Mathematics and Statistics BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
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In today’s competitive world, many types of businesses and organisations are seeking out people who can interpret complex data and explain their findings and the implications simply and effectively. If you like working with numbers, have strong IT skills and enjoy analysing information, a future career as a data analyst or statistician might be right for you.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

UCAS codes

GG13

Start date

September 2023

How to apply
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Available through Clearing

Clearing applications for September 2023 are now closed to international students due to visa and immigration requirements. Check out our January 2024 entry courses.

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Course overview

A degree in Mathematics and Statistics could lead to roles in areas such as education to the environment, finance to forensics, sport technology or transportation.

  • This course combines the study of mathematics and data analysis, helping to prepare you to tackle a huge variety of interesting and engaging problems from business forecasting and simulation to medical statistics and survival analysis.
  • You will aim to develop a range of core graduate skills, much valued by employers, including the ability to think clearly and logically, analyse complicated data sets, solve problems, make recommendations, and communicate technical information in a language everyone can understand.
  • You will have an opportunity for industrial collaboration2. Coventry University has a long tradition of teaching mathematics and statistics with a special emphasis on its applications in practical situations. We have a strong portfolio of previous industrial research collaborations with, for example, the National Energy Laboratory, Calham Centre for Fusion Energy and Alcan.
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Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings
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Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

  • You will be taught by a teaching team which includes active world-renowned researchers in applied mathematics with expertise in complex systems and fluid dynamics, who share their cutting edge research expertise through teaching and supervising projects. (Staff may be subject to change).
  • The teaching team is passionate about and uniquely oriented towards success and wellbeing of their students.
  • You’ll have access to our computing facilities, which enable you to gain experience using mathematical software packages, like R, python, and MATLAB®4.
  • You’ll also receive tailored one-to-one assistance from sigma4, the university’s Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Statistics Support.
  • You will be encouraged and supported to adopt an international perspective with opportunities to conduct Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) activities with students from around the world, participate in field trips overseas or spend a year studying abroad in Europe, America or Australia2.

Accreditation and professional recognition

Accreditation for the degree is being renewed as we are making some changes to our modules1.

What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.

We want your degree to fit around you, so upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first-year courses:

  • Mathematics BSc (Hons)
  • Physics and Mathematics BSc (Hons)

Modules

  • This module provides core calculus for those undertaking degrees in the mathematics area. The primary aims of the module are to consolidate the material covered in the different A levels and equivalent qualifications, and explore some of the advanced concepts needed for an extensive study of mathematics required for the study at level 5 modules.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of the module is two-fold. First, to introduce you to modern algebra by taking what you have learned at high school and placing it in the context of university mathematics. Emphasis will be given to the importance of assumption and proof in mathematics. Second, you will encounter one of the fundamental pillars of modern mathematics - linear algebra. You will see the key result of the basis theorem, as well as explore the one-to-one correspondence between linear maps and matrices over a field. This will be key for other areas of mathematics you will see in your undergraduate degree.

    Compulsory

  • In order to explore mathematics in a practical way, we often have to rely on computational simulations. This module will guide you through the fundamentals of coding - from structure and syntax to algorithms and functional decomposition - to prepare you to construct your own mathematical software solutions.

    Compulsory

  • This module builds a foundation for the study of statistics in future years. It will introduce you to the concepts of probability, random variables and probability distributions. It will also introduce the concepts of estimation and hypothesis testing, and will develop the necessary theory, methods and concepts for statistical analysis of data.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of this module is to introduce Newtonian mechanics and its use, as well as various mathematical modelling tools, with the accent on computational tools, to describe real-world situations. This module will make use of computer software, or/and programming language to help in the visualization and resolution of typical problems. Along with Newtonian mechanics, the module will introduce foundational numerical methods, useful in a variety of practical situations, such as Numerical integration, Matrix Methods for solving systems of linear equations, iterative methods for solving equations, finite differences, Euler-based methods for integration of Newton's 2nd Law problems.

    Compulsory

  • The module consists of a series of problem-solving challenges on mathematics; statistics and physics in order to build up your course identity among fellow students. Students from a course will be encouraged to take projects from the corresponding area. Projects are about coming up with creative mathematical models to solve mathematical or physics challenges, developing problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, as well as presentation skills.

    Compulsory

In the second year you will develop the mathematics and statistics which you started in year one concentrating further on a core of theoretical and applicable mathematics, from linear algebra and further calculus, through ordinary and partial differential equations to real analysis and a block of bespoke modules on statistics.

