Mathematics (research placement) MMath

Key information

Duration:
4 years full time
Typical A-level offer:
A*AA
View full entry requirements
UCAS code:
G101
Start date:
September 2026
  • 95% of our research overall in Mathematical Sciences was assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021) 

How can mathematics help us understand the dynamics of infectious diseases? Or how an idea circulates on social media? Or the behaviour of queues? We’ll show you how mathematics solves real-world problems. You’ll work with experts whose research is having an impact – from forecasting local outbreaks of COVID, to predicting floods.

In your first year, you’ll explore the basics of mathematics. This includes analysis and linear algebra, as well as an introduction to computational mathematics. In your second year, you’ll add probability and statistics. In your third and fourth year, you then build on your existing knowledge and discover new aspects of the subject including:

  • mathematical biology
  • cryptography
  • probability
  • financial mathematics
  • partial differential equations.

You also explore a topic of your choice in the MMath project in your final year.

This course is flexible, so you can focus on what fascinates you while gaining a strong foundation in core mathematics. You’ll develop your analytical and modelling skills using industry-standard software such as MATLAB, Python and R. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply for a placement, where you can gain experience working with a company.

Our Department is a close-knit community, and you’ll get to know your lecturers on an individual basis. Their dedication and support will help you to get the most from your degree. Academic advisers support you every step of the way and you’ll have lots of opportunities to engage with potential employers. You’ll also have a dedicated careers advisor.

During integrated Masters year, you’ll develop new mathematical skills and knowledge – particularly relevant if you’re interested in going on to a research career, or into specialised fields including data science, finance or mathematical modelling.

Accreditation

  • This programme is accredited to meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Mathematician designation awarded by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. Find out more

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

MMath or BSc?

We also offer this course without research placements, or as a three-year BScFind out about the benefits of an integrated Masters year.

The lecturers are genuinely passionate, not only about their research, but also about teaching and sharing knowledge.”Rhiannon Hawkins
Mathematics BSc

Find out about Megan’s journey through her maths degree at Sussex

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Book a visit now

Entry requirements

A-level

Typical offer

A*AA

Contextual offerView contextual offer

Not everyone has the same support to get to higher education – we help you reach your potential. When we receive applications through UCAS, we consider all factors and will sometimes make contextual offers as part of our Access and Participation Plan

Subjects

A-levels must include both Mathematics and Further Mathematics, with grade A* in one and grade A in the other.

GCSEs

You should have a broad range of GCSEs grade 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Extended Project Qualification

We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer.  We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact us

Other UK qualifications

International Baccalaureate

Typical offer

36 points overall from the full IB Diploma.

Subjects

Higher Levels must include Mathematics, with a grade of 7.

For entry in 2021, either Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation at Higher Level will be accepted.

European Baccalaureate

Typical offer

Overall result of 83%

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability in Mathematics to the highest level is essential (normally with a final grade of at least 8.5).

Other international qualifications

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component

Check your IELTS qualification meets all of our language requirements

Find out more about IELTS

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

 

Other English language requirements

Proficiency tests

English language qualifications

Country exceptions

Admissions information for applicants

Transfers into Year 2

No

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

For details on any additional costs, check out the Fees and scholarships section.

My favourite thing about the course would be the friendly, relaxed environment in the Maths Department, and how easy it is to just go up and ask any questions to any of the lecturers in their offices.” Dylan Hutcheson
Mathematics (research placement) MMath

Course content

This is a single-honours course, allowing you to focus in depth on your core subject.

Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits

Your degree

In your first year, you’ll explore the basics of mathematics. This includes analysis and linear algebra, as well as an introduction to computational mathematics.

Teaching

Teaching methods typically include:

78%: Lecture
5%: Seminar
17%: Practical

Assessment

Assessment methods typically include:

21%: Coursework
79%: Examination

Contact hours and workload

This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 264 hours of contact time and about 936 hours of independent study.

Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

Your modules

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Check back in January 2026 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2026/27.

Your degree

In Year 2, you’ll continue with mathematical foundations, and add probability and statistics.

Teaching

Teaching methods typically include:

91%: Lecture
4%: Seminar
5%: Practical

Assessment

Assessment methods typically include:

23%: Coursework
77%: Examination

Contact hours and workload

This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 264 hours of contact time and about 936 hours of independent study.

Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

Your modules

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Check back in January 2026 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2026/27.

Your degree

In Year 3, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your employability skills working on your project. And you can choose the topics that interest you most from a range of options.

Teaching

Teaching methods typically include:

72%: Lecture
21%: Seminar
7%: Practical

Assessment

Assessment methods typically include:

17%: Coursework
59%: Examination
1%: Practical
23%: Written assessment

Contact hours and workload

This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 264 hours of contact time and about 936 hours of independent study.

Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

Your modules

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Check back in January 2026 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2026/27.

Your degree

In your final year, you’ll focus on a research topic of your choice in your MMath project. You’ll also choose options from a range of mathematical subjects. This means you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in areas that interest you most, while also gaining a broad set of skills.

Teaching

Teaching methods typically include:

95%: Lecture
5%: Practical

Assessment

Assessment methods typically include:

10%: Coursework
44%: Examination
6%: Practical
40%: Written assessment

Contact hours and workload

This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 187 hours of contact time and about 1,013 hours of independent study.

Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

Your modules

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Check back in January 2026 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2026/27.

Research placements (each summer throughout this degree)

Each summer throughout your degree you can apply to do a research placement based at Sussex.

Research in the Department of Mathematics plays an important role in the current development of areas as diverse as:

  • analysis and partial differential equations
  • mathematical physics
  • mathematics applied to biology
  • numerical analysis and scientific computing
  • probability and statistics.

On your research placement, you work on cutting-edge projects that contribute to the work of the research group you’re placed with. 

These are a great way to gain practical experience of Mathematics research, and receive unique training for your future career. You’ll also receive funding to cover your living expenses during any placements you take. 

Find out about other placements and internships

Students and staff share their experiences of Mathematics at Sussex

TEF 2023 silver

Silver

The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)

Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive

Our staff

What I find most rewarding in teaching is seeing my students’ enthusiasm for learning and supporting their curiosity for a deeper understanding of Mathematics.”Dr Masoumeh Dashti
Senior Lecturer in Mathematics

Fees

Fees are not yet set for the academic year 2026/27 – please check back in September 2025. Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis.

Find out about typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

Scholarships

Details of our scholarships are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2026/27.

Careers

You can be confident that our courses provide you with the necessary skills and experience to secure employment or further studies with some of the world’s leading institutions.

You’ll have a wide range of paid work opportunities within the Department – from teaching and research opportunities in the summer, to outreach roles throughout the year. 

There are plenty of opportunities for you to develop your careers skills, including:

  • talks by potential employers
  • advice on choosing a career path
  • CV and application writing
  • preparing for job interviews.

Our graduates go onto a range of careers in finance and accounting, digital media, teaching, engineering and healthcare.

What to do with a Mathematics degree

Explore the careers you might be interested in after studying for a degree in Mathematics

Working while you study

Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

The teaching is top class and you learn vital transferable skills that lay the foundation for a successful career.Conor Osborne
Mathematics (research placement) MMath

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

  • our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations including Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Gatwick Airport and the Knepp Rewilding Project
  • one-to-one coaching with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
  • entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

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Winner
Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
National Enterprise Educator Awards 2024

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services logo

Winner
Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2024

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Top 50
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2025 RateMyPlacement Awards

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