Subject area: Mathematics

Why choose Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh?

We are ranked 4th in the UK for Mathematics in the 2024 Guardian UK University Rankings by Subject, and 5th in the UK in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.
Our teaching fosters interactive engagement that promotes long-term understanding. Teaching is enhanced by technology, including voting systems and online quizzes, and we actively encourage collaborative learning.
Our programmes focus on employability skills. Our Student Development team and University Careers Service give students employability support. This includes presentations from industry employers and alumni career showcases, which demonstrate the range of careers open to mathematics graduates.

We also host regular workshops to help you prepare for applying to internships, jobs and further study.
The School of Mathematics has expertise in a variety of research areas, allowing you to tailor your degree to your area of mathematical interest. To find out more about our research and its applications, take a look at our Researchers on Record video series.

Researchers on Record | School of Mathematics (YouTube video)
Some of our programmes offer the option to start your studies in Year 2 and study an accelerated degree programme. This challenging degree option shortens the length of your degree by a year and you will focus on mathematics from the start, rather than studying a broad range of subjects in Years 1 and 2.

Study abroad

I’ve really enjoyed my time studying maths and statistics at Edinburgh so far. The course content has been both interesting and challenging, but I have felt very supported throughout. I have loved having the opportunity to explore a variety of areas of maths, and I have learnt a lot about different careers and research related to my modules. There is a great atmosphere within the school, and it’s very motivating to have lecturers who are so passionate about what they teach.

Katy Reid BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Statistics, Year 4

Introducing Mathematics

Mathematics is central to everyday life and the way we see the world. It is an intellectual adventure in its own right but can also be useful to:

understand the physical world - from gravitational waves to climate change
find solutions in business and industry

Mathematics at university encourages you to think in an entirely different way. As well as helping you develop a rigorous mindset, it introduces you to new concepts and delves into areas of mathematics you will not have explored at school.

This new way of approaching and analysing complex problems is a particularly valuable skill that applies to many exciting career paths. This makes mathematics graduates extremely employable.

Breadth of study

Our BSc and MA degrees take four years and our MMath degree takes five years to complete.

In Years 1 and 2, you will study courses from other subjects as well as your degree subject(s). These outside courses may be in related areas such as physics or informatics, or from the wide and varied range offered across the University, such as philosophy or languages.

From Year 3 onwards, you will study your degree subject(s) only.

In later years, you can choose classes from a wide range of mathematical disciplines. Our broad-ranging research supports advanced courses in areas such as:

analysis
algebra
geometry
statistics
operational research
finance
data science
mathematical education
mathematical biology

Flexibility

All mathematics students take the same compulsory courses in their early years, and so it is normally possible to switch between programmes belonging to the School of Mathematics in Years 1 and 2.

Second year entry

A selection of our degree programmes offer the option to begin your studies in Year 2 and study an accelerated degree programme.

On these accelerated programmes, your studies will focus on mathematics from the beginning rather than studying a broader range of subjects in Years 1 and 2. You will study Year 2 mathematics courses, plus dedicated accelerated courses which cover the key ideas from Year 1. The accelerated courses will take up most of the time typically allocated to outside subjects.

This challenging option shortens the length of your degree by a year, meaning the BSc degree takes three years instead of four, and the MMath degree takes four years instead of five.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for full-time undergraduates studying in the School of Mathematics. These are offered to students of outstanding ability and cover the duration of their studies, subject to satisfactory academic progress each year.