Mathematics BSc (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- Typical Offer: 112 - 120 UCAS tariff points
- UCAS Code(s): G100 (full-time); 351C (sandwich)
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: Three years full-time / four years with placement
- Study Mode(s): Full-time / Sandwich
- Campus: Clifton Campus
Introduction:
Support. That’s what you’ll get from us – and lots of it. We know that mathematics is a beautiful subject, but it can also be challenging. Our staff are not only experts in a range of mathematical fields they’re also here to guide you on your journey and even inspire you to develop your research areas.
You’ll start with the core building blocks like algebra, calculus and statistics before focusing on advanced topics such as mathematical biology, quantum cryptography and graph theory. To back up all this knowledge, you’ll apply it to real-world situations in the classroom and our innovative facilities.
This course is also accredited by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, which is a seal of approval from the professional body and will help you on your way to Chartered Mathematician status.
Research scholarships
Every year we offer a small number of Mathematics Undergraduate Research Scholarships (MURS), giving successful applicants funding for a six-to-eight-week placement in one of our research teams. This is an excellent opportunity for you to further your research interests and contribute to the academic activities of the mathematics department.
More student opportunities
Our students run a Mathematics Society, and you’ll have the opportunity to participate in regular events hosted on campus by the local branch of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
What our students say
NTU has a wide range of experiences to offer, other than just the course. The staff are very helpful during lectures, seminars and labs, as well as outside of teaching hours. I graduated with a first from NTU and was awarded a Mathematics prize during my studies. The course helped develop my problem-solving skills, useful in industry, and gave good background in abstract mathematics, which I would like to pursue in the future.
Sam Morely
BSc (Hons) Mathematics
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97% of our mathematics students were in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21). -
Top 20 in the UK for teaching quality in Mathematics (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
What you’ll study
You'll explore numbers, data, quantity, structure, space, models, change, and mathematical applications that are fundamental to business and society. If you have a passion for mathematics, this course will help you to discover the proper application of modern techniques. The Mathematics degree course blends theory and practical applications so that you’ll be fully prepared for specialist employment in various roles and sectors.
In Years One and Two, you’ll explore various mathematical techniques and applications. Then, in your final year, you’ll get to choose several specialist modules depending on your personal preferences and career aspirations.
Who will teach me?
I recently won several HESTEM grants to work with the Nottingham Girl's High School on final year maths education projects and to build employability skills into our maths course. Local, national, and global companies have helped us to make sure that our students leave with the skills, abilities, and confidence to excel in the jobs market.
As a team, our research focus includes biological mathematics, statistics, and computational modelling, but we also encompass financial analysis, cryptography, and many other fields.
Dr James Hind, Lecturer
I teach the Numerical Methods for Ordinary Differential Equations and Topics in Applied Mathematics modules. I also support final year students with their project work. My own research interests include industrial mathematics, mathematical modelling and numerical analysis.
Dr David Chappell, Lecturer
Meet the rest of the team
Visit our academic team pages to learn more about our approach to teaching, our partners and our research interests.
Introduction to Linear Algebra and Computation (20 credit points)
Studying Linear Algebra gives you a great base knowledge you’ll use in many modules during your course. Concepts include complex numbers, vectors and matrices. Using mathematical software packages you’ll focus on computational and numerical methods that can be used to find approximate solutions to problems that cannot be solved analytically.
Calculus (20 cp)
In this module you’ll study methods of differentiation and integration, from the fundamental principles, to integrating and differentiating complicated functions. Ordinary differential equations will be looked at and in combination with material you’ll learn how to solve these new types of equations.
Introduction to Discrete Mathematics and its Applications (20 cp)
You’ll start by learning how to program using Python before investigating discrete mathematics problems. Working in groups, you’ll discover potential solutions which you’ll use algorithms in Python to computerise your solutions.
Investigations in Analysis (20 cp)
You’ll develop a range of skills appropriate to conducting open-ended mathematical investigations. Learn about the importance of rigour and techniques of proof in mathematical contexts.
