Postgraduate Certificate in Mathematics
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Certificate
- Code
- C90
- Level
- Postgraduate
- Made up of
- 60 credit points
Description
The Postgraduate Certificate in Mathematics is awarded on successful completion of 60 points of postgraduate mathematics study. The certificate is a valuable qualification in itself or it can be the first qualification in a programme of mathematics study leading to a postgraduate diploma or an MSc. The courses offered may well be of interest to mathematically inclined scientists and engineers, as well as to mathematicians.
Planning your studies
Under normal circumstances, you should have a second-class honours degree in mathematics or in a subject with a high mathematical content. Whatever your background, you should assess your suitability for postgraduate study by trying our diagnostic quiz.
As some courses are more advanced than others, you are advised to view our pathways document to obtain guidance about the order of study. Not every course is presented each year. We cannot guarantee that the same selection of courses will continue to be available every year.
You must include at least 20 credit points from OU courses that have not been counted in any other OU qualification you have been awarded.
Career relevance and employability
Mathematics is at the heart of advances in science, engineering and technology, as well as being an indispensable problem-solving and decision-making tool in many other areas of life. It is no surprise therefore that Mathematics postgraduates can be found throughout industry, business and commerce, in the public and private sectors. Employers value the intellectual rigour and reasoning skills that mathematics students can acquire, their familiarity with numerical and symbolic thinking and the analytic approach to problem-solving which is their hallmark.
There are a variety of reasons for studying mathematics at postgraduate level. You may want a postgraduate qualification in order to distinguish yourself from an increasingly large graduate population. You may find, particularly if you are a professional programmer or work in finance, that your undergraduate mathematical knowledge is becoming insufficient for your career requirements, especially if you are hoping to specialise in one of the more mathematical areas, which are becoming more sought after by employers. The extent of opportunities is vast and mathematics postgraduates are equipped with skills and knowledge required for jobs in fields such as finance, education, engineering, science and business, as well as mathematics and mathematical science research.
For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.
Courses
For this postgraduate certificate you require:
60 points from the following optional courses:
| Postgraduate optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses M431, M822, M824, M827, M830 and M841
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On completion
On successful completion of 60 points worth of required courses you will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Mathematics, entitling you to use the letters PG Cert Maths (Open) after your name.
You may continue your studies and add a further 60 points of credit to your certificate to gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics (E23), or a further 120 points will enable you to obtain the MSc in Mathematics (F04).
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
- Introduction to the Award Regulations
- General Award Regulations
- Postgraduate Certificate in Mathematics
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
A postgraduate qualification in Mathematics and Statistics.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
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