BSc (Hons) Mathematics
The course
- UCAS code
- G100
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Delivery type
- Full-time
Heriot-Watt is a leading university in applying mathematics to solve real-world problems
Contact
Got questions about this programme?
Contact our enquiries team.
Overview
The course covers basic knowledge, combined with recent developments in research. It’s designed to help you develop your advanced mathematical and statistical skills – giving you an understanding of their application to the formulation and solution of real-world problems.
We have carefully created a programme of study that teaches fundamentals of modern mathematics, but also contains courses dedicated to skills, business awareness and careers. These range from giving presentations, researching a topic independently, working in groups on solving problems to writing your CV and practising job interviews. This has resulted in our graduates being highly employable with over 85% in employment or further study after 6 months. Many of our students have recently gone on to work in careers such as: Research Analyst, Financial Analyst, Statistician, Software Developer, etc.
Why Study Mathematics at Heriot-Watt University?
- The Mathematics Department is incredibly proud to be have been awarded a score of 100% in overall student satisfaction with the quality of the course; across all our specialist Mathematics programmes (NSS,2020)
- Mathematics at Heriot-Watt is proud to be ranked 3rd in Scotland (The Complete University Guide 2021). We have excellent ratings for our teaching, and we believe that this is in part because our staff are friendly, approachable and care about our students learning and well-being
- A number of our academics work directly with industry and government agencies. Some of this work can be accessed by students through final year projects. We also offer a degrees with a diploma in industry
- We have fantastic exchange opportunities with universities in Germany, France and Spain. There are further opportunity for student exchange with Waterloo, Canada, available to our undergraduates each year
- Maths students learn computer programming in Python, which is one of the leading programmes used across the global tech industry and in Data Science
Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences
We are part of the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, a joint research institute bringing together within a single body the research activities of :
•The Department of Mathematics at Heriot-Watt University
•The Department of Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics at Heriot-Watt University
•The School of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh
We are part of the Edinburgh Research Partnership in Engineering and Mathematics, alongside the University of Edinburgh, which consists of five joint research institutes and a joint graduate school, in particular the EPSRC and SFC funded MIGSAA CDT.
We work closely with the financial services industry via the Scottish Financial Risk Academy.
International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS)
ICMS is jointly owned by Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, with funding received from EPSRC and the London Mathematical Society. The centre supports research in the mathematical sciences. Its core activity is the development and organisation of international workshops and conferences in all areas of mathematics and these attract leading mathematical scientists from the UK and overseas.
In addition to workshops, ICMS is involved in a number of other mathematical activities such as small group research programmes, postgraduate training, journal management and outreach. Details of current and past projects are available on their ICMS website. ICMS also hosts events organised by other mathematical and related organisations. Their full ICMS calendar lists all workshops, other activities and hosted events.
Maths Café
The Maths Cafe is a peer supported initiative that allows maths students to seek help, ask questions or just chat about maths with their peers. The sessions are organised and guided by peer mentors who are year 3,4 and 5 maths students and meet every Thursday.
You can use the space to:
- get help with difficult tutorial questions and exam revision
- get advice on how to manage your workload and organise lecture material
- form study groups and chat about maths in an informal atmosphere
Bring your coffee or tea and a biscuit and join in the Maths Cafe.
The Maths Cafe and the Maths Gym are very happy to introduce short talks on different mathematical topics aimed at an undergraduate audience. The talks are not just for mathematicians but for anyone with an interest in learning more about maths.
The talks are finished for this academic year but will be back in the first semester of 2021/2022.
If you would like to suggest a topic then please get in touch and we will try our best to accommodate.
The recordings for previous talks can be found on our Maths Gym page.
Industry prize sponsors
A number of organisation kindly award a prize to excelling students each year. Find out more on our Heriot-Watt Industry prize sponsors page.
Global College pathway for this degree
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, have a look at Heriot-Watt Global College, where you can follow an accelerated pathway which will get you onto the second year of this degree.
Go Global
With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way.
You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.
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European Exchange
This Exchange Programme enables you to study or work in Europe as part of your degree programme, usually for a full academic year.
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Non-European Exchange
This Exchange Programme enables you to study outside of Europe as part of your degree programme, usually for a full academic year.
Course content
Year 1
The core material includes algebra, calculus, statistics and problem solving skills. Level 1 has been carefully designed to ease the transition from school to university. You will take the above subjects together with an elective course in each semester.
Year 2
The Level 2 work is consolidated and extended in both pure and applied mathematics. A choice between optional courses in computer science and probability and statistics is available.
Year 3
A combination of core and optional courses develops mathematical skills and knowledge and introduces the ideas used at the forefront of modern mathematics. Subjects include: analysis, abstract algebra, discrete mathematics, numerical analysis, and ordinary differential equations. A project preparation and skills course offers useful transferable skills.
Year 4
Further exploration and specialisation is possible with options related to our research expertise including functional analysis, optimisation, differential geometry, mathematical biology and a choice of other courses in both pure and applied mathematics. A final year project also builds on the Level 3 project preparation course.
More in-depth information on the content of the courses listed above, how they are assessed and the learning outcomes can be accessed via our current student portal.
Discover Uni course data
Discover Uni provides data on each university's degree courses across a range of measures including student satisfaction, graduate jobs and salaries.
Employability
Work and study
This is what our BSc (Hons) Mathematics students are doing 15 months after graduating:
- 55% are working
- 10% are studying
- 25% are working and studying.
Salary
- The average salary of students 15 months after graduating: £27500
- The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course: £27500
Jobs
These are the most common high skilled jobs students go into 15 months after graduating:
- Finance professionals
- Business and public service associate professionals
Entry requirements
Year 1
Standard entry requirements
- Highers ABBBB (including Mathematics at A)
- A-Levels BBB - ABB (including Mathematics at B)
- Int. Baccalaureate 28 points (with Mathematics at Higher Level 5)
- BTEC DDM (including sufficient Mathematics)
Minimum entry requirements*
- Highers BBBC (including Mathematics at B)
- A-Levels BBC (including Mathematics at B)
* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:
- live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
- are care experienced.
We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements
Year 2
- Advanced Highers ABB (including Mathematics at A plus excellent Highers)
- A-Levels ABB (including Mathematics at A)
- Int. Baccalaureate 30 points (with Mathematics at Higher Level 6)
- BTEC DDD (including sufficient Mathematics)
- Global College Successful completion of Bachelors Degree Accelerator Foundation - Mathematical and Computer Science
Additional information
- For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.
- If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
- Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
- To find out about the difference between the 3 and 4 year honours courses, please watch our video to help you decide which route is best for your qualifications and experience so far.
English language requirements
- If English is not your first language, you have to show that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please see our English language requirements.
Fees
| Status* | Scotland | England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland | International** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | Paid by SAAS | £9,250 | £17,320 |
* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.
** 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above). Read more about the application process for EU nationals.
Additional costs
You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.
Scholarships and bursaries
Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:
- Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.