Programming projects gave us a large-scale problem with the freedom to solve it however we saw fit

What made you want to study your course?

After studying Maths and Further Maths as A-Levels, I wanted to expand my knowledge in the field of mathematics in order to find a career in the future that I enjoy and thrive in. Forever challenging myself to improve has been the main driving force behind my personal growth and development, and mathematics has helped me do that throughout my life. That is why I chose to study mathematics at degree level, and I'm extremely happy I did!

What have you enjoyed most about your course so far?

My favourite thing about my course is probably the lecturers. While I obviously really enjoy the content that they teach, I think that the way they teach it is very engaging and concise, and (most importantly for me) they are always keen to clarify parts that are difficult to understand and answer questions within lectures and through the discussion board. This makes my learning feel much more independent as I don't feel intimidated to ask questions or admit that there are things that I don't understand upon first explanation.

What skills have you developed during your course?

I would say that self-motivation, time-management, problem-solving and programming have been the main skills I developed during my course. A lot of this comes down to the programming projects we have done, which gave us a large-scale problem with the freedom to solve it however we saw fit, which was perfect for me as it gave me opportunities to adapt my knowledge from the lectures to create a program that solved the problem.

On top of this, we focus a lot on employability skills, such as analysing job applications, writing CVs and self-reflection which was really helpful for me, since it wasn't previously taught to us and gave me a lot more self confidence about finding a job in the future.

What would you say to a student thinking about studying your course at Sheffield?

If you enjoy challenging yourself and improving yourself and your mathematical skills every day, this course is for you! My main advice would be to not be afraid to ask questions, as the lecturers are lovely and helpful. And, don't worry about feeling like you're falling behind, the content is quite difficult but that is what makes it enjoyable! I am definitely glad that I picked this course and wouldn't even consider studying anything or anywhere else.