Modules

  • This module will build on the earlier module, Calculus. We will extend the ideas from year one to dealing with both scalar fields and vector fields, the concepts with wide applications spanning from theory of fluids through meteorology to traffic control, as well as to functions of complex variables that allow for a very elegant and succinct solution of many classical problems of calculus.

    Compulsory

  • This module continues linear algebra and differential equations from the first year with the overlap between the areas emphasised. In both cases, the general goal will be to explore ways in which one can find a ‘suitable basis’ for a given problem. This could include orthonormal bases, bases of eigenvectors or bases of generalised eigenvectors. It will conclude with Singular Value Decomposition which will bring together bits of linear algebra seen over the first two years. The module will also cover second order ODEs (linear, but with non-constant coefficients), systems of first order ODEs, series solutions and self-adjoint operators.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to demonstrate the importance and wide utility of statistical programming. You will develop skills and confidence in writing codes to manipulate and analysis data. The module will be taught through demonstrations and hands-on workshops. You will explore a variety of data sets to practice data entry and manipulation, creation of charts and tables, exploratory data analysis and further statistical analyses.

    Compulsory

  • The module acts as an introduction to the vast fields of Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) and Analytical Mechanics. You will be introduced to standard techniques to solve a range of PDEs. The module also provides key elements relating to variational calculus and focuses on Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms for Analytical Mechanics, which are naturally formulated via PDEs.

    Compulsory

  • By starting with only the basic properties of real numbers, a rigorous approach will be pursued whereby the main results in elementary differential calculus are proven. This will include the fundamental epsilon-delta definition. You will explore sequences, series, continuity and differentiability of functions. This will further look to develop your powers of logical thinking and expand upon the notion of formal definition and rigorous proof seen in first-year algebra. This is a key aspect of modern mathematics and one which takes time and practice to succeed at. In doing so, you will improve your understanding of calculus and become more comfortable in formal proof.

    Compulsory

  • This module will introduce two of the most commonly used statistical techniques, multiple regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The statistical inference concepts of hypothesis testing and estimation will be extended within the statistical modelling framework. Statistical computing environments and packages will be used throughout. The methods taught are used extensively in industry, commerce, government, research and development. This module is particularly relevant for those intending to go on placement year2, for graduate jobs, and for final year statistics projects.

    Compulsory

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time, you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

  • This module2 provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

    Optional

  • This module2 provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

    Optional

Year three aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from year one and two. You will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: number theory and cryptography, statistical methods, and financial mathematics, amongst others.

Modules

  • The module will present to you a foundational treatment of number theory, covering many important practical results such as the Chinese Remainder Theorem and Hensel’s Lemma. You will gain experience performing calculations in modular arithmetic and build on your ability to write rigorous proofs from the second year modules such as Real Analysis. The pure concepts from number theory will then be directly applied to modern problems of cryptography. You will see how these ideas are put into practice, for example in the RSA cryptosystem.

    Compulsory

  • This module builds on the regression techniques introduced in previous years. You will consider Generalised Linear Models, principal components analysis, cluster analysis and graphical Bayesian networks. The module will be set within a range of real-world contexts.

    Compulsory

  • This module represents an introduction to the wide field of machine learning. It will present you with fundamental concepts related to supervised and unsupervised learning methods, for example, linear regression, support vector machines, logistic regression, k nearest neighbour, neural networks, k means and hierarchical clustering techniques. By undertaking the module, you will gain understanding of the concepts behind these methods and be able to analyse the outcomes of applying various machine learning algorithms on a set of data, together with techniques of processing such data and tuning machine learning models.

    Compulsory

  • This module introduces you to several important topics in the areas of advanced statistics. This module is useful if you are interested in a Statistics postgraduate study or in careers involving Statistics or Data Science.

    Compulsory

  • This module forms a major individual study at the honours level in areas related to statistics or applied mathematics. You will take the responsibility of managing such a study through all its stages. The project will build upon your knowledge and skills developed in previous years. It will further develop your skills of enquiry, research and innovation and will enhance your critical and communication skills.

    Compulsory

  • Plus one of two optional modules:

    Financial Mathematics - 20 credits

    The module serves two goals. First, the module introduces you to the main instruments that are traded in the financial markets including their practical uses for investment, hedging and speculation. Second, it equips you with an understanding of mathematical models and solution techniques that are currently used in financial engineering. Practical calculations with financial data illustrate the theory.

