About Us

Artistic renditions of mathematical models

Almost five decades of expertise and experience ensure Lancaster University’s School of Mathematical Sciences provides an inspirational, unique learning experience and a great place to undertake research.

Built on firm foundations, the School has grown rapidly to become one of the UK's major centres in Mathematical Sciences and has earned a well-deserved reputation for top-quality teaching excellence and world-class research.

Every year the department opens its doors to around 250 new students, making it one of the most popular in the country. Our teaching and research are rooted in the long history of our subject but also shaped by the latest developments to provide a dynamic and challenging learning and research environment.

We offer an extensive range of exciting and exacting programmes for both undergraduates and postgraduates, all of which are designed to push the boundaries and generate excellent results.

Who we are

Our Teaching

Specialising in pure mathematics and statistics, our undergraduate teaching is highly focused in the first two years. Third and fourth years can then select from a wide range of topics, which helps prepare them for a variety of careers.

An important aspect of Lancaster's commitment to excellent teaching is our system of course-long weekly workshops and marked assignments which give students the opportunity to discuss topics and get feedback from expert tutors. We also offer one-to-one sessions so we get to know our students quickly.

We also offer a variety of opportunities for postgraduate study, including postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and Master's courses, PhD study and short courses for Continuing Professional Development.

Our People

With a strong community of academics, support staff and students from around the world, we are passionate about learning, advancing and communicating our subject. Our wealth of experience, academic expertise and business knowledge enables us to really understand what makes our students and researchers succeed, working with them to develop and realise their full potential.

We always listen to students' ambitions and motivations and then provide challenging teaching and insightful guidance to help them meet their goals. We welcome student feedback and act on it, as we continually try to improve our students' experiences.

Our History

Today’s vibrant learning, teaching and research environment at Lancaster University’s School of Mathematical Sciences is built on 50 years of credibility and capability.

We trace our roots back to the time of the foundation of the University but have been constantly evolving into the School we see today. You can read more about the story of our development and see our gallery of annual photos in our History section.