BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Finance

A specialist pathway available to BSc (Hons) Mathematics students
Many of our students go on to work in the City of London and other financial centres, including careers in accountancy, actuarial science (modelling risk), quantitative analysis as well as in commercial and merchant banking.
In the financial world, high-level mathematics equips you to understand and model the markets. As well as gaining a thorough mathematical training, our BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Finance degree introduces you to the structure of the financial world through modules in financial institutions and markets, and investment management. These are taught by staff from Plymouth Business School . In a rapidly changing job market, mathematically literate students are equipped with skills that will be useful for life. Our graduates frequently enter accountancy, actuarial work and banking, while others work in industry.

This degree pathway is offered as an option on our flexible BSc (Hons) Mathematics course. 

You will initially be enrolled on BSc (Hons) Mathematics, where you will follow a common first year so you acquire a mastery of the fundamental skills that characterise a mathematician. As your knowledge and understanding deepens, you will be able to follow your interests and, if you wish, transfer to one of our specialist pathways - BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Education or BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Finance. 

How to apply

All application details, entry requirements and fee information can be found on the BSc (Hons) Mathematics course page.
Apply for BSc (Hons) Mathematics via UCAS

Why choose Mathematics with Finance?

Understanding markets

Modern Portfolio Theory postulates the optimal behaviour of individual investors in the presence of multiple assets. Technical trading and Time Series are used for predicting the pricing of financial assets or to quantify your exposure to risk. Master programming in Excel and R – extremely desirable skills in the financial sector – and learn to use Bloomberg Professional Service to monitor and analyse financial data in real time.

Communicate

You gain strong communication skills through presentations and small group tutorials.
Recent final-year project topics include modelling asset returns both analytically and numerically, conducting sentiment analysis on stock markets based on Twitter’s data and selecting optimal financial portfolios.
You will become a creative and analytical problem solver, able to discuss technical results with non-specialists. These are skills that are highly sought after by employers.
Martin Burdett, BSc (Hons) Mathematics With Finance

Key features
  • The degree includes high level mathematical and statistical techniques, with financial applications ranging from accountancy to financial markets and investment management.
  • You will be taught by staff with expertise in financial mathematics and statistics from both the Centre for Mathematical Sciences and Plymouth Business School. Financial statistics is lectured by someone who has worked for a hedge fund.
  • Enjoy new facilities – state of the art lecture theatres, computer laboratories, study and social spaces – in our £50 million teaching and research building that opened in 2023 .
  • Benefit from being part of the close-knit, collaborative and supportive family that is Mathematical Sciences at Plymouth. This includes small group tutorials, study space next to staff offices, our lecturers’ open-door policy, student-led learning sessions and the Maths Society.
  • Model and simulate financial products with Bloomberg Professional service and the statistical programming language, R. These skills are valued by financial employers.
  • An optional but strongly recommended placement between the second and final years gives you excellent career prospects. Recent placement providers include Vauxhall Motors (finance division) and reinsurance giant Swiss Re.

Year 1

Learn the underlying mathematics that underpins the rest of your degree and master coding in the industrial software Python, right from the start. You’ll begin by building on the mathematical skills and topics you learnt at school, studying six core modules including calculus, linear algebra, numerical methods, pure mathematics, and probability. We’ve structured the curriculum so that all of our students acquire a common mathematical expertise, so you’ll also have the flexibility to move between courses as you progress.

Core modules:

  • Mathematical Reasoning
  • Calculus
  • Linear Algebra
  • Analysis and Group Theory
  • Probability
  • Numerical Methods
  • Stage 1 mathematics placement preparation
See BSc (Hons) Mathematics course page for full module listings

Year 2

In Year 2, you'll study a range of modules including vector calculus, differential equations and Monte Carlo methods where random sampling is used to solve numerical problems. You'll also examine financial markets, institutions, and instruments including interest rates, exchange rates, forward rates, options, swaps and hedging with derivative securities. The second year also provides you with skills in operational research, the mathematical techniques underlying management and decision making.

Core modules:
  • Advanced Calculus
  • Statistical Inference and Regression
  • Financial Institutions and Markets
  • Differential Equations
  • Operational Research
  • Complex Analysis and Vector Calculus
  • Stage 2 mathematics placement preparation
See BSc (Hons) Mathematics course page for full module listings

Optional placement year

An optional but highly recommended placement in Year 3 provides you with valuable paid professional experience and helps make your CV stand out. Recent placement providers include Vauxhall Motors (finance division) and reinsurance giant Swiss Re.

