The cross-section of rationale and belief
Year of entry: 2025/26
GV15
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
AAB (full entry requirements)
September 2025 (semester dates)
For thousands of years, maths and philosophy have occupied the same ground.
From Pythagoras to Bertrand Russell, both disciplines developed in their own ways, but remained naturally related to each other. Our contemporary maths and philosophy degree applies that marriage of logic and analytical reasoning to solve quantifiable problems, to question traditional assumptions and to develop clear and articulate understandings of complex issues.
Our comprehensive tutorial system will support you throughout your degree
University maths is about studying patterns in numbers, geometry and many other abstract concepts. It's also about applying those concepts in practical problem-solving.
Philosophy is not a body of knowledge, but an activity: the activity of seeking a reflective understanding of ourselves and of the natural and social worlds we inhabit. Your maths and philosophy degree will reflect that body of knowledge and range of thinking.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.
You'll establish your base with introductory maths and philosophy classes during your first year.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
After establishing your basic mathematics, you'll take more advanced courses.
You will study two option modules, one per semester. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
These will help you to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills that you'll use in more specialised investigations in your third year.
In your final year, you can choose to take an Extended Independent Project in Maths or Long Dissertation in Philosophy. Alternatively you can take a Short Dissertation in Philosophy.
You will study three or four option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £25,800 |
Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Lectures and seminars are the main mode of teaching in both Mathematics and Philosophy modules. We support these with small group tutorials in the first year and regular assessments throughout the degree. In addition, all modules are supported by online resources available via Moodle, our Virtual Learning Environment.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the departments of Mathematics and Philosophy, both of which are on Campus West. Teaching will take place at various locations across Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
The majority of your maths modules are assessed through examinations. Philosophy modules are assessed mostly through examination and essays.
Our maths and philosophy course not only provides technical and problem-solving skills sought-after by employers, but also the ability to construct a coherent argument and defend it.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB including A in Mathematics |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, M2, including D3 in Mathematics |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% overall, with 85% in Mathematics. |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points overall, including 6 in Mathematics at Higher Level (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations) |
| T levels | We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in Mathematics has been taken. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Advanced Highers - B in Mathematics plus Scottish Highers - BBBB We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | We recognise the value of this qualification although it will not be included as a condition of entry. It may be taken into consideration when you receive your results. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Other English language qualifications | We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates. |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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