What can you do with a mathematics degree?

Your study of mathematics will have developed an enviable set of specialist mathematical skills, complemented by many of the transferable skills that graduate employers tell us that they need, for example:

• the ability to apply investigative and analytical skills to large datasets, identifying patterns and drawing conclusions
• enhanced problem-solving abilities through routinely developing solutions to complex real-world and abstract problems throughout the course
• the ability to visualise complicated physical situations as well as understanding the bigger picture in applied mathematics
• confident in the use of information communication technology including Microsoft Excel for statistical analysis, modelling and optimisation and Microsoft Word to produce professional reports
• conversant with the applications of mathematical software packages such as R and Python
• effective verbal communication skills developed through group projects and regularly delivery oral and poster presentations
• the ability to work collaboratively within a team through regular contribution to group projects and case studies
• refined project and time management developed by organising and planning an academic workload as well as designing, developing and executing independent research projects.

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access our 24/7 online resources.

There is a wide range of support available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized Skills Workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics:

• effective career planning
• job hunting techniques
• finding part-time work
• CVs and interviews
• mastering LinkedIn
• and more.

Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service, however they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn’s alumni tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.

• search LinkedIn for ‘University of Plymouth’
• click on ‘Alumni’
• filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.

For more information about the alumni tool click on LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, click on the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops.

Research has shown that graduates that the three factors which were most important to achieving a positive outcome from your studies are:

• getting work experience whilst at University
• having a career plan on leaving University
• making focused applications while studying.

So the message is to start your career planning early and get work experience.

Start early

You could therefore use your first year to explore different career options and try and different experiences to see what does and doesn’t appeal to you. You will then be a good position to make well-informed decisions in your second year and applying for work experience and preparing yourself to make informed decisions and high quality applications in your final year!

Gain work experience 

While your degree might be considered to be the key to unlocking employment doors it is your work experiences – and associated skills – that will help to push those doors open.

Part-time work will bring in much-needed money during your degree while enhancing your teamwork, time keeping, flexibility and customer service skills as well as increasing your commercial awareness and overall professional attitude.

Placements, be they year -long placement or summer internships can dramatically boost employment prospects; in some cases, placement employers either offer students a graduate role or fast-track them through the recruitment process. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that students who have completed a placement significantly improve their academic performance in their final year leading to higher grades. Well worth thinking about!

Some of the employers that our maths students have secured placements with include;

• BMW (UK) Ltd
• Collins Aerospace
• General Electric Medical Systems Ltd
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
• Home Office
• IQVIA
• Leonardo
• National Air Traffic Services
• Office for National Statistics
• Plymouth Community Homes
• Plymouth Marine Laboratory
• Silhouette Software
• Thames Water Utilities
• Vocalink (a MasterCard company).

All of the mathematics programmes incorporate a placement year and/or work-based learning option and our Placements team will support you with identifying and applying for placements. You can research the opportunities with larger organisations on the specialist STEM careers website, Gradcracker. 

Summer placements are a great short-term option for students to gain a brief insight into an industry and working culture. In 2019, students took up the following summer placements:

• accounts assistant at the local company JP Concrete Products Ltd
• software developer at BAE Systems
• statistician at the University of Maryland, Centre for Environmental Science
• analyst in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), in the Homeland Security and Technical Analysis Team
• data analyst in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).