Mathematics and Statistics

About the course

All over the world, human beings create an immense and ever-increasing volume of data, with new kinds of data regularly emerging from science and industry. A new understanding of the value of these data to society has emerged, and with it, a new and leading role for statistics.

In order to produce sensible theories and draw accurate conclusions from data, cutting-edge statistical methods are needed. These methods use advanced mathematical ideas combined with modern computational techniques, which require expert knowledge and experience to apply.

A degree in Mathematics and Statistics equips you with the requisite skills for developing and implementing these methods. The course provides a fascinating combination of deep and mathematically well-grounded method-building and wide-ranging applied work with data.

The Department of Statistics at Oxford is an exciting and dynamic place to study, with teaching and research strengths in a wide range of modern areas of statistical science. Many of its academic staff work in the development of fundamental statistical methodology and probability. There is a strong new research group working on statistical machine learning and scalable methods for Big Data.

The department has a world-leading team applying new statistical methods to huge genetic data sets in order to unlock the secrets of human genetic variation and disease. Other groups work on applied probability, network analysis, and medical, actuarial and financial applications. These interests are reflected in the lecture courses available to undergraduates in their third and fourth years.

'I find the range of practical applications for statistics really appealing. I heard a talk about the uses of statistics at a Maths open day, and immediately knew that this would be the right course for me. I have lectures in both pure and applied maths each week, and then have problem sheets that I have to prepare for my tutorials. It’s great fun to try and solve a variety of different problems using newly learnt skills. I have a tutor for each of the five subjects that I’m studying this term, and about three tutorials a week, so the work is pretty intense. As the groups are so small, each tutorial can be tailored precisely to what you don’t understand, making it a very efficient way of learning.' Henry

Unistats information

Discover Uni course data provides applicants with Unistats statistics about undergraduate life at Oxford for a particular undergraduate course.

Please select 'see course data' to view the full Unistats data for Mathematics and Statistics.

Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small. 

Visit the Studying at Oxford section of this page for a more general insight into what studying here is likely to be like.

Academic requirements 

Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.

Read further information on how we use contextual data.

Subject requirements

The majority of those who read Mathematics will have taken both Mathematics and Further Mathematics at A-level (or the equivalent).

Applying

All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown on our Applying to Oxford pages.

The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course.

Admissions test

All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) as part of their application.

All the information you need to arrange to take your test as well as how best to prepare can be found on your test page.

Written work

You do not need to submit any written work when you apply for this course.

What are tutors looking for?

Tutors are looking for a candidate’s potential to succeed on the course. We recommend that candidates challenge themselves with Mathematics beyond their curriculum, question their own understanding, and take advantage of any available extension material.

Ultimately, we are most interested in a candidate’s potential to think imaginatively, deeply and in a structured manner about the patterns of mathematics. 

Visit the Maths Department website for more detail on the selection criteria for this course.

Fees

Additional Fees and Charges Information for Mathematics and Statistics

There are no compulsory costs for this course beyond the fees shown above and your living costs.