Mathematics with Finance BSc Hons | University of Chester

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Course Summary

BSc Mathematics with Finance at the University of Chester provides you with a unique opportunity of gaining a broad mathematical education while at the same time learning about finance. This combination of a comprehensive knowledge of the workings of financial markets underpinned by rigorous mathematical foundations will make you highly sought-after by employers.

Mathematics at the University of Chester is designed to provide you with in-demand skills such as logical reasoning, problem-solving ability, teamwork, and computational skills, all of which boost employability. Our academics have a diverse range of expertise and you will explore both pure and applied mathematics and also their computational aspects. The Finance modules are designed to equip you with the cutting-edge skills sought by the finance and accounting industries. With a combination of mathematics with real-world finance experiences, you'll graduate fully prepared to step into a range of exciting career opportunities.

Small class sizes allow for personalised attention and regular feedback, creating a highly supportive learning environment for you. In the final year, you will have the opportunity to select projects from mathematical finance, with dedicated tutors providing regular one-to-one guidance. Our research-active lecturers deliver cutting-edge mathematical knowledge and are deeply committed to helping you thrive in your academic and professional journeys.

Our graduates have excellent employment prospects. In the last five years, our Mathematics graduates have successfully obtained roles in the finance, banking and business sectors, including:

Actuary, insurance firm
Pricing Analyst, insurance firm
Auditor, banking sector
Chartered Accountant, financial sector
Credit Risk Analyst, financial sector
Tax professional, HMRC
Business Intelligence Developer, law firm
Utility Expense Analyst, energy sector

In additional, several of our graduates have gone on to further study for Master’s or PhDs.

Why you'll Love it

Model, solve and analyse real-world problems within a vibrant student community

Gain essential skills to prepare you for your future career

Black Male Scientist Solving Complex Mathematical Problems Standing and Writing Long Formulas on Whiteboard.

Learn in interactive workshops and apply your knowledge in practical settings

Mathematics at the University of Chester

BSc (Hons) Mathematics

What you'll study

In your Foundation Year you will be introduced to studying Mathematics at undergraduate level through the Physical and Natural Sciences Foundation Year route.

The Foundation Year is designed to give you a strong knowledge and skills base aligned with your chosen four-year degree. Following a solid grounding in scientific principles or behavioural sciences in your first block of teaching, you will study bespoke modules aligned with your discipline. This could involve studying the human body in health and disease and how to encourage healthy and sustainable behaviours, or the biology of terrestrial and marine animals and the impacts of their interactions with humans, or you might focus on the physical sciences and how they can help change the world for the better. Whatever you aspire to, we can offer you a supportive and incremental introduction to your science degree.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

In Year 1, you will be exposed to a diverse range of topics, laying a solid foundation to help your transition to being an undergraduate financial mathematician. This will include workshops on how to read, write and learn mathematics, equipping you for lifelong learning. You will learn topics including calculus, analysis, linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, probability, statistics and programming.

In Year 2, you will take two mathematics modules and two finance modules. You will explore key theoretical results from pure mathematics and important techniques in applied mathematics, which are highly valued in a variety of industries, such as optimisation and stochastic processes. You will also study topics from finance, such as data analysis, financial analytics, and investment and risk management. You will have the opportunity to put your skills into practice in a work-based learning module towards the end of this year.

In Year 3, you will study two modules from mathematics and two from finance. The maths topics will relate to the research interests of academic staff in the mathematics group, which are closely linked to real-world applications, such as numerical analysis and partial differential equations. You will also have the chance to explore more advanced topics in finance, such as big data, machine learning for finance, and actuarial science. In your final year project, you will have the chance to direct your own learning and explore a topic which could have real-word impact and which you are personally interested in and passionate about. You will be supervised and guided in this by an experienced and dedicated research-active academic.

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, you will study 40 credits split into one or two modules. You can expect between nine and twelve hours of in-person sessions per week, depending upon level of study and the complexity of the material being taught. These will mostly be lectures, but will also include workshops, example classes, computer labs and seminars.

You are expected to spend an average of 25 – 30 hours per week on independent study. To support you with this, we will provide detailed lecture notes and online material in addition to the books and resources in the university’s newly refurbished library. The dedicated mathematics lecturers will also offer you drop-in sessions for further one-to-one support and are always open to discussing mathematics with you.

You will be taught by the experienced, enthusiastic and innovative mathematics staff. All our Mathematics with Finance staff are research active and internationally recognised with an extensive network of research collaborations with leading researchers in the UK, Europe and worldwide.

You can expect to be assessed in a number of different ways throughout the course. Your learning in most of your modules will be supported by assessed problem sheets and online quizzes. In addition to traditional exams, you will also learn how to give presentations, write computer programs and engage with group-work projects. Alongside this, reports and your final year project will give you the opportunity to develop your research and communication skills, crucial for your future careers.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Study a Common First Year

This course shares a common first year with students on Mathematics, Mathematics with Data Science and Mathematics with Computer Science courses.

This means that you’ll learn alongside students studying a similar discipline, helping to broaden your knowledge and exposure to other concepts, perspectives and professions in the first year of your degree.

As you learn and collaborate with students from other courses, you'll not only widen your social and professional network but also learn new skills that will set you up for success in your industry.

In your second and third years, you will progress to studying more specialist modules within mathematics and finance, developing your skills to become a World Ready graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff	112 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BCC-BBC Must include A-level Maths
BTEC	Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016): DMM Considered alongside A-level Maths
International Baccalaureate	28 points - Including 5 in an appropriate HL Mathematics course
Irish / Scottish Highers	Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 (Including H3 in Maths) Scottish Highers - BBBB (Including Maths at grade B)
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above, including at least 15 in Maths
T Level	Merit
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A level	72 points overall, including grade D in A level Must include A level Mathematics
BTEC	Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016): MMP Considered alongside A level Mathematics
International Baccalaureate	24 points - Including HL Mathematics grade 4
Irish / Scottish Highers	Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017): H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 (including H4 in Maths) Scottish Highers: CCDD (Including Mathematics)
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall, must include Mathematics
T Level	T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Who you'll Learn from

Associate Professor Yubin Yan

Programme Leader in BSc Mathematics

Dr Rhian Taylor

Deputy Programme Leader in BSc Mathematics

Dr Justin McInroy

Programme Leader for MSc Mathematics

Dr Zachiri McKenzie

Senior Lecturer

Where you'll study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Student Services

Fitness facilities

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your Future Career

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Mathematics with Finance BSc (Hons)

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