BSc (Hons) Mathematics Bachelor's degree at the Open University
BSc (Hons) Mathematics at Open University. You'll develop understanding across core mathematical theory, research methods, and applied problem-solving, with the flexibility to pursue specialist options that match your interests.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Mathematics is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the Open University. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Mathematics graduates from this provider, 83% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Mathematics, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 45; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 83% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 64% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK Mathematics degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Calculus & Analysis Limits, series and rigorous foundations of the calculus. |
| Year 1 | Linear Algebra Vector spaces, matrices and transformations. |
| Year 1 | Probability & Statistics Random variables, distributions and inference. |
| Year 2 | Real & Complex Analysis Deeper theory of functions and convergence. |
| Year 2 | Abstract Algebra Groups, rings and the structures behind symmetry. |
| Year 2 | Differential Equations & Modelling Modelling real systems and solving them analytically and numerically. |
| Year 3 | Specialist options Typically statistics, financial maths, mathematical physics or pure streams. |
| Year 3 | Numerical Methods & Computation Algorithms for problems without closed-form answers. |
| Year 3 | Project / advanced topics Independent study or research-level option modules. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study mathematics from foundational concepts to specialist areas. A course like this typically begins with calculus, linear algebra, and probability, building rigorous understanding of limits, series, vector spaces and statistical reasoning. In the second stage, you'll progress to real and complex analysis, abstract algebra (groups, rings, symmetry structures) and differential equations with applications to modelling. You'll usually choose specialisations such as pure mathematics, statistics and data, financial mathematics, applied and modelling, operational research, or an actuarial pathway. In your final stage, you'll typically select from specialist options, study numerical methods and computation, and undertake an independent project or advanced topics. The degree combines theoretical depth with practical application.
Who it's for
This course suits you if you're drawn to rigorous thinking and problem-solving, and want to study mathematics seriously without interrupting your career or life. You may be returning to study after time away, or building on an earlier degree, over a third of recent entrants held a previous qualification. You'll thrive if you're comfortable learning independently and can sustain focus over a longer timescale; part-time study requires self-discipline, but rewards you with the pace and structure you need. You're interested in how mathematical ideas apply beyond the classroom, and want qualifications that employers and further-study providers recognise across the UK.
Careers & job market
Across mathematics graduates nationally, 89% are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Three-quarters of those working occupy highly skilled roles or are pursuing postgraduate study. Earnings vary by sector and role: national figures for mathematics graduates show starting salaries of £27,000–£34,000 (15 months after graduation), rising to £32,300–£45,600 after five years. Many mathematics graduates progress to roles in finance, technology, education, research, and data analysis, though outcomes depend on your specialism, location, and the specific opportunities you pursue.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) Mathematics is studied part-time at The Open University, a public university founded in 1969. The course is taught in English. The Open University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised. The university holds Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| a previous degree | 36% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 34% |
| another higher-education qualification | 20% |
| Other | 9% |
| an Access course | 1% |
| a foundation course | 1% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page. The cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at Open University →Check the finance route that applies to you
Support depends on ordinary residence, assessed fee status, course and provider nation. The provider nation is unresolved here, so no national cap or loan amount is being guessed.
Find your official student-finance route →Paying for it
- Tuition fee loan: applied for through the student-finance body for the UK nation you live in.
- Living-cost support: means-tested on household income, from your nation's student-finance body.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold set by your nation's student-finance system.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Each UK nation runs its own student-finance system; check gov.uk for the rates that apply to you.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Mathematics graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £32,000 | £30,000 – £40,500 | 45 |
| 3 years after | £30,000 | £22,000 – £45,000 | 470 |
| 5 years after | £36,000 | £26,500 – £50,500 | 470 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 45; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in mathematics · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Mathematics nationally
National figures for Mathematics graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 45; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Mathematics courses at the same study level.
Compared with 421 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Finance ProfessionalsSOC 2020 242 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
- Business, Research and Administrative ProfessionalsSOC 2020 243 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £48,746
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 125; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Mathematics graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Mathematics graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Banks & insurers
- Consultancies
- Government statistics
- Tech companies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Mathematics graduates.
Mathematics Expert - 34877TuringMathematics Academic Mentor (Secondary School)Ribbons and Reeves LimitedMathematics Graduate Get into IT and Data Analytics Royston HertsProxime LimitedMathematics Department Lead for Strategic ExcellenceSupply Star Recruitment LimitedMathematicsHaysIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £8,730/year for this course. Eligible students can apply for a tuition fee loan and living-cost support from the student-finance body for the UK nation they live in. Repayment thresholds differ by nation.
Where graduates go
83% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £32,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.9 out of 10: NSS 90.7% · in work or study 83% · continued 64%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The Open University
Mathematical sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Mathematics right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Open University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Open University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Open University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Open University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Open University
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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