2023/24 entry
BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Foundation Year
Why study Mathematics with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Opportunity to undertake a year's paid industrial placement
- Strong links with over 450 local and national organisations
- Very high academic and professional standing, with official commendation for excellent teaching and research standards
- £6million investment in state-of-the-art teaching facilities
- Opens up career opportunities in data science, statistics, operations research, teaching, marketing analysis, management consultancy, accountancy and finance
- International Foundation Year course available offering direct progression onto this degree programme - visit LJMU's International Study Centre to find out more
About your course
BSc (Hons) Mathematics at Liverpool John Moores University will give you the mathematical and statistical knowledge to model, solve and analyse real-world problems using the same techniques adopted by major commercial institutions.
The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the ability to study for a degree but don’t have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Mathematics honours degree programme. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).
About the BSc (Hons) Mathematics degree
From the outset, your focus will be on mathematics and statistics, although you are not expected to have any prior knowledge of statistics when you start the course. These studies will build a solid foundation in quantitative methods, combined with an understanding of how to develop software and use mathematical and statistical applications and then in the final year, you have a chance to specialise in areas like financial modelling, operational research, multivariate analysis and data mining.
This degree has a very high academic and professional standing and the School has been formally recognised for its high quality teaching, excellent resources and dedicated staff. The School also boasts state-of-the-art facilities at its Byrom Street campus, with over 150 high performance computers and industry-standard software.
We aim to improve your employability wherever possible on this course, which is why practical modules are introduced at every level. Most importantly, you can spend a sandwich year on a paid work placement to get a taste of what it’s really like to work in industry.
The School’s strong links with over 450 local and national organisations mean that all of its courses are designed and developed to suit the needs of employers today, as well as creating excellent work placements for students. Currently we have close ties with Corus, Unilever, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, IBM, Eutechnyx, Jagex, Spiral House, Heinz, Liverpool Direct, Pilkington, MBNA Bank, HM Treasury, Lloyds TSB, Merseyside Police, Thames Water Authority, AstraZeneca, Littlewoods, Vauxhall Motors and GlaxoSmithKline to name but a few.
"The year of work experience gave me a taste of the area that I wanted to work in after graduation. Now I am Medical Statistician for the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology and Arrowe Park Hospital with responsibility for supporting medical research and clinical audits. This degree was the gateway to my career achievements."
Professional accreditation/links
This programme is accredited by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), a professional body of mathematicians.
This programme will meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Mathematician designation, awarded by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, when it is followed by subsequent training and experience in employment to obtain equivalent competences to those specified by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for taught masters degrees.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- Library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to programme-appropriate software
- Library and student IT support
- Free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
This degree programme will equip you with the mathematical and statistical knowledge to model, solve and analyse real-world problems using increasingly sophisticated quantitative techniques now adopted by major commercial institutions.
Recent graduates have gone on to forge successful careers as Marketing Analysts, Trainee Management Accountants, Accounts Managers, Insurance Broker Consultants and other fields related to mathematics and statistics.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
We are committed to ensuring all our students experience a transformation in their employability skills and mindset and their career trajectory. A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course.
Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose. It will enable you to become more proactive, adaptable and resilient in your awareness and approach to career possibilities.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU’s state-of-the-art suite of online tools, resources and jobs board. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU’s in-house recruitment service, ensuring students can build experience whilst they study.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones to accelerate your job search and applications, CV and interview technique. Themed careers and employability workshops, a programme of employer events and recruitment fairs run throughout the year and students have the opportunity to hear from a range of alumni who openly share their own onward experience.
Student Futures work with businesses to create opportunities for fully funded internships which help students increase their network within the Liverpool City Region and beyond. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or option in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations.
Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules may also be included to provide you with an element of choice within the programme. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 3
Core modules
Algorithms and Computing
10 credits
This module aims to provide an introduction to technical computing and the application of computers in the implementation of simple algorithms.
Engineering and Technology Practice
20 credits
This module aims to develop your practical skills by applying what you learn across the rest of the programme. It will provide an experience of planning, execution and report writing, as well as activities aimed at developing problem solving skills.
Foundation Mathematics for Engineering and Technology 1
20 credits
This module aims to provide you with the mathematical knowledge, understanding and skills which are required to use mathematics as an analytical tool in engineering and technology subjects.
Foundation Mathematics for Engineering and Technology 2
20 credits
This module aims to build upon the material covered in Mathematics 1 by exploring more advanced topics in Mathematics. This includes an introduction to elementary techniques in Calculus.
Programming
10 credits
This module will introduce you to the software development process in order to be able to use a range of computer programming environment and their applications. You will also be able to develop problem solving skills in computing and wider engineering or technology areas.
Introductory Foundation Physics
20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide basic knowledge of electricity mechanics, materials and waves for those who have not studied A-level physics to be able to study an engineering or technology degree.
Additional Foundation Physics
20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide basic knowledge of mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, fields and electronics for those who have not studied A-level physics to be able to study an engineering or technology degree.
Level 4
Core modules
Data Exploration and Analysis
20 credits
This module covers the exploratory analysis of datasets (including basic relational database skills to extract data from appropriate sources), the use of probability to handle uncertainty and develops techniques of hypothesis testing and confidence interval construction.
Mathematical Methods
20 credits
This module will provide the basic mathematical concepts and methods needed to solve a range of problems with scientific, business and statistical applications. You will be introduced to concepts of complex numbers and their application and introduced to methods for solving ordinary first and second order differential equations.
Linear Algebra
20 credits
This module provides you with the experience of using pencil-and-paper techniques and mathematical software to solve realistic problems in Linear Algebra.
Modelling 1
20 credits
The aim of this module is to introduce you to fundamentals of algebra and functions which will be built upon throughout the year.
Mathematical Computer Programming
20 credits
This module aims to develop programming and problem solving skills to help prepare for work in mathematics and statistics.
Modelling 2
20 credits
The aim of this module is to introduce you to mathematical modelling and analytical reasoning linked to real-world applications and introduce you to algorithms for, and practical applications of linear algebra.
Level 5
Core modules
Further Mathematical Methods
20 credits
This module continues to build on mathematical methods and elements of discrete/finite mathematics which have increasing application in science, engineering and business decision making.
Statistical Modelling
20 credits
This module covers simple and multiple linear regression, basic one and two-way Analysis of Variance models, and the process of statistical modelling.
Numerical Methods
20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of the need to analyse and interpret numerical solutions to problems. You will study and investigate the error of certain numerical methods and be provided with practical experience in the use of numerical methods and appropriate software.
Probability and Risk
20 credits
This module will extend your knowledge of the use of probability models to introduce the use of simulation models in order to enable you to familiarise yourself with risk techniques through which can assist decision makers in making informed decisions in the face of uncertainty.
Personal and Professional Development
20 credits
This module will familiarises you with the employment market and the expectations of employers, and develops employability skills. The module also develops advanced I.T. skills related to Mathematics and Statistics.
Differential Equations
20 credits
This module will build on differential equation theory that was introduced in Mathematical Methods. You will be introduced to systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and determine how to solve linear autonomous systems of ODEs and to introduce the concepts of asymptotic theory as a tool for analytically approximating the solution of differential equations.
Level 6
Core modules
Project
40 credits
The aim of this module is to develop and widen your experience of tackling a realistic problem selected from the domain of your programme by carrying out independent research to extend the your ability to communicate the solution to a significant problem.
Operational Research
20 credits
The aim of this module is to examine a wide range of operational research methods and your applicability to real-life problems encountered in business and industry.
Statistics in the Workplace
20 credits
This module aims to give you an experience of campus-based work related learning focusing on the role of a statistician in industry and how statistical methods are applied in both manufacturing and business.
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS
10 credits
ADVANCED CALCULUS
10 credits
Optional modules
Engineering Analysis
20 credits
The module will introduce computational engineering analysis using finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and will extend your experience and skill with the aid of industry standard software.
INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE
20 credits
Business Systems Analysis
20 credits
This module will integrate and extend previous learning and experience in systems investigation and development to develop competence in the investigation and design of complex or large scale business and IT systems.
Mathematical Biology
20 credits
This module will teach the application of mathematical models to a variety of problems in biology and medicine. The aims of the module are to introduce mathematical models of biological systems and techniques for analysing them.
Experimental Number Theory
20 credits
The aim of this module is to familiarise you with the concepts of number theory from a computational perspective. It seeks to introduce you to some topics in elementary number theory based on formulation of conjectures from experimental data.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
You will begin the course with a three day induction and then spend approximately 15 hours per week in the classroom. Independent study is a fundamental element of the course and accounts for about 70% or around 35 hours of your weekly study time.
Teaching is mostly via lectures with informal lab sessions, online activities and small-group tutorials to reinforce ideas discussed in the lectures and to give you a chance to develop ideas with staff and other students.
Work-related Learning
A 12-month paid work placement in your third year gives you the ideal opportunity to get a taste of what it’s really like to work in industry. Thanks to our extensive industrial links, we are able to place you with high-profile companies like Corus, Lloyds TSB and Unilever, where you will be able to put into practice skills learnt during your first two years and also gain new skills.
This experience will significantly enhance your CV and give you that competitive edge over other candidates when you first enter the graduate job market.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
This is a supportive and friendly department. Should you choose to undertake a year’s work placement, this support will continue as a supervisor will stay in close contact and visit you two or three times at your workplace.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
We recognise that all students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of exam and coursework assessment methods for each module. Typically 40% of your mark comes from coursework and 60% from an exam, although some modules could be assessed entirely by coursework depending on the nature of the subject.
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
This programme is delivered in the Byrom Street complex of LJMU’s City Campus. Here you’ll find high quality lecture theatres, meeting and seminar rooms plus social spaces and a large café. The Avril Robarts Library, open 24/7 during semester, is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Minimum points required from qualifications: 88
GCSE and equivalents
Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:
- Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
- NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
- Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
- Higher Diploma in Maths/English
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/English
- Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
- Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A Levels
- Minimum number of A Levels required: 1
- Is general studies acceptable? Yes
- Average A Level offer: CCD
- Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20
T Levels
- T Level requirements:
88 UCAS tariff points from relevant subjects. Pleasecontact the Faculty for further information.
BTEC qualifications
- National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma subjects / grades required: DD if studied on its own or to the total of 88 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: MMM if studied on its own or to the total of 88 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications
Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Further information: 88 UCAS tariff points from Access to HE Diploma.
International Baccalaureate
- International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Additional information: 88 UCAS tariff points from IB
Welsh awards
- Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
Irish awards
- Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Grades / subjects required: 88 UCAS points from a minimum of 5 subjects
OCR Cambridge Technicals
- Technical Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Technical Diploma: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Technical Extended Diploma: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Technical Foundation Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Technical Introductory Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Technical Subsidiary Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
Reduced Offer Scheme
No interview required (UCAS application form only)
IELTS6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English language proficiency test.
International entry requirementsPlease Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Can this course be deferred?Yes
Is a DBS check required?No
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.