Mathematics Degrees 2013
Mathematics is a highly regarded discipline that both underpins contemporary life and is a fascinating subject in its own right. Mathematical expertise provides insight for decision making in business and industry, and plays an important role in diverse areas ranging from finance, transport and medical science through to digital communications and weather forecasting. A Mathematics degree from the University of Surrey is an excellent preparation for a career in these exciting fields.
Degree programmes
Entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements
- MMath: A-level grades AAA (or AAB if A-level Further Mathematics is included)
- BSc: A-level grades AAB
We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers.
Conditional offers from Surrey will be made in grades or marks, and not listed in points from the UCAS tariff.
Required subjects
GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent).
Grade A in A-level Mathematics is required for all programmes.
For Mathematics with Music, grade A in A-level Music is required, with grade 8 ABRSM award (or equivalent) required for the performance stream.
For Mathematics and Physics, A-level Physics is required.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
Other suitable qualifications
Higher grades refer to the MMath programmes.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3, D3, M1; M1, M1, M1
European Baccalaureate
76 – 75%
International Baccalaureate
37 – 35 points
BTEC (QCF Level 3) Extended Diploma
DDD (in an appropriate subject, with a supporting A-Level in Mathematics)
In addition, we accept a wide range of qualifications, including other Level 3 QCF Level 3 qualifications, Scottish qualifications, the Irish Leaving Certificate, Access Diplomas and foundation courses. Other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.
It is important to check whether the qualifications you are taking are suitable for your chosen degree. If you are uncertain whether your qualification meets our entry requirements, please contact us.
If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year.
Selection process
Offers are usually made in terms of grades. Suitable candidates will be invited for an interview. During the visit to the University the candidate can find out more about the programme and meet staff and students.
Tuition fees
UK/EU students
Tuition fees are currently set at £9,000 per year for UK/EU undergraduates starting in 2012.
The tuition charge will be accompanied by a generous financial support package, underlining our continued commitment to widening access for those students who come from low income households.
Overseas students
Fees for students classed as overseas for fees purposes are as follows:
- Mathematics: £12,735
- Mathematics: £12,735
- Mathematics with integrated professional training: £12,735
- Mathematics: £12,735
- Mathematics: £12,735
- Mathematics with Statistics : £12,735
- Mathematics with Statistics : £12,735
- Mathematics and Computing Science : £15,160
- Mathematics and Computing Science : £15,160
- Mathematics with Music: £12,735
- Mathematics with Music: £12,735
- Financial Mathematics: £12,735
- Financial Mathematics: £12,735
The University will assess your fee status. If you are unsure whether you are likely to be considered a home, EU or overseas student for fees purposes, the UKCISA website offers more information.
Professional Training Year Fees
Programmes marked with an asterisk (*) in the table above include a professional training year.
Currently fees of £1,050 (based on an inflation assumption of 2.5%) are charged for the Professional Training Year. Fees will not have to be paid up front for those students who decide to take up the Government’s loan for higher education fees. The Professional Training year is a key factor in the high employability rates achieved by students with Surrey degrees.
Our degrees
Skills learned through the study and application of mathematics often prove invaluable in solving the complex problems arising in today’s workplace, and it is no coincidence that Surrey Mathematics graduates are in great demand.
In addition to excellent employment prospects, our programmes open up many opportunities for further study.
We run a comprehensive range of degree programmes encompassing some of the latest advances in mathematics and statistics. Additionally we offer programmes that combine these with computing, finance, physics or music. We are continually developing the scope and flavour of our programmes, and a considerable amount of choice is available in later years. Our modular structure has been designed to give flexibility, allowing you to choose from a wide range of options and to switch between them easily.
All our programmes can be taken with or without a Professional Training year except MMath with Integrated Professional Training (G100) where the professional experience is fully integrated into the third year. The professional placement provides you with an opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge in a real-world setting. We have a dedicated Professional Training year team to advise and support you in finding a placement.
Our degrees provide you with an overview of the key theories and techniques that underlie modern pure and applied mathematics, as well as offering ample opportunities for in-depth study of specialised topics that take your interest.
Our programmes produce graduates who are highly numerate and computer-fluent. Through your studies with us you will develop well-honed analytical and other transferable skills to equip you for a variety of interesting and rewarding careers. In addition to specific technical skills, you will gain a broad knowledge base and develop important general skills such as thinking independently, communicating effectively, meeting deadlines and engaging productively in teamwork.
Programme content
Programme overview
In year 1, we expect a good knowledge of core A-level pure mathematics. We do not require prior knowledge of statistics, applied mathematics or computing, as these are taught from scratch.
