Integrated Master in Mathematics: Mathematics
Mathematics at Essex is not what you would expect and has a genuinely broad reach; from exploring the economic impact of the social networks of cows, to the mathematical modelling of brain evolution to improve patient care – our research explores issues of global importance.
Mathematics is the language that underpins the rest of science. Our interdisciplinary research recognises that mathematics, including what can be very abstract mathematics, is an essential part of research in many other disciplines. You therefore can gain an exceptional range of knowledge and skills that are currently in demand in mathematically oriented employment; in business, commerce, industry, government service, education and in the wider economy.
Topics include:
- Pure mathematics, including geometry, algebra, analysis and number theory
- Applied topics such as mathematical physics, cryptography, mathematical modelling, differential equations and dynamical systems
- Statistical, financial and analytical methods such as optimisation and the study of risk
As well as these mathematical topics, your degree will develop your programming skills in languages such as Python and SQL, and you will learn to solve sophisticated problems using computational toolkits such as Matlab, Maple and R.
Our MMath Mathematics course is an Integrated Masters that gives you the chance to fast-track a Masters degree and complete your final-year in nine months compared with a regular MSc which usually takes twelve months. Our course will cover key skills in mathematics with the opportunity to apply theory and methods. Plus, combining your undergraduate and postgraduate study in one degree will give you a strong theoretical background as well as specialist expertise through independent research. This combination makes graduates from our course attractive candidates for many employers.
Professional accreditation
This programme is accredited to meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Mathematician designation awarded by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
- 86% of Essex graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024).
- We’re ranked 25th in UK for mathematics (The Guardian University Guide 2025).
- We are continually broadening the array of expertise in our School, giving you a wide range of options and letting you tailor your degree to your interests.
Our expert staff
As well as being world-class academics, our staff are award-winning teachers. Many of our academics have won national or regional awards for lecturing, and many of them are qualified and accredited teachers – something which is very rare at a university.
Our School is committed to providing you with the academic support you need to succeed. Our flexible policy means some staff are always available, whilst others maintain regular drop-in times. Staff are always happy to arrange appointments for longer discussions, and no issue is too big or too small.
Our innovative research groups are working on a broad range of collaborative areas tackling real-world issues. Here are a few examples:
- Our data scientists carefully consider how not to lie, and how not to get lied to with data. Interpreting data correctly is especially important because much of our data science research is applied directly or indirectly to social policies, including health, care and education.
- We do practical research with financial data (for example, assessing the risk of collapse of the UK's banking system) as well as theoretical research in financial instruments such as insurance policies or asset portfolios.
- We also research how physical processes develop in time and space. Applications of this range from modelling epilepsy to modelling electronic cables.
- Our optimisation experts work out how to do the same job with less resource, or how to do more with the same resource.
- Our pure maths group are currently working on two new funded projects entitled ‘Machine learning for recognising tangled 3D objects' and ‘Searching for gems in the landscape of cyclically presented groups'.
- We also do research into mathematical education and use exciting technologies such as electroencephalography or eye tracking to measure exactly what a learner is feeling. Our research aims to encourage the implementation of ‘the four Cs' of modern education, which are critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
Specialist facilities
- We have a Maths Support Centre, which offers help to students on a range of mathematical problems. Throughout term-time, we can chat through mathematical problems either on a one-to-one or small group basis
- We have a dedicated social and study space for maths students in the School, which is situated in the STEM Centre
- We host regular events and seminars throughout the year
- Our students run a lively Mathematics Society, an active and social group where you can explore your interest in your subject with other students
Your future
Clear thinkers are required in every profession, so the successful mathematician has an extensive choice of potential careers. Mathematics students are in demand from a wide range of employers in a host of occupations, including financial analysis, management, public administration and accountancy. The Council for Mathematical Sciences offers further information on careers in mathematics.
Our recent graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of high-profile companies including:
- KPMG
- British Arab Commercial Bank
- Johal and Company
We also work with our University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.
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