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Mathematics (4 years)

Entry requirements


A level

A*,A*,A

General information on subjects/grades required for entry: A*A* in Maths and Further Maths at A Level plus A in a third subject; OR A*A in Maths and Further Maths at A Level (either way) plus A in a third subject plus suitable performance on the University’s Admission Test (TMUA) or MAT; OR A* in Maths at A Level, A in AS Level Further Maths and AA in two further subjects plus suitable performance on the University’s Admission Test (TMUA); OR A*A at A Level in Maths and Further Maths (either way) plus A in a third subject plus Grade 2 in any STEP. Please see our website for further information regarding the University's Admission Test. Specific subjects excluded for entry: General Studies and Critical Thinking.

Please contact the Mathematics department to discuss.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D2,D2,D3

General information on subjects/grades required for entry: D2, D2 in Maths and Further Maths and D3 in a third subject; OR D2, D3 in Maths and Further Maths (either way) plus D3 in a third subject plus suitable performance on the University’s Admission Test (TMUA). Please see our website for further information regarding the University's Admission Test.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

38

38 points overall including Higher Level 7, 7, 6 (to include a 7 in Maths); OR 38 points overall including Higher Level 7, 6, 6 (to include a 7 in Maths) plus suitable performance on the University’s Admission Test (TMUA). Please note, a 7 in Higher Level Maths Analysis & Approaches is accepted for this course. Higher Level Maths Applications & Interpretation is not accepted. Please see our website for further information regarding the University's Admission Test.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H1,H1,H2,H2,H2

To include Mathematics at H1. Please see our website for further information regarding the University's Admission Test.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

D*DD-DDD

D*DD + A*A in A Level Maths and Further Maths in any order OR DDD + A*A* in A Level Maths and Further Maths OR D*DD + A*A in A Level Maths and Further Maths in any order PLUS suitable performance on the University’s Admission Test (TMUA)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

D*D*D

Plus subject specific A Levels (or equivalent) where required.

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,A,A

To include Mathematics. Please see our website for further information regarding the University's Admission Test.

Departments will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. In the absence of 3 Advanced Highers, where these are not offered by the applicant’s school, offers comprising of Advanced Highers and Highers or a number of Highers may be made on a case by case basis.

At Durham we welcome applications from students of outstanding achievement and potential from all educational backgrounds.  We will consider applicants studying T level qualifications for entry to many of our courses.   Where a course requires subject specific knowledge and this is not covered within the T level being studied, you may need to supplement your T level studies with a suitable qualification to meet this requirement, for example at A level.  Where this is needed this will be clearly stated in our entry requirements.   Detailed entry requirements can be found on individual course entries on our courses database.

UCAS Tariff

160-168

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Mathematics

This course is ideal if you are considering postgraduate study or a career involving high-level mathematical skills or research.

When you choose maths you’ll be taught by a team of mathematicians with a passion for sharing the beauty of mathematics and a wealth of experience in research across the spectrum of pure and applied mathematics and statistics. And with many of the teaching team actively involved at the forefront of research, the degree is designed to link learning to research in distinctive and creative ways.

The first year of the course begins with a broad-based introduction to pure and applied mathematics, statistics and probability and provides a sound foundation for in-depth study in subsequent years. In the second and third years the structure offers more flexibility, enabling you to shape your degree around one specific area or continue developing your skills across a wide range of subjects.

During the final year the range of optional modules expands further, introducing more advanced concepts and theories. The degree culminates in a double-module project that gives you the opportunity to investigate a mathematical topic of interest in depth.

You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from four years to five.

**Year 1**

The first year consists of 100 compulsory Mathematics credits:

- Analysis (20)

- Linear Algebra (20)

- Calculus (20)

- Programming (10)

- Dynamics (10)

- Probability (10)

- Statistics (10)

Together with a further 20 credits which can be chosen from:
- Discrete Mathematics (20)

- Any other available Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences modules (subject to prerequisites and timetabling)

In the Mathematics modules, topics that may be familiar from A level (or equivalent) are expanded and developed to help you adjust to university life, provide a sound foundation for your Mathematics degree and enable you to make informed choices when picking modules from second year onwards.

**Year 2**

In the second year, you will choose six Maths modules.

You will take two compulsory modules:
- Complex Analysis

- Analysis in Many Variables

Together with modules from a range which includes:
- Numerical Analysis

- Statistical Concepts

- Mathematical Physics

- Algebra

- A combination of two shorter courses on a wide range of mathematical topics – Elementary Number Theory, Probability, Mathematical Modelling, Geometric Topology, Monte Carlo, Actuarial Mathematics, and Special Relativity and Electromagnetism.

At this stage, you can begin to specialise in areas of pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics and probability although you can also maintain a wide range of options for the third year.

