Finance and Mathematics (BSc)

Applicants come from a diverse range of backgrounds and we accept a broad range of qualifications. Special consideration will be given to mature applicants, and we are happy to consider applicants with other qualifications, including QAA-approved Access to HE courses.

Students from overseas should visit the International| pages for further information on the entry requirements from their country and English language requirements.  Royal Holloway International offers an International Foundation Programme and English language pre-sessional courses, allowing students the opportunity to develop their study skills and English language before starting their undergraduate degree.

We make decisions based on achieved or predicted grades, personal statements and references. More information on how your application will be assessed, and tips for your personal statement can be found on our Applying| pages.

We believe in meeting with all applicants where possible, and call all suitably qualified candidates either to an Open Day or to one of our UCAS days, when there is an opportunity for an informal interview and a chance to talk to current students. Applicants unable to attend these, such as overseas students, but who otherwise qualify for admission, will usually receive our standard offer.

• Join two departments recognised for their high quality teaching; the Mathematics Department rates highly for ‘Overall Student Satisfaction’ each year in the National Student Survey, and teaching in the Economics Department received a score of 22 out of 24 by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
• Develop an in-depth understanding of economics at all levels – from the company to the state, and beyond.
• The Department of Mathematics is internationally recognised for the quality of its research in Pure Mathematics, Information Security, Statistics and Theoretical Physics.
• Benefit from a strong focus on small group teaching led by inspirational staff who are acknowledged experts in their fields with a dedicated support network, including a personal academic adviser to guide you in your studies.
• Gain a broad spectrum of transferable skills that can be applied in the workplace and enjoy excellent employment prospects.

Each year you will take two course units (or four half units) in each subject, including both core and optional units, allowing you to specialise in specific areas of interest.

In the first year, you will take Principles of Economics and Quantitative Methods in Economics I. These will provide the analytical framework of economics and the quantitative and statistical tools used in the field. In the second year, you will take Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and in the final year you will take Financial Economics and have the choice of one whole unit, including an optional dissertation, or two half units.

The Mathematics element of the degree offers a variety of subjects ranging from core course units in algebra and calculus to optional units in areas such as statistical mechanics and advanced electromagnetism. Some course units provide the tools needed in a range of mathematical disciplines, while others apply these tools to areas of interest in real life. In the final year, you will specialize in Advanced Financial Mathematics and Mathematics of Financial Markets.

Throughout the course, you will:

• appreciate and apply the core theories of micro and macroeconomics
• understand and apply mathematical and statistical techniques to analyse and solve economic problems
• advance your knowledge and enhance the basic techniques of mathematics first encountered at A-level
• learn to think logically and analytically
• see how mathematics can model and solve a variety of real-life problems. 

All undergraduate degree courses at Royal Holloway are based on the course unit system. This system provides an effective and flexible approach to study, while ensuring that our degrees have a coherent and developmental structure. In the case of combined degree courses, this approach also makes it possible to change the balance of your subjects during your time at Royal Holloway.

The websites of the Department of Economics  |and the Department of Mathematics| give detailed lists of the course units taken for each different degree.

View the full course specification for Finance and Mathematics (BSc) in the Programme Specification Repository|.

Teaching is mostly by means of lectures and seminars, the latter providing a forum for students to work through problem sets and applications in a smaller and more interactive setting. Outside of scheduled teaching sessions, students work independently, or collaboratively, researching, reading and preparing for seminars. 

Assessment is usually carried out by end of year examinations as well as class tests and assignments. Final year students can choose to complete an extended essay, which offers students the chance to conduct an original piece of research

Royal Holloway offers rigorous degree courses which will prepare you for a broad range of careers. Our graduates are highly employable and have, in recent years, launched careers with a wide-range of organisations, including investment advisors Royal Capital Management, Barclays Bank, and government departments such as the Department of Health. Some of the roles our graduates have entered are those of a financial analyst, finance broker, government economist, chartered accountant, statistician, researcher and teacher.

Certain exemptions may be given by the Institute of Actuaries and other professional bodies to students who have taken appropriate course units as part of their Mathematics degree at Royal Holloway.

To learn more about what our graduates do, please visit the Department’s website|.