Course summary

Foundation courses A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if: You don’t have the grades for a full degree course You have non-traditional qualifications or experience You’re starting university after some time away from education You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study. Life as a foundation year student During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course. As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support. Why choose this course Providing the ideal preparation for a career in finance, our course offers a broad range of modules across mathematics, statistics, economics and finance. It enables you to develop skills such as creative problem-solving and logical reasoning, which are in great demand in a wide range of sectors. As a mathematics undergraduate at Surrey, you’ll be part of a vibrant and friendly community. You’ll benefit from a personal tutor, small group teaching, and a lively, research-active learning environment. Our course has achieved a 100 per cent rating of overall satisfaction from our mathematics students in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2022. You can also take part in our award-winning Professional Training placements scheme, which prepare students for roles in various sectors. What you will study Our unique course is approximately one-third core statistics, one-third mathematics, and one-third economics and finance. You’ll study topics such as analysis of shares, equities, cash flows and interest rates, and the principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics, while gaining a strong foundation across the fundamentals of mathematics. In Year 1, you will also develop mathematical programming skills using Python, which will be further developed in Year 2, and gain experience with R programming. In Year 3, you can choose from a broad range of optional modules in topics such as derivatives markets, game theory, mathematical theory of data science and Bayesian statistics. Since our world-leading research directly informs our teaching, you’ll also learn from academics who are leading their way in their fields. Customise your course There are plenty of opportunities to expand your learning experience during your degree. You may decide to: Complete a Professional Training placement in industry Spend time studying at a university overseas Get involved in research through a summer internship within the Department of Mathematics.