Mathematics

Studying mathematics opens up careers in a range of sectors such as IT, finance, engineering, space science and teaching

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Academic researcher
• Acoustic consultant
• Actuary
• Astronomer
• Data analyst
• Data scientist
• Investment analyst
• Operational researcher
• Private tutor
• Research scientist (maths)
• Secondary school teacher
• Software engineer
• Statistician

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Business analyst
• Chartered accountant
• Chartered certified accountant
• Economist
• Financial manager
• Financial trader
• Game designer
• Insurance underwriter
• Machine learning engineer
• Management consultant
• Meteorologist
• Palaeontologist
• Quantity surveyor
• Radiation protection practitioner
• Software tester
• Sound engineer

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

It's important to get some work experience to show employers that you can use your mathematical knowledge practically in the work place.

You can do this by applying for work placements or summer internships in an area of work you're interested in. There may also be opportunities to take a year out during your degree or to work with academic staff on a research project as part of a summer internship.

These types of opportunity will provide you with practical experience and help you to build up a network of contacts. It will also help you decide whether you would enjoy the role.

Placements are available in areas such as:

• banking
• the Civil Service
• computing
• consulting
• financial services
• retail.

You could also do a final-year project or a dissertation in an area of maths you're interested in pursuing as a career.

Whatever role you apply for, having previous work experience will help your application stand out. Think about career areas you may be interested in and try to match up some relevant experience.

For example, if you want to train as a teacher once you've completed your degree, try to get some classroom experience or work within a play scheme or sports club. You can also look for opportunities within banks, IT teams or engineering companies.

You can also look at getting student membership with the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA). This gives you access to events, careers advice, research updates and the potential to make contacts with future employers.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Mathematicians and statisticians are in demand across a range of sectors and employment opportunities are commonly found in:

• education
• engineering
• finance, banking and accountancy firms
• government - local, central and agencies
• insurance companies
• IT, business consultancy and operational research companies
• market research and marketing companies
• medicine and health - including private pharmaceutical companies and the NHS
• petroleum and nuclear industries
• publicly-funded research institutes
• space science and astronomy.

Find information on employers in accountancy, banking and finance, business, consulting and management, information technology and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Studying a maths degree develops skills in:

• designing and conducting observational and experimental studies
• investigating, analysing and interpreting data, finding patterns and drawing conclusions
• information technology
• approaching problems in an analytical and rigorous way, formulating theories and applying them to solve problems
• dealing with abstract concepts
• presenting mathematical arguments and conclusions with accuracy and clarity
• advanced numeracy and analysing large quantities of data
• logical thinking.

These are skills that can be applied in many careers, not just those related to mathematics.

You also develop a range of other skills that all employers expect, including:

• written and verbal communication
• time management and organisational
• attention to detail
• decision-making
• self-management
• teamwork and the ability to work independently.

Further study

Further study is a popular option for mathematics graduates. Postgraduate study at Masters level, for example, can be useful for some maths-related careers such as operational research, medical statistics in pharmaceutical companies, meteorology and engineering design. A PhD may also be helpful for finding work in these areas and is essential for academic careers.

Most finance-related careers and actuarial work require further study during employment to complete professional exams. You'll typically be expected to study in your own time. You'll also need to do further training to become a teacher.

Alternatively, you could study a specific statistics course, such as applied, medical and official statistics, to gain in-depth knowledge of a particular area of statistics.

Postgraduate qualifications are also available in other career areas such as IT or marketing.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in mathematics.

What do mathematics graduates do?

The top jobs for mathematics graduates include programmers and software development professionals (12%), actuaries, economists and statisticians (10%), secondary education teaching professionals (8%), finance and investment analysts and advisers (7%), chartered and certified accountants (7%), IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (5%), data analysts (4%), management consultants and business analysts (3%) and financial administrative occupations (2%).

For a detailed breakdown of what mathematics graduates are doing after graduation, see What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.