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Mathematics

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B-B,B,C

112-120 points from 2 or 3 A levels, including 40 points from Mathematics.

112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma (Mathematics based).

Cambridge Pre-U score of 54-56, to include a Principal Subject in Mathematics at M2.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

3 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English and Mathematics/3 GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include English and Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

29

29 points from the IB Diploma. 655/754 at Higher Level, to include 6 points from Higher Level Mathematics - 29 points from the IB Diploma. 664 at Higher Level, to include 6 points from Higher Level Mathematics.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3


To include Higher Level Mathematics at H3.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

112-120 points to include 40 points from A level Mathematics.

112-120 Tariff points to include 40 points from Advanced Level Mathematics.

UCAS Tariff

112-120

112-120 points from 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including 40 points from Mathematics.

112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 2 A levels one of which must be Mathematics at grade B, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Mathematics

**This is a Connected Degree**
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

**Overview**
Mathematics has shaped societies for thousands of years – from the Ancient Babylonians to the present day. Continue the tradition of unpicking complex mathematical problems that could help monitor the spread of disease, predict the route of a cloud of ash from a volcano and forecast climate change.

Study core mathematical topics including analysis, algebra, calculus, statistics, operational research and modelling. Then shape your degree to your ambitions and interests in following years, by specialising in advanced principles such as financial modelling, non-linear dynamics and cosmology.

When you graduate, you’ll be in high demand, especially in the expanding technology, data and machine learning industries.

**Course highlights**

- Delve into topics including deterministic chaos, partial differential equations, health research and abstract algebra

- Learn from expert researchers such as Dr. Michael Gnacik, who provided data visualisation for the University's Covid testing programme as member of the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation's Covid Response Team

- Develop coding skills in programming languages including Python

- Learn to use industry-standard mathematical, statistical and operational research software

- Apply your skills on optional work placements in the community, such as assisting math teachers in local schools

**Careers and opportunities**
Mathematics is more than just number crunching.

A degree in mathematics shows that you have the ability to think analytically and conveys an intellectual maturity that many employers look for when they hire staff.

The demand for mathematics graduates is increasing too. The Council for the Mathematical Sciences predicts more than 7 million people in the UK will need mathematical science skills in 2030 – an increase of 900,000 compared to 2009.

Our graduates now work in roles including:

- research analyst

- service reliability engineer

- accountant

- mathematics teacher

- credit risk analyst

- data scientist

- accounts payable clerk

- service reliability engineer

Our graduates have worked for companies such as:
- NATS (National Air Traffic Services)

- TSB

- Oakbrook Finance Ltd

- NHS

- Carnival UK

- The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

- Portsmouth Grammar School

**Placements (optional)**
After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.

A placement year gives you an advantage over other graduates who may understand theory but won't have the experience of applying their learning to a working environment. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations, and you’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.

Previous students have taken placement roles such as:

- innovation and infrastructure specialist

- counter terrorism and security

- student research analyst

They've completed placements at organisations including:

- IBM

- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

- British Telecom

Modules

Year 1

Core modules in this year include:
- Calculus I
- Computational Mathematics
- Linear Algebra
- Mathematical Foundations
- Mathematical Models
- Statistical Theory and Methods I

There are no optional modules in this year.

Year 2

Core modules in this year include:
- Applications of Mathematics and Graduate Skills
- Calculus II
- Real and Complex Analysis

Optional modules in this year currently include:
- Algebraic Structures and Discrete Mathematics
- Institution-wide Language Programme
- Mathematics for Finance
- Mechanics and Dynamics
- Numerical Analysis
- Operational Research
- Statistical Theory and Methods II
- Universe: Planetary Systems, Stars and Galaxies

Placement year (optional)

After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. This gives you an advantage over other graduates who may understand theory but won't have the experience of applying their learning to a working environment

Previous students have been on placement with household names, including: IBM, L’Oréal, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Transport for London, Zurich and NATS. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.

Year 3

Core modules in this year are:
- Partial Differential Equations and Their Applications

Optional modules in this year currently are:
- Advanced Decision Modelling
- Financial Derivative Pricing
- Introduction to General Relativity and Cosmology
- Modern Astrophysics 1
- Nonlinear Dynamics
- Project
- Quantitative Supply Chain Management
- Statistical Learning
- Statistics Methods in Health Research & Social Science
- Stochastic Processes
- Undergraduate Ambassador

There are no optional modules in this year.

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment methods

You’ll be assessed through:

- examinations
- written coursework
- multiple-choice tests
- presentations
- mini projects
- a major piece of supervised independent work

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:

- Year 1 students: 65% by written exams and 35% by coursework
- Year 2 students: 58% by written exams and 42% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 68% by written exams, 2% by practical exams and 30% by coursework

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£9,250
per year
International
£17,900
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Portsmouth

Department:

Faculty of Technology

Read full university profile

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.

90%
Mathematics

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

82%
Staff make the subject interesting
93%
Staff are good at explaining things
78%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
81%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

87%
Library resources
87%
IT resources
90%
Course specific equipment and facilities
90%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

93%
UK students
7%
International students
65%
Male students
35%
Female students
55%
2:1 or above
10%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
D
C

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.

£20,821
low
Average annual salary
97%
high
Employed or in further education
78%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

41%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
13%
Business, research and administrative professionals
8%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals

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.

£21k

£21k

£28k

£28k

£34k

£34k

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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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here