Maths

Introduction

A Maths degree is highly versatile and the skills you gain from this subject will equip you to work in a wide range of sectors and careers.  In recent times, the most popular career areas for Maths graduates include:

  • Business, HR and finance professionals (42%)
  • IT professionals (12%)
  • Education professionals (9%)

Source: What do graduates do? (HECSU 2018)

Maths graduates are valued for their analytical, logical reasoning and problem solving abilities and the demand for these skills is increasing rapidly.  New and emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Augmented and Virtual reality amongst others has led to an explosion of data.  This data is very valuable to organisations and companies in terms of their success; their innovation and their cybersecurity.  The demand for Mathematical Modelling in commercial, industrial and scientific processes in rapidly rising.  Careers in analysis and data science are expanding and not just in tech companies but in traditional businesses and organisations too.

What skills do you gain with your subject?

Prospects provides a really useful overview of the skills you will develop during your Maths degree including mathematical skills and general transferable skills:

  • designing and conducting observational and experimental studies
  • investigating, analysing and interpreting data, finding patterns and drawing conclusions
  • information technology
  • approaching problems in an analytical and rigorous way, formulating theories and applying them to solve problems
  • dealing with abstract concepts
  • presenting mathematical arguments and conclusions with accuracy and clarity
  • advanced numeracy and analysing large quantities of data
  • logical thinking.

A range of transferable skills valued by a wide range of employers

  • communication skills
  • time management
  • organisational skills and working methodically and accurately
  • decision-making skills
  • self-management
  • teamwork and the ability to work independently.

What types of job do graduates do?

Maths graduates can enter a wide range of career areas.

There are a number of useful general careers websites to help you explore the different options available or find out more about the ones which interest you:

  • Prospects is a really informative graduate careers website which is regularly updated. This link provides a list of career options for Maths students and graduates.  It is a good starting point but is not an exhaustive list.
  • Targetjobs has a similar website with a list of possible options for Maths graduates.
  • The Institute of Mathematics and it’s applications have an excellent website dedicated to Maths Careers with several real life graduate profiles representing several sectors and professions.

Data Science & Analysis Careers:

Cybersecurity:

Useful resources including job search:

Professional Bodies

Further study options

According to 2018 data, 23.4 percent of Maths graduates in the UK chose further study, here are some examples of Masters and Research degrees (HECSU,2018):

  • MSc Operational Research
  • MRes Bioinformatics
  • MSc Actuarial Science
  • MSc Maths
  • MRes Psychology
  • PhD Mathematics
  • PhD Mathematical Biology
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Education: PGDE Maths

For an overview of Further study including postgraduate course search engines see the following links:

Specific Programmes and courses: