Undergraduates

Undergraduates

You are probably already thinking about your career choices after you leave university. This is exciting but can also be nerve-wracking, unless you’re one of the few who have planned their career even before arriving at university. Perhaps you only have a vague idea of what you want to do, or perhaps you have no idea at all, having chosen to take a maths-based degree simply because you were good at, and enjoyed maths at school or college.

Career profiles

Career profiles

What do mathematicians do all day?

iPod shuffle

Do iPods really shuffle?

Switching to shuffle is a great way of changing up your playlist, but a random mix isn't always best.

Golfer swing

One, two, three...fore!

What have golfing and grandfather clocks got in common? It's all in the swing...

One vote

Some maths, one vote

Annoyed that your favourite act didn't win X Factor? Find out why its mathematically impossible to have a fair vote.

Mt Vesuvius

Is it gonna blow?

Volcanic eruptions can destroy entire towns, so learning to predict them is a matter of life and death.

Paralympics silver medal

Running the numbers

Is it fair to let an athlete with carbon fibre limbs compete in the Olympics? Sports scientists use statistics to find out.

Guitar

The harmony of numbers

The maths of music is more than just keeping the beat – it also helps musicians stay in tune!

Online shopping

The encryption factor

Only pure number theory could make a lock safe enough to secure 4.5 billion pounds - a day.

Forest fire

In the line of fire

Fire is a terrifying, destructive force. Studying its complicated dance saves lives and property.

Zombies

The zombies are coming

When the dead rise from their graves, it’s time to call the epidemiologists. Mathematical models give tactics for surviving the unholy onslaught.

Danger mines

Bringing land back to life

Land mine trip-wires are almost invisible, but the Radon Transform picks them out from the background to keep soldiers and civilians safe.

coral

Crochet yourself a universe

Sea slugs, coral, and crochet help explain strange geometrical theories.

Calculus

What's in a maths-based degree?

What degree to take at university is an important decision, and it can be a difficult one. Even if you know that you would like to do something related to maths, you still have to decide exactly what kind of degree it should be.

Teacher

What do maths and stats graduates do?

Some degrees are very vocational and train you in a particular skill or trade that you need to pursue a particular career.

Finding a job

Finding a job

Leaving university and starting work may seem like a daunting prospect, but it is also a time of excitement and challenge.