BSc (Hons) Financial Mathematics

"Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, examinations may be replaced by an alternative form of assessment during the academic year 2021/2022. Please refer to the Programme Specification on these pages for further details."

Why choose this course?

Financial Mathematics sits within one of our smaller Departments. That means you’ll get to know your lecturers very well and vice versa. You’ll benefit from an individual approach and tailored care and support where needed. You’ll learn from research-active academics, who are renowned internationally for their contributions to mathematics and mathematical physics. Three members of staff have been working on ‘Strings, Supergravity and Geometry,’ exploring string theory and differential and algebraic geometry. Other projects include researching classical and quantum integrable systems and scattering amplitudes in gauge theories. Aren’t familiar with these terms and theories? Rest assured, very few of our first-year students are. You’ll start at the basics and slowly work your way up to specialise in the areas that interest you most.

You’ll attend lectures as well as workshops and seminars. This way, you can learn from your lecturers as well as your peers. We’ve even set up a Student Proctor Scheme. This means students from higher years will be on hand to help you during and outside of your lessons. You’ll take part in practical computing classes and problem workshops. (That’s ‘problem’ in the mathematical sense, of course.)

Between your second and third year of study, you can take an optional sandwich year. Want to study abroad for a year? We’ve got you. Want to work in the industry for a year? We have a dedicated placements tutor in our school, who will help you find your dream placement. Our students have worked for companies like GlaxoSmithKline (G.S.K), Roche, BAE Systems, and the NHS. And that’s just our UK placements. Many of our students even go on to work at their placement host company after they finish their course.

You’ll study a course that is accredited by The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IGradIMA), the UK professional body for mathematics. Being an accredited university means that you will leave us with the educational requirements for the Chartered Mathematician (C.Math) designation; your first step into gaining this recognition. That means employers know you have a high standard of knowledge, expertise and skill. Thus, making you stand out for all the right reasons.

What's the course about?

In the first year, the B.Sc. (Hons) Financial Mathematics and B.Sc. (Hons) Mathematics courses are exactly the same. So, if you change your mind and want to change, that’s easily done. Your second year is where you start specialising in financial mathematics if you choose this pathway.

In your first year, you’ll learn all the foundations and basics that you need to know. We are aware that our students come from different schools and have followed different programmes. The first year is about making sure that everybody is on the same page. You’ll study linear algebra, basic statistics, and computational modelling. You’ll learn about numbers and sets, the applications of mathematics and financial maths. You’ll also take the first ‘mathematical techniques’ model to set you up with a strong foundation for your second and third year.

In your second year, you’ll take the second module on mathematical techniques. You’ll also work on differential equations, take a module in career planning and development and attend small group tutorials. You’ll study programming, financial markets and portfolio theory. You’ll learn how to analyse portfolios of securities and financial data. In the second half of the module you’ll learn more theories that underlie the financial markets. This year there are also some optional modules for you to choose from. These include algebra, number theory and real analysis. Want to go into teaching? You can even take a module in professional teaching skills to prepare you for a career in education.

Work placement/study abroad option: Between your second and final year, you’ll have the option to study abroad or do a work placement for up to a year. Not only will this give you an amazing experience to talk about but will also give your CV a boost. If you’d rather go straight to your final year, that’s absolutely fine too.

In your final year, you’ll study non-linear optimisation, derivative pricing and investigations in financial mathematics. Most other modules are optional this year, so you can do what you like best. Modules include linear modelling, combinatorics, and advanced levels of algebra and numerical methods. You can even choose to study space dynamics in our labs. Think about atmospheric drag, spacecraft spin and transfer orbits. This year really allows you to hone in on your favourite areas of mathematics. There is also a strong focus on employability and finding a fitting job for when you leave us.

Your main campus is College Lane

This is where the creative arts, science and health-related subjects are based. This means you’ll share the campus with future nurses, scientists, artists and more. You can use the common rooms to relax with friends, work out in the 24-hour gym or have a drink in our on-campus pub or cafes. We also have restaurants for you to eat in or grab something on the go. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.

This course includes the options of:

• Work placement
• Study abroad