Foundations of Pure Mathematics (20 cp)
First you’ll be introduced to the world of rigorous mathematics, which is ruled by the laws of mathematical logic and is based on the concept of mathematical proof. Set theory will then be introduced and through looking at real-world examples, you’ll learn about the other important algebraic structures, such as notations, operations and groups.
Data Analysis (20 cp)
This gives you an introduction to important statistical ideas and their application using modern software. You will explore data analysis, probability, statistical inference and statistical modelling.
Linear Algebra and its Applications (20 cp)
This module will build your conceptual and technical background, and, in particular, work on vector spaces will be extended and generalised to linear transformations. You will be introduced to coding theory by applying linear algebra to linear codes.
Differential Equations (20 cp)
Extend your knowledge of calculus, differential equations and linear algebra, and gain an introduction to difference equations, the Eigen problem and transform methods.
Probability and Statistical Inference (20 cp)
Refine your statistical inference and modelling knowledge and develop essential computational and IT skills.
Advanced Calculus (20 cp)
Broaden your knowledge, understanding and skills in advanced higher calculus to topics including Fourier series, partial differential equations and complex analysis.
Mathematical Enterprise (20 cp)
In this module you’ll work in small teams to develop a plan for a new business or enterprise, using your mathematical skills to showcase the viability of your venture. This module is run in conjunction with Nottingham's Creative Quarter and you’ll work with several local businesses to create business plans.
Cryptography and Computational Complexity (20 cp)
Learn how to select and apply appropriate techniques and use computer programming and specialist mathematical software to help solve problems. You’ll look at the need to develop more and more sophisticated ways of protecting information through cryptography. Analyse the hardness and limitations of mathematical algorithms using computational complexity theory.
Optional year-long work placement. If you are not taking a placement, you will progress directly to your final year in year three.
Core Modules
Project and Professional Skills (40 cp)
Immerse yourself in a substantial mathematics project with dedicated support and supervision. The project will showcase your skills, knowledge, and problem-solving abilities. You’ll also take part in activities to explore your career options after graduation.
Numerical Analysis and Dynamical Systems (20 cp)
Develop your knowledge of numerical methods with an emphasis on numerical optimisation techniques, advanced methods for the numerical solution of ordinary differential equations and applying methods to non-linear problems.
Linear Systems (20 cp)
You will continue your previous studies in linear algebra and differential and difference equations.
Optional modules - choose one:
Differential and Integral Equations (20 cp)
Apply your knowledge of advanced calculus and differential equations to solve differential and integral equations.
Stochastic Processes (20 cp)
Extend your understanding of probabilistic modelling to include stochastic processes and learn advanced techniques for investigating the behaviour of stochastic processes.
Optimisation (20 cp)
The optimisation is the art of optimal decision-making under constraints. This module introduces you to optimisation, focussing on the theoretical foundations of the subject, the practical modelling aspects, and the algorithm analysis and design.
Optional modules - choose one:
Experimental Design and Machine Learning (20 cp)
In this module you’ll be introduced methods of experimental design and their application in industrial and commercial situations. You’ll learn the methodology and techniques to design, conduct and analyse an experiment before applying statistical analysis to your results.
Partial Differential Equations (20 cp)
Partial differential equations are an essential topic in both pure and applied mathematics. This topic builds on the introduction given in Advanced Calculus to consider partial linear equations in non-trivial domains and to introduce methods of analysing nonlinear first-order partial differential equations.
Medical Statistics and Financial Modeling (20 cp)
You’ll study statistical techniques appropriate for medical and financial data, including the analysis of survival data and dealing with large complex datasets.
Graph Theory and Combinatorics (20 cp)
This module introduces research-informed topics in pure mathematics and aims to extend and complement ideas introduced earlier in your course. It provides a blend of mathematical concepts and techniques widely applicable in data science, operational research, chemistry, engineering, computer science, information technology, statistics, sociology and genetics.
How you’re taught
Every week you’ll attend lectures, seminars, practical sessions and workshops. This includes surgery sessions where you’ll meet with your lecturer in small groups to discuss any problems or work through challenging topics.
The rest of your time will be spent carrying out independent study such as reading textbooks and lecture notes, and working on exercises.