You will receive a firm grounding in a broad range of topics and imaginative use is made of computer algebra systems, statistical packages and other software. During this year, it is possible to transfer between Mathematics and Mathematics with Statistics.
In year 2, all programmes provide essential foundations for later specialisation in various directions. Some degree programmes allow for choice between modules. Both theory and applications are covered, and transferable skills are sharpened through solving problems and analysing data using both specialist and general software.
In year 3 (final year for BSc programmes), the emphasis is on specialising to suit your degree programme and personal interests by combining modules from mathematics, statistics, computing, economics, physics and music as appropriate. For all BSc programmes, a project is one of the final-year options, as well as a Mathematics Education module with hands-on classroom experience.
In year 4 (MMath only) you will go deeper into advanced mathematics and related sciences (including physics on the Mathematics and Physics programmes) in preparation for professional mathematical careers or research degrees. An important feature of the year is a substantial project that gives a taste of undertaking and communicating mathematical research. Our students generally find this to be a demanding, although very enjoyable, experience.
Programme structure
Year 1 (FHEQ Level 4)
Mathematics modules includes topics such as:
- Functions and Graphs
- Calculus of Several Variables
- Sequences and Series
- Matrices and Vector Spaces
- Number Theory and Logic
- Experimental Mathematics
- Probability and Statistics
- Dynamics
Examples of combined degree modules:
- Introduction to Macroeconomics and Microeconomics
- Programming Languages
- Foundations of Physics
- Oscillations and Waves
- Solo Musical Performance
- Music Composition
Year 2 (FHEQ Level 5)
Mathematics modules includes topics such as:
- Differential Equations
- Group Theory
- Curves and Surfaces
- Mathematical Statistics
- Operational Research
- Numerical Methods
- Fluid Mechanics
- Stochastic Processes
- Linear Models
- Optimisation Theory
Examples of combined degree modules:
- Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
- Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- Computer Graphics
- Object-oriented Software Engineering
- Database and Information Modelling
- Quantum Physics
- Electromagnetic Waves
- Film Music
- Composition
Year 3 (FHEQ Level 6)
Mathematics modules includes topics such as:
- Galois Theory
- Chaotic Dynamics
- Mathematics of Weather
- Mathematical Economics
- Mathematics Education
- Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations
- Advanced Algebra
- Function Spaces
- Bayesian Statistics
Examples of combined degree modules:
- Applied Corporate Finance
- Games, Markets and Information
- Computer Security
- Web Technologies
- Managing Information Systems
- Neural Networks
- Nuclear Structure and Astrophysics
- General Relativity and Stars
- Music Recital
- Ensemble Performance
Professional Training year
- Optional professional training year
Year 4 (FHEQ Level 7)
Mathematics modules includes topics such as:
- Non-linear Patterns
- Functional Analysis
- Geometric Integration
- Hamiltonian Dynamics
- Lie Algebras
- Theory of Water Waves
- Measure Theory
- Symmetry Methods
Professional training
Professional Training is an option for you, whichever programme you choose to take. Sandwiched between years 2 and 3 (except in programme G100 where the professional placement is fully integrated in year 3), it provides an opportunity to enhance your academic studies, with practical experience augmenting your knowledge and skills.
Mathematicians are in demand in many areas of business and industry. The work you are able to do on placement reflects this breadth, and may vary from operational research and computer programming in insurance or banking to analysing clinical trials or solving heat transfer and aerodynamic problems encountered in the atomic energy and aerospace fields.
We have excellent links with an extensive portfolio of companies and research organisations. Recent employers include Deloitte & Touche, Intel, AXA Actuarial, Royal Sun Alliance, Lloyds TSB, GlaxoSmithKline, the NHS, the Department of Transport and HM Customs and Excise.
While on placement, you will be a paid employee of the training company. You will, however, also continue to be a member of the University and will be visited periodically by academic staff to track your progress and help ensure that you have a successful experience.
Transfer between programmes which do or do not include a professional placement is possible during your first year, so a decision made when you apply can be changed later.
Career opportunities
Graduate prospects
Graduates over the last few years entered employment in roles such as:
- BAE Systems – Analyst
- Royal Bank of Scotland – Business Analyst
- Ashcombe School – Mathematics Teacher
- KPMG – Tax Consultant
- Accenture – Software Development Engineer
- The Economist – Marketing Accountant
- PricewaterhouseCoopers – Auditing Associate
- Civil Service – Fast-track Scheme
- PhDs in mathematics and physical sciences
Career opportunities
Rather than ask which careers require mathematics, the question should probably be which careers do not! Not only are mathematics and statistics central to science, technology and finance-related fields, but also the logical insight, analytical skills and intellectual discipline gained from a mathematical education are highly sought after in areas such as law, business and management. Additionally, there is a strong demand for new mathematics teachers to meet the ongoing shortage in schools.
