Program Overview

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Mathematics with Foundation Year BSc

Course Description

The course is run on the University of Leicester campus like any other, and you will be studying alongside other students who applied for, and slightly missed out on, a place on a course similar to yours. In the first year of this course you will all be working towards passing a foundation year (year 0), which will enable automatic progression onto year 1 of any of our BSc (or MMath) Mathematics courses.

Entry Requirements

• A-levels: BCC or points equivalent from your best three A-levels. You must have taken Maths or Physics at A-level.
• GCSE: Grade C/4 in English.
• BTEC Diploma: DDM in a science related subject, which must include appropriate maths and science content. You may be required to take an additional maths assessment test.
• International Baccalaureate: Pass diploma with 26 points minimum, and must include appropriate maths and science content.
• Access to HE: Pass diploma with 24 Distinctions in a science related subject, which must include appropriate maths and science content. You may be required to take an additional maths assessment test.

Contextual Offers

The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements.

Selection Process

When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

International Qualifications

Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

Fees and Funding

UK Students

• £9,535 in your first year. Tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation, subject to government regulations.
• Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,430 for that year
• Year in Industry: your fee will be £1,905 for that year

International Students

• £20,250 per year
• Year Abroad: £5062.50, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
• Year in Industry: £3,037.50, which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee

Careers and Employability

Our graduates are equipped for a wide range of careers and have gone into: the financial sector, including accountancy and actuarial work; management; the Civil Service; industry; and teaching (both primary and secondary education)

Related Courses

• Computer Science with Foundation Year
• Engineering with Foundation Year
• Physics with Foundation Year
• Geology with Foundation Year

Sustainable Development Goals

We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

• Goal 4: Quality education
• Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 14: Life below water
• Goal 15: Life on land
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

Course Structure

Foundation Year

• Mathematics 1
• Mechanics 1
• Mathematics 2
• Mechanics 2
• Introduction to Programming (double module)
• Introductory Data Analysis
• Academic Support

Year 1

• Calculus and Analysis 1
• Linear Algebra 1
• Fundamentals of University Mathematics
• Calculus and Analysis 2
• Linear Algebra 2
• Probability and Statistics

Year 2

• Vector Calculus
• Advanced Linear Algebra
• Introduction to Computing
• Differential Equations
• Algebra
• Investigations in Mathematics

Year in Industry or Abroad (Optional)

If you want to, you can take a year out between Years 2 and 3 of the BSc, studying at one of our partner institutions or working in an industrial placement. Alternatively you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in four years.

Final Year

• Choose three option modules from:
  • Scientific Computing
  • Financial Engineering
  • Operational Research
  • Differential Geometry
  • Groups and Symmetry
  • Mathematical Modelling
  • Topology
  • Equations of Mathematical Physics
  • Business Microeconomics
• Choose three option modules from:
  • Topics in Mathematical Biology
  • Generalised Linear Models
  • Number Theory
  • Communicating Mathematics
  • Data Mining and Neural Networks
  • Squaring the Circle and Irreducible Polynomials
  • Introduction to Functional Data Analysis
  • Business Macroeconomics
• Plus either an Industrial Mathematics Project or a Mathematics Research Project

Teaching and Learning

Teaching

As well as lectures, your course will involve regular group meetings, run by both staff and other students, where students’ work is discussed. You will gain experience in presenting mathematical arguments to fellow students, which will enhance and develop your presentation and communication skills.

Assessment

Assessment will be via course work, computational exercises, projects and written exams.

Independent Learning

When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams.

Academic Support

Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:

• study and exam skills
• academic writing
• presentations
• dissertations
• numerical data skills
• referencing sources

Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.

Why Leicester?

Our School operates an Open Door policy, meaning you can access support when you need it.

We have a thriving, student-led Maths Society (SUMS) and Leicester Actuarial Science Society (LASS) which organises social activities and guest lectures throughout the year.

The academic staff in the department have written or edited dozens of books and publish regularly in major national and international journals. Where other people only get to read what our experts think, you will be working directly with them, learning from them in lectures and questioning them in seminars.

92% positivity score in subjects aligned to Mathematics for ‘Supportive learning staff’ in the NSS 2024 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2023 methodology applied to the NSS 2024 data).