Postgraduate

MSc in Mathematics

On this page

• Description
• Planning your studies
• Career relevance
• Courses
• Learning outcomes
• Credit for previous study elsewhere
• On completion
• Regulations
• How to register

Description

The MSc in Mathematics has been designed for students who want to continue their mathematics studies by delving more deeply into particular aspects of pure and applied mathematics. The courses 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 the MSc by trying our diagnostic quiz.

Calculus of Variations and advanced calculus (M820) is designed as a general introduction to the MSc programme and we recommend that you study this course first. You may take courses in any order, except that you must pass Analytic number theory I (M823) before you can take Analytic number theory II (M829). Dissertation in mathematics (M840) is available only after you have passed at least four other courses in the MSc in Mathematics programme. Note that some M840 topics have prerequisite courses. You should view our Pathways document which will give you guidance about the order of study. Not every course is presented each year.

Because of the demands that courses in the programme will make on you we recommend taking no more than two courses (up to 60 points) at a time. In your first year you are advised to take only one course. We cannot guarantee that the same selection of courses will continue to be available every year.

You must include at least 60 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 180-point masters degree you require:

150 points from the following optional courses:

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses M431, M822, M824, M830, M841, M860, M861

And 30 points from the following compulsory course:

For this 180-point masters degree you require:

If you started your MSc studies before February 2007, 180 points from the following optional courses:

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses M431, M822, M824, M830, M841, M860, M861

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 180 points’ worth of required courses you will be awarded an MSc in Mathematics and entitling you to use the letters MSc (Maths) (Open) after your name. You will have the option of being presented at a degree ceremony.

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
• MSc in Mathematics
• Schedule B to the Award Regulations

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

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