Full Time: 4 Years
Kick-start your career in the financial markets or investment banking with a paid industrial placement on this BSc Mathematics with Finance and Investment Banking with a Placement Year.
Explore key aspects of mathematics, such as differential equations and analysis, and gain practical financial and investment banking experience through Henley Business School, the University of Reading's hub of business expertise. The split between the two subjects is roughly two-thirds mathematics and one-third finance and investment banking. Furthermore, you can gain valuable industry experience through a year-long paid placement at a major national or international organisation.
In mathematics you will study areas such as calculus, analysis, linear algebra, differential equations and numerical analysis. The course will also cover key areas of statistics.
You will be given plenty of support to help you get the most out of your studies, including small group problem-solving tutorials and materials to help you manage the transition to university-level mathematics. Additionally, you can get involved with the Department's Staff Student Forums and the Student Teaching and Learning Group, which enable you to have a direct input into the student experience.
The finance and investment banking aspects of the course will provide you with practical experience, such as managing multi-asset portfolios using live prices and using the latest investment management technology. You will also benefit from our three dealing rooms, which are equipped with Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters Eikon terminals and use the latest industry simulation software. As part of this aspect of the degree you will experience the thrill of a live market – take positions, quote two-way prices and manage the risk of a $50–100 million trading book.
In the final year of the degree you can develop your knowledge by exploring areas of interest in greater depth. The vast majority of modules in this year are optional and include subjects from both areas of the course such as foreign exchange and money markets, management of risk, and numerical analysis. During this year you will also carry out a project on a mathematical topic and produce a report and presentation on it.
This course will meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Mathematician designation, awarded by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, when followed by subsequent training and experience in employment to obtain equivalent competencies to those specified by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for taught master’s degrees.
Placement
Between your second and final year you will carry out a paid industrial training placement, lasting around 12 months. Placements can be located anywhere in the UK, and occasionally take place abroad.
You could take on a variety of roles such as statistician and business analyst. You will also have the chance to work for a range of national and international organisations such as IBM, HSBC, SAP or HM Revenue & Customs.
Our careers department can give you advice and support for finding the ideal placement, writing a CV and interview skills, by our placements officer.
For more information about securing and completing a placement for your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.
Typical offer A Level ABC | IB 30 points overall
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £20,830 per year
* UK and EU fee changes
UK undergraduate fees are regulated by the government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK and EU** students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
**EU students
For more information on fees, loans and grants for EU students, see fees and funding for home/EU students.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Placement Year fees
If you spend a full year on placement – including professional and research placements and industrial experience – you’ll pay a discounted tuition fee for that year.
For Home/EU students, the discounted fee is subject to parliamentary approval and is currently capped at £1,385.
For International students, the discount is 15% of your normal tuition fee.
For more information, please contact placements@reading.ac.uk.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
UK undergraduate fees are regulated by the government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK and EU** students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
Information on this page is based on 2019/20 figures and is likely to change slightly for 2020/21 entry. We will publish up-to-date information about 2020/21 entry as soon as it becomes available.
From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
**EU students in 2019/20
EU home students starting in the academic year 2019/20 will pay the same fees and have the same eligibility for loans and grants as UK home students for the duration of their course. The situation for students starting in 2020/21 is not yet known and may be affected by UK Government policy following the outcome of any negotiations regarding the UK’s exit from the European Union. The UK Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
What career can you have?
Jobs in the financial markets, investment banking and securities are generally well paid and highly sought-after.
Henley Business School is triple-accredited and this degree provides a direct route into many areas including accounting and professional services, banking, consultancy, finance, human resources, IT, investment banking, marketing, operations and, of course, general management.
As a mathematics graduate, you can choose to work as a mathematician or statistician for public sector organisations, such as health authorities or the Office for National Statistics, or areas of the private sector including commerce and information technology. Furthermore, you can move into a range of related careers such as accountancy, engineering, modelling, computing or actuarial work.
Alternatively you can choose to further develop your skills by moving into research, teacher training or postgraduate studies.