Course summary

Prepare for a role in the big data economy. You’ll cover the same essential topics as other maths students, but you’ll get training in a range of statistical techniques. You’ll use the tools and software professional statisticians use. University of Sheffield creates statisticians who can find the patterns in huge datasets, draw conclusions – and think of creative solutions. A Mathematics and Statistics BSc from Sheffield begins with the essentials you’ll need for the rest of your degree – calculus, algebra, modelling, data science and more. As you progress, you’ll add 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. You can also continue to study topics in pure maths, such as group theory and algebra. By your third year, you’ll have the skills, knowledge and experience to go in lots of different directions – and a choice of modules to support whichever path you choose. We’ll train you in how to design experiments and collect data, how statistics are used in clinical trials of new drugs and how data can predict the likely outcome of an event. 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 the finance, technology or big data economy will soon follow. Why study this course?

• Leading maths research - 96% of our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent, according to the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

• Real-world problem solving - 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.

• Everyone is welcome - 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.

• Set up for a successful career - careers and employability skills are built into our maths degree programmes, and major employers like Goldman Sachs, Unilever, and the NHS hire our graduates to solve problems.

• Fully accredited - accredited by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS).