BSc Mathematics with Financial Mathematics

This very flexible single-honours degree programme is designed for those who are interested in learning about some of the recent applications of mathematics to the financial sector and pursuing a career in this area. It enables you to acquire a working knowledge of models and procedures and modern financial mathematics as it is applied in banks, broker companies and insurance companies as well as in the financial departments of national and international companies. You get good all-round mathematical knowledge together with the ability to experience more specialised results, methods and ideas.

 A core of basic mathematics provides you with the fundamental mathematical knowledge and skills, and the basis for more advanced work later on. The core material is covered in the first three semesters, up to the mid-point of your second year. You develop your capacity to learn and apply mathematical ideas, to understand the significance and power of mathematics, and to acquire a thorough knowledge and understanding of those mathematical topics that any employer would expect of a mathematics graduate. After your first three semesters, you chose your lecture courses from a widening range of options in order that you can pursue whichever areas of mathematics most interest you. You can choose to do a final year project on a mathematical topic supervised by a member of staff.

Apply through UCAS .

This course is now closed to International applicants for 2021 entry.

Where mitigating circumstances have already been taken into account, for example by the relevant Exam Board, we will not be able to make further allowances.

This very flexible single-honours degree programme is designed for those who are interested in learning about some of the recent applications of mathematics to the financial sector and pursuing a career in this area. It enables you to acquire a working knowledge of models and procedures and modern financial mathematics as it is applied in banks, broker companies and insurance companies as well as in the financial departments of national and international companies. You get good all-round mathematical knowledge together with the ability to experience more specialised results, methods and ideas.

 A core of basic mathematics provides you with the fundamental mathematical knowledge and skills, and the basis for more advanced work later on. The core material is covered in the first three semesters, up to the mid-point of your second year. You develop your capacity to learn and apply mathematical ideas, to understand the significance and power of mathematics, and to acquire a thorough knowledge and understanding of those mathematical topics that any employer would expect of a mathematics graduate. After your first three semesters, you chose your lecture courses from a widening range of options in order that you can pursue whichever areas of mathematics most interest you. You can choose to do a final year project on a mathematical topic supervised by a member of staff.

• Small group teaching is a significant part of the first year.
• A wide range of options is available in the third year.
• All undergraduate students have affiliate membership of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
• Students have an opportunity to spend a year on a work based placement. This gives an opportunity to gain invaluable work based experience and learn more about themselves and the workplace so that they are better able to make good choices about a career post-graduation. Many students who have a year placement are taken on by the same employer once they have finished their studies. The placement happens after two years study, with the student returning after their placement year to take their third year here.  Whilst students wanting to take the work based placement are responsible for finding their own placement, they will be supported in this through a special programme set up to help them. This will be done by working closely with dedicated advisers from the Careers Service and support and mentoring within the School. 

At Manchester you will be taught by academic staff who are leading experts in Mathematics in a diverse and inclusive learning environment. Teaching and Learning will be delivered using a variety of methods, including:

• Live lectures and online videos
• Small group tutorial classes
• Computer-based sessions
• PASS sessions and peer mentoring

Some activities will be delivered face-to-face and others online, following a blended learning approach.

Our mathematics degrees offer both in-depth analysis of mathematical concepts and methods as well as applications to many diverse areas such as the motion of fluids, modelling of financial products or modelling epidemics, mostly using differential equations and data analysis.

The first year of the programme consists of compulsory course units which provide the background needed for later courses. During the second year you begin to choose which aspects of mathematics you wish to pursue, and includes a group project on a choice of topics. In Year 3 you have an option of taking an individual project in an area that suits your interests in addition to choosing from a wide range of options. 

Each year builds on your mathematical skills and understanding, giving you the knowledge and confidence towards becoming a graduate mathematician.

A typical week in your first year of study will comprise about 36 hours of activity, of which approximately half will be led by the lecturer, including watching tailor-made videos, and attending tutorials, lectures and review classes, and the remaining half will be independent or self-directed study, including studying the material, reading lecture notes and working through example sheets. 

As you progress through the course an increasing emphasis will be placed on independent study, and this reflects you applying your knowledge and skills in more advanced courses, and in both group and possibly individual projects. You will be supported by staff through all of your independent study, and this transition to being able to work independently is an important attribute of a Mathematics graduate.

PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) and Peer Mentoring

We're proud of our innovative PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) and Peer Mentoring scheme. The PASS scheme provides additional support around the current week's tutorial. It's entirely voluntary and consists of second, third and fourth-year current students helping first years to tackle problems defined by the content of the current tutorial. The emphasis is on showing students how to think about the problems, how to develop problem-solving skills and how to get the most from the educational resources available.

More about blended learning

Some of your activity will be synchronous, where you learn live with your lecturer / peers and can interact as appropriate, helping you get support and feel part of a community. At other times it will be asynchronous, where you access materials like presentations, video content, online discussion boards or collaborative documents in your own time (within a framework provided by your programme).

We believe this blended approach will help each individual study in a way that works best for them and will ensure students receive the best student-experience.

The course is assessed by a variety of methods, each appropriate to the topic being assessed. These methods include coursework exercises, written examinations, online examinations, presentations and practical demonstrations. Some course units (such as the projects) are examined entirely by your submitted work during the semester. You will also have many opportunities to self-assess your progress using online quizzes and tutorial exercises. The class of your degree is normally based on only your last two years' work.

The Department of Mathematics is based in the brand new, purpose built £40 million Alan Turing Building, set at the heart of the University Campus.  Students benefit from extensive facilities for computing and study, relaxation and refreshment, in an attractive, light and comfortable environment.  Computing: The Department of Mathematics has a number of computer clusters that run the standard software as well as powerful mathematical and statistical software, such as Matlab, Minitab and Mathematica.  All our students have free access to email and the internet.  Other larger clusters are available in the University libraries and clusters are situated in most Halls of Residence; most student rooms also have Ethernet connection.  Library: You will have access to the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, one of the largest and best-equipped libraries in the UK.  A special section of this library provides a short loan facility, where you can reliably obtain textbooks that are recommended for particular courses and borrow them on an overnight basis.  The Department of Mathematics also houses a mathematical library of more advanced books and other material used mainly by research students and staff.

The study of Mathematics develops skills and knowledge which are of value in a wide variety of professions. A Mathematics degree is a good preparation for any area of employment requiring people who can think clearly and logically. The main areas of employment are finance, industry, computing (including operational research), management, administration, statistics, teaching (schools and colleges) and postgraduate study.

Many of our graduates have pursued careers in finance in firms including KPMG, Goldman Sachs, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Barclays and Deutsche Bank.

A substantial number of previous graduates have undertaken further programmes of study such as MSc in Maths, Applied Maths, Finance, Business, Management and Computer Science.  Some have gone on to train as teachers.

The Department of Maths puts significant emphasis on careers and holds a number of events throughout the year. These include talks, workshops and networking sessions.

We also host the annual Calculating Careers Fair.  This takes place in early October each year and is attended by a large number of international graduate recruiters.  Previous attendees have included Amazon, Amec, Barclays, BP, BT, Credit Suisse, GCHQ, IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers, RBS, Teach First and Deloitte.  This fair is a great opportunity for students to network with a number of graduate employers early in their academic careers.