Mathematics with Finance (Placement Year)

BSc Hons

  • UCAS code GN1J
  • Entry year 2024 or 2025
  • A level requirements AAA
  • Duration Full time 4 years

This course has Clearing vacancies for 2024

Apply now to make the most of your grades at a Top 10 UK university, with guaranteed accommodation in your first year.

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Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 4

    4th for graduate prospects: Accounting & Finance

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • 7

    7th for Accounting and Finance

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • 10

    10th for Mathematics

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

Financial mathematicians are interested in making good decisions in the face of uncertainty. Through our rigorous programme, you will develop the skills and knowledge to become a major decision maker and influencer in your chosen career and gain valuable real-world experience in industry.

Financial maths is about learning to interpret and manipulate data to draw valuable conclusions and make predictions. This is particularly important in business and finance, but the skills gained from this programme are widely applicable and highly sought after. During the course, you will be able to draw on expertise from three specialist departments: Mathematics and Statistics; Accounting and Finance; and Economics. You will also benefit from completing a year of full-time work experience, providing you with invaluable experience and an insight into the real-world workplace.

During your first year, you will build on your previous knowledge and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts. Modules cover a wide range of topics from calculus, probability and statistics to logic, proofs and theorems. As well as developing your technical knowledge and mathematical skills, you will also enhance your data analysis, problem-solving and quantitative reasoning skills. During this year, you will also receive an introduction to accounting and finance, which will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the concepts and techniques of the discipline, including financial accounting, managerial finance, and financial statement analysis.

In the second year, you will further develop your knowledge in analysis, probability and statistics. During this year, you will also begin to explore advanced finance and will benefit from modules in economics at managerial level. These will provide you with insight into micro and macroeconomics, and their related issues. You will develop real-world knowledge and experience by applying your analytical skills, interpreting events and evaluating policies. This will be instrumental in developing a career related to banking, finance, international payments and exchange rates, and monetary policy.

To prepare you for your work placement year, our Careers and Placements Team will provide advice and guidance on: the skills required to create effective CVs, cover letters and applications; tips and techniques on how to make an impact at interviews and assessment centres; how to create a relevant digital profile; and how to research employers and career sectors of interest. In addition, there is great emphasis placed upon developing self-awareness and on how to present yourself in a professional manner to employers. This optional provision will be delivered via a blend of traditional and digital methods including face-to-face workshops, online webinars, e-courses and 1:1 appointments.

The third year will take you away from the academic environment and into the workplace. You will spend this year with one of our partner organisations, putting what you have learnt into practice and gaining experience of a real workplace. This is a fantastic opportunity to see how what you have studied applies to the real-world and gives you the chance to get a taster of a potential career. This experience will be highly beneficial once you begin researching your career and applying for jobs.

The University will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all placement roles offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills. If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.

Returning to Lancaster in the fourth year to complete your study, you will delve deeper into the theory of probability and will explore the concept of statistical inference. Alongside this, you will build upon the valuable industry and employability skills gained during your placement through a dedicated careers-focused module. This final year will also be highly customisable, allowing you to select from a range of modules to suit your own interests and career aspirations.

Course accreditation

Institute of Mathematics logo

The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications is a chartered professional body for mathematicians in the UK. Accreditation means that our degrees demonstrate both a high level of competency and professionalism in the area of mathematics.

Learn more about the Institute of Mathematics accreditation

Careers

Financial maths graduates are very versatile, having in-depth specialist knowledge and a wealth of skills. Through this degree, you will graduate with a comprehensive skill set, including data analysis and manipulation, logical thinking, problem-solving and quantitative reasoning, as well as adept knowledge of the discipline. As a result, financial mathematicians are sought after in a range of industries. However, graduates of this programme are ideally placed to forge rewarding careers in the business and finance, and government sectors.

The starting salary for many financial maths graduate roles is highly competitive, and career options include:

  • Actuary
  • Data Analyst
  • Finance Manager
  • Financial Analyst
  • Insurance Underwriter
  • Investment Analyst
  • Market Researcher

Alternatively, you may wish to undertake postgraduate study at Lancaster and pursue a career in research and teaching.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level AAA including A level Mathematics or Further Mathematics OR AAB including A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 36 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including 6 in Mathematics HL (either analysis and approaches or applications and interpretations)

BTEC Accepted alongside A level Mathematics grade A and Further Mathematics grade A

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2024/25 are:

Home International
£9,250 £26,575

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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