Maths department degree programmes and year weightings
The mathematics department offers several degree programmes, together with intercalated variants, the weightings of the years across the programme are given in each case
- G100 Mathematics (BSc), years 1, 2 and 3 are weighted 10:30:60 (for 2019 entry only* 0:30:70)
- G103 Mathematics (MMath), years 1, 2, 3 and 4 are weighted 10:20:30:40 (for 2019 entry only* 0:20:35:45)
- GL11 Mathematics and Economics (BSc), 10:40:50 (students transfer to the Economics department for their final year, for 2019 entry only* 0:40:60)
- G1NC Mathematics and Business Studies (BSc), 10:40:50 (students transfer to Warwick Business School for their final year, for 2019 entry only* 0:50:50)
Intercalated variants are as follows. In all cases year 3 is spent abroad. In G107 the 3rd year abroad counts for credit, in all the others it does not.
- G101 Mathematics with Intercalated Year (BSc), 10:30:0:60 (for 2019 entry only* 0:30:0:70)
- G105 Mathematics with Intercalated Year (MMath, Integrated Masters), 10:20:0:30:40 (for 2019 entry only* 0:20:0:35:45)
- G107 Mathematics with Study Abroad (MMath, Integrated Masters), 10:20:20:50 (this was introduced after 2019, and is replacing G106 which is no longer available).
- GL12 Mathematics and Economics with Intercalated Year (BSc), 10:40:0:50 (students transfer to the Economics department for their final year, for 2019 entry only* 0:40:0:60).
*2019 entry only - includes those who entered the University earlier but who studied the first year of a course in 19/20, and whose first year marks were subject to force majeure (i.e. also students who may have had a restart or returned from a temporary withdrawal).
More information about programmes with a year abroad.
G100 Mathematics (and intercalated variant, G101)
The G100 course lasts three years (four years for G101, counting the intercalated year), leading to a BSc for which honours will usually be awarded. Flexibility is the keynote of the mathematics courses. While you remain in the Mathematics Department, you will study a central core of mathematics. To this core you add optional modules in mathematics, other science subjects or in any of the arts or social science subjects taught at Warwick. Within limits, proportions may be varied to suit individual tastes. The Mathematics Department tries to make as many options as possible available to students; as the University has grown, so has the choice, and we intend this to continue. Joint degree courses with a number of other subjects are available. It is also possible to spend a year abroad on the so-called Intercalated Year course.
Roughly speaking, the core consists of several basic modules in modern pure mathematics, some differential equations including their use in modelling a variety of simplified real-life problems and calculus in two and three dimensions. The core comprises approximately 80% of the first year and 55-65% of the second year. More detail on the proportions of core and optional modules allowed in each year can be found in the elsewhere in this section of the handbook (see the menus for G100 in the left hand margin).
The department caters (among others) for students in the following categories:
- Those whose main interest is pure mathematics.
- Those who intend to specialise in applied mathematics.
- Those who want to combine some pure or applied mathematics courses (perhaps as little as 50%) with a selection from a wide area of studies, not necessarily related to mathematics.
If, as you read this, you don't know which category you will fit in, don't worry. You will have plenty of time to decide. We hope to provide you with enough guidance while at Warwick so that you can understand the system and apply it to your own purposes.
G103 Master of Mathematics (and intercalated variants, G105 and G107)
The Master of Mathematics (G103 MMath) course is a 4-year degree course (five years for G105, counting the intercalated year) that was set up following an initiative of the London Mathematical Society. The rationale for the 4-year degree is that there is a national need for more graduates in mathematics with a qualification higher than that provided by a 3-year degree, and comparable with the 4- or 5-year first degree courses common in Europe. The MMath has become the standard route to follow for students interested in studying for a PhD degree.
The first two years of the degree are in common with those of the BSc course although more mathematics is required in Year 2. The MMath course replaces Year 3 of the BSc with two years of more substantial and specialised mathematics.
You may enrol in the MMath course through UCAS. In addition, students on the BSc course may apply to transfer to the MMath any time during their first two years. If you are at all interested in transferring to the MMath course, you are strongly encouraged to apply before starting Year 2. Transfer from the MMath to the 3 year BSc course is straightforward before the end of Year 2, and is permitted during Year 3, Terms 1 and 2.
MMath students with adequate language skills may be allowed to replace the third year of the MMath degree by an equivalent year of study at an overseas university (see information on G107 MMath with Study Abroad).
An MMath student whose Year 3 performance falls below a certain threshold (see G103 Year 3 course specs) can be required to graduate with a BSc by the Exam Board.
Two joint-degree courses are available within Mathematics, both are BSc programmes:
- G1NC Mathematics and Business Studies,
- GL11 Mathematics and Economics.
Students taking such a course will transfer to the other department (Warwick Business School and Economics respectively for the above) in their third year of study. Such a transfer is always subject to the permission of the other department involved, even for students already registered on a joint degree.
G1NC Mathematics and Business Studies
The first two years of G1NC are in common with the Mathematics degree. Permission to transfer to the Warwick Business School at the end of the second year is subject to an interview with the Business School and an overall honours performance in the second year, with at least a second class mark (50%) in an IB coded module given by the Business School. Although only one of these two modules is required for transfer, students who take other Business School modules, notably IB2D9 Finance in Practice, will find the range of available options in Year 3 is improved.
GL11 Mathematics and Economics (and intercalated variant GL12)
This course provides a training in modern economics for students with mathematical aptitude. It allows students to apply their mathematics skills in ways different from the conventional applications to the physical sciences. It can lead on to careers in industry, government, or postgraduate work and academic teaching and research.
