Mathematics and Statistics with Placement Year BSc
2025-26 entryPut your statistics knowledge into practice in the real world, and build up more experience for your CV. Our students have worked in finance roles at major corporations and applied their analysis skills to data science jobs in the civil service as part of their degree.
Key details
- A Levels AAA
Other entry requirements - UCAS code GG13
- 4 years / Full-time
- September start
- Find out the course fee
- Industry placement
Explore this course:
Course description
Why study this course?
96% of our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent, according to the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
Research unanswered questions, from the most abstract research in areas like algebraic geometry and number theory, to the calculations behind animal movements and black holes.
There’s a place at Sheffield for everyone who enjoys mathematics. Find a warm welcome at our active student society (SUMS), regular maths challenges and a dedicated LGBT+ student group for maths students.
Spend a whole year in industry, gaining first-hand experience in applying mathematics and statistics in a real business situation.
Find the patterns in huge datasets, draw conclusions and apply those creative solutions to real industry problems.
A Mathematics and Statistics with Placement Year BSc from Sheffield is where you put your statistics knowledge into practice in the real world – building experience for a career in research, major corporations or in data science.
From the essentials, you’ll build advanced techniques, develop programming skills using Python and R, and learn to present your work as a professional mathematician using LaTeX.
In your second year we’ll show you how to apply your statistics knowledge to increasingly complex problems, through statistical modelling and computer simulations.
Your third year will be your placement year. This is where you get a taste of applied statistics in a finance role, or apply your analysis skills to data science in the civil service. You’ll have plenty of support from your tutors all the way through, and you may come back with the offer of a job when you graduate.
There are also lots of opportunities – including summer research placements – where you can work with our mathematicians to tackle a complex research question. With this degree as your first step, a job in finance, technology or big data economy will soon follow.
Modules
A selection of modules are available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.
Choose a year to see modules for a level of study:
UCAS code: GG13
Years: 2023, 2024
Core modules:
- Mathematics Core
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Mathematics Core covers topics which continue school mathematics and which are used throughout the degree programmes: calculus and linear algebra, developing the framework for higher-dimensional generalisation. This material is central to many topics in subsequent courses. At the same time, small-group tutorials with the Personal Tutor aim to develop core skills, such as mathematical literacy and communication, some employability skills and problem-solving skills.
40 credits - Foundations of Pure Mathematics
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The module aims to give an overview of basic constructions in pure mathematics; starting from the integers, we develop some theory of the integers, introducing theorems, proofs, and abstraction. This leads to the idea of axioms and general algebraic structures, with groups treated as a principal example. The process of constructing the real numbers from the rationals is also considered, as a preparation for “analysis”, the branch of mathematics where the properties of sequences of real numbers and functions of real numbers are considered.
20 credits - Mathematical modelling
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Mathematics is the language of science. By framing a scientific question in mathematical language, it is possible to gain deep insight into the empirical world. This module aims to give students an appreciation of this astonishing phenomenon. It will introduce them to the concept of mathematical modelling via examples from throughout science, which may include biology, physics, environmental sciences, and more. Along the way, a range of mathematical techniques will be learned that tend to appear in empirical applications. These may include (but not necessarily be limited to) difference and differential equations, calculus, and linear algebra.
20 credits - Probability and Data Science
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Probability theory is branch of mathematics concerned with the study of chance phenomena. Data science involves the handling and analysis of data using a variety of tools: statistical inference, machine learning, and graphical methods. The first part of the module introduces probability theory, providing a foundation for further probability and statistics modules, and for the statistical inference methods taught here. Examples are presented from diverse areas, and case studies involving a variety of real data sets are discussed. Data science tools are implemented using the statistical computing language R.
20 credits - Mathematical Investigation Skills
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This module introduces topics which will be useful throughout students’ time as undergraduates and in employment. These skills fall into two categories: computer literacy and presentation skills. One aim of this module is to develop programming skills within Python to perform mathematical investigations. Students will also meet the typesetting package LaTeX, the web design language HTML, and Excel for spreadsheets. These will be used for making investigations, and preparing reports and presentations into mathematical topics.
20 credits
In your second year, you’ll continue to build a powerful toolbox of mathematical techniques. You’ll also learn how to apply your statistics knowledge to increasingly complex problems through statistical modelling and computer simulations. There are optional modules on topics including algebra, mechanics and fluids.
Core modules:
- Mathematics Core II
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Building on Level 1 Mathematics Core, Mathematics Core II will focus on foundational skills and knowledge for both higher mathematics and your future life as a highly skilled, analytically-astute worker. Mathematical content will focus on topics that are vital for all areas of the mathematical sciences (pure, applied, statistics), such as vector calculus and linear algebra. This will help develop your analytic and problem solving skills. Alongside this, you will continue to develop employability skills, building on Level 1 Core. Finally, there will be opportunities to learn and reflect on social, ethical, and historical aspects of mathematics, which will enrich your understanding of the importance of mathematics in the modern world.
