Maths

Studying Mathematics at Cambridge

Minimum offer: A*A*A with STEP
Essential subjects: Mathematics
Course length: BA (Hons), 3 years full-time; 4 years full-time if progressing to Part III

Ever since Isaac Newton attended Cambridge in 1661, the University has had a reputation for excellence in Mathematics. Over the years, some of the world’s leading mathematicians like Stephen Hawking and Nobel Prize winners have taught in the Faculty.

The Faculty is also closely linked with the Isaac Newton Institute. The Institute attracts specialists from all over the world who tackle outstanding problems in the mathematical sciences.

At the Faculty, the Centre for Mathematical Sciences offers Maths students a great community in which to learn and share ideas including access to break-out spaces equipped with resources making them ideal for collaborative working.

Mathematics at Cambridge is a flexible course where you can study a variety of different subjects. After set courses in the first year, you’ll have more choice each year.

You can choose whether to specialise or keep your options open by studying different topics.

You can choose to study Mathematics for three years to achieve a BA honours degree or for four years which includes an integrated Masters so you would graduate with a BA and Master of Mathematics MMath degree.

What can I do with a degree in Mathematics?

The top three sectors that Cambridge graduates joined in our most recent survey were information technology and finance followed by a combination of education and analysis roles. Of course many mathematics students continue on to further study.

For more information, please visit the University Careers Service website.

What we look for

In general, the Mathematical Tripos aims to find bright thinkers with a lot of mathematical talent who are excellent at dealing with exams under time pressure.

Applicants should have suitable background knowledge in mathematics and be able to apply their knowledge to solving problems. We look for applicants with the ability to think mathematically. This includes having the creativity to make connections between different mathematical ideas, and the flexibility to understand new concepts quickly and use them to solve challenging problems. You should demonstrate the commitment to study mathematics at university level, and be ready to work hard and persevere. Considerable interest in and enthusiasm for the subject are important, and can be expressed in many ways.

Studying Mathematics at St Edmund’s College

St Edmund’s has quite a strong community in the Mathematics Faculty. There are a few mature undergraduates, several Part III students, and also some graduate students. The numbers vary from year to year. A wide range of nationalities is usually represented. The maths students at St Edmund’s support each other and tend to get high grades, often with several distinctions for Part III.

The St Edmund’s mathematics cohort is very small with usually two or three students per year. This means that these students will get to know each other very well, form very close bonds, and become friends for life. The mathematicians at St Edmund’s collaborate with the neighbouring Lucy Cavendish College for social events and other activities that require more mathematicians than St Edmund’s has.

How to apply

Applications for all courses are made through UCAS. There are two deadlines for mature students applying for this course:

15th October 2025 (6pm UK time)

14th January 2026 (6pm UK time)

The January round is particularly suited to those applicants taking one-year courses who may not have covered enough of the course content to apply in October, but are able to make a competitive application by January. In most other cases, it is best to apply in October.

As a mature College, we recognise that our applicants come to us from a diverse range of educational backgrounds and may have studied a long time ago. However, we would expect evidence of formal study within the last two or three years as evidence of an ability to cope with the challenging academic nature of a Cambridge course.

Requirements

Admissions Assessment

Written work

Interviews

Deferred entry

Affiliated Students

If you have already completed or are in the process of completing a first undergraduate degree, you can apply for this course as an affiliated student. This means that you will complete the course in two years instead of the standard three. (Please note that this does not mean that you can go directly into the second year of the course.)

To apply as an affiliate student, you need to have achieved or be on track to achieve a 2.1 or higher in your first undergraduate degree. International equivalents can be found on the University website.

People

Professor Benedikt Löwe, Director of Studies for Part IA, IB, II
Dr Jose Siqueira, Director of Studies for Part III