Mathematics is an incredibly powerful subject that sits at the foundation of all science and technology. And, as a Mathematician, you will learn how to see the beauty of maths in everything; from patterns in nature to geometry in buildings. It will develop your skills in logic, critical thinking and quantitative reasoning. Philosophy on the other hand asks questions about our human existence, beliefs, assumptions and what we know, and whilst fundamentally different to mathematics, it also develops similar skills. Together these disciplines develop your approach to constructing arguments, proving theories and persuasive reasoning.

What to expect

Our three-year BSc Mathematics with Philosophy degree begins by building your understanding of mathematical methods and concepts through a mix of lectures and workshops. You will explore a wide range of topics, from multivariable calculus, probability and statistics, to logic, proofs and theorems. Our philosophy subjects are taught by the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, meaning you benefit from the expertise of two academic communities. Here, you will learn about the key themes in philosophy, consciously drawing on a broad range of philosophical traditions - Continental, Analytic, and non-Western.

In Year 2, as well as deepening your mathematical knowledge in analysis, algebra, probability and statistics, you will start to expand your understanding of philosophy through topics such as the philosophy of science, metaethics, and 19th century analytic philosophy.

As you progress into Year 3, you can choose modules that appeal to your interests, enabling you to delve deeper and gain the specialist skills and knowledge needed to guide you towards a specific career pathway. This could be in areas such as cryptography, graph theory, abstract algebra, moral and legal aspects of philosophy and continental philosophy.

Personal development

You will develop valuable transferable skills such as data analysis, problem-solving and quantitative reasoning, complemented by the ability to reason and think clearly about the most fundamental questions of human existence. These skills are honed by working in collaboration with fellow students, ruminating on theories and testing them out, delivering presentations and communicating your research results and as a result, make you highly desirable to future employers.

A supportive community

To help you transition from A-level to degree-level study, the School of Mathematical Sciences hosts weekly workshops, problem-solving classes, and one-to-one sessions. If you wish to engage with mathematics beyond that, the MathSoc hosts a weekly Maths Café that includes access to academic support and a casual space to chat with other students.

3 things our mathematics students want you to know:

• Mathematics with philosophy is a great way to keep your career options open. Applying reasoning and logic to any problem is a sought-after skill in any career, and the learning at Lancaster University is directly related to real-world applications
• Maths is beautiful. You will see it for yourself. Once you begin learning, you start to see maths everywhere in life, all around us in nature and architecture, and that makes it easier to imagine the future possibilities
• Mathematical sciences at Lancaster are incredibly collaborative. You will bounce ideas around with experts, or with students from all years. Our thriving postgraduate research student community has been right where we are, asking the same questions, and there’s even opportunities to talk with them and learn from them