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Mathematics and Computer Science MSci

Start date
September
Duration
4 years
UCAS code
GI11
Course Type
Undergraduate, Joint Honours combined
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025/26 are as follows:
£9,535 (UK)
£28,130 (International)
Further fee information

On our MSci Mathematics and Computer Science challenge yourself to study a wide range of subject areas, developing your critical thinking and independent learning skills. Learn how the worlds of mathematics and computer science work seamlessly together as you combine your passion for both subjects.

 

Depending on your interests, you can choose to specialise in areas such as statistics, algebra, robotics and machine learning, all key areas which have a huge impact on our lives today. Your fourth year sees you take on an in-depth research project to explore your chosen area more fully. You'll leave equipped with highly-sought after skills, easily standing out in the competitive job market and ready to confidently take on your chosen career.

Whether you decide to delve into the world of statistics, or explore the exciting developments in robotics and AI, this MSci Mathematics and Computer Science programme will help you learn to apply analytical, statistical, computational and programming skills to formulate and tackle problems. We will support you to think logically, independently and imaginatively, equipping you to make the most of the opportunities ahead.

Mathematicians use computers to solve complex equations, analyse large data sets and even to prove theorems. Computer scientists use mathematics to design efficient compression algorithms, to understand the semantics of programming languages and for the theory behind internet security systems.

Why study Mathematics and Computer Science MSci at Birmingham?

  • Combine personal development with career planning
    We know that your personal development is as important as your academic studies, and we have created a specially curated programme to take you through your time with us and beyond. As well as supporting your learning and individual goals from the moment you arrive, we'll equip you with the skills and qualities you need for a successful career journey.
  • Discover an unrivalled learning experience
    To enhance your studies, you'll enjoy weekly tutorials in small groups with your personal tutor for the first two years of your degree. Meanwhile, our Mathematics Learning Centre offers you the perfect space for independent or group learning.
  • Benefit from our links with industry
    Forging a close connection with industry can help your career soar. We have strong links with a wide range of high profile companies, including E.ON, Caterpillar, Jaguar Land Rover, the Office for National Statistics, R&A, FDM Group, Barnett Waddingham and IBM.
  • Wide choice of modules available
    The choice of modules from your third year are very broad, ranging from the highly abstract to the highly applicable. Modules in year four are reflective of staff research interests and classes are often small and highly interactive. You can therefore specialise in the areas of Mathematics that interest you.
  • Extra-curricular activities
    University life is about much more than simply learning. Our student society MathSoc runs regular events and trips, helping you to settle into the School and enjoy the social side of student life. You'll also be able to attend plenty of informal events run by the School, so you can get to know the staff and your fellow students better.

Meet Oliver Ollie in a building entrance

Oliver is a final year Mathematics student and will be regularly blogging about his experiences studying at Birmingham. Outside of studying Mathematics, he is part of two student societies – Mathsoc and Valefest.

Read Oliver's blogs >> 

In the first two years, you'll take the key modules on either side of the course, and when you reach your third year you will have a lot of choice allowing you to explore some great modules in both mathematics and computer science, where you benefit greatly from having the perspective of both fields.

Alex Morrison, MSci Mathematics and Computer Science Student

Modules

Year 1 

The first two years are carefully designed to allow you as much choice as possible in your final year. In Computer Science you study the foundations of computer science together with program design and programming techniques.

Year 2 

Core modules

Optional modules

Choose 40 credits of options. Example optional modules:

Year 3 

This year offers you a choice of modules with the possibility of specialising in either Mathematics or Computer Science. The objective is to allow you to have a 40/80, 60/60 or 80/40 split in module choices between Mathematics/Computer Science, subject to you completing at least 20 credits of taught modules from either School and which must include the module Linear Algebra and Linear Programming from the School of Mathematics.

Core modules

Optional modules

The objective is to allow you to have a 40/80, 60/60 or 80/40 split in module choices between Mathematics/Computer Science, subject to you completing at least 20 credits of taught modules from either School and which must include the module Linear Algebra and Linear Programming from the School of Mathematics.

In particular, if you take the 40 credit project in Computer Science they must take an additional 20 credits of taught modules offered by Computer Science with 60 credits offered by Mathematics.

If you take the 20 credit project in Mathematics then you can choose to do between 20 and 60 additional credits in Mathematics, which again must include Linear Algebra and Linear Programming, and, between 40 and 80 credits from Computer Science.

All modules 20 credits, examples of optional modules listed below:

Mathematics modules
Computer Science modules

Year 4

Choose a project (40 credits) from the core modules below.
- If the project in Computer Science was taken in year 4, then the project in Mathematics in year 5 must be taken.
- If the project in Mathematics was taken at year 4, then similarly the project in Computer Science at year 5 must be taken.

Core module

Optional modules

80 credits of options. All modules 20 credits, examples of optional modules listed below.

Mathematics modules

Choose a maximum of 60 credits from the following:

Computer Science modules

Choose a minimum of 20 credits to a maximum of 60 credits from the following - the credits of the project plus modules chosen from this list and the previous list must total 120:

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Annual tuition fees 2025/26

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.

  • £9,535
  • £28,130 - International

Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Scholarships

At Birmingham we ensure that fears about finance do not constrain prospective students from considering university and that excellence is rewarded.

 

Tuition fees for placement years (where applicable)

There is a reduced tuition fee for the academic year spent in industry or whilst studying abroad (where available). Fee information and further clarification is available on the University fees and funding page.

How To Apply

Apply through the UCAS website using code GI11.

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

View advice on how to apply for undergraduate courses.

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
A*AA

Our standard offer is A*AA including an A in Mathematics or Further Mathematics. For students taking other qualifications we may make alternate offers. For instance we do not require the STEP examinations but if you are taking a STEP paper and achieve a grade 2 or better we will reduce your offer to AAA including an A in Mathematics or Further Mathematics.

For students taking an EPQ and achieving a grade A we will reduce your offer to AAA including an A in Mathematics or Further Mathematics.

The University makes contextual offers for students from widening participation backgrounds. We also participate in the Access to Birmingham (A2B) and Inspired@Birmingham schemes for attending one of partner institutions in the West Midlands.

General Studies is not accepted, but a grade A may be considered if you fail to meet your offer.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

7,6,6 at Higher Level, including 6 in Mathematics, with a minimum of 32 points overall.

BTEC

Only considered when combined with other qualifications.

Other qualifications are considered – learn more about entry requirements. We are happy to discuss your individual offer with you.

Foundation Year

Are you a UK student and would like to study for one of our degrees but lack the entry qualifications we require? If you are not studying A Level Mathematics you can consider a Foundation Year programme which can lead to entry onto one of our courses.

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

We accept a range of international qualifications, please contact the admissions tutor for more information.

  

Standard English language requirements apply, learn more about international entry requirements.

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

Our academic staff will guide and challenge you through your studies. You will benefit from the rich diversity of academic knowledge and experience here at Birmingham. Find out more about our  staff and their areas of interest.

How you will learn

Successful mathematicians and computer scientists are independent thinkers, and all of your studies will be geared towards encouraging you to learn, discover, explore and analyse for yourself, guided by our expert lecturers. Via a combination of lectures, tutorials and support classes, you'll be introduced to a range of subjects and ideas, problem-solving and analytical techniques, with regular assessment and feedback.

In your fourth year, you will shift your focus to research, working independently on a major research project and presenting your work - excellent preparation for your career or further study.

All modules are linked to Canvas - a virtual learning environment for lecture notes, additional learning units, self-tests and supplementary interactive information.

Support

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham. During your first year, we want you to have a smooth transition into university. You will be able to talk to your tutors about this and discuss if there are any particular areas where you need support.

Personal Tutors

You will be assigned your own personal tutor who will support your academic progress, help you develop transferable skills and handle any welfare concerns. In your first two years you will have a weekly meeting with your personal tutor in small groups of around 6-7 students. You will also meet once a term on an individual basis. In your third year you will meet with your tutor once a term although they will still be available for you to meet with more regularly if you require.

Wellbeing Officers

Alongside your personal tutor, you will also have access to dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can meet with you to discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, or talk through any problems you might be experiencing, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond if you need it.

Our Academic Skills Centre helps you to become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support services. The Centre offers workshops on a range of topics, such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.

The Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) will provide guidance on writing essays and dissertations if you need it. You can receive individual support from an academic writing advisor and meet with postgraduate tutors who specialise in particular subjects too.

How will you be assessed 

Developing your skills as a rounded mathematician means a variety of learning and assessment methods. On your course, you will take exams and class tests, plus carry out coursework and research projects. We'll give you regular feedback and assessment, helping you to build on your existing skills. Your fourth-year project will contribute to a third of your final year marks, and you'll be supported along the way by a personal academic supervisor.

At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed for that particular module. You will receive feedback on each assessment within 15 working days, so that you can learn from, and build on, what you have done. You will be given generic feedback on any exams that you take and can have longer conversations about your performance with your personal tutor.

Contact Hours

Modules are worth either 10 or 20 credits, and you will take modules totalling 120 credits each year. For each 10 credits of modules you will have 22 hours of lectures.

  • First year:  10 additional hours of support classes per term, 20 hours of computer labs per term, and 5 hours of personal tutorial meetings per term.
  • Second year:  5 hours of examples classes for every 10 credits of module, plus 5 hours per term of personal tutorial meetings.
  • Third and fourth year: 5 hours of examples classes for every 10 credits of module

Studying Mathematics and Computer Science at Birmingham will give you the inspiration and tools to take your talents into any number of exciting careers, or to enhance them with further academic study. You'll leave equipped with problem-solving, statistical and strategic skills, taking your studies effortlessly from the classroom into your chosen career or to the next stage of your learning

Typical careers

Our graduates can be found in roles as diverse as:

  • Accountant
  • Actuary
  • Management Consultant
  • Banker
  • IT

...the Maths Department in particular, felt really homely and I really connected with the people there. It felt like a proper nice community, so that's why I chose Birmingham

Ed Wong, BSc Mathematics

Developing your career

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area. The team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge. In addition, our employer-endorsed award-winning Personal Skills Award (PSA) recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme designed to improve your career prospects.

An internship can complement your studies perfectly, giving you practical, real-world insights into the world of work in your chosen field. You can apply for the Work Experience Bursary Scheme, the Birmingham Undergraduate Internship Programme or one of our successful mentoring schemes.

Visit the Careers Network website for more details

After my second year during the summer I completed an Actuary internship with Barnett Waddingham. I found out about the opportunity by attending the Mathematics careers fair organised annually by the department, where companies both big and small who are looking to recruit University of Birmingham’s Mathematics graduates come to talk to students about the programmes they have to offer.

Whilst on this internship I completed many of the jobs a trainee Actuary would do in their first year of work, gaining an insight into this type of work and developing the skills required to pursue a career in actuarial science.

Completing the Mathematical Modelling and Problem Solving and Maths in Industry modules as part of my degree prepared me very well for my internship. The problem solving and teamwork skills developed in these modules helped me both when applying for this internship as I had lots of examples to draw upon at interview, as well as when completing the tasks on my internship, as I was able to approach difficult tasks and present my ideas with more confidence.

As a result of this internship I have been offered a trainee Actuary role after I graduate.

Hannah Smithson, Third Year, BSc Mathematics