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Graduate (Taught)
Application code:G2U1
Department of Mathematics

MSc Operations Research and Analytics

This programme is designed for students wishing to deepen and broaden their mathematics knowledge, and gain skills in high demand in the marketplace.

Overview

Introduction

With study in practice and theory, you'll gain insight into analytics problems faced by businesses, governments, and nonprofits. On the practical side, you'll learn how to model a range of real-world problems using optimisation, stochastic simulation, and machine learning, using specialist software taught in tutorial sessions. On the theoretical side, you'll learn to recognise canonical underlying mathematical problems, and how to solve them with state-of-the-art methods. Courses are taught by faculty members with world-leading research profiles, who can provide insights that will give you a deeper understanding and a competitive edge.

In the first term, you'll learn the fundamentals of operations research and machine learning. In the second term, you can choose from a range of courses in mathematics, statistics, finance, and management. Course topics include algorithms and computation, optimisation, game theory, and further topics in machine learning and AI.

You'll undertake a final project where, working in a consultancy role and using the tools you have learned in the degree, you'll tackle a real problem faced by a partner organisation. Past and present partners include Amazon, BT, British Airways, Emirates Airlines, FICO, Ford Motor Company, Just Eat, Legal and General, the National Audit Office, and Transport for London. As an alternative to the project, more theoretically minded students can write a dissertation supervised by a faculty member.

Revamped for 2025/26, the programme is designed for students wishing to deepen and broaden their mathematics knowledge, and gain skills in high demand in the marketplace.

Entry requirements

An upper second class honours (2:1) degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent). Students should normally have taken university courses including calculus, linear algebra, and statistics. Appropriate work experience will also be considered.

Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Overseas

English language requirements

The English language requirement for this programme is Standard. Read more about our English language requirements.

Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this does not guarantee you an offer of a place.

However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out from other students.

Programme content

You'll take three compulsory courses and will choose courses from a range of options within the Department and across other relevant departments, including Management and Statistics.

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department

The Department of Mathematics aims to be a leading centre for the study of mathematics in the social sciences.

The department has a vibrant intellectual community, with fantastic students, internationally respected academics and high-achieving alumni. Our department has grown rapidly in recent years, with exciting developments in research and new teaching programmes and courses.

This research encompasses four main overlapping areas:

  • discrete mathematics and algorithms
  • mathematical game theory
  • financial and related mathematics
  • operational research.

All aspects of our research were ranked world-leading or internationally excellent in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), submitted jointly with the Department of Statistics.

We embrace the School’s ethos of research-led teaching. Currently, we offer four undergraduate and three postgraduate programmes, as well as doctoral research opportunities on our MPhil/PhD in Mathematics. These programmes are all in high demand – attracting talented students from diverse backgrounds.

Our programmes are highly interdisciplinary and we have close ties with other departments at LSE, including Statistics, Economics, Finance, Management and the Data Science Institute.

Whatever your study route, you’ll benefit from a welcoming, inclusive and friendly learning environment where students and staff are supported to achieve their best.

Learn more about our programmes, recent research and regular events and seminars.

Your application

Overview

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

  • academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
  • statement of academic purpose
  • two academic references
  • CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

336
Applications
42
Intake
8:1
2023 Ratio

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for your programme. At LSE, your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Home

£30,900

Home student fee (2025/26)

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

Learning and assessment

How you learn

Graduate destinations

Overview

This programme is ideal preparation for a range of careers in quantitative positions in consultancy, management, finance, government and business, anywhere in the world.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Financial and Professional Services
Information, Digital Technology and Data
Accounting and Auditing
Consultancy
Transport, Logistics, Procurement, Storage and Courier Activities
This data is drawn from the 2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey, run by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and in full-time employment.

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