BSc Mathematics and Business

This is a four-year programme.

In your first two years, you will study mathematics and business courses, with the potential to study additional outside subjects.

At this stage, the mathematics courses are compulsory. This allows you to develop as a well-rounded mathematician and widens your options for specialisation later on. You have more choices in your business-related course selections.

From Year 3 onwards, you will just study mathematics and business only. Your time will be split evenly across the two subjects. This is where you can begin to specialise and pursue areas of interest, while still taking some core compulsory courses.

Please note: the courses below may be subject to change.

Year 1

You will take a number of compulsory mathematics courses. These have previously included:

• Introduction to Linear Algebra
• Calculus and its Applications
• Proofs and Problem Solving

These are common to all mathematics programmes and will take up half of your timetable. They build on your knowledge of pure mathematics in a formal way and introduce you to the ways of mathematical thinking required at university level.

You will also take two compulsory business courses:

• Global Challenges for Business
• The Business of Edinburgh

These courses will introduce key concepts of management and business, including:

• strategy
• finance
• marketing
• people management

Outside and optional courses

The rest of your time will be spent studying outside courses or optional courses from the Business School or the School of Mathematics, such as Introduction to Data Science.

You will have the opportunity to study a number of optional courses from within the Business School (subject to availability and timetabling constraints).

Some students also take our online mathematics course, Fundamentals of Algebra and Calculus. This introductory course provides extra preparation in key topics from advanced high school-level mathematics and supports your transition to university.

Year 2

In Year 2, you will spend between half and two-thirds of your time on mathematics.

You will take a number of compulsory mathematics courses. They will extend your knowledge of calculus, probability and analysis and introduce you to the abstract ideas of group theory. They also cover topics in statistics and applied mathematics. Compulsory courses have previously included:

• Fundamentals of Pure Mathematics
• Several Variable Calculus and Differential Equations
• Statistics
• Computing and Numerics
• Facets of Mathematics
• Probability

You can choose two optional courses from the Business School in a range of disciplines such as:

• finance
• marketing
• innovation and entrepreneurship
• organisation studies
• international business
• business analytics
• understanding and delivering public services
• human resource management
• business economics
• business simulation

As in Year 1, any remaining time will be spent studying outside courses.

Year 3

From this year onwards, you will focus solely on mathematics and business.

Previous compulsory courses have included:

• Honours Differential Equations
• Strategic Management

You will also study an additional Honours Mathematics course, such as:

• Honours Complex Variables
• Honours Analysis

Each honours course contains a skills component. This enables you to develop valuable employability skills such as:

• programming
• group work
• presentation skills

If you decide to write the Management Honours Dissertation, you will take a compulsory course in Business Research Methods training to help prepare for your dissertation.

These courses provide an excellent grounding and prepare you for the options available later on.

Optional courses

The rest of your time will be spent studying optional mathematics or business courses, and you will have the chance to begin specialising in each subject.

Previous mathematics optional courses have included:

• Financial Mathematics
• Introduction to Number Theory
• Statistical Computing

Optional business courses build on the knowledge and skills you gained in your Year 2, for example:

• global business
• finance
• marketing
• innovation and entrepreneurship
• business economics
• human resource management
• business analytics

Year 4

In Year 4, you will complete a substantial research project in either mathematics or business management. This will account for a third of your final-year grade.

You will also choose from a wide range of courses from each School to create a programme that suits your particular interests and career aspirations. Our course selection is influenced by our School's varied research interests, you will be learning from those at the forefront of their fields.

Mathematics offers a large selection of courses in:

• pure mathematics
• applied mathematics
• statistics
• operational research
• financial mathematics
• mathematical biology
• mathematical education

To find out more about the School of Mathematics' broad ranging research interests, take a look at our Researchers on Record video series.

Researchers on Record | School of Mathematics (YouTube video)

Current course examples include:

• General Topology
• Numerical Ordinary Differential Equations and Applications
• Stochastic Modelling
• Mathematical Education
• Entrepreneurship in the Mathematical Sciences

You will also continue to study courses from the Business School. Current examples include:

• Decision Analytics
• Mathematical Programming in Advanced Analytics
• Management Science and Operations Analytics
• Behavioural Finance and Market Efficiency
• Corporate Finance
• Business Ethics

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2024/25)

Our facilities

The School of Mathematics is based in the James Clerk Maxwell Building at the King's Buildings campus. Your mathematics teaching will take place at the King's Buildings campus throughout your degree.

The Business School is located in a dedicated Business School building in George Square, in the middle of the central campus. Teaching for business courses usually takes place in the Central Area.

It is worth noting that as these two degree subjects are based on different campuses, you will likely need to travel between campuses for classes.

Business facilities

You will have access to:

• specialist business resources in the central Main Library (books, journals, databases)
• student experience and student development support
• teaching labs (and associated software and databases) for specialist business analytics, business research and finance-related courses
• Business School Cafe

Take a virtual tour

You can take a closer look and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Virtual visit

Study abroad

You will have opportunities to study abroad through exchange programmes. Students have recently completed placements in:

• California
• Sydney
• British Columbia

Exchanges are typically taken in Year 3, before returning to Edinburgh to complete Year 4.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Mathematics teaching

Mathematics is taught through a mixture of lectures and workshops.

