Mathematics

Mathematics is not just about crunching numbers – it’s about logical thinking, solving problems, decision making and understanding why things work – the main skills that recruiters look for in potential employees.

As data and machine learning continue to drive growth in financial services, retail and technology, opportunities for interesting and well-paid careers for maths graduates continue to grow.

Mathematics at Aberdeen explores many fascinating topics such as group theory (the mathematical study of symmetry), ring theory (which underpins cryptography), and topology (the property of shapes, which has applications to data analysis, robotics and neuroscience). Our curriculum covers these key areas of mathematics while building on the mathematical methods you have learned at school and further developing your problem-solving skills and enhancing your abilities in calculation and logical argument.

Employers are keen to recruit our graduates due to their ability to think logically and analyse new developments and opportunities in the world of business, finance and technology. Mathematics is also vital to the physical sciences, engineering and life sciences, as it is the essential tool with which scientists formulate theories and their consequences.

A degree in mathematics is therefore a gateway to a wide variety of careers. Some of the organisations that our graduates have gone to work for in recent years include BlackRock, JPMorgan Chase, Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC, NHS Grampian, Office of National Statistics, CGG, Community Energy Scotland and Schlumberger.

The abstract study of mathematics is in itself an intellectual pursuit of value, opening up a world which contains excitement and beauty. We offer a challenging syllabus that reflects our specialist expertise and emphasises reasoning, rigour and the argumentative side of mathematics as well the advanced logical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills in demand by employers.

BSc or MA?
Both the MA Mathematics and BSc Mathematics (and MA Applied Mathematics and BSc Applied Mathematics) undergraduate degree programmes consist of the same core mathematics courses. The difference between the MA and BSc options is the choice of optional courses from other subjects you can choose alongside your core mathematics courses.