30 credits - Stochastic Modelling
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Many things about life are unpredictable. Consequently, it often makes sense to incorporate some randomness in mathematical models of natural and physical processes. Such models are called 'stochastic models' and are the study object of this module. We will learn about a number of general models for processes where the state of a system is fluctuating randomly over time. Examples might include the length of a queue, the size of a reproducing population, or the quantity of water in a reservoir. We will cover various techniques for analysis of such models, setting the student up for further study of stochastic processes and probability at levels 3 and 4.
10 credits - Scientific Computing
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The ability to programme is a central skill for any highly-numerate person in the 21st century. This module builds on skills learned at Level 1 in 'Mathematical Investigation Skills' by developing skills in computer programming and independent investigation. You will learn how to solve various mathematical problems in programming languages commonly-used by mathematicians, for example Python. You will learn basic computational and visualisation methods for exploring numerical solutions to equations (including differential equations), and then apply this knowledge to explore the behaviour of example physical systems that these equations might model.
10 credits - Differential equations
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Differential equations are perhaps the most important tool in applied mathematics. They are foundational for modelling all kinds of physical and natural phenomena, including fluids and plasmas, populations of animals or cells, cosmological objects (via relativity), subatomic particles (via quantum mechanics), epidemics, even political and social opinions have been modelled using differential equations. This module will build on the tools learned at Level 1 for analysing differential equations, extending them in a variety of ways. This may include topics such as bifurcation analysis, partial differential equations (which are particularly valuable for modelling things that vary in both space and time), and the effects of boundaries on the dynamics of differential equations. It will provide the foundation for essentially all applied maths modules taught at Levels 3 and 4.
20 credits - Statistical Inference and Modelling
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Statistical inference and modelling are at the heart of data science, a field of rapidly-growing importance in the modern word. This module develops methods for analysing data, and provides a foundation for further study of probability and statistics at higher Levels. You will learn about a range of standard probability distributions beyond those met at Level 1, including multivariate distributions. You will learn about sampling theory and summary statistics, and their relation to data analysis. You will discover how to parametrise various types of statistical model, learn techniques for determining whether one model is 'better' than another for understanding a dataset, and learn how to ascertain how good a statistical model is at explaining trends in data. The software package R will be used throughout.
20 credits
Optional modules:
A student will take a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 30 credits from this group.
- Vector Calculus and Dynamics
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Vector calculus is a fundamental tool for modelling the dynamics of all kinds of objects, both solid and fluid. In this module, you will build on the tools of vector calculus from Mathematics Core II, combining them with tools of differential equations from the L1 Mathematical Modelling module, and applying them to understand the dynamics of physical systems. Possible examples might include liquid, gases, plasmas, and/or planetary motion. The tools developed here will build valuable knowledge for the study of fluid dynamics and other applied mathematics modules at higher levels.
10 credits - Group Theory
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A group is one of the most foundational objects in mathematics. It just consists of a set, together with a way of combining two objects in that set to create another object in an internally-consistent fashion. Familiar examples abound: integers with addition, real numbers with multiplication, symmetries of the square, and so on. In this module, you will learn about formal properties of groups in general, including famous results like the orbit-stabiliser theorem. You will also learn about important foundational examples, such as number, matrices, and symmetries. You will learn how the general framework of groups allows you to prove theorems that pertain to all these examples in one go. This provides a great example of the power and beauty of abstraction, a feature of pure mathematics that underlies the entire module.
10 credits - Mathematics and Statistics in Action
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In this project module, you will investigate one or more case studies of using mathematics and statistics for solving empirical (i.e. 'real world') problems. These case studies will illustrate the process of mathematical and statistical modelling, whereby real-world questions are translated to mathematical and/or statistical questions. Students will see how techniques learned earlier in their degree can be used to explore these problems. There will be a mix of individual and group projects to choose from, and some projects may involve the use of R or Python, but 'MAS116 Mathematical Investigations Skills' is not a prerequisite. Students will be expected to work independently (either individually or in a small group). However, the topic and scope of each piece of project work will be clearly defined by the lecturer in charge of the topic.
10 credits - Analysis and Algebra
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This module will build on the theory built in Level 1 'Foundations of Pure Mathematics', focusing on the twin pillars of analysis and algebra. These are not only fundamental for pure mathematics at higher levels, but provide rigorous theory behind core concepts that are used throughout the mathematical sciences. Whilst to some extent you have been doing analysis and algebra since you were at school, here you will be going much deeper. You will examine why familiar tools, like differentiation and integration, actually work. Familiar objects, such as vectors, differential operators, and matrices, will be unpacked; powerful, formal properties of these objects proved. Ultimately, this rigorous foundation will enable you to extend these tools and concepts to tackle a far greater set of problems than before.