You will have about 15 hours of teaching each week. However, this varies depending on your year of study and your chosen outside subjects.

Lectures

In Year 1, lectures are usually interactive; lecturers use online voting systems and encourage small-group discussions to improve your understanding of core material.

These lectures are linked to your subject reading, so you will be familiar with the content before you attend.

Lectures in later years follow a more 'traditional' lecturing style but occasionally include the voting system.

Workshops

Lectures are supported by small-group workshops. These sessions give you the opportunity to apply the concepts you have learned in lectures and to develop your understanding. You will work with five to six other students, with a tutor on hand to support you and answer questions.

Support

You will have access to broad-ranging support from within the School of Mathematics, including:

• drop-in Year 1 mathematics support
• option to take part in our peer-assisted learning scheme, MathPALS
• Mathematics Student Services team

Business teaching

Business courses are taught through a combination of:

• lectures
• tutorials
• seminars
• practical exercises
• computer-based learning

In later years, business courses move to a more specialised, seminar-based teaching style, supported by independent study.

The Business School offers a supportive and encouraging environment where you can grow and develop as an independent learner. Our student experience team offers extensive pastoral and professional support and is committed to supporting you on your undergraduate journey.

Year 1 students also have the option of taking part in the peer-assisted learning scheme, BizPALS.

How will I be assessed?

Mathematics assessment

Mathematics courses are mostly assessed through exams.

In your first and second year, these exams are primarily 'open book' exams, where you can use your textbook and notes. This allows you to concentrate on understanding and using the ideas and concepts involved, rather than memorising procedures.

In later years, there is a mixture of open and closed-book exams, depending on the course.

Most mathematics courses have regular assessments throughout the year, both written and online, so you can get feedback on your progress. These typically count for a small part of your course grade.

Later in the degree, there are some courses available which are entirely assessed by coursework, usually in the form of reports, posters, projects or presentations.

Business assessment

Some of the assessment methods you may experience in the Business School are:

• blogs (written and/or video)
• business plan and/or feasibility analysis
• case study analysis
• computer-based timed assignments
• consultancy reports
• reflective diaries/journals

• essays

• presentations (face-to-face/video, group and individual)

You may also have different types of exams, such as:

• closed book or opened book

• multiple choice

• oral (group or individual)

• short questions

• seen case study or unseen exam question

• timed submission

The business and finance sectors are popular destinations for our graduates. A joint honours degree also opens the door to a broader set of opportunities.

You will develop skills that are highly sought-after by employers:

• logical and analytic abilities
• programming
• data analysis
• presentation skills
• practical problem-solving

Our graduates

Our graduates are highly valued by employers across the world and graduates of our programmes are highly sought after by a wide range of employers.

Many recent graduates have been employed by large firms in the financial sector. Others have gone into fields including:

• software engineering
• logistics
• education
• civil service
• charity work
• the health service

Further study is also a popular option. You can progress from this programme into masters or PhD level study in mathematics, or apply your mathematical training to postgraduate study in another subject.

We regularly invite alumni back to share their experiences and showcase the range of careers available to you.

Enhance your CV

Within the School of Mathematics, you will have many opportunities to develop your skills and enhance your CV. For example:

• Become a Student Ambassador and enthuse prospective students.
• Work with the wider community as a member of the Mathematics Outreach Team.
• Apply for a project scholarship to work with a University lecturer during the summer.

You will also be able to access the School’s weekly employability events including:

• presentations from industry employers
• alumni careers showcases
• useful workshops to help you prepare for applying to internships, jobs and further study

During your time as a student in the Business School and following graduation, the Careers Service will help you fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.

Careers Service

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: A*AA - A*AB in one set of exams.
• IB: 38 points with 766 at HL - 34 points with 765 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: A*AB.
• IB: 32 points with 765 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: Mathematics at A. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. Advanced Higher Mathematics is recommended. Your Mathematics qualifications must have been achieved no more than two academic years prior to entry. National 5s: English at C.
• A Levels: Mathematics at A*. Your Mathematics qualifications must have been achieved no more than two academic years prior to entry. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 7. Your Mathematics qualifications must have been achieved no more than two academic years prior to entry. SL: English at 5.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies..

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component.*

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

English language requirements

(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)

Selection

We normally make offers to the highest qualified applicants. If competition for places is high this may mean that offers will only be made to applicants who are predicted, or who have achieved, above the single set of grades or the upper grade level in a range. Any conditional offer made may require you to achieve grades above the upper grade level. Therefore, achieving the top of our standard entry requirements does not guarantee a place on the relevant degree.

Please apply for only one degree in the School of Mathematics as we are only able to consider one application to this subject area. You will have the opportunity to switch between programmes in later years provided the required courses have been passed.

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for BSc Mathematics and Business

Additional costs

You should expect to buy the necessary textbooks for some components of your programme.

If studying abroad in Year 3 is an option, your costs will vary depending on the country/partner university. Additional costs may include:

• insurance
• visa requirements
• accommodation
• internet access
• travel

In Year 4, you may decide to complete a Management Honours Dissertation and, depending on the field of study you choose, there may be costs associated with:

• undertaking surveys
• travel
• conducting interviews

Details of student living costs

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

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