Pure Mathematics
Swansea University
UCAS Code: G110 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Swansea University
UCAS Code: G110 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
To include a B Mathematics
Access to HE (Science): Pass with Distinction overall (to include 24 Distinctions, 15 Merits and 6 Passes), including 18 in Maths
We recognise the EPQ as an excellent indicator of success. If you are predicted a Grade B or above in the EPQ, you will receive an offer with a one grade reduction, to include your EPQ with a grade B.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include 5 HL Mathematics
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Plus Grade B in A Level Mathematics
Scottish Higher
Including Grade B in Mathematics
Swansea University accepts the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales as fully equivalent to x1 A-Level.
Requirements are as for A levels where you can substitute the same non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Adanced Level Core Grade
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Mathematics underpins all contemporary science, business and technology, creatively applying the ideas of pure mathematics.
Our three-year BSc degree in Pure Mathematics covers the fundamental mathematical concepts of real and complex analysis, geometry, and linear, abstract and categorical algebra. It allows you to focus your studies on pure aspects of the subject.
Your learning will be shaped by inspirational and internationally-renowned academics including Prof Tomasz Brzezinski, Professor of Mathematics and expert in algebra and non-commutative geometry, and Prof Elaine Crooks, Professor of Mathematics, expert in analysis and partial differential equations.
**Why Pure Mathematics at Swansea?**
- 3rd in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025)
- 7th in the UK (Guardian University 2025)
- 13th in the UK for Teaching Quality (Guardian University 2025)
- Top 201-250 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025)
**Your Pure Mathematics Experience**
- Our staff are experts in their areas of mathematics with the majority being recognized by the Higher Education Academy with a Fellowship or Senior Fellowship.
- You will master the ideas and logic of mathematics and their applications and acquire a highly desirable set of transferable skills that will set you apart in the employment marketplace.
- You will receive high-quality personalised support through small-group tutorials.
- Elected student representatives make sure that every student voice is heard.
- The Swansea University Mathematics student society sponsors frequent social and academic events to bring students and staff together.
- Our Mathematics Department is right next to the beautiful Swansea Bay beachfront, with numerous social and sport opportunities.
- Our peer mentoring scheme helps new students settle into university and make new friends.
- The new £32.5M Computational Foundry building at our Bay Campus gives students access to bespoke study and teaching spaces designed by and for mathematicians.
- Our Mathematics Reading Room provides a quiet study space for mathematics students, as well as housing a departmental library of resources for study and research.
Modules
In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Geometry: Mathematics, Logic and Communication; Introduction to Modelling and Simulation; Introduction to Analysis; Foundations of Algebra; Introductory Linear Algebra; Mechanics and Dynamics; Introduction to Biomathematics; and Probability and Statistics.
In Year 2, you will typically study areas including: Differential Equations; Probability Theory; Multi-variable analysis; Metric spaces and measure theory; Vector Spaces; Groups and Rings; Professional Development and Career Planning; Mathematical Modelling: Theory and Practice; Credibility, Liability and Ruin; Game Theory and Optimization; and Statistical Data Analysis.
In Year 3, you will typically study areas including: Applied Algebra: Coding Theory; Higher Algebra; Differential Geometry; Complex Analysis; Partial Differential Equations; Cashflows and Interest Rates; Financial Mathematics in Discrete Time; Markov Processes and Applications; Machine Learning; Assurance and annuity; Financial Mathematics in Continuous Time; Risk and Survival Models; Biomathematics; and Teaching Mathematics via a School Placement. You will also undertake a project.
Assessment methods
We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.
Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.
Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.
This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.
Extra funding
The Mathematics Department will offer prizes/scholarships worth up to a total of £3000 for students starting their university studies in September. The prizes will be awarded on the basis of a competitive two and a half hour examination which will be taken during the Spring. Usually, applicants take the exam in their school or college, but this year arrangements will be made to enable applicants to sit the exam remotely. If you would like to take the exam, you will need to make Mathematics at Swansea one of your UCAS selections.
These scholarships can be used in conjunction with our Excellence and Merit scholarships. If you are interested in taking the scholarship exam, then you should complete and return a Mathematics Scholarship Application us via email. https://www.swansea.ac.uk/maths/scholarships/
Note: The University will also award Excellence Bursaries worth £3,000 to students who achieve AAA at A-level (or equivalent) and £2000 to students who achieve AAB at A level (or equivalent). For further details please see https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/scholarships/excellence-bursaries/
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score 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.
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.
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.
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.
£20k
£25k
£32k
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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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
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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