20 credits
Optional modules:
A student will take up to 20 credits from this group.
- Data Driven Computing
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This module is intended to serve as an introduction to machine learning and pattern processing, but with a clear emphasis on applications. The module is themed around the notion of data as a resource; how it is acquired, prepared for analysis and finally how we can learn from it. The module will employ a practical Python-based approach to try and help students develop an intuitive grasp of the sophisticated mathematical ideas that underpin this challenging but fascinating subject.
20 credits - Critical Issues in Teaching
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This module introduces you to key issues and roles involved in being a teacher. It is suitable for those who definitely want to teach and those who have not yet considered teaching as a career. The focus of the module is teaching in England. It covers teaching across the age range, with sessions devoted to early years, primary, secondary and further and higher education. The module also deals with issues such as assessing students' learning, managing challenging behaviour, working with parents and other professionals. By the end of the module you should have a clear idea of what's involved in 'being a teacher'.
20 credits - Understanding the Climate System
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In order to understand global climate change, one first has to understand how the climate system works. This module will give students a strong understanding of the global climate system, focusing on the atmospheres, the oceans, and their interaction. The first part of the module will consider the main characteristics of, and processes behind, climate from the global to the local scale. The second part of the module will examine the physical characteristics of the oceans and their geographical variation, and the role of the oceans in the climate system.
20 credits - Formal Logic
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The course will start by introducing some elementary concepts from set theory; along the way, we will consider some fundamental and philosophically interesting results and forms of argumentation. It will then examine the use of 'trees' as a method for proving the validity of arguments formalised in propositional and first-order logic. It will also show how we may prove a range of fundamental results about the use of trees within those logics, using certain ways of assigning meanings to the sentences of the languages which those logics employ.
20 credits - Religion and the Good Life
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What, if anything, does religion have to do with a well-lived life? For example, does living well require obeying God's commands? Does it require atheism? Are the possibilities for a good life enhanced or only diminished if there is a God, or if Karma is true? Does living well take distinctive virtues like faith, mindfulness, or humility as these have been understood within religious traditions? In this module, we will examine recent philosophical work on questions like these while engaging with a variety of religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Islam, and Judaism.
20 credits - Logic in Computer Science
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This module introduces the foundations of logic in computer science. The first part introduces the syntax and semantics of propositional and predicate logics, natural deduction, and notions such as soundness, completeness and (un)decidability. The second part covers applications in computer science and beyond, such as automated reasoning and decision procedures, modal and temporal logics for the verification of computing systems, and type systems for programming languages.
10 credits - Children and Digital Cultures
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Digital technology has transformed the lives of many, impacting on culture and society. Many young people have quickly seen ways of extending and deepening social networks through their uses of technology, and immersed themselves in Virtual Worlds, Facebook etc and enjoyed browsing on shopping sites. This module examines new technologies and associated social practices impacting on children's lives, considering the nature of new digital practices and how these affect identity, society and culture. Educational implications of new technologies is a developing field of research and students will engage critically with debates within the field alongside examining websites and new practices.
20 credits - Dimensions of Education Policy
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This module looks at key issues in education policy. We will explore the origins and evaluate the success of the comprehensive system; look in detail at the debates surrounding grammar schools, faith schools, Academies and free schools; assess a range of policies designed to tackle education disadvantage; critically explore the politics of teaching and assessment; and reflect more generally on the discourse of choice and diversity that frames current education policy as a whole.
20 credits - Unlocking Past Environmental Changes
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The landscape we live in is a dynamic place and has been in the past as well. Huge changes at a global, regional and local scale have occurred in the last 2.6 million years of the earth's history (Quaternary period). These changes are ongoing with implications for both present and future environments. Methods and techniques to investigate past environmental changes are outlined and illustrated. The module also looks at how environments have responded to past climate changes thereby putting a context for present day climate changes and predicting future changes.
20 credits
This module will help improve your academic writing, study, numeracy and data handling skills. It will also help you to be able to critically evaluate issues and problems as well as think about sustainability. - Digital Storytelling
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The use of digital media to enhance the effectiveness of a narrative is common in the fields of business, entertainment, cultural heritage, education and journalism. The module provides an introduction to the area of digital storytelling including key concepts and technologies involved in creating/using digital content and how to use digital media to tell a story. Students will be taught practical skills such as how to create and use digital media such as images, videos, and sounds, and how to design and create complex multimedia applications using Adobe Animate CC (an industry recognised platform, using HTML and CSS).
20 credits - Using Data for Responsible Decision Making
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In this module, we investigate a broad range of data usage purposes including organisational management, policy-making and service-oriented decisions. It promotes an awareness of power dynamics in data practices and addresses questions like, 'How might we create a positive culture around data use, and influence effective 'data-driven' decision-making?'; 'In what ways are data used to influence decisions, and what are the effects?' It covers methods to improve the transparency of data use, algorithmic fairness, disinformation on the Web, criticality aspects of data literacy and wider societal impact of data science and bias.
