Overview
Our BA Mathematics with Computing (including foundation year) will be suitable for you if your academic qualifications do not yet meet our entrance requirements for the three-year version of this course and you want a programme that increases your subject knowledge as well as improves your academic skills in order to support your academic performance.
This four-year course includes a foundation year (Year Zero), followed by a further three years of study. During your Year Zero, you study three academic subjects relevant to your chosen course as well as a compulsory academic skills module, with additional English language for non-English speakers.
You are an Essex student from day one, a member of our global community based at the most internationally diverse campus in the UK.
After successful completion of Year Zero in our Essex Pathways Department, you progress to complete your course with our Department of Mathematical Sciences. Mathematics and computing are intertwined, and affect people’s lives in ways you might not expect. Maths is the language that underpins the modern world and our BSc Mathematics with Computing is predominantly mathematical, backing this up with training in programming and algorithms. You’ll receive a good grounding in a broad range of subjects and have the flexibility to choose options according to your interests in both departments. This allows you to tailor your degree to your chosen specialism or preferred career path.
At Essex we help you develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will start to prepare you to succeed in a wide range of careers involving mathematics and computing. You can build a sound set of skills spanning both disciplines including rigorous problem-solving skills. For example, in mathematics you will learn to analyse very large datasets as well as discover deep insights into complex systems. This is complemented by computational modules that give you will the ability to see a computer system from specification through design, testing and documentation to implementation, and experience of writing technical descriptions and reports.
Our expert staff
We have some of the best teachers across the University in our Essex Pathways Department, all of whom have strong subject backgrounds and are highly skilled in their areas.
As well as being world-class academics, our mathematics staff are award-winning teachers. Many of our academics have won national or regional awards for lecturing, and many of them are qualified and accredited teachers – something which is very rare at a university.
Our original computer science department was founded by Professor Tony Brooker, who came to Essex from Manchester where he had worked with Alan Turing. Professor Brooker invented the compiler-compiler, one of the earliest applications of a formal understanding of the nature of programming languages.
In recent years our School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering has attracted many highly active research staff and we are conducting world-leading research in areas such as evolutionary computation, brain-computer interfacing, intelligent inhabited environments and financial forecasting.
Specialist facilities
By studying within our Essex Pathways Department for your foundation year, you will have access to all of the facilities that the University of Essex has to offer, as well as those provided by our department to support you:
- We provide computer labs for internet research; classrooms with access to PowerPoint facilities for student presentations; AV facilities for teaching and access to web-based learning materials.
- Our new Student Services Hub will support you and provide information for all your needs as a student
- Our social space is stocked with hot magazines and newspapers, and provides an informal setting to meet with your lecturers, tutors and friends.
Take advantage of our extensive learning resources in the Department of Mathematical Sciences to assist you in your studies:
- In addition to teaching, we have a Maths Support Centre, which offers help to students on a range of mathematical problems. Throughout term-time, we can chat through mathematical problems either on a one-to-one or small group basis
- We have our own computer labs for the exclusive use of students in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering and we have a dedicated social and study space for Maths students situated in the new £18m STEM Centre
- Software includes Java, Prolog, C++, Perl, Mysql, Matlab, DB2, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio, and Project
- You have access to CAD tools and simulators for chip design (Xilinx) and computer networks (OPNET)
- We also have specialist facilities for research into areas including non-invasive brain-computer interfaces, intelligent environments, robotics, optoelectronics, video, RF and MW, printed circuit milling, and semiconductors
Your future
Clear thinkers are required in every profession, so the successful mathematician has an extensive choice of potential careers.
Mathematics and computing graduates are highly employable in a wide range of places, working in business, pharmaceutical industries, banking and computing among others. The Council for Mathematical Sciences offers further information on careers in mathematics.
Our recent graduates from our BSc Mathematics with Computing have found employment as:
- Junior software programmers
- Web designers
- Web developers
We also work with our University’s Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.
Why we’re great
- As well as being world-class academics and researchers, we are award-winning lecturers.
- Guarantee your place on your chosen course if you successfully complete your foundation year at Essex.
- We go the extra mile to make sure you succeed both during and after your time with us.
Structure
Course structure
We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.
Your course structure could differ based on the modules you choose.
Teaching and learning disclaimer
Following the impact of the pandemic, we made changes to our teaching and assessment to ensure our current students could continue with their studies uninterrupted and safely. These changes included courses being taught through blended delivery, normally including some face-to-face teaching, online provision, or a combination of both across the year.
The teaching and assessment methods listed show what is currently approved for 2022 entry; changes may be necessary if, by the beginning of this course, we need to adapt the way we’re delivering them due to the external environment, and to allow you to continue to receive the best education possible safely and seamlessly.