**Year 3**

In the third year you choose six from a wide choice of around 20 modules covering a variety of topics in areas such as algebra, geometry, topology, applied mathematics, mathematical physics, statistics and probability, together with options including Mathematical Finance, Mathematical Biology and Mathematics Teaching. Many of these topics are closely linked to and informed by current research.

**Year 4**

In the fourth year, you take a double module project, giving you the opportunity to investigate a mathematical topic of interest. You will produce a written report and poster and give a short presentation. This develops your research and communication skills which are very important for future employment or postgraduate studies. You also choose four taught modules from a wide variety of topics as in Year 3. Some but not all of these modules follow on from options in Year 3, allowing you to both advance and broaden your mathematical expertise approaching research level.

**Placement Year**

You may be able to take a work placement. Find out more: https://www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/studyoptions/

Modules

Year 1
Core modules:
Calculus builds on ideas of differentiation and integration in A level mathematics, beginning with functions of a single variable and moving on to functions of several variables. Topics include methods of solving ordinary and partial differential equations, and an introduction to Fourier Series and Fourier transforms.

Linear Algebra presents mathematical ideas, techniques in linear algebra and develops the geometric intuition and familiarity with vector methods in preparation for more challenging material later in the course.

Analysis aims to provide an understanding of real and complex number systems, and to rigorously develop the calculus of functions of a single variable from basic principles.

Programming is taught via lectures and practical sessions that introduce basic principles and basic competence in computer programming. You will also study control structures; floating point arithmetic; and lists, strings and introduction to objects.

Dynamics develops an understanding of elementary classical Newtonian dynamics as well as an ability to formulate and solve basic problems in dynamics.

Probability introduces mathematics ideas on probability in preparation for more demanding material later in the course. The module presents a mathematical subject of key importance to the real-world (applied) that is based on rigorous mathematical foundations (pure).

Statistics introduces frequentist and Bayesian statistics and demonstrates the relevance of these principles and procedures to real problems. This module lays the foundations for all subsequent study of statistics.

Year 2
Core modules:
Complex Analysis introduces the theory of complex analysis through the study of complex differentiation; conformal mappings; metric spaces; series and uniform convergence; contour integrals and calculus of residues; and applications.

Analysis in Many Variables provides an understanding of calculus in more than one dimension, together with an understanding of, and facility with, the methods of vector calculus. It also explores the application of these ideas to a range of forms of integration and to solutions of a range of classical partial differential equations.

Examples of optional modules:
Algebra
Mathematical Physics
Numerical Analysis
Statistical Inference
Data Science and Statistical Computing
Elementary Number Theory
Geometric Topology
Markov Chains
Mathematical Modelling
Probability
Special Relativity and Electromagnetism
Statistical Modelling.
Year 3
Examples of optional modules:
Advanced Statistical Modelling
Bayesian Computation and Modelling
Decision Theory
Dynamical Systems
Galois Theory
Geometry of Mathematical Physics
Mathematical Biology
Mathematics into Schools
Operations Research
Quantum Computing
Solitons
Topology.
Year 4
Core module:
In the final-year Project you will investigate a mathematical topic of interest and then produce a written report and give a short presentation. The project develops your research and communication skills which are important for future employment or postgraduate studies.

Examples of optional modules:
Advanced Quantum Theory
Algebraic Topology
Ergodic Theory
Functional Analysis and Applications
Topics in Algebra and Geometry
General Relativity
Representation Theory
Riemannian Geometry
Statistical Mechanics
Topics in Applied Mathematics
Topics in Combinatorics.

Assessment methods

Most of your modules are assessed by end-of-year examinations. In your final year you also complete a project which is worth one-third of your final-year marks, it includes a written project report, a poster and a short presentation on your chosen topic.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£27,000
per year
International
£27,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course locations:

Durham City

College allocation pending

Department:

Mathematical Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

75%
Mathematics

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Mathematics

Teaching and learning

76%
Staff make the subject interesting
87%
Staff are good at explaining things
78%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
66%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

71%
Library resources
78%
IT resources
81%
Course specific equipment and facilities
76%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

91%
UK students
9%
International students
72%
Male students
28%
Female students
80%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A*
A*
A*

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Mathematics

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£28,000
high
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education
75%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

42%
Business, research and administrative professionals
13%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
13%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals

Want to feel needed? This is one of the most flexible degrees of all and with so much of modern work being based on data, there are options everywhere for maths graduates. With all that training in handling figures, it's hardly surprising that a lot of maths graduates go into well-paid jobs in the IT or finance industries, and last year, a maths graduate in London could expect a very respectable average starting salary of £27k. And we're always short of teachers in maths, so that is an excellent option for anyone wanting to help the next generation. And if you want a research job, you'll want a doctorate — and a really good maths doctorate will get you all sorts of interest from academia and finance — and might secure some of the highest salaries going for new leavers from university.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Mathematics

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£27k

£27k

£36k

£36k

£45k

£45k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Higher entry requirements
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This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here