Mathematics for Data Science MMath

Course structure

In the first two years, the emphasis is on developing a solid foundation of essential knowledge and techniques in mathematics, together with an appreciation of the subject.

You’ll have the option to do a placement year, putting the knowledge and skills that you have learned at university into practice in the workplace as well as gaining new skills.

In your final two years a number of modules are research based and relate to research interests of our team. You choose option modules that interest you most and in your final year you will undertake a major individual project.

Our mathematics department has SAS Academy status. SAS is one of the largest providers of business analytics software in the world. Academy status gives our students the opportunity to meet SAS customers and their industry partners at careers fairs, to train in skills needed by a wide range of companies and organisations, and to be prepared for SAS certification exams. 

Year 1

You will study areas including: core mathematical principles and techniques, statistics, modelling and mechanics, and basic operational research.

Modules

• Discrete Mathematics

  This module introduces some of the fundamental concepts of discrete mathematics, including mathematical structures. You'll engage with the subject by exploring a set of topics and communicate the results using the language of mathematics.

• Continuous Mathematics

  The module introduces basic mathematical culture and fundamental concepts in continuous mathematics. You'll explore topics including functions of real variable, notion of continuity and limit, differentiation and optimisation, and advanced methods of calculus, and present your results in a clear and appropriate way.

• Linear Algebra and Calculus

  This module introduces abstract concepts of linear algebra and applies them to range of different mathematical problems. Rigorous consideration of elementary examples will allow you to develop your understanding of the general common principles that underlie many real-world applications ranging from solving differential equations to computer graphics.

• Introduction to Statistics

  This module introduces you to statistical and probability concepts and their real-world applications. Software packages such as SPSS and Microsoft Excel will be used to provide you with a grounding in industry appropriate statistical software. You will gain the skills required to apply statistics to real data sets together with the appropriate theory behind the applications.

• Modelling and Mechanics

  This module will develop your understanding of the modelling process in mathematics, and an appreciation of the success of mechanics in modelling the physical world.

• Introduction to Operational Research

  This module provides an introduction to the topic of operational research. The key role of operational research is in the development of models to obtain solutions to practical problems in a variety of contexts. You will analyse classical problems and apply standard operational research techniques.

Year 2

In your second year, you deepen your knowledge of core mathematics and statistics, and study numerical methods, and analysis and algebra. You will also choose additional topics from our option modules.

Modules

• Further Calculus
• Linear Mathematics
• Applied Linear Statistical Models
• Numerical Methods
• Analysis and Algebra

Options*

• Operational Research
• Mathematical Methods for Statistical Practice
• Advanced Mechanics

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placement year

You have the option of a year’s paid placement after your second year where you will spend a year working in a professional environment. It’s a great way to build on the skills you have developed on your course and to gain new ones. Our placements team can help you to find the job for you, and you will also have the support of one of our lecturers while on placement so you keep in touch with university.  

Year 3

Options*

• Mathematical Sciences Project
• Mathematics of Finance
• Mathematics Education: Research and Experience
• Numerical Analysis of Partial Differential Equations
• Historical, Social and Philosophical Perspectives on Maths
• Methods of Machine Learning
• Topics in Abstract Algebra
• Graph Theory and Applications
• Optimisation Methods
• Statistical Modelling
• Time Series and Forecasting
• Stochastic Methods
• Complex Analysis

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year 

In your final year you will undertake an advanced data science project. You also develop your research skills and explore areas that interest you most at a more in-depth level through our option modules.

Module

• Advanced Data Science Project

Options*

• Machine Learning for Artificial Intelligence
• Topics in Actuarial Mathematics
• Logic and Number Systems
• Introduction to Topology
• Partial Differential Equations: Theory and Solutions
• Medical Statistics
• The Analysis of Time Series
• Stochastic Methods and Algorithms
• Topics in Mathematical Physics
• Data Management
• Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery in Data

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Course fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,330 for UK students and £2,100 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

Included in the course fees: access to university facilities, libraries and equipment relevant to your course.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics are listed here.

• You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
• In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.
• Costs of up to £50 are included in the fees for students on engineering courses to pay for materials for their final year projects. On rare occasions where material costs exceed £50, they will need to be paid for by the student.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

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