20 credits - Political Philosophy Today
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This module will investigate a broad range of contemporary topics and issues in political philosophy. Example topics include the political rights of animals and children, how we should allocate scarce health resources, whether we should ban private education, and the limits of free speech in the workplace. By studying these topics and others, students will gain a broad knowledge of the state of contemporary political philosophy, develop their ability to critically assess and discuss real-world issues, and improve their understanding of how theoretical topics in political philosophy can be applied in practical ways.
20 credits - Theory of Knowledge
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The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to philosophical issues surrounding the knowledge. We will be concerned with the nature and extent of knowledge. How must a believer be related to the world in order to know that something is the case? Can knowledge be analysed in terms of more basic notions? Must our beliefs be structured in a certain way if they are to be knowledge? In considering these questions we will look at various sceptical arguments that suggest that the extent of knowledge is much less than we suppose. And we will look at the various faculties of knowledge: perception, memory, introspection, and testimony.
20 credits - Automata, Computation and Complexity
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This module introduces the theoretical foundations for computing systems: finite state machines, pushdown automata, and Turing machines, along with the formal languages that can be recognised by these machine models.
20 credits
It also deals with the question 'What is computable?' and 'What is efficiently computable?' by showing when problems are computationally hard, and how to find algorithmic solutions to computationally hard problems.
You'll spend your third year on your industry placement. Your placement year is a great way to get experience of real-world mathematics and improve your CV. We'll give you all the support you need to find the right employer.
Core modules:
- Medical Statistics
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This course comprises sections on Clinical Trials and Survival Data Analysis. The special ethical and regulatory constraints involved in experimentation on human subjects mean that Clinical Trials have developed their own distinct methodology. Students will, however, recognise many fundamentals from mainstream statistical theory. The course aims to discuss the ethical issues involved and to introduce the specialist methods required. Prediction of survival times or comparisons of survival patterns between different treatments are examples of paramount importance in medical statistics. The aim of this course is to provide a flavour of the statistical methodology developed specifically for such problems, especially with regard to the handling of censored data (eg patients still alive at the close of the study). Most of the statistical analyses can be implemented in standard statistical packages.
10 credits - Bayesian Statistics
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This module develops the Bayesian approach to statistical inference. The Bayesian method is fundamentally different in philosophy from conventional frequentist/classical inference and is becoming the approach of choice in many fields of applied statistics. This course will cover both the foundations of Bayesian statistics, including subjective probability, inference, and modern computational tools for practical inference problems, specifically Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods and Gibbs sampling. Applied Bayesian methods will be demonstrated in a series of case studies using the software package R.
10 credits - Machine Learning
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Machine learning lies at the interface between computer science and statistics. The aims of machine learning are to develop a set of tools for modelling and understanding complex data sets. It is an area developed recently in parallel between statistics and computer science. With the explosion of 'Big Data', statistical machine learning has become important in many fields, such as marketing, finance and business, as well as in science. The module focuses on the problem of training models to learn from training data to classify new examples of data.
10 credits - Generalised Linear models
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This module introduces the theory and application of generalised linear models. These models can be used to investigate the relationship between some quantity of interest, the 'dependent variable', and one more 'explanatory' variables; how the dependent variable changes as the explanatory variables change. The term 'generalised' refers to the fact that these models can be used for a wide range of different types of dependent variable: continuous, discrete, categorical, ordinal etc. The application of these models is demonstrated using the programming language R.
10 credits - Sampling Theory and Design of Experiments
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The results of sample surveys through opinion polls are commonplace in newspapers and on television. The objective of the Sampling Theory section of the module is to introduce several different methods for obtaining samples from finite populations. Experiments which aim to discover improved conditions are commonplace in industry, agriculture, etc. The purpose of experimental design is to maximise the information on what is of interest with the minimum use of resources. The aim of the Design section is to introduce some of the more important design concepts.
10 credits - Time Series
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Time series are observations made in time, for which the time aspect is potentially important for understanding and use. The course aims to give an introduction to modern methods of time series analysis and forecasting as applied in economics, engineering and the natural, medical and social sciences. The emphasis will be on practical techniques for data analysis, though appropriate stochastic models for time series will be introduced as necessary to give a firm basis for practical modelling. Appropriate computer packages will be used to implement the methods.
10 credits - Skills Development in Mathematics and Statistics
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This module consolidates skills development across a number of areas of the SoMaS curriculum, allowing students choice from a range of application areas in mathematics and statistics. Students will complete a portfolio, comprising a range of outputs from project work, group work, and outputs from digital learning. Possible areas of mathematics include statistical investigations, history of mathematics, mathematical modelling, and sustainability, while the outputs might take the form of written projects, for example. The module will involve considerable independent study, but staff will be available to guide you in your work.
