Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics (BSc MORSE)

Ranked 13th in the UK for statistics and operational research (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025), this degree will give you an excellent understanding led by academics at the forefront of their fields.

Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics (MORSE) is a broad, business-oriented mathematics degree. It's ideal if you're thinking of a career as a professional mathematician, researcher, statistician or economist.

Our 3-year programme will give you a foundation in the main areas of mathematics, including, algebra, calculus and differential equations while operational research modules will show you how to use maths to model and solve practical problems and statistics modules explain how to analyse uncertain data. Alongside this with economics modules you’ll learn how to create models of the complex interactions in an economic system.

This course will develop your abilities in:

• Problem-solving

• Logical argument

• Deductive reasoning

• Abstraction

• Generalisation

As part of this course you can:

• Choose from a range of optional modules to follow your interests

• Discover a range of mathematical techniques, such as graphical networks, cost models, decision processes and statistical modelling

• Solve real-world problems using mathematics and other skills

• Use our student centre, a dedicated learning and social space, exclusively for maths students

• Explore mathematical and computational packages such as Python and the statistics package 'R'

We'll teach you through a combination of lectures and workshops. Our staff are leading researchers in fields like game theory, healthcare modelling and experiment design.

Southampton mathematics graduates are in great demand. Many employers look for graduates with strong problem-solving skills who can develop sound analytical arguments. Depending on your degree specialism, a wide range of career destinations are available including mathematician, statistician, actuary and financial analyst.

Our graduates are employed by organisations including Deloitte, British Airways, IBM, Amazon UK and Formula 1 racing teams and earn on average £36,700 with over 97% in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23, published 2025)."