MSc Pure Mathematics / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

Degree awarded
Master of Science
Duration
1 year
Entry requirements
The entry requirement to the programmes is normally a good honours degree in mathematics or a mathematically-related discipline or an equivalent overseas qualification in a mathematical subject.

Full entry requirements

How to apply

Apply online

As there is high demand for this course we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year.

Due to the competition for places, we give preference to students with grades above our minimum entry requirements. If we make you an offer, you will have 3 weeks in which to accept. Any offers not accepted within 3 weeks will be withdrawn so that an offer can be made to another candidate. 

Please find more information in our Application and Selection section .

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y Y N N

Course description

This one year taught postgraduate programme leads to the degree of MSc in Pure Mathematics. The programme is suitable not only for students who wish to improve their background knowledge prior to applying to undertake a PhD by research, but also for students who wish to enhance their knowledge of postgraduate-level abstract mathematics.  The MSc comprises of the taught component, running from the start of the academic year in September until the end of the second semester in late Spring, followed by the dissertation component running from June until September.

During the taught component of the course, you will normally take six units together with a research skills and project unit.  You may choose exclusively pure topics, or a mixture of pure mathematics units and mathematical logic units. In the research skills and project unit you will first complete a mini-project to improve mathematical writing skills, and then undertake a project. The project is normally an expository account of a piece of mathematics and you will write this under the guidance of a supervisor. The taught component comprises of conventional lectures supported by examples classes, project work and independent learning via reading material.

After successfully completing the taught component, you will prepare a dissertation on an advanced topic in pure mathematics or mathematical logic, normally of current or recent research interest, chosen in consultation with your supervisor. 

You can also take the programme part-time, over a period of two years.  There is some flexibility in the precise arrangements for this programme, but you would normally attend two lecture courses each semester for three semesters before commencing work on your dissertation.

Within two weeks from the start of the academic year, students in this programme can opt to change to the Mathematical Logic Pathways leading to the degree of MSc in Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Logic.

Open days

For details of the next University Postgraduate open day, visit open days and visits

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £14,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £30,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

For more information, see the Department of Mathematics Fees and funding  page or visit the University of Manchester  funding for master's courses website for more information.

Contact details

Department
Department of Mathematics
Contact name
Postgraduate Admissions Team
Telephone
+44 (0)161 529 3043
Email
Website
https://www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/
School/Faculty

Our internationally-renowned expertise across the School of Natural Sciences informs research led teaching with strong collaboration across disciplines, unlocking new and exciting fields and translating science into reality.  Our multidisciplinary learning and research activities advance the boundaries of science for the wider benefit of society, inspiring students to promote positive change through educating future leaders in the true fundamentals of science. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

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