20 credits
Optional modules:
A student will take a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40 credits from this group.
- Topics in Mathematical Biology
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This module focuses on the mathematical modelling of biological phenomena. The emphasis will be on deterministic models based on systems of differential equations. Examples will be drawn from a range of biological topics, which may include the spread of epidemics, predator-prey dynamics, cell biology, medicine, or any other biological phenomenon that requires a mathematical approach to understand. Central to the module will be the dynamic consequences of feedback interactions within biological systems. In cases where explicit solutions are not readily obtainable, techniques that give a qualitative picture of the model dynamics (including numerical simulation) will be used. If you did not take Scientific Computing at Level 2, you may still be able to enrol on this module, but you will need to obtain permission from the module leader first.
10 credits - Introduction to Relativity
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Einstein's theory of relativity is one of the corner stones of our understanding of the universe. This course will introduce some of the ideas of relativity, and the physical consequences of the theory, many of which are highly counter-intuitive. For example, a rapidly moving body will appear to be contracted as seen by an observer at rest. The course will also introduce one of the most famous equations in the whole of mathematics: E=mc^2.
10 credits - Topics in Number Theory
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In this module we study intergers, primes and equations. Topics covered include linear and quadratic congruences, Fermat Little Theorem and Euler's Theorem, the RSA cryptosystem, Quadratic Reciprocity, perfect numbers, continued fractions and others.
10 credits - Metric Spaces
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This unit explores ideas of convergence of iterative processes in the more general framework of metric spaces. A metric space is a set with a distance function which is governed by just three simple rules, from which the entire analysis follows. The course follows on from MAS207 'Continuity and Integration', and adapts some of the ideas from that course to the more general setting. The course ends with the Contraction Mapping Theorem, which guarantees the convergence of quite general processes; there are applications to many other areas of mathematics, such as to the solubility of differential equations.
10 credits - Complex Analysis
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It is natural to use complex numbers in algebra, since these are the numbers we need to provide the roots of all polynomials. In fact, it is equally natural to use complex numbers in analysis, and this course introduces the study of complex-valued functions of a complex variable. Complex analysis is a central area of mathematics. It is both widely applicable and very beautiful, with a strong geometrical flavour. This course will consider some of the key theorems in the subject, weaving together complex derivatives and complex line integrals. There will be a strong emphasis on applications. Anyone taking the course will be expected to know the statements of the theorems and be able to use them correctly to solve problems.
10 credits - Combinatorics
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Combinatorics is the mathematics of selections and combinations. For example, given a collection of sets, when is it possible to choose a different element from each of them? That simple question leads to Hall's Theorem, a far-reaching result with applications to counting and pairing problems throughout mathematics.
10 credits - Game Theory
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The module will give students the opportunity to apply previously acquired mathematical skills to the study of Game Theory and to some of the applications in Economics.
10 credits - Financial Mathematics
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The discovery of the Capital Asset Pricing Model by William Sharpe in the 1960's and the Black-Scholes option pricing formula a decade later mark the beginning of a very fruitful interaction between mathematics and finance. The latter obtained new powerful analytical tools while the former saw its knowledge applied in new and surprising ways. (A key result used in the derivation of the Black-Scholes formula, Ito's Lemma, was first applied to guide missiles to their targets; hence the title 'rocket science' applied to financial mathematics). This course describes the mathematical ideas behind these developments together with their application in modern finance.
10 credits - Probability with Measure
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Probability is a relatively new part of mathematics, first studied rigorously in the early part of 20th century. This module introduces the modern basis for probability theory, coming from the idea of 'measuring' an object by attaching a non-negative number to it. This might refer to its length or volume, but also to the probability of an event happening. We therefore find a close connection between integration and probability theory, drawing upon real analysis. This rigorous theory allows us to study random objects with complex or surprising properties, which can expand our innate intuition for how probability behaves. The precise material covered in this module may vary according to the lecturer's interests.
10 credits - Mathematical modelling of natural systems
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Mathematical modelling enables insight in to a wide range of scientific problems. This module will provide a practical introduction to techniques for modelling natural systems. Students will learn how to construct, analyse and interpret mathematical models, using a combination of differential equations, scientific computing and mathematical reasoning. Students will learn the art of mathematical modelling: translating a scientific problem into a mathematical model, identifying and using appropriate mathematical tools to analyse the model, and finally relating the significance of the mathematical results back to the original problem. Study systems will be drawn from throughout the environmental and life sciences.
10 credits - Operations Research
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Mathematical Programming is the title given to a collection of optimisation algorithms that deal with constrained optimisation problems. Here the problems considered will all involve constraints which are linear, and for which the objective function to be maximised or minimised is also linear. These problems are not continuously differentiable; special algorithms have to be developed. The module considers not only the solution of such problems but also the important area of post-optimality analysis; i.e. given the solution can one answer questions about the effect of small changes in the parameters of the problem (such as values of the cost coefficients)?