For details of the course and modules, students should consult the Economics department handbook.
Students are considered by the Economics second year exam board and then transfer to the Department of Economics for their third year. For further information look at the Economics handbook, noting in particular that third-year GL11 students are not permitted to overcat, and are not allowed to take any first year modules as unusual.
Transferring between courses in the Mathematics Department
Every undergraduate student in the Mathematics Department is registered on one of the degree courses: Mathematics, MMath, Mathematics and Business Studies (Year 1 or 2) or Mathematics and Economics (Year 1 or 2), or one of these with Intercalated Year.
To change your registration between Maths Department degree programmes, contact the Taught Programmes Office, Room B0.02, if you satisfy the regulations for the maths degree programme you with to transfer to, they can initiate the transfer for you or follow the links on eVision. Do this by June or at any rate July to take effect in October. If you wish to change your registration during a year the paperwork must normally be completed by Week 2 of Term 2.
If you are registered for a joint degree you must still complete this process when the time comes to change to the other department (between the end of year 2 and the start of year 3 in the case of GL11 and G1NC).
All transfers are subject to the permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. It is not an automatic right. You should also make sure that you have obtained advice on any financial or visa implications of transferring where appropriate.
For more details see Course transfers
Aims of the BSc and MMath Courses
All our courses aim to
- attract well-qualified students;
- provide an intellectually stimulating environment;
- help students develop key intellectual skills;
- provide a challenging education, with flexibility and breadth, in mathematics and its applications;
- produce high quality graduates who are well prepared for the next step of their professional lives, whether this involves further research training or moving directly into a career.
The MMath course aims additionally to
- enable students to study mathematics in greater depth and/or breadth;
The joint BSc courses aim additionally to
- allow students to add a coherent body of specialist knowledge in another discipline to their core mathematical knowledge.
Both degrees are very strong mathematically, and both are extremely well valued by employers. For most careers, doing well in either one is a good basis for a strong application, and many employers do not distinguish between the two. They each have their own advantages. The BSc allows one to take more options other than Mathematics modules. So, for example, one could develop a major second discipline in some depth (such as Statistics or Computing or Physics or spoken languages or many others) or one could add a broad selection of one-off topics from around the university (perhaps a bit of Business Studies together with some Economics and Philosophy) to add a range of different skills and knowledge to your CV. Or of course one could stick to Mathematics modules entirely.
The MMath takes a year longer and so allows one to dive deeper into extremely advanced mathematics. This leaves less room for taking modules outside Mathematics than on the BSc, though it is still possible. So if you are thinking of further study in Mathematics after your degree, or looking at careers in industry that involve mathematical research, or just want to study as much mathematics as possible, then the MMath is a good option.
It is easy to switch between the two courses in the first year (and even in the second), so it doesn’t matter which you pick to start on. There are always highly successful students who graduate on both courses, and all students on both courses take lectures and classes together and can work together on the same mathematical problems.
What Can You Gain From A Mathematics Degree?
The short answer is plenty! Head over to the careers section of this handbook to discover more.
Other mathematical joint degrees (provided by other departments)
GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy (BA or BSc)
For the possibility of transferring to this degree at the end of year 1, students in the first year must take the modules PH136 Logic 1: Introduction to Symbolic Logic (15 CATS) and PH144 Mind and Reality (15 CATS) in addition to core maths modules. Transfers are at the discretion of the Philosophy Department.
G4G1 Discrete Mathematics (BSc)
Students on this degree are members of the Department of Computer Science. In the Discrete Maths course students take a mixture of Mathematics and Computer Science modules. Students interested in transferring to this degree course should contact the Department of Computer Science. Transfers are at the discretion of the Computer Science department.
GF13 Mathematics and Physics (BSc)
The arrangements for this joint degree are different from the others, because it aims to provide approximately 50% Maths and 50% Physics in each year of study. Details of the first year modules can be found on the Physics department website Students wishing to follow this joint degree must initiate a course transfer in the first two weeks of the first year. Transfers are the discretion of the Physics department.
GG14 Mathematics and Statistics (BSc)
This degree programme is run by the Statistics Department. Transfer to this degree is possible after the first or second year, provided that appropriate options in Statistics have been taken, but transfers are at the discretion of the Statistics Department.
See the Statistics Department's handbooks for external students for more details.
Y602 MORSE (BSc)
This degree course in Mathematics, Operations Research, Statistics and Economics is administered by the Statistics Department, with the collaboration of the Departments of Economics, Business Studies and Mathematics. Students interested in transferring to this joint degree should do so in the first two weeks of term 1, year 1. See the Statistics Department's handbooks for external students for more details.
It's worth noting that these year 1 modules may be of interest if you are interested in including some/all of Operational Research, Statistics and Economics in your degree programme, and these modules will open up such options in later years:
- EC106 Introduction to Quantitative Economics (30 CATS, Terms 1-2);
- IB104 Mathematical Programming I (10 CATS, Term 3).
- ST121 Statistical Laboratory (10 CATS, Term 2)
G302 Data Science (BSc)
This programme is also administered by the Statistics department. Students interested in transferring to this joint degree should do so in the first two weeks of term 1, year 1. See the Statistics Department's handbooks for external students for more details.
These year 1 modules may be of interest to maths students who wish to explore Data Science on their degree, they will open up such options in later years.
- ST121 Statistical Laboratory (10 CATS, Term 2)
- MA117 Programming for Scientists (10 CATS, Term 2).