    Artificial Neural Networks - 20 credits

    Artificial neural networks represent an important and popular machine learning approach that attempt to model how the human brain works. Neural networks have been successfully used in a wide range of applications including image processing, speech and natural language processing, medical diagnosis, bioinformatics and computational biology, emotion recognition, robotics, control. In this module you will look into the concepts used in neural networks and their application to solving real-world problems.

    Optional

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Throughout the course, great emphasis is placed on practical skills development; some of your time being spent on computer laboratory sessions, which may involve the use of mathematical software to solve mathematical problems. We also run example classes where possible, covering things like going over solutions to exercises.

You will have opportunities to work with staff on real-world problems from industry, commerce, and research groups, as you would in professional practice. This means that you may develop professional skills at the same time as you learn the technical content of your degree. In the past, projects have included forecasting wine sales and undertaking credit risk modelling.

We will encourage you to attend employer presentations organised by the University and we run our own sessions (subject to availability), which have previously covered government research and included some of our past students talking about their job roles and careers2.

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include:

  • On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
  • Group work
  • Self-directed learning
  • Work placement opportunities2.

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12 contact hours per week. Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week of more than 30 hours, depending on the demands of individual modules.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • Formal examinations
  • Phase tests
  • Essays
  • Group work
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Coursework
  • Individual assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

If you have a desire to gain international experience, there are opportunities to spend a year studying abroad. In the past, students have chosen to study Mathematics in St Marcus University in California, University of Malta, Stockholm University in Sweden, also universities in the Netherlands, Germany and Australia. Courses in all these universities have been delivered in English2.

The opportunity for a sandwich placement means we aim to support you in finding an internship and in seeking ways to finance that experience. Past students have gone to work in countries such as Malaysia, Belgium, and Spain.

Entry requirements

Clearing places available on this course

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Additional requirements may apply

Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.

Fees and funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,250 per year Not available
EU £9,250 per year with EU support bursary**
£19,850 per year without EU support bursary**		 Not available
International £19,850 per year Not available

If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Optional international field trips: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU support bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in-line with that of UK students. Students studying a Degree with a Foundation Year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

The School of Computing, Mathematics and Data Science is based in the Engineering and Computing Building, and the attached Beatrice Shilling Building. Both buildings are high-specification learning environments which benefit from extensive social learning facilities, well-appointed laboratories, lecturing facilities and classrooms, facilitating our innovative teaching methods across a diverse suite of undergraduate and postgraduate courses4.

Informal study areas

Informal study areas

You will have plenty of computer access to all the specialist software required for your studies. There are also bookable spaces where students can meet with academics or work in small groups.
 

sigma centre

sigma Centre

The sigma Centre is an award-winning mathematics support centre, which provides a wide range of learning resources in mathematics and statistics. Students can make use of drop-in sessions or one-to-one appointments.

maths laboratory

Mathematics laboratory

Set out like a traditional classroom with a large whiteboard, it is the only teaching room in the Engineering and Computing Building laid out in this way, designed to suit the teaching style required for this subject.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion, you will have knowledge of:

  • The theory and practice of the methods of statistics and their application.
  • The logical construction of a mathematical argument.
  • The application of mathematics to construct models and their resolution, with an appreciation of the validity of the model and the use of approximation.
  • The use a range of analytic and descriptive techniques.
  • The strengths and weaknesses of selected mathematical software and a selected programming or scripting languages and their use to extend capabilities.
  • A range of real-world applications of mathematics.

On successful completion you will be able to: 

  • Understand, reproduce, and generalise logical mathematical reasoning.
  • Organise and interpret information and results from mathematical models.
  • Analyse problems and construct an appropriate formulation and solution with relatively little guidance or support.
  • Use specialist modern information technology packages and a programming language confidently.
  • Use a wide range of information resources to acquire relevant information.

Statisticians work in almost every sphere of life. Upon successful completion, there could be a range of career opportunities in areas such as business analysis, government planning, energy demand forecasting, scientific research, the pharmaceutical industry, medical statistics, market research, system reliability and quality control.

Where our graduates work

Previous mathematics students have worked as Financial Analysts at IBM, Gaming Financial Analysts for Warner Bros, Finance Assistants at Scottish Power, Business Performance Process Analysts at National Grid, Power Analysts at E.ON, and Customer Service Analysts for Cummins.

Further study

You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with the MSc Data science and computational intelligence. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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