10 credits - Quantum Theory
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The development of quantum theory revolutionized both physics and mathematics during the 20th century. The theory has applications in many technological advances, including: lasers, super-conductors, modern medical imaging techniques, transistors and quantum computers. This course introduces the basics of the theory and brings together many aspects of mathematics: for example, probability, matrices and complex numbers. Only first year mechanics is assumed, and other mathematical concepts will be introduced as they are needed.
10 credits - Mathematical Methods
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This course introduces methods which are useful in many areas of mathematics. The emphasis will mainly be on obtaining approximate solutions to problems which involve a small parameter and cannot easily be solved exactly. These problems will include the evaluation of integrals. Examples of possible applications are: oscillating motions with small nonlinear damping, the effect of other planets on the Earth's orbit around the Sun, boundary layers in fluid flows, electrical capacitance of long thin bodies, central limit theorem correction terms for finite sample size.
10 credits - Graph Theory
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A graph is a simple mathematical structure consisting of a collection of points, some pairs of which are joined by lines. Their basic nature means that they can be used to illustrate a wide range of situations. The aim of this course is to investigate the mathematics of these structures and to use them in a wide range of applications.
10 credits - Knots and Surfaces
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The course studies knots, links and surfaces in an elementary way. The key mathematical idea is that of an algebraic invariant: the Jones polynomial for knots, and the Euler characteristic for surfaces. These invariants will be used to classify surfaces, and to give a practical way to place a surface in the classification. Various connections with other sciences will be described.
10 credits - Codes and Cryptography
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The word 'code' is used in two different ways. The ISBN code of a book is designed in such a way that simple errors in recording it will not produce the ISBN of a different book. This is an example of an 'error-correcting code' (more accurately, an error-detecting code). On the other hand, we speak of codes which encrypt information - a topic of vital importance to the transmission of sensitive financial information across the internet. These two ideas, here labelled 'Codes' and 'Cryptography', each depend on elegant pure mathematical ideas: codes on linear algebra and cryptography on number theory. This course explores these topics, including the real-life applications and the mathematics behind them.
10 credits - Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme in Mathematics
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This module provides an opportunity for Level Three students to gain first hand experience of mathematics education through a mentoring scheme with mathematics teachers in local schools. Typically, each student will work with one class for half a day every week for 11 weeks. The classes will vary from key stage 2 to sixth form. Students will be given a range of responsibilities from classroom assistant to the organisation and teaching of self-originated special projects. Only a limited number of places are available and students will be selected on the basis of their commitment and suitability for working in schools.
20 credits - Stochastic Processes and Finance
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A stochastic process is a mathematical model for phenomena unfolding dynamically and unpredictably over time. This module studies two classes of stochastic process particularly relevant to financial phenomena: martingales and diffusions. The module develops the properties of these processes and then explores their use in Finance. A key problem considered is that of the pricing of a financial derivative such as an option giving the right to buy or sell a stock at a particular price at a future time. What is such an option worth now? Martingales and stochastic integration are shown to give powerful solutions to such questions.
20 credits
Optional modules:
A student will take up to 20 credits from this group.
- Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems
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This module examines the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems, from the invasion of the land by plants and animals in the Ordovician (475 million years ago) up to the present day. All of the major events will be covered: the origin of land plants; the invasion of the land by invertebrate animals (worms, insects, etc); the first forests; the origin of amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds; beginnings of phtogeographical differentiation; origin of the flowering plants etc. Throughout the course the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems will be considered in light of: (i) the interrelationships between global change and evolving terrestrial ecosystems; (ii) plant-fungal-animal interactions and coevolution.
10 credits - Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems
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This module highlights the threats to global sustainability, with a particular focus on food production and ecosystem functioning, being caused by human impacts on the environment. The module considers how we have got into the present unsustainable mess: of poor land and natural resource management, under valuing of farmers, life-threatening soil degradation causing flooding, pollution of fresh water and soil insecurity, as well as large numbers of people overconsuming and wasting food whilst others don't have enough. It shows that how we sustainably manage agro-ecosystems now, and in the immediate future, will determine the fate of humanity. Soils are the foundations of terrestrial ecosystems, food and biofuel production, but are amongst the most badly abused and damaged components of the ecosphere. Climate change, agricultural intensification, biofuels and unsustainable use of fertilizers and fossil fuels pose critical threats to global food production and sustainable agro-ecosystems - and their impacts on soil ecosystems are central to these threats. The module considers soil ecosystems function in nature and the lessons that we can then apply to develop more sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management.
