It’s a boom time for mathematicians, with an increasing list of careers demanding a high degree of expertise in mathematics, in fields as diverse as medical research, product design, finance and government policy.

The UK’s education institutions have often led the way in developing systems and applications, and UK computer scientists and mathematicians have achieved many advances in integrated circuits, telecommunications, the internet, logic, artificial intelligence, e-science and computer gaming. In this climate, mathematicians– who are naturally great problem-solvers – can help to provide a language for defining systems and phenomena too complex for everyday language.

The ability to deal with complexity is becoming a major goal in many areas of research, from the understanding of cell division to the management of computers. Mathematics is key to this approach, and mathematicians are becoming increasingly important in other disciplines. New computational approaches are needed to deal with complex systems and complexity science, and mathematics has a fundamental role. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has funded two doctoral training centres in complexity science  at the Universities of Bristol and  Warwick, providing opportunities for PhD research this area; the first students started their PhDs in October 2007.  (See the EPSRC website www.epsrc.ac.uk for further details.)

Areas of Specialism
Mathematics –  Pure and Applied
There are a great many areas in which mathematicians can specialise in their postgraduate study. Many institutions offer the study of mathematics in the broad areas of applied, pure and financial, but some may allow students to specialise further into areas such as mathematical modelling. Pure maths modules can cover elements such as basic analysis, partial differential equations and manifolds, while applied might cover topics such as quantum mechanics and theory, general relativity, computational biology and genomics. Financial mathematics courses will be more statistical in approach, and cover topics such as markets and modelling, statistical methods, mathematical programming and econometrics.
Research in applied mathematics can look at specific topics within subjects such as mathematical medicine, mathematical physics, continuum mechanics and applied nonlinear mathematics. Many research projects will be interdisciplinary, reflecting the way maths can be applied to other sciences, such as bioinformatics (the use of computational and mathematical methods for analysing biological information). In pure maths, research is being carried out in number theory and arithmetic geometry, analysis algebra and discrete mathematics.

Statistics and operational research
Taught programmes in statistics and operational research look at how both the theory and application of modern statistics and mathematical modelling techniques can be used to solve problems in practical situations within industry, the public services, commerce and scientific research. According to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), ‘the subject areas of mathematics, statistics and operational research (MSOR) is a very broad grouping of subjects, so broad that it is possible to find within it programmes that have almost nothing in common’. That said, both statistics and operational research are considered mathematical sciences and they are frequently taught within the same department, but with considerable links to the social sciences, geography, population sciences, medicine and engineering.


Study methods
Taught master’s and postgraduate certificate/diploma
Most taught courses develop students’ skills and expertise through a combination of lectures, small group tutorials and practical computing sessions. Project work and the production of a dissertation is normally the requirement of an MSc, where students are expected to demonstrate their ability to structure a clear, concisely reasoned argument and analysis in a specialist area of study.

Research degrees: MPhil and PhD
Provided you can find an appropriate supervisor, you can do a research degree in any topic. See the subject finder in this section to find out which institutions offer research degrees in the area you are most interested in.

Career Choices
Statistician/operational researcher
The principal difference between statisticians and operational researchers is that statisticians are involved in analysing and presenting data, whereas operational researchers (sometimes known as management scientists) will apply this data to look for practical solutions in sectors such as industry, commerce or government.
The Government Statistical Service (GSS) is the largest single employer of statisticians in the UK with more than 1,200 statisticians working in over 30 departments. Every year they recruit a certain number of candidates onto their Fast Stream programme (see www.statistics.gov.uk/recruitment/gss for details). Other large employers may also have graduate training schemes. Candidates with a relevant MSc qualification or PhD will likely be at an advantage, and knowledge of statistical software packages such as SPSS is almost certainly advantageous.
The Royal Statistical Society offers Chartered Statistician (CStat) status  to those who pass certain criteria,  which includes five years’ relevant practical experience.

Actuary
Actuaries use their knowledge of mathematics, statistics, economics and business to assess the risk of a given future event in terms of potential financial loss to whomever they are working for. Using statistical and mathematical models, they can help calculate the rates to charge for insurance policies so that sufficient funds are available to cover liabilities, for example. The traditional areas in which actuaries operate are consultancy, life and general insurance, pensions, and investment. Actuaries are also increasingly moving into other fields, where their honed analytical skills can  be employed.
The Institute of Actuaries in England and Wales and the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland are the two chartered professional bodies for UK actuaries, working closely together across the UK as the Actuarial Profession. There are currently 8,879 Fellows of the Faculty of Actuaries and Institute of Actuaries and a further 8,644 student members. To become a Fellow, applicants must have all the relevant exams or exam module passes (see www.actuaries.org.uk for details) and have completed a learning log showing the skills they have acquired through work over a three year period. The average qualification time is currently five years. Qualified actuaries are expected to undertake continuing professional development throughout their career.

Mathematician
Mathematicians use mathematical theory and techniques in research to find solutions to problems. Many jobs require a high level of mathematical expertise, and mathematicians are widely employed in government, business and finance, with other popular careers including work in the fields of research and design and development.
Mathematicians usually have a good first degree (often at least a 2.1) in mathematics, physics or another subject with a high mathematical content. As advanced mathematical skills are in short supply, there are many opportunities open to those that do have them, but competition can be fierce for specific jobs, so many mathematicians also have a postgraduate qualification. Early work experience also helps.

Find Postgraduate mathematics courses in the UK