Mathematics

“Without mathematics, there's nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.” - Shakuntala Devi

Want to use mathematics at the highest levels in the world of work or research? Then our four-year MSci programme is designed for you. We will challenge you to take your love of mathematics further and help you to develop an invaluable portfolio of skills that will set you apart in your future career. Guided by internationally recognised experts in the field, you will gain a thorough knowledge and understanding of all the key methods and concepts of pure and applied mathematics, probability, statistics, financial mathematics and the mathematics of information in your first year. You will then be free to tailor your studies to the areas that interest you the most, thanks to the programme’s modular structure, and in year 4 you will have the opportunity to complete a supervised project, alongside further optional modules.

This programme is particularly aimed at those who want to explore the full breadth of mathematical fields, and go on to do postgraduate study or to pursue a scientific or technical career. Our graduates are in demand for their numeracy, analytical skills, data handling powers, logical thinking, advanced research skills and creative problem solving abilities. Our comprehensive curriculum is influenced by the department’s world-class research activities and you will study topics ranging from pure mathematics to mathematical modelling, discrete mathematics, statistics, cryptography, quantum mechanics, informatics, and financial mathematics. Our staff are involved in pioneering research that is making an impressive impact on the global stage and we offer an extensive array of postgraduate opportunities. We are internationally renowned for our work in pure mathematics, information security, quantum dynamics, statistics and theoretical physics.

Join our friendly and inspiring department and you will benefit from a thoroughly supportive learning environment. We offer small group tutorials, problem solving sessions, practical workshops and IT classes, as well as generous staff office hours and a dedicated personal adviser to guide you through your studies. We also offer CV writing workshops and a competitive work placement scheme.

Take your love of mathematics to a higher level and tailor your studies to your own interests, culminating in a supervised research project.

Learn from our inspirational teachers.

Feel at home in a lively, friendly department with a strong focus on small group teaching, where you will be known as an individual.

Course Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

• Introduction to Geometry

• Introduction to Applied Mathematics

• Statistical Methods 1

• Calculus I

• Calculus II

• Introduction to Pure Mathematics

• Linear Algebra I

• Real Analysis I

Year 2

• Vector Calculus

• Statistical Methods 2

• Probability Theory

• Scientific Programming

• Linear Algebra II

Year 3

• Advanced Skills in Mathematics

Year 4

• MSci Project in Mathematics

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1

• All modules are core

Year 2

• Ordinary Differential Equations and Fourier Analysis

• Ring Theory

• Complex Analysis

Year 3

• Mathematics Project

• Number Theory

• Quantum Theory 1

• Combinatorics

• Group Theory

• Topology

• Statistical Inference

• Quantum Information Theory

• Financial Mathematics I

• Financial Mathematics II

• Applications of Vector Calculus

• Cryptography

• Graph Theory

• Game Theory

• Introduction to Optimisation

• Markov Chains and Applications

Year 4

• Statistical Inference

• Quantum Information and Coding

• Financial Mathematics II

• Combinatorics

• Cryptography

• Topology

• Financial Mathematics I

• Applications of Vector Calculus

• Graph Theory

• Group Theory

• Game Theory

• Introduction to Optimisation

• Number Theory

• Quantum Theory I

• Markov Chains and Applications

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/mathematics/mathematics-msci/

The course has a flexible, modular structure and you will study the equivalent of four, 30-credit modules per year. In addition to our compulsory core modules you will be free to choose between a number of optional courses in years 2 to 4. Most contribute 15 credits to your overall award, while the supervised project in year 4 is worth 30 credits. You will have the option of transferring onto our three-year Mathematics BSc course during your studies, if you wish to.

We use a variety of teaching methods and there is a strong focus on small group teaching in the department. You will attend 12 to 15 hours of formal teaching in a typical week, including lectures, tutorials, problem solving workshops and practical sessions in statistics and computational mathematics. You will also be expected to work on worksheets, revision and project work outside of these times. In year 2, teaching will mainly be delivered through lectures and workshops and in years 3 and 4, mostly through relatively small group lectures and tutorials.

Our courses are mostly examined by written exams taken in the summer term, but some of our statistics and computational courses also have project components and between 10% and 30% of your final mark for each core module in year 1 will come from coursework. Some of the first year modules also include tests that contribute 10% of the final mark. In the first term of year 2 you will work in small groups to prepare a report and an oral presentation on a mathematical topic of your choice, which will contribute to one of your core module grades. CV writing skills are also embedded into that course. In year 3 there are two optional courses which are examined solely by a project and presentation, and in year 4 you will complete a supervised project.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Mathematics and its Applications, Institute of