10 credits - Text Processing
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This module introduces fundamental concepts and ideas in natural language text processing, covers techniques for handling text corpora, and examines representative systems that require the automated processing of large volumes of text. The course focuses on modern quantitative techniques for text analysis and explores important models for representing and acquiring information from texts. Students should be aware that there are limited places available on this course
10 credits - Speech Processing
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This module aims to demonstrate why computer speech processing is an important and difficult problem, to investigate the representation of speech in the articulatory, acoustic and auditory domains, and to illustrate computational approaches to speech parameter extraction. It examines both the production and perception of speech, taking a multi-disciplinary approach (drawing on linguistics, phonetics, psychoacoustics, etc.). It introduces sufficient digital signal processing (linear systems theory, Fourier transforms) to motivate speech parameter extraction techniques (e.g. pitch and formant tracking). Students should be aware that there are limited places available on this course.
10 credits - History of Astronomy
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The module aims to provide an introduction to the historical development of modern astronomy. After a brief chronological overview and a discussion of the scientific status of astronomy and the philosophy of science in general, the course is divided into a series of thematic topics addressed in roughly chronological order. We will focus on the nature of discovery in astronomy, in particular the interplay between theory and observation, the role of technological advances, and the relationship between astronomy and physics.
10 credits - Human Planet
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This course examines the historical, social, cultural and political dimensions of sustainability, focusing on food production and natural resource management on the land and in the oceans. Students will learn how key historical developments led to sustainability issues, how geopolitics perpetuates these in the modern world, and how an understanding of these issues can help us to develop more sustainable ways to live in future. Learning will be achieved through lectures and videos, independent study and classroom discussion sessions.
10 credits - Topics in Evolutionary Genetics
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This course aims to provide the opportunity for students to develop (i) their knowledge of current leading-edge research areas in evolutionary genetics and (ii) their skills in accessing, interpreting and synthesising the primary scientific literature in this field. This will be achieved by examining three areas of current research activity in evolutionary genetics though detailed analysis of the questions, methods and interpretations in groups of recent publications.
10 credits - Reinforcement Learning
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This module aims to teach students the theory and implementation of reinforcement learning. Topics include: Supervised learning: the backpropagation algorithm (as prerequisite for Deep reinforcement learning). Reinforcement Learning: Temporal Difference Learning (Q learning, SARSA), Deep Reinforcement Learning, Advanced Topics. As well as the material taught in class, students are expected to self-study relevant books and research articles and produce reports in research article styles.
10 credits - Globalising Education
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This module considers the extent to which education might be viewed as a global context with a shared meaning. Moving outwards from the dominant concepts, principles and practices which frame 'our own' national, or regional responses to education, the module explores other possible ways of understanding difference. By examining 'other ways of seeing difference', in unfamiliar contexts, students are able to examine the implications of globalisation for education and explore the opportunities and obstacles for the social justice agendas within a range of cultural settings.
20 credits - Pain, Pleasure, and Emotions
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Affective states like pain, pleasure, and emotions have a profound bearing on the meaning and quality of our lives. Chronic pain can be completely disabling, while insensitivity to pain can be fatal. Analogously, a life without pleasure looks like a life of boredom, but excessive pleasure seeking can disrupt decision-making. In this module, we will explore recent advances in the study of the affective mind, by considering theoretical work in the philosophy of mind as well as empirical research in affective cognitive science. These are some of the problems that we will explore: Why does pain feel bad? What is the relation between pleasure and happiness? Are emotions cognitive states? Are moral judgments based on emotions? Can we know what other people are feeling?
20 credits
Optional modules:
A student will take up to 30 credits (one module) from this group.
- Advanced Topics in Algebra A
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Algebra is a very broad topic, relating many disparate areas of mathematics, from mathematical physics to abstract computer science. It was noticed that the same underlying structures arose in a number of different areas, and this led to the study of the abstract structures. This module studies some of the algebraic structures involved: fields, groups and Galois Theory; rings and commutative algebra, and gives applications to, for example, number theory, roots of polynomials and algebraic geometry.
30 credits - Advanced Topics in Waves and Fluid Dynamics A
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Waves and Fluid Dynamics are cornerstones of Applied Mathematics. Both relate to the flow of fluids, i.e., propagation of information, which include not only gas (e.g., air) and liquid (e.g., water), but also in more complex media (e.g., lubricants and blood), and other materials or even the fourth state of matter: plasma. The scientific principles and mathematical techniques involved in studying these are of inherent interest. Wave motions give rise to well-known class of partial differential equations, and relate to concepts such as standing, progressive, and shock (i.e., nonlinear) waves; we can study these using Fourier series, Laplace transform and the powerful method of characteristics. Viscous fluid flow gives rise to the Navier-Stokes equations. The first semester will cover some of these ideas, while the second will move onto more advanced topics, such as three-dimensional flows, boundary layers, vortex dynamics, or magnetohydrodynamics.
30 credits
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Learning and assessment
Learning
You'll learn through lectures, problems classes, programming classes and research projects.