Further information about mathematics student placements

Final year

In your final year you'll study financial institutions as well as stochastic calculus and time series both of which underlie the modelling of financial markets. You’ll choose from a range of modules including mathematical statistics and non-linear systems. Deepen your expertise with optional modules covering topics including partial differential equations, time series and optimisation techniques. You can also undertake a final year project on a topic of personal interest. Recent projects have included the Black-Scholes model and simulations of derivative pricing.

Core modules:
  • Financial Statistics
  • Investment Management
  • Partial Differential Equations
  • Project or placement
  • Optimisation, Networks and Graph

Optional modules such an individual project, statistical data modelling or big data analytics, also give you expertise useful in finance.

See BSc (Hons) Mathematics course page for full module listings

Featured modules

Featured Module: Financial Statistics
Financial Statistics

This module mainly considers two important practical applications: the development of financial trading strategies for single assets and the development of portfolio management strategies for multiple assets.
Maths featured module - ordinary differential equations
Differential equations

Did you know that the differential equation which describes the change in price of stock market options is, in disguise, the same equation that describes how heat diffuses through materials?
Maths featured module mathematical reasoning
Mathematical reasoning

Understand how your credit-card details are kept secure when you shop online and the amazing maths behind it.
Featured module: Data modelling centered
Statistical data modelling

Recent coursework in this module has involved fitting models to COVID-19 cases, comparing engine performance under different environmental conditions, and using historic data to assess how life expectancy has increased over time.
Abstract network connection background. getty
Electrodynamics and Relativity

Electrodynamics describes the classical theory of electric and magnetic fields and how they interact with electric charges. It is one of the four fundamental interactions of Nature.
Featured module: Operational research and Monte Carlo Methods
Operational research

In this module you will work on an open-ended case study inspired by real-life problems and developed in cooperation with companies such as Babcock International.

People

  • Lecturer in Applied Mathematics/Theoretical Physics
    Foundation Year Programme Manager
  • Associate Professor of Theoretical Physics
    Final Year Tutor, Otto Hahn Medal winner
  • Lecturer in Mathematics
    Programme Manager, Applied Mathematician
  • Associate Head of School (Resources)
    First Year Tutor, Royal Statistical Society South West Local Group Secretary
  • Associate Professor of Theoretical Physics
    Associate Member CERN theory group
  • Lecturer in Pure Mathematics
    Admissions Tutor for Mathematical Sciences
  • Associate Professor in Mathematics
    Associate Head of School for Mathematical Sciences, Pure Mathematician
  • Head of School and substantive Professor of Mathematics
  • Associate Head of School (UG Education)
    Lead of the Plymouth GPU Research Centre
  • Associate Professor in Theoretical Physics
    Theoretical Physicist, Member User Forum of the UK Central Laser Facility
  • Emeritus Professor
  • Lecturer in Data Science/Statistics
    First Year Tutor
  • Lecturer in Mathematical Sciences
    Applied Mathematician
  • Lecturer in Theoretical Physics
    Mathematical Sciences Employability Lead, Member HPQCD collaboration
  • Lecturer in Mathematics Education
    Senior Personal Tutor, Mathematics Education Lead
  • Associate Professor in Mathematics and Statistics
    Senior Fellow of the HE Academy
  • Visiting Professor
    High Performance Computing Lead, Associate Member CERN theory group

Mathematical sciences degrees

The School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics offers a suite of undergraduate mathematical sciences degrees, including Mathematics with other subjects.There is a great deal off flexibility to transfer between these degrees, allowing you to specialise in the area of your choice, as your knowledge and understanding deepens. Discover which mathematics degree is right for you.

Tailor your degree to suit your interests and career goals

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Build your confidence

Spend your first year acquiring a mastery of the fundamental skills that characterise a mathematician. Modules include calculus, linear algebra, numerical methods and probability.
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Develop your interests

As your knowledge and understanding deepen you may choose to take advantage of the flexibility provided by this course.
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Choose your pathway

Elect to continue along the BSc (hons) Mathematics pathway or select one of our specialist pathways - BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Education or BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Finance.