Mathematics

This certificate comprises two 30-credit modules from a wide choice. Tailor your study to areas that suit you. Develop skills in problem solving and decision making relevant in business, commerce and industry. It's also the first stage of our postgraduate mathematics programme. After this certificate, you can progress to the postgraduate diploma and then the MSc in Mathematics.

Key features of the course

Develops your problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.

A wide choice of modules enables you to tailor the course to your needs.

Helps you stand out in a crowded jobs market.

This certificate is the first stage of a study programme that progresses to a postgraduate diploma and finally a masters degree.
You can step off at any point, or study the whole programme.

To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits.

for module details go to https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/c90#course-details

You should normally have a minimum of either:
•a 2:2 honours degree in mathematics or
•a 2:1 honours degree in a subject with a high mathematical content.

If you don't have such a qualification, your application will still be considered, but you may be asked to complete an entry test. Non-graduates will not normally be admitted.

Whatever your background, you should assess your suitability by completing our diagnostic quiz.

If you're new to postgraduate study in mathematics, start with a single module: either the applied mathematics module Calculus of variations and advanced calculus (M820) or the pure mathematics module Analytic number theory I (M823).

Minimum - 1 year.

How long it takes
• Most students complete this qualification in two years, at the rate of one module per year.
• The minimum time you may complete this qualification in is one year.
• There's no time limit for completing this qualification, but we can't guarantee the same selection of modules will continue to be available.
• Some modules start only once every two years.

Career relevance
Mathematics is at the heart of advances in science, engineering and technology, as well as being an indispensable problem-solving and decision-making tool in many other areas of life. It is no surprise therefore that mathematics postgraduates can be found throughout industry, business and commerce, in the public and private sectors. Employers value the intellectual rigour and reasoning skills that mathematics students can acquire, their familiarity with numerical and symbolic thinking and the analytic approach to problem-solving which is their hallmark.

There are a variety of reasons for studying mathematics at postgraduate level. You may want a postgraduate qualification in order to distinguish yourself from an increasingly large graduate population. You may find that your undergraduate mathematical knowledge is becoming insufficient for your career requirements, especially if you are hoping to specialise in one of the more mathematical areas, which are becoming more sought after by employers. Or you may want to move on to a PhD in Mathematics. The extent of opportunities is vast and mathematics postgraduates are equipped with skills and knowledge required for jobs in fields such as finance, education, engineering, science and business, as well as mathematics and mathematical science research.

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.