MA (Hons) in Statistics

at University of St Andrews

Mathematics and Statistics at St Andrews is very popular, and the University is unable to make an offer to every applicant who meets or exceeds the entry requirements. The University seeks to recruit students who are enthusiastic about mathematics and possess the demonstrated potential to be successful. 

Entry requirements are the same for all single Honours degrees in mathematics and statistics, and the chance of receiving an offer does not depend on the degree or entry point applied for. 

Decisions are primarily based on mathematical ability and potential, as demonstrated by school qualifications and position in class or year. The School of Mathematics and Statistics does not use results from MAT or STEP. 

Applicants should, therefore, include as much detail about their mathematics results as possible on their application if available: 

• Highers: band attained as well as the grade, and ideally the percentage attained for Higher Mathematics. 
• A-Levels: grades obtained in each of the mathematics modules taken to date, if any. 
• For guidance on other entry qualifications, please see entry requirements.
• If possible, applicants should include their rank within their year and any awards they have won at school. Applicants should ask their referees to also include this information in their reference.

Applicants should also include any extra-curricular mathematical and scientific accomplishments. This can include, for example, competition results (for example, Maths Challenge and Olympiads) or previous university-level experience (for example, from summer programmes).  

• Home-funded  -  £1820
• RUK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) and Republic of Ireland  -  £9250
• Islands (Channel Islands, Isle of Man)  -  £9250
• EU and overseas  -  £26350

Demand for mathematically trained graduates vastly outstrips the supply, and hence career prospects are excellent in a variety of fields.

Recruiters seek numerate graduates who are literate, think logically, write and present well, and can work with relevant technology – St Andrews degrees develop all of these skills.

A mathematics degree is recognised as a substantial achievement in a demanding discipline.

Around 30% of St Andrews graduates continue on to postgraduate study, either in mathematics or related disciplines such as computer science, finance, or physics.

The majority of the remaining graduates gain employment in areas including: 

• technology firms or computer consultancies
• financial services organisations (for example, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, and PwC) 
• industry
• insurance companies
• merchant banks
• the civil service
• teaching.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.