Contact hours
- Year 1 - lectures/seminars/workshops (33%) and independent study (67%)
- Year 2 - lectures/seminars/workshops (31%) and independent study (69%)
- Year 3 - lectures/seminars/workshops (21%) and independent study (79%)
A placement year may be taken between year 2 and year 3 of study
How you’re assessed
We want you to graduate with a range of transferable skills. Hence, all of the Mathematics modules have two or three assessment components that help you demonstrate your knowledge in various ways. As well as traditional exams and in-class tests, you’ll complete assignments and group projects and give presentations. In your final year, you’ll also complete your mathematics project with the support of your tutor.
- Year 1 - coursework (28%) and written (72%)
- Year 2 - coursework (32%) and written (68%)
- Year 3 - coursework (35%) and written (65%)
A placement year may be taken between year 2 and year 3 of study
Careers and employability
Your career development
Our recent graduates have secured roles at companies including:
- Oegen
- Invictus Trust
- BT
- NHS
- Next Retail Ltd
They have also started careers in:
- industrial and commercial mathematics
- statistical applications systems modelling
- software engineering
- telecommunications
- IT applications
- teaching and research.
They have gone into a wide variety of job roles, including:
- Junior Programmer
- Project Manager
- Graduate Mathematician
- Test Automation Engineer
What our students say
"The content we studied in my final year was vital in getting the job I have today. The course is very applicable when applying for positions outside of the university. If you're interested in Mathematics, I can't recommend this course enough.
"I also love Nottingham – it's a fantastic city, and I didn't have any questions about staying here when I graduated. When looking for jobs, my number one priority was staying in this city."
Duncan Bell, BSc (Hons) Mathematics - graduate
Credit Scoring and Strategy Analyst
Excellent placement opportunities
Top 10 for the number of Mathematics students on year-long placements (HESA 2021/22)
NTU is one of the most employment-focused universities. Increasingly, employers want to recruit graduates who have real-world work experience. That’s why all of our courses, across every subject area, offer you a work experience opportunity. Our experts help build and support your future with various career programmes and events.
On this course, after your second year, you will have the opportunity to take a year's work placement (sandwich placement). This will give you a chance to gain vital experience and put your knowledge into practice. You're also twice as likely to secure a graduate job within six months if you take a work placement.
Our recent students have taken placements across various companies, including DeVere Group, Cooper Parry and Government Statistical Services. They secured varied roles such as Trainee Wealth Assistant, Assistant Bio-statistician and Auditing Assistant.
You'll be supported and assessed throughout your placement year and will write a reflective report and diary at the end of your placement. When you complete your placement, you will be eligible to receive an additional award of a Diploma in Professional Practice.
Find out more about work placements.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their businesses.
Campus and facilities
Entry requirements
- Standard offer: 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including A-level or equivalent Maths grade C
- Contextual offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including A-level or equivalent Maths grade C
Contextual offers
A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here but who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
- 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level or equivalent Maths grade C
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made following our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Additional Costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students purchase. Book costs vary, and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to participate in optional field trips, which incur additional costs.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students earn a salary whilst on placement, which can help cover these living costs. Placement opportunities are available in the UK and overseas. Travel grants and Erasmus funding may be available to help fund international travel costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. Students will also be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final dissertation copies in their final year - estimated costs of approximately £20 - £50. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance, please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Other
Students will require a basic scientific calculator for examinations (e.g. Casio 83 or 85 series, approximately £15).
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, contact our Student Financial Support Service by telephone at +44 (0)115 848 2494.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government. See our fees.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when offered to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
What do the course fees cover?
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students purchase. Book costs vary, and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available to buy from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to participate in optional field trips, which incur additional costs.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students earn a salary whilst on placement, which can help cover these living costs. Placement opportunities are available in the UK and overseas. Travel grants and Erasmus funding may be available to help fund international travel costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. Students will also be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final dissertation copies in their final year - estimated costs of approximately £20 - £50. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance, please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Other
Students will require a basic scientific calculator for examinations (e.g. Casio 83 or 85 series, approximately £15).
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the application instructions. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up-to-date
After applying, we’ll send you important emails throughout the application process, so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After applying, we'll send you important emails throughout the application process, so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.