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Department of Mathematical Sciences
Blackboard with mathematical equations

Postgraduate Study

The Department of Mathematical Sciences is one of the leading research units in the country, with interests in a wide range of areas in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, mathematical and theoretical physics, as well as statistics and probability. One measure of the vibrancy of our research is the number of postgraduate students we attract. There are about fifty at any given time within the Department.

On completion of their course, taught postgraduates may progress to further study (in Durham or elsewhere) towards a related PhD, or undertake a teaching qualification. Others enter careers such as medical physics.  Research postgraduates have similarly varied career paths; example job titles include operational researcher, actuarial analyst and postgraduate researcher. Example employers include the Civil Service, Deloitte, the Ministry of Defence, and Hanover University.

  • Taught courses

    We currently offer three taught MSc degrees: Mathematical Sciences; Particles, Strings and Cosmology; and Scientific Computing and Data Analysis. Each of these offers a gateway to a variety of careers in the public and private sectors, and a natural pathway to a PhD.
    Students sitting in class while the tutor points to the blackboard.

  • Research degrees

    Our research degrees are awarded on successful completion of a thesis based on original research carried out over a period of between three and four years, depending on the subject area, under the guidance of your supervisor.
    Student sitting at a computer studying

Taught courses

We currently offer three taught MSc degrees: Mathematical Sciences; Particles, Strings and Cosmology; and Scientific Computing and Data Analysis. Each of these offers a gateway to a variety of careers in the public and private sectors, and a natural pathway to a PhD.
Students sitting in class while the tutor points to the blackboard.

Research degrees

Our research degrees are awarded on successful completion of a thesis based on original research carried out over a period of between three and four years, depending on the subject area, under the guidance of your supervisor.
Student sitting at a computer studying
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Durham's School of Mathematical Sciences and Shell's Statistics and Chemometrics group have a long-standing collaboration, centred on a sequence of four EPSRC CASE studentships over the past 11 years. Development and applications of novel statistical approaches is central to the success of the Statistics and Chemometrics group; as such, the interaction with Durham is highly valued.
Philip Jonathan
Shell Global Solutions (UK)