Explore the research frontier
Year of entry: 2025/26
G102
Y50
4 years full-time
AAA-AAB (full entry requirements)
September 2025 (semester dates)
We designed our four-year MMath degree programme for those who want to follow careers in industry or research.
You'll learn about more topics in depth, and even approach the cutting edge of research in your final year of study.
You can choose to add a year in industry to your course, giving you an opportunity to apply your learning in the real world, and develop skills and experience that will help you secure your first graduate job.
This course is accredited by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA). Successfully completing your degree fulfils part of the educational requirement for chartered status.
100% of departmental research rated the highest 3* and 4* in the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF results (2021)
A productive environment, equipped with blackboards, for individual and group projects, as well as events led by our student-run Maths Society.
according to the Times Higher Education ranking of the Research Excellence Framework (2021)
You'll study a mixture of core and option modules. As you progress through your course you'll have more flexibility to study the topics which interest you.
Option modules are grouped into pathways, which lead to more advanced modules in subsequent years. You don't have to take modules from just one pathway, and in some cases you will need to select from more than one.
The first two years of the BSc Mathematics, BSc Mathematics (with a year abroad) and MMath Mathematics are identical. You can switch between courses after you begin your studies, subject to satisfactory academic progress.
The MMath year in industry usually slots in between your third and fourth year of study, but it could also take place between years two and three. If you don't take a year in industry, you'll continue straight into the final year of your degree
A year working in industry or a research institute gives you the opportunity to develop skills relevant to your degree. You'll put what you've learned so far into practice, and gain experience that will give you a competitive advantage when looking for your first graduate job.
Placements are competitive and applying for one will be like applying for a job. Our placement coordinator will help you find opportunities, but you will be responsible for securing your placement. We will give you advice and support with CVs, cover letters and application forms, and help you practise interview techniques.
You don't need to commit to a year in industry before you begin your studies. You can apply to transfer in your second year, subject to satisfactory academic progress.
We also offer this course with a year abroad.
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.
In Year 1, you'll study a number of core modules which will give you a firm foundation across all areas of mathematics. They provide a platform for specialisation later in the degree.
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:
In Year 2, your time will be shared between core modules, and option modules in two of three possible specialisms.
You'll choose two streams and study both modules in each.
Example modules 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.
During the third year of your degree you'll work on a group project and develop your teamwork skills. Alongside the project, you will choose additional option modules.
The specialisms you choose during your second year will affect which options are open to you. You will take four option modules concerning areas of mathematics which coincide with the Department's research interests, from either the Cross-Stream options or either of the streams you took in Year 2. The precise nature of these modules may change, but the topics currently include:
Cross-stream: Integral Transforms & Complex Methods; Statistical Pattern Recognition; Communicating Mathematics in Education; Cryptography; Operations Research; Numerical Analysis
Pure Mathematics stream: Groups, Actions & Galois Theory; Measure and Integration; Topology; Differential Geometry; Number Theory
Applied Mathematics stream: Mathematical modelling: nonlinearity, uncertainty, & computational methods; Partial Differential Equations; Quantum Theory & Quantum Information; Classical and Biological Fluid Dynamics; Mathematical Ecology, Epidemiology & Evolution; Quantum Mechanics; Electromagnetism & Special Relativity
Statistics and Mathematical Finance stream: Generalised Linear Models; Decision Theory & Bayesian Statistics; Mathematical Finance in Discrete Time; Mathematical Finance in Continuous Time; Multivariate Data Analysis; Time Series
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
The main focus of your final year is your individual project. You'll investigate a mathematical topic independently, and present a clear account of your findings.
You'll also take option modules. Our wide range of choices includes a directed learning module, which gives you the opportunity to explore a topic of your choice, with guidance from a member of staff.
You will study 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.
Pure Mathematics stream:
Applied Mathematics stream:
Statistics and Finance stream:
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.
You'll spend around a quarter of your time in scheduled teaching. You time will be split between large group teaching and smaller classes to focus on specific problems and concepts.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. You'll be introduced to a huge range of new concepts, meaning you'll have to spend time outside of your classes consolidating your knowledge.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 11 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 2-3 hours per week |
| Tutorials | 0-1 hours per week |
| Problem classes | 1 hour per week |
| Practicals | 0-1 hours per week |
| Optional activities | 3 hours |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
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 Department of Mathematics on Campus West. You'll also be taught in a variety of 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.
Your assessments will mainly be examinations and regular coursework. In your final year, you'll do an individual project that combines a final report, poster presentation and short written assignments.
You’ll submit summative work, which counts towards your final degree score, and formative work, which doesn’t count towards your final grade but gives you the chance to practice techniques and identify areas to improve. We’ll provide detailed feedback on the work you submit, supporting you to develop your academic skills.
You need to pass your first year to continue your degree, but your marks won't count towards your final grade; we recognise that students are beginning to develop over the course of their degree.
A degree in mathematics helps you to harness the logic and problem solving skills needed to communicate complex ideas. These skills will be invaluable in whichever career path you choose to take.
Mathematical skills are invaluable in fields with obvious numerical components, but they are also readily transferable. Whatever the sector, mathematicians can help people to construct and analyse arguments, and to make good decisions.
During the course of your degree you'll have the chance to take part in the York Strengths programme which can help build your confidence, support your personal development and prepare you for the job market.
The Department also organizes an annual careers fair tailored specifically to maths students and the employers looking for them. With a flexible choice of modules available, you'll be able to tailor your degree to suit your own career aspirations.
Many careers rely on logic and problem solving. A degree in mathematics helps you harness those skills to communicate complex ideas which is an asset for any career.
Previous graduates have gone on to succeed in a wide range of careers including:
You'll gain a huge range of skills that will help you to succeed no matter what career path you follow:
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels |
|
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 including Mathematics |
| European Baccalaureate | 85% overall, with 85% in Mathematics |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 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 - A 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. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| 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) | 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | 169, with a minimum of 162 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 6, with a minimum of 5 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 126, with a minimum of 116 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 105, minimum 95 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 25/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 444 Main Flight score with 410 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Pass with Merit overall, with Pass in each component |
| PTE Academic | 55, with a minimum of 51 in each component |
| TOEFL | 79 overall, with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing |
| Trinity ISE III | Pass 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.
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