What Are the Best Universities for Maths in the UK?

Maths might seem like the boring subject you've had to endure all through school, but there's a lot more to it than that. A maths degree is very highly regarded by employers, who tend to see it as evidence of many of the qualities they're looking for. Recent figures suggest that only 10% of maths graduates are unemployed, a far better figure than for many subjects. You can increase your chances even further, though, by studying at one of the universities with a high reputation for teaching maths. Here are five of the top ones.

University of Cambridge

It's hardly surprising that Cambridge is right at the top of the pile. Its illustrious history in maths and theoretical physics includes both Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking, and the standard hasn't fallen. You can either concentrate on maths or combine it with physics, with the option of going on to a Masters's degree. As you might expect, though, the requirements are high — you'll need A*A*A, including Maths and preferably Further Maths.

University of Oxford

Although traditionally a little less science-oriented than Cambridge, Oxford is the other top university for maths. Courses are usually purely maths, but there are options to combine it into an Honours Degree. As with Cambridge, you'll need A*A*A, with one A* in Maths. If you've taken Further Maths, an A* is required in that, too.

Imperial College London

Imperial has one of the highest profiles in the country for the sciences, and that includes maths. You have a wide range of options for combining subjects with maths (not necessarily subjects that obviously go with it) and placements can be arranged. You'll need A*A*A, with A* in both Maths and Further Maths. You'll have the best chance if the third subject is either Physics or Chemistry, but this isn't essential.

University of Saint Andrews

The oldest Scottish university, Saint Andrews arranges its courses differently from most English universities — for the first two years of the four-year course, you'll study two or three subjects, and then concentrate on advanced modules of maths for the last two years. The general entry requirement for Saint Andrews can range between ABB and AAA. However, if you have an A* for Maths, it may be possible to get in with lower grades otherwise.

University of Warwick

The highest-rated of the newer universities for maths, Warwick offers a very flexible course that you can largely tailor to your own needs. It's up to you how much you concentrate on maths and what emphasis you put on Modules for physics and computer studies. Ideally, you should have A*A*A, with A* in both Maths and Further Maths, although you may manage to get in with A*AA. You'll also need to pass a STEP exam for entry to Warwick.

As you can see, entry requirements are high to get into the top universities for maths. In practice, you're unlikely to get into any of them without an A* in Maths, at least, so any extra resources to improve your grades are essential.

Before starting your bachelor's or master's at one of the top universities in the country, consider undertaking math lessons to help you prepare for what is to come. Proceeding with advanced math lessons will help to boost your confidence and feel more relax when starting your program. Preparation is key, especially when it comes to math. Preparing for a maths degree is not only about lessons. If you want to make your life easier before starting your program think about your accommodation as well. Believe it or not, student accommodations could be hard to find if you don't think about that on time. There are excellent Student accommodations in Cambridge, Student housings in Warwick, Student accommodations in Oxford, and other universities but you must act on time, in order to find a nice place to live while you study. 

We leave you with the most important thought of all - Prepare for your math future and student life. Register with TutorExtra for free and find a maths tutor to your liking.