Study Mathematics and its Applications and graduate with a university degree

There is a ready market for graduates with a mathematical training, in recognition of both their specific skills and their broad analytical expertise. In particular, there’s an ever-increasing need across professions for graduates who not only have quantitative skills, but also know how to use them – that combination is what this course delivers.

It does so by taking a new approach to teaching mathematics – evident in both our teaching style and our emphasis on real-world applications. For example, you’ll use the mathematics computing laboratories as an integral part of your learning process, making your study as much experimental as theoretical.

Possible careers after this course range from industry (especially the telecoms, financial and biotechnology sectors) to public service (as statisticians and teachers), as well as management and modelling roles in business and consultancy.

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Year 2

A-levels or Advanced Highers ABB to include Mathematics.

General entrance requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Required subjects

Mathematics at Higher (B) or A-level (C), IB Higher Level at 4 or equivalent.
English Standard Grade (2), GCSE (C) or equivalent.
Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).

Year 1

Year 2

You will take Mathematics plus two other subjects in Year 1.

Semesters 1 – 3

Year 1 teaching has been designed to make the transition from school to university as smooth as possible, with the material covered at secondary level reviewed, consolidated and applied before being developed further.

You will take core modules in the following:

• Discrete mathematics: Boolean algebra, networks and logic
• Calculus of one and several variables: differential equations
• Vectors, matrices, complex numbers and their application in geometry and systems theory
• Statistics and probability: exploratory data analysis and hypothesis testing

Semesters 4 – 8

The Mathematics Honours course covers a broad range of skills. You will take advanced modules covering the following key areas:

• Mathematical techniques for solving a wide range of problems
• The theory underlying these mathematical techniques
• Model-building, i.e. converting real-world problems into mathematical form, and how to solve such problems using a computer
• The incorporation of real-world features such as uncertainty into mathematical models

Year 1

• Discrete Mathematics
• Mathematics and its Applications II
• Practical Statistics
  

Year 2

• Mathematics and its Applications II
• Linear Algebra
• One of Optimisation in Theory and Practice or Numerical Analysis
  

Year 3 & 4

Eleven modules from the following:

• Combinatorics
• Algebra and Codes
• Real Analysis
• Complex Analysis
• Optimisation in Theory and Practice
• Numerical Analysis
• Modelling with Differential Equations
• Statistical Inference
• Experimental Design and Mathematical Modelling
• Time Series and Stochastic Processes
• Special Topics
• Special Topics II
• Problem Solving in Mathematics and Statistics
  

Many of the course modules are assessed by means of class tests and an end-of-semester examination. Additional weekly marked assignments are used by tutors and students to monitor progress. In some modules class tests are replaced by projects in which you will solve problems based on real-world data.

Typically, in the final semester you will undertake a challenging project or series of problems under the guidance of a project supervisor.

In addition to Single Honours in Mathematics and its Applications, the subject can be studied in combination with many other subjects.

Mathematics can also be studied as a Bachelor's degree:

(For a Combined Honours degree the higher entrance requirements of the subjects usually apply.)

Computing Science

In the National Student Survey, Mathematics at Stirling consistently, scores well for student satisfaction.

You have the opportunity to study abroad through Stirling's well-established connections with several international universities.

Teaching provision in Mathematics and Statistics has been assessed by the Scottish Funding Council and rated as ‘highly satisfactory’.

The course places an emphasis of real-life motivation for both mathematical and statistical techniques, and provides course on pure and applied mathematics and statistics.

Academic strengths

There is strong and active research group within Mathematics at Stirling with an emphasis on mathematical biology.

The Mathematics and Statistics Group provides a stimulating and supportive learning environment. This gives our students the opportunity to develop mathematically  throughout the period of study.

With its emphasis on applicable mathematics, a degree in Mathematics and its Applications from Stirling provides both the theoretical background and the quantitative skills required for the solution of real-world problems.

Mathematics graduates can be found in many areas of employment: in industry (especially the telecommunications, financial and biotechnology sectors); in public service (as statisticians and teachers); and also in business and consultancy as managers and modellers.

Of particular relevance at Stirling is the growing need for graduates with mathematical skills in the biological and environmental sciences. Stirling has a strong record of research in the application of mathematics to biological problems, for example, the spread of diseases in animals, and offers Combined Honours degrees in the relevant disciplines.