The range of employment opportunities open to those with mathematical and statistical training includes the broad areas of finance, computing, consulting and management. Many of our graduates start their careers with some of the most sought-after employers. Recent employers include BAE Systems, Lloyds TSB Group, Skandia Life, Friends Provident, Logica CMG, UniChem, Generics UK, Thames Water, the Civil Service, QinetiQ and Liverpool Victoria Insurance.
As well as being designed to meet the needs of future employers, our degree programmes will also give you a solid foundation from which to pursue further study in mathematics or scientific research. Around a quarter of our recent graduates have gone into postgraduate education, either obtaining teaching qualifications or reading for higher degrees such as MSc and PhD.
Additional information
Teaching
Teaching is by a mixture of lectures, tutorials and computer laboratory sessions. Contact hours range from about 16 per week during your first year to about 12 per week during your final year. In your first year you will have weekly tutorial meetings with your academic tutor in small groups of five to six students.
We anticipate that each academic year will involve roughly 1,200 hours of study time, with contact hours occupying between a third and a quarter of this. The remaining time is used for your own private study, the completion of coursework and revision.
Assignments include exercises, case studies and projects, undertaken either as individual work or within small groups. We make imaginative use of state-of-the-art IT, and general and specialist software further enriches your learning and enlivens your studies.
Assessment
In year 1, your performance is assessed through tests in each module and formal examinations at the end of each semester. In all other years assessment is by a combination of coursework, class tests and end-of semester examinations. From these assessments, as well as from informal assignments, you will receive regular feedback that allows you to gauge your progress and to make an informed choice of optional modules.
Why Surrey?
Mathematics degrees 2013 at Surrey
- Ranked in the top twenty departments in the country by both the The Times Good University Guide 2013 and The Complete University Guide 2013
- Latest National Student Survey score of 95 per cent or overall satisfaction – we have achieved a score of 90 per cent or greater for the past three years
- Extended in-depth mathematical training available through top-flight MMath programmes
- Combine mathematics with computing, finance, music, physics or statistics
- Programmes designed to be relevant to today’s business and professional needs
- The Professional Training year offers superb opportunities to gain experience in industry
- Teaching led by research-active staff
- 70 per cent of research rated internationally excellent or world leading in latest Research Assessment Exercise
It’s not just a place to study for your degree, it’s also a place where you develop as a person.
Louise Sims
BSc Mathematics
Mathematics at Surrey was my first choice for a number of reasons, particularly the Professional Training Year and the fact that Surrey has the highest employment rate for graduates in the UK. I visited the University on Open Days and the staff were really friendly and informative and I felt that I would fit in well.
I am currently in my second year and I have found the programme to be both interesting and challenging; there is such a variety of different mathematics modules and I find the lecturers really helpful and willing to spend extra time to explain any difficulties. I feel that my studies have also changed my way of thinking to a more logical approach and I am not put off by hard problems!
This year, I am Secretary of the Maths Society where I help plan and organise a range of events such as Maths career talks, the Maths Ball and pub quizzes. I have been amazed at how friendly and outgoing the other students are and we all get along really well.
When I graduate, I would like to join the Met Office as the mathematics behind the weather has always been a topic that interests me, and it is also a third year module at Surrey. I would definitely recommend Surrey to anyone thinking of applying for mathematics as I feel there is a fantastic community here. It’s not just a place to study for your degree, it’s also a place where you develop as a person.
I always have the support of the University and all the staff are very friendly and helpful, particularly with finding my placement.
Kasra Imani
MMath Mathematics with Integrated Professional Training
One of the main reasons that I chose Surrey was because it is one of the few universities that offered an integrated placement as part of the degree.
My programme is flexible in terms of what modules I want to take. My course is straight Mathematics but I can undertake non-mathematics modules such as computing, which lets me choose the subjects that I am interested in.
In my professional training year, I worked for a financial software company based in London. The company provides software packages to price and analyse risks of financial instruments. My role at the company was to develop new models to analyse risks which formed the main part of my industrial MMath project. The models that I developed in my placement are now being used by the company, which is very satisfying.
I am an international student but I did my A levels in the UK, so I was familiar with the culture before I started university life. I always have the support of the University and all the staff are very friendly and helpful, particularly with finding my placement.
One of the benefits of Surrey is that the accommodation is on campus, as well as the post office and bank, plus Tesco is also nearby. The campus is only 15 minutes’ walk from the town centre and anything that is not on campus can be found there.
Professional recognition

All our degree programmes are recognised by the Institute of Mathematics and its applications. Satisfactory performance in certain modules of the Financial Mathematics programme may lead to exemption from some of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries’ professional examinations.


