Mathematics degrees have an excellent reputation and are very popular amongst employers because graduates are numerate and logical with good problem solving skills.
- Actuary
- Financial analyst
- Statistician
- Meteorologist
- Secondary school teacher
- Accountant
- Insurance underwriter
- Banking
- Stock Broker
- Economist
Where to find job adverts for Mathematicians
Broadsheet daily and Sunday Newspapers, particularly the Financial Times
Large employers of mathematicians: Government departments, teaching, defence industry, science and engineering companies
Careers in Mathematics
Subjects to study at A Level:
Entry requirements for mathematic degrees usually only emphasize an academic background in mathematics. Applicants may be required to have studied some or all of the following: further mathematics, pure mathematics, mechanics and complex numbers. Experience of studying other scientific subjects may also be welcomed, and can help provide an additional dimension to your studies. Some universities in the UK (such as Cambridge and Warwick) require students to take the Sixth Term Examination Papers (known as the STEP exam) or the Advanced Extension Award (AEA).
Wider reading:
Two books that you may be interested in reading prior to applying for a Mathematics degree course are:
- How to Study for a Mathematics Degree by Lara Alcock (ISBN 978-0-19-966132-9) – this book explains what to expect at university and contains a wealth of useful study advice.
- Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction by Timothy Gowers (ISBN 978-0192853615) – this book gives an idea of the scope and spirit of mathematics but is written in an accessible style.
You might also like to read some popular mathematics books by authors such as Simon Singh, Ian Stewart and Marcus du Sautoy. The University of Cambridge and Imperial College have recommended reading lists which feature a wide range of books including recreational mathematics and some technical reading suitable to support their first year undergraduate degree courses. Other sources of interesting and relevant reading include titles suggested by NRICH and the general interest articles relating to the beauty and practical uses of mathematics in Plus Magazine.
Useful websites
- London Mathematical Society – www.lms.ac.uk
- Institute of Mathematics and its Applications – www.ima.org.uk
- Mathematics can be studied at 100 different universities and colleges. The top 10 UK Universities for Mathematics according to the Complete University Guide are:
Cambridge - Oxford
- Imperial College London
- Warwick
- Durham
- Bath
- St Andrews
- University College London (UCL)
- Bristol
- London School of Economics (LSE)
(check UCAS website for entry requirements for these universities: www.ucas.com)
According to the Complete University Guide, the average starting salary for a Mathematics graduate was £24,259, ranking 10th (the 1st place was taken by Dentistry with £30,143). They also found that 33% of Mathematics graduates went into a professional occupation and 26% continued in post-graduate education.
Internships and Work Experience
Gumtree recently completed a poll of employers with the results showing that work experience makes you 95% more employable. The good news carries on, two thirds of employers think candidates with work experience were more knowledgeable, 44% think they are more confident and 40% say they are more committed.