physics degree) at University College Dublin in Ireland!