Overview
Introduction
The business world is increasingly dominated by data. So, there’s a real demand for graduates with the right mathematical and statistical skills who can make sense of this data. This BSc in Financial Mathematics and Statistics meets that need.
Taught jointly by the departments of Mathematics and Statistics, this degree provides a solid grounding in financial mathematics and statistics as well as exploring the interrelationships between these two complementary disciplines.
You’ll develop your theoretical knowledge and learn about mathematical and statistical methods and techniques in finance. At the same time, you’ll explore financial risk management, financing and investment decisions alongside topics such as pricing, derivatives, hedging and optimisation.
Our graduates progress to careers in finance, accounting and other areas where quantitative analysis and data handling are critically important.
Preliminary readings
Mathematics as it is applied in economics and finance
- M Anthony and N Biggs Mathematics for Economics and Finance (Cambridge University Press, 1996)
Economics
- T Harford The Undercover Economist (Oxford University Press, 2006)
Mathematics
Much of university level mathematics is concerned with formal proofs and rigorous mathematical argument, and this is necessary for some of the advanced mathematics required in finance, economics, and other fields of application. For an introduction, we recommend:
- L Alcock How to Study for a Mathematics Degree (Oxford University Press, 2013)
- R Allenby Numbers and Proofs (Butterworth-Heinemann, 1997)
- A Dilnot The Tiger That Isn't: Seeing Through a World of Numbers (Profile books, 2007)
- P Eccles An Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning (Cambridge University Press, 1997)
- T Gowers Mathematics: a very short introduction (Oxford University Press, 2002)
- D Hand Statistics: a very short introduction (Oxford University Press, 2008)
- M Liebeck A Concise Introduction to Pure Mathematics (Chapman & Hall/CRC Mathematics, 2005)
Entry requirements
Here, you can check our entry requirements for GCSEs, A-levels (please read them alongside our information about subject combinations) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We also consider applications from students with a range of other UK qualifications and from overseas. Please select the overseas button below and choose your country from the dropdown list to find the equivalency to A-levels of your qualification.
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Overseas
Additional tests
Applicants are encouraged to take the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA). The test is not mandatory, however a good performance on the test may make an application more competitive.
We welcome students from all walks of life at LSE. We want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation. So, whatever your background, please do apply. Get all the details on our general entry requirements.
Competition for places at LSE is high. We cannot guarantee you an offer of a place even if you’re predicted or achieve our standard entry requirements.
Our standard offer requirements are intended only as a guide and, in some cases, you’ll be asked for different grades.
Programme content
On this programme, you'll study 12 units over three years, plus LSE100.
Year 1
You’ll take five compulsory foundation courses, including two half-unit courses. Additionally, you’ll take LSE100.
Year 2
Your second year includes five compulsory courses, including two half-unit courses, which are each taught over one rather than two terms.
Year 3
In the third year, you’ll take four compulsory courses and choose two half units from a range of mathematics and statistics courses. You'll also take one external option.
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.
Why LSE
2nd In Europe
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023![Map of europe graphic](/_mClaLQ_5793343f-1787-438c-8e52-8663e161d181/static/assets/euro-map.png)
5th In the world
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023![Map of the world graphic](/_mClaLQ_5793343f-1787-438c-8e52-8663e161d181/static/assets/world-map.png)
1st We're ranked top university in London for the 12th year running
The Complete University Guide - University League Tables 2024Carbon Neutral In 2021 LSE became the first Carbon Neutral verified university in the UK
Your application
Overview
We consider each application carefully, taking into account all the details you’ve included on your UCAS form, such as:
- academic achievement, including predicted and achieved grades (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
- subjects and subject combinations (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
- your personal statement
- your teacher’s reference
- educational circumstances
You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although this is not needed at the application stage. See our English language requirements page.
Who attends
We’re looking for students who demonstrate:
- an interest in mathematics, statistics and finance
- an understanding of the links between the disciplines
- involvement in related extra-curricular activities, such as maths competitions or Olympiads
- the ability to think and work independently
- intellectual curiosity and the ability to ask incisive questions
- logical thinking and the ability to follow complex lines of reasoning
- creativity and flexibility in problem-solving
- great organisational and communication skills
- self-motivation and a willingness to work hard.
Fees and funding
The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.
You're charged a fee for each year of your programme. 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
Home student fee per each year of your programme
This is the 2025/26 tuition fee. The home student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.
Overseas
Overseas student fee per each year of your programme
This is the 2025/26 fee for each year of your programme. The overseas tuition fee will remain at the same amount for each subsequent year of your full-time study regardless of the length of your programme. This information applies to new overseas undergraduate entrants starting their studies from 2025/26 onwards.
Learning and assessment
How you learn
How you're assessed
Formative coursework
All taught courses include formative coursework, which is not assessed. This helps you prepare you for summative assessment. We use a range of formative assessment methods, such as essays, case studies, reports, quizzes and mock exams.
Feedback is an essential part of the learning experience at the School. You’ll receive feedback on any formative coursework within three weeks, provided it’s submitted on time.
Summative assessment
This assessment counts towards your final course mark and degree award.
Summative assessment involves exams in most courses at the end of each year (May or early June). Some courses also include assessments in January.
You’ll receive feedback on any summative coursework as part of the assessment for individual courses (except for final submitted dissertations). Feedback will normally be provided before the examination period.
Assessment on individual courses can change from year to year. See details of the current formative coursework and summative assessment for each course in the relevant course guide.
Graduate destinations
Overview
Recent graduates have gone on to work in the areas of corporate finance, accountancy, management, and banking. Many have pursued graduate study in areas related to mathematics, economics, or both.
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
Median salary of our undergraduate students 15 months after graduating:
Top 3 sectors our students work in:
Career support
From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.
Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.
See LSE Careers for further details.
Discover Uni
Every undergraduate programme of more than one year duration will have Discover Uni data. The data allows you to compare information about individual programmes at different higher education institutions.
Programmes offered by different institutions with similar names can vary quite significantly. We recommend researching the programmes you're interested in and taking into account the programme structure, teaching and assessment methods, and support services available.
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