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.

15 months after graduating

95% of our mathematics and statistics graduates are in work or further study

92% of mathematics and statistics graduates in highly skilled work said their degree was a formal requirement or gave them an advantage*

Mathematics graduates can be found working in just about every industry however those popular with graduates include accountancy, banking, insurance, finance, education, health and other commercial and management careers. There are also rapidly-growing opportunities in the technology sector. Government departments such as the Office for National Statistics as well as the intelligence and security services such as GCHQ and MI5 are also eager to recruit mathematics graduates.

Statistics specialists are highly sought-after in a range of industries, notably pharmaceuticals and health, within the banking and financial sector as well as the Civil Service Office.

Education students attracted to teaching in primary and secondary schools might also be interested in teaching opportunities within further education colleges and adult education. They are also well-suited to educational outreach roles which can be found within Universities, museums (think Science Museum and the Big Bang!) and societies such as the British Science Association, the Institute of Physics and Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. With your love of the subject and ability to convey it to different audiences, you are well-placed to inspire the mathematicians and scientists of the future! Take a look at the TargetJobs Education Alternatives to explore the possibilities.

The Finance sector incorporates Accounting, Banking, Insurance, Investments and Pensions and Tax. The Prospects Accounting, Banking and Finance sector page provides an excellent, digestible overview of this the sector together with potential occupations to consider. Mathematics graduates, with their logical and analytical approach will fit in well but should be prepared for further study towards professional qualifications in areas such as the Accountancy and Actuarial professions.

Theoretical Physics graduates may be interested in research-based roles, developing new ideas and technologies within academia and government research facilities such as DSTL exploring areas as diverse as astronomy, optical engineering, defence, meteorology and nuclear medicine. Within industry, Research and Development teams continue to advance develop new technologies within telecommunications, materials, renewable energy, aerospace and automotive engineering.

Other fascinating possibilities include medical physics, meteorology, optical engineering, environmental consultancy, patenting and air traffic control!

Jobs directly related to your degree include:      

• Accountant
• Actuary
• Clinical Bioinformatics (Health informatics)
• Cryptographer
• Data analyst
• Data Scientist
• Environmental Statistician
• Epidemiologist
• Financial Risk Analyst
• Investment analyst
• Lecturer: higher education
• Lecturer: further and adult education
• Medical Statistician
• Physicist
• Research Scientist (physical sciences)
• Research scientist (mathematics)
• Statistician
• Teacher: Primary
• Teacher (secondary)

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Civil Service fast streamer (Civil Service Graduate Programme)
• Consultant
• STEM (or other) Education Consultant
• Financial manager
• Financial trader
• Insurance underwriter
• investment banker (operations)
• Market Researcher
• Management consultant
• Medical physicist
• Medical Statistian
• Meteorologist
• Operational researcher
• Quantity surveyor
• Social Researcher
• Software tester
• Systems developer
• Transport Planner

Researching your career options  

With such a wide range of careers open to you a Mathematics graduate, it is important to make sure you explore and research your options thoroughly so that you can make informed decisions about your future.  Take a look at the Prospects, TargetJobs and other useful websites for inspiration:

• Prospects
• Target jobs
• ACCA: International Accountancy body
• Association of Teachers of Mathematics
• Civil Service Careers
• Get into Teaching  
• Gradcracker – jobs board dedicated to Science, Technology and Mathematics jobs and internships.
• Health Careers
• Institute of Actuaries
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
• Institute of Mathematics and Applications Careers  
• NHS Scientist Training Programme
• Royal Statistical Society
• Institute of Physics  
• London Mathematical Society
• Plus magazine: news and articles from the world of mathematics
• Women into Science, Engineering and Constructions (WISE) 
• Mathematical Association
• Joint Mathematical Council

Employment Opportunities

When surveyed 15 months after graduation, mathematics graduates across the UK 41% were engaged in employment as business, HR or finance professionals; 12% as Information Technology professionals; 9% classed themselves as education professionals while a further 6% were employed in clerical positions. 25% of graduates were continuing to study at postgraduate level to specialise further or pursue a career in research.

Below is a snapshot of what some of University of Plymouth mathematics graduates told us they were doing 15 months after graduation. For some graduates, these jobs serve as ‘stepping stones’ to other roles by providing relevant workplace experience

• Assistant Manager
• Business Owner
• Dphil Earth Sciences
• Business Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Graduate Analyst - Software Development
• Systems Analyst
• Maths Teacher
• Audit Associate
• Project Manager
• PC Fleet Refresh Technical Assistant
• Data Analyst
• Data Analytics Graduate
• Medicines Data Management Analyst
• Research Analyst
  

Employers

• Babcock International
• Baldwins
• Centerprise International
• Delaware Digital
• FNZ
• Humphrey Davy
• Macdonalds Franchise
• NATS
• OVO Energy
• Oxford University
• Plymouth Community Homes
• RX-Info Ltd
• SPHONIC
• University of Plymouth

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for 38 UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

A large proportion of mathematics graduates continue their studies with Masters and professional qualifications such as teacher training while others embark upon a research career a PhD.

Teaching is popular and an ongoing shortage of mathematics teachers means there are currently attractive financial incentives to train, particularly if you have gained a good academic grade in your first degree. The national Get into Teaching website provides comprehensive information about the financial arrangements as well as teacher training options.

University of Plymouth graduates have gone on to study Artificial Intelligence, Pure Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, Medical Statistics, Quantitative Finance, Risk Analysis, Theoretical and Applied Fluid Dynamics and Operational Research.

The University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options that may be of interest to mathematics graduates:

• PGCE Primary (3-7)
• PGCE Primary (5-11)
• PGCE Secondary (Mathematics)
• PGCE (incorporating the Diploma in Education and Training)
• MSc Autonomous Systems
• MSc Data Science and Business Analytics
• MSc Finance
• MSc International Business
• MPhil/PhD Mathematics and Statistics
• ResM Mathematics and Statistics

You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests, learning style and future career direction. The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a careers consultant about your particular situation.  

Some useful websites to help you find a suitable post-graduate programme;  

• Find a Masters  
• Find a PhD
• Prospects: Postgraduate Study

It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni, find out your funding options here.

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).

Voluntary work is a great way to develop and enhance your professional skills and build confidence. You can also contribute an organisation or area that is important to you and make a real difference to the local community.   The University of Plymouth Students’ Union Volunteering team have excellent links with local organisations and promote opportunities at their Volunteers’ Fair and on their web pages.