Mathematics: Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Research scientist (maths) - develops an understanding of complex number systems, proves theorems and applies mathematical principles to identify trends in data sets. May work in universities, research institutes or in industry.
• Statistician - collects, analyses, and interprets quantitative information in areas such as health, the environment, industry, government and education.
• Operational researcher - exploits advanced optimisation tools from mathematics and statistics to help organisations make decisions and maximise their efficiency in widely varying situations from handling kidney transplant waiting lists to making production lines in factories work more efficiently.
• Aeronautical engineer - mathematicians are employed to work in the design of civil and military aircraft, missiles, weapons systems, satellites and space vehicles. A Masters in an engineering-related discipline such as fluid dynamics would be an advantage.
• Meteorologist - uses high level analytical mathematics, e.g. differential equations, fluid dynamics and computer modelling, to predict weather and climate both in the long and short term.
• Secondary school teacher or higher education lecturer - facilitates learning and carries out research activities in universities and some colleges of further education (FE).
• Actuary - interprets mathematical results from past events in order to predict future risk and makes commercial decisions based on those results. The profession has adopted 'making financial sense of the future' as its slogan. Actuaries work in government, insurance companies, actuarial consultancies and large chartered accountancy firms.
• Financial risk analyst - identifies and analyses areas of potential risk threatening the assets, earning capacity or success of organisations in the industrial, commercial or public sector and has responsibility for predicting change and future trends and forecasting their potential cost to the organisation. Financial risk analysts work in sales, trading, marketing and private banking.
• Investment analyst - undertakes research to provide ideas and information to fund managers to enable them to make decisions relating to the company’s investment portfolios. Investment analysts work for investment management companies, stockbrokers and investment banks.

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Chartered accountant, chartered certified accountant, chartered management accountant or chartered public finance accountant - provides accountancy, tax, salaries, financial planning, audit/assurance and budgeting services either within one firm or organisation, or to a range of clients and organisations in the public and/or private sectors.
• Corporate investment banker - provides a range of financial services and advice to companies, institutions and governments seeking to manage corporate, strategic or financial opportunities - more popularly known as investment bankers, though the work of investment bankers includes other functions, such as mergers and acquisitions.
• Market researcher - collects and analyses information from consumers on behalf of businesses, government and charities; analyses consumer opinions and presents results to enable organisations to make informed decisions. Market researchers often specialise in one sector, such as consumer or social research.
• Transport planner - forecasts travel trends, develops strategies to manage demand and considers ways to persuade people to change their behaviour in line with government policy. Transport planners may work in transport planning consultancies, local authorities, government and large engineering consultancies.
• Systems developer - researches, designs, tests, implements and maintains software systems to meet client or employer needs, using a variety of computer programming languages and applications.
• Insurance risk surveyor - also known as a risk consultant, risk control surveyor or risk control adviser. Advises about risk, based on technical knowledge and good practice.
• Management consultant - provides expert advice to organisations, primarily in relation to technological, organisational and behavioural change.
• Pension scheme manager - responsible for ensuring that an employee pension scheme operates effectively and may coordinate schemes managed by a company/employer, a benefits consultancy, or an insurance company.

Statisticians can work in a wide range of different employment areas, such as: environmental, forensic, government, health service, market research, and medical or pharmaceutical. More information on these different spheres of work is available from the Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PSI) .

Other options

Larger financial employers such as accountants or insurance companies often have internships for second year students which will be advertised early in your second year.

The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) is the main UK professional body for statisticians. With a degree in statistics you can join Graduate Statistician (GradStat), a valuable source of professional networking and CPD opportunities which can lead to Chartered Statistician (CStat) status.

For other jobs, a high class of degree and perhaps a Masters may be required.

A relevant industrial year out or final year project/dissertation will always be helpful for the more mathematically orientated careers. Statisticians will benefit from any paid or unpaid work experience gained in the field they wish to work in.

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.

Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.