Mathematics with a Professional Placement Year

Perhaps you've always been a keen mathematician? Maybe you’re excited by solving problems and puzzles? Or you might want to use your maths skills to expand knowledge in areas as diverse as space travel, software development and complex medicine?

Studying mathematics at Cardiff you’ll develop your knowledge, understanding and skills in the main areas of mathematics. This five-year course provides a broad background in applied mathematics, statistics, computing and operational research. You’ll explore abstract mathematical concepts, logical argument and deductive reasoning, and study the different ways mathematics can be applied to develop problem-solving skills.

The MMath shares the same core as our BSc in Mathematics but enables you to explore your areas of interest in greater depth, through optional modules, specialised year four modules and via a substantial research project.

As you move through the course, you will gain academic independence, moving from small group teaching in your first year through to an optional independent project in your final year.

You would spend your third year in paid work as a mathematician at an organisation in the United Kingdom or Europe. Placements could be in any sector, from industry to government, the pharmaceutical industry or organisations like the Office for National Statistics.

In your final year you will complete a major piece of project work which could include:

a survey of an existing area of mathematical theory not covered in taught modules

an introductory research project

the development of a piece of mathematical software

Our degree schemes are flexible, so in most cases you're free to switch between our mathematics degrees at the end of year one if you decide not to take the placement year or your interests change.