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Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly postgraduate students to get their thoughts on our courses, stunning campus and life in a vibrant and cultural city.
Play a crucial role in helping businesses to succeed using mathematical knowledge. With a blend of business analytics and optimisation, you'll learn how to help companies improve and become more efficient. Our multidisciplinary courses cover mathematical optimisation techniques, operational research methods, programming, and statistics.
With hands-on projects, we will prepare you to apply mathematical optimisation and statistics in areas such as engineering, healthcare, finance and economics.
The professors are so engaging, and very insightful regarding application of what we were studying in the real world and the School of Mathematics careers events – they were a great opportunity for us to learn about various roles that we could venture into, when entering the job market.
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly postgraduate students to get their thoughts on our courses, stunning campus and life in a vibrant and cultural city.
Join our 1 year full-time MSc programme comprising of taught modules during terms 1 and 2 followed by a Summer Dissertation. You'll be assessed using a combination of coursework and end of year examinations for taught modules.
You'll take 60 credits of compulsory/optional modules across various areas of Management Mathematics and Statistics. All examinations will take place during the May/June main examination period.
You'll attend 2 weekly lectures and 1 fortnightly guided study session for each 10 credit module equivalent. There are also regular MSc group tutorial meetings.
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Develop your mathematics, business, economics, science, or engineering background to excel in various professional areas of quantitative analysis. You’ll learn how to integrate statistical and optimisation knowledge, analyse problems and provide rational appraisals. Set yourself up for a career in finance, healthcare, technology, and government sectors.
Birmingham is ranked 80th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, maintaining our position in the top 100 universities globally and placing us 12th amongst UK universities.
Study at the School of Mathematics which is internationally recognised for its quality of research in various fields.
Our world-class research and a vibrant, global student community are at the heart of our School of Mathematics. You'll take part in tutorials and projects to consolidate your learning. In the third term, you'll work with your personal supervisor to conduct a research project.
The programme is a 1 year full time taught masters degree (180 credits) consisting of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60 credit summer project. The dissertation is completed under the direction of a project supervisor which will give you the opportunity to work one-to-one with a leading expert in their field.
The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.
As a research-intensive University, our teaching is informed by the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff. For more information on the circumstances in which the University may need to make changes to modules, please refer to the Terms and Conditions for applicants.
Module Title | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|
Statistical Methods in Finance and Economics | 20 | Full Term |
Choose one of the following modules:
Module Title | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|
Postgraduate Taught Knowledge Exchange Pathway | 60 | - |
Project (MORSE) | 60 | Semester 2 |
Choose 100 credits from the following modules:
Module Title | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|
Advanced Management Mathematics | 20 | Full Term |
Bayesian Inference and Computation | 20 | Semester 2 |
Advanced Mathematical Finance | 20 | Semester 2 |
Applied Statistics | 20 | Semester 2 |
Computational Statistics | 20 | Semester 1 |
Game Theory and Multicriteria Decision Making | 20 | Full Term |
Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimisation | 20 | Full Term |
Mathematical Finance | 20 | Full Term |
Medical Statistics | 20 | Full Term |
Nonlinear Programming I and Heuristic Optimisation | 20 | Full Term |
Staff profile for Dr Xiaocheng Shang, School of Mathematics, University of Birmingham
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
In Mathematics, Statistics, Industrial Engineering or programmes with a strong mathematical component.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band, which is equivalent to:
Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.
Full-time
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.
The fees quoted are for one year only. For those studying courses that are longer than one year, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.
Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.
Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.
We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
Application deadline for UK and non visa requiring applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
Our programme trains you with the specialised skills needed to meet the growing need for a new generation of mathematicians. You’ll be trained in cutting-edge techniques and their applications to engineering, healthcare, finance, business management and economics. You’ll benefit from learning from leaders in their field, making you attractive for careers in economics, healthcare, finance, banking, insurance, actuarial science, business management, and government.
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
Find out why we are the most targeted UK university by top graduate employers (High Fliers report, The Graduate Market 2024) by meeting some of our successful alumni.
At Birmingham, your university experience isn’t just about studying. You will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.