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.

For more information, please visit the Department of Maths and Statistics website.