Mathematics and Music
Entry requirements
A level
Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required. Socio-economics factors which may have impacted an applicant's education will be taken into consideration and alternative offers may be made to these applicants. Required subjects: A in Mathematics and A-level Music or pass in grade 7 Music Theory. Applicants without A-level Music or pass in grade 7 Music Theory may be eligible for the Intensive Theory entry. This requires Music GCSE grade A/7 or equivalent, plus performance at ABRSM Grade 7 level. In term 1 you will be required to take Fundamentals of Music Theory, an intensive music literacy course. Students wishing to take Solo Performance options will need to be of Grade 8 ABRSM level, or equivalent, on the selected instrument at point of entry.
Access to HE Diploma
A pass in a relevant subject with at least 30 level 3 credits at Distinction, 15 of which must be in Maths units at Distinction. Plus A-level Maths grade A and either A- level Music grade A or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 ABRSM in performance. Please note that the Access to Higher Education Diploma will only be acceptable if the applicant has had a considerable break from education.
Applicants with the Cambridge Pre-U are strongly encouraged to apply to Royal Holloway. Offers will be made on the basis of equivalent A-Level grades as can be found on the Royal Holloway website.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
We require at least five GCSEs at grade A*-C or 9 - 4 including English and Mathematics.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
6,5,5 at Higher Level, including 6 in Maths and Higher Level Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory, with a minimum of 32 points overall, and Grade 7 ABRSM in performance
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Including H2 in Maths and Music at Higher Level or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 ABRSM in performance.
Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
Plus A-level Maths grade A and either A-level Music grade A or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 ABRSM in performance.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Plus A-level Maths grade A and pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 ABRSM in performance.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Plus A-level Maths grade A and A-level Music grade B and Grade 7 ABRSM in performance.
Scottish Advanced Higher
Including A in Maths and Music at Advanced Higher or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 ABRSM in performance
Scottish Higher
Including A in Maths and Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 ABRSM in performance.
Requirements are as for A-levels where one non-subject-specified A-level can be replaced by the same grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
"There is geometry in the humming of the strings. There is music in the spacing of the spheres." – Pythagoras
Looking to keep your love of music alive whilst exploring the true breadth of mathematical ideas and methods? Since Pythagoras developed his theory of the unity of arithmetic, geometry and music around the fundamental laws of proportion and harmony, in the 6th century BC, the two disciplines have influenced and informed each other. They are both concerned with the creation, appreciation and analysis of abstract patterns and logical ideas. Our joint honours degree allows you to keep your career options open and pursue your mathematical and musical interests in a 50/50 split, under the guidance of inspiring teachers from both departments.
Throughout your course, you will have the flexibility to tailor your studies to your own particular interests. Alongside our core Mathematics modules in year 1, which will give you a thorough grounding in all the key methods and concepts that underpin the subject, we offer a wide range of practical and academic modules from one of UK's top music departments (Complete University Guide 2015). In years 2 and 3 this flexibility increases, allowing you to specialise in the areas of mathematics and music that interest you the most. You will develop your musicianship and mathematical skills to an advanced level, and gain a host of transferable skills such as data handling and analysis, logical thinking, communication, creativity and problem-solving.
Our Department of Mathematics is internationally renowned for its work in pure mathematics, information security, statistics and theoretical physics, and our joint BA programme spans pure and applied mathematics, statistics and probability. It also offers you to chance to carry out project work on chosen topics. Meanwhile, in the Department of Music, you will be able to pursue performance and composition whilst exploring the broader historical, sociological, ethnographic and philosophical elements of music. For keen singers and instrumentalists, we offer a wide range of exciting and diverse performance opportunities and you will have access to our well-equipped studios, practice rooms and recording facilities.
We offer a friendly and motivating learning environment and a strong focus on small group teaching and academic support. You will take part in group tutorials, problem-solving sessions, practical workshops and IT classes, as well as practical music lessons and lectures. You will also benefit from generous staff office hours and a dedicated personal adviser to guide you through your studies, plus a CV writing workshop and competitive work placement scheme.
Combine your love of mathematics and music and benefit from a varied and flexible, modular curriculum.
We are a friendly department with a strong focus on small group teaching.
Modules
Please refer to our website for information:
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/mathematics/mathematics-and-music.aspx
Assessment methods
Your course will be assessed by a combination of examinations and in-course assignments in the form of essays or presentations.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Royal Holloway, University of London
Mathematics
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Music
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Mathematics
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Music
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Mathematics
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Want to feel needed? This is one of the most flexible degrees of all and with so much of modern work being based on data, there are options everywhere for maths graduates. With all that training in handling figures, it's hardly surprising that a lot of maths graduates go into well-paid jobs in the IT or finance industries, and last year, a maths graduate in London could expect a very respectable average starting salary of £27k. And we're always short of teachers in maths, so that is an excellent option for anyone wanting to help the next generation. And if you want a research job, you'll want a doctorate — and a really good maths doctorate will get you all sorts of interest from academia and finance — and might secure some of the highest salaries going for new leavers from university.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Music
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£17k
£20k
£26k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Mathematics
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£22k
£32k
£38k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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