Mathematics

Overview

Flexibility: a course that suits you

The Cambridge Mathematics course is often considered to be the most demanding undergraduate Mathematics course available in Britain and, correspondingly, one of the most rewarding.

Two other aspects of the course that our students greatly appreciate are its flexibility and the breadth of subjects offered. The amount of choice increases each year, and after Year 1 the workload isn't fixed, so you can choose the number of options you study to suit your own work pattern. Some students take as many options as they can; others take fewer and study them very thoroughly.

Our Faculty

Since Sir Isaac Newton was Lucasian Professor (1669-96), mathematics teaching and research here have been enhanced by a string of brilliant mathematicians including six Fields Medallists and even a Nobel Prize winner. Most current Faculty members are leading international authorities on their subjects.

Our Faculty is also closely linked with the Isaac Newton Institute, which attracts specialists from all over the world to tackle outstanding problems in the mathematical sciences.

Changing course

About 10 per cent of student change from Mathematics each year. Many of these have taken the Mathematics with Physics option in their first year, with the intention of changing to Physics (Natural Sciences). Over the years, mathematicians have changed successfully to nearly every other subject taught at Cambridge. However, it's not advisable to apply for Mathematics intending to transfer to a subject other than Physics.

Careers

A Cambridge Mathematics degree is versatile and very marketable. The demand for our mathematicians is high in business, commerce and industry, as well as the academic world.

Around 45 per cent of our students go on to further study, while others follow a wide variety of careers. Recent graduates include a metrologist, sports statistician, journalist, and an avionics, radar and communications engineer, as well as teachers, actuaries, accountants, IT specialists, financiers and consultants.