Assessment
You will be assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the modules you take. This can include quizzes, examinations, presentations, participation in tutorials, projects, coursework and other written work.
Programme specification
This tells you the aims and learning outcomes of this course and how these will be achieved and assessed.
Entry requirements
With Access Sheffield, you could qualify for additional consideration or an alternative offer - find out if you're eligible.
The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
AAA
including Maths
- A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification
- AAB including A in Maths + A in a relevant EPQ; AAB including A in Maths + B in A Level Further Maths
- International Baccalaureate
- 36 with 6 in Higher Level Maths (Analysis and Approaches)
- BTEC Extended Diploma
- D*DD in Engineering with Distinctions in all Maths units
- BTEC Diploma
- DD + A in A Level Maths
- Scottish Highers + 1 Advanced Higher
- AAAAB + A in Maths
- Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels
- A + AA including Maths
- Access to HE Diploma
- Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 39 at Distinction (to include Maths units), and 6 at Merit
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We will give your application additional consideration if you have passed the Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP), STEP 2 or STEP 3, at grade 3 or above. We do not consider STEP results in place of a third A Level
The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
AAB
including Maths
- A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification
- AAB including A in Maths + A in a relevant EPQ; AAB including A in Maths + B in A Level Further Maths
- International Baccalaureate
- 34 with 6 in Higher Level Maths (Analysis and Approaches)
- BTEC Extended Diploma
- DDD in Engineering with Distinctions in all Maths units
- BTEC Diploma
- DD + A in A Level Maths
- Scottish Highers + 1 Advanced Higher
- AAABB + A in Maths
- Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels
- B + AA including Maths
- Access to HE Diploma
- Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction (to include Maths units), and 9 at Merit
-
We will give your application additional consideration if you have passed the Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP), STEP 2 or STEP 3, at grade 3 or above. We do not consider STEP results in place of a third A Level
You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification
Equivalent English language qualifications
Visa and immigration requirements
Other qualifications | UK and EU/international
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.
Graduate careers
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Strong mathematics skills open all kinds of doors for our graduates: from banking, insurance and pensions, to software development at tech companies and encryption services at security agencies. They also work for businesses with vast amounts of data to process and inform new products and services.
Organisations that have hired Sheffield maths graduates include AstraZeneca, BAE Systems, Barclays, Bet365, Dell, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, GSK, HSBC, IBM, Lloyds, PwC, Unilever, the Civil Service and the NHS. Lots of our students also go on to do PhDs at world top 100 universities.
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Research Excellence Framework 2021
The School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences is leading the way with groundbreaking research and innovative teaching. We provide our students with the skills and knowledge to support them in a wide range of careers.
Mathematicians at the University of Sheffield work on a wide range of topics, from the most abstract research in areas like algebraic geometry and number theory, to the calculations behind animal movements and black holes. They’ll guide you through the key concepts and techniques that every mathematician needs to understand and give you a huge range of optional modules to choose from.
We want mathematics and statistics students to feel part of a community. At the heart of this is the Sheffield University Mathematics Society, or SUMS, who organise activities throughout the academic year, from charity fundraisers to nights out. Our students also take part in pizza lectures, rocket engineering projects, international maths challenges, and an LGBT+ support group for maths students.
Mathematics and statistics students are based in the Hicks Building, which has classrooms, lecture theatres, computer rooms and social spaces. It's right next door to the UK’s number one students’ union, down the road from the 24/7 library facilities at the Information Commons and the Diamond, and a short walk from the city centre.
School of Mathematical and Physical SciencesUniversity rankings
Number one in the Russell Group
National Student Survey 2024 (based on aggregate responses)
92 per cent of our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent
Research Excellence Framework 2021
University of the Year and best for Student Life
Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024
Number one Students' Union in the UK
Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
Number one for Students' Union
StudentCrowd 2024 University Awards
A top 20 university targeted by employers
The Graduate Market in 2023, High Fliers report
A top-100 university: 12th in the UK and 98th in the world
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
Student profiles
Fees and funding
Fees
Additional costs
The annual fee for your course includes a number of items in addition to your tuition. If an item or activity is classed as a compulsory element for your course, it will normally be included in your tuition fee. There are also other costs which you may need to consider.
Funding your study
Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a bursary, scholarship or loan to help fund your study and enhance your learning experience.
Use our Student Funding Calculator to work out what you’re eligible for.
Visit
University open days
We host five open days each year, usually in June, July, September, October and November. You can talk to staff and students, tour the campus and see inside the accommodation.
Subject tasters
If you’re considering your post-16 options, our interactive subject tasters are for you. There are a wide range of subjects to choose from and you can attend sessions online or on campus.
Offer holder days
If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.
Campus tours
Our weekly guided tours show you what Sheffield has to offer - both on campus and beyond. You can extend your visit with tours of our city, accommodation or sport facilities.
Apply
The awarding body for this course is the University of Sheffield.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.