In this section you will find information on what mathematics graduates have gone on to do, the resources and support available to you whilst an undergraduate with us and examples of events open to our undergraduate students. Current undergraduates please click here for events and opportunities.
First of all, you can hear from our Careers Consultant Abi Sharma, about what support is available for our mathematical sciences undergraduates.
Mathematics Graduates
Some students entering university know what career they want to go into but the reality is that many don't, so there's no need to worry if you're not sure what you want to do. The most important thing to remember is that when you graduate with your mathematics degree you'll have a set of skills that employers will find very desirable. When you graduate with your degree you will have:
- Excellent analytical abilities
- The ability to work independently
- Highly developed numerical skills
- Effective communication skills
- The ability to apply mathematical modelling to the real world
- Practical computational skills.
These skills are in great demand by employers and you will have the potential for high earnings in the course of your career. The average starting salary for a mathematics graduate is around £22,000 and is higher than the average starting salary for all subjects. Unlike graduates in more vocational disciplines, mathematicians are not limited to one obvious area of employment. For example, mathematics graduates can be found in
• Academic research • Aerospace • Biotechnology • Business and Finance • Chemicals • Computing • Construction • Defence • Electronics • Energy • Environment • Health care • Management • Marketing • Materials • Pharmaceuticals • Retail • Teaching • Transport
The two guides below have been produced for the benefit of our
students. One looks at the impact of mathematics beyond the subject
itself and provides a clear link from the syllabus to applications in a
range of different industries whilst the other has primarily Queen Mary
mathematics alumni talking about their careers and/or postgraduate
study. You can also find advice from employers in a series of videos to
be found here.
Opportunities for Current Students
Green Impact Programme Opportunities
As a part of the Green Impact programme, we are looking for students to receive environmental auditor training to audit the Green Impact teams.
It is a great opportunity for you to meet with like-minded individuals, receive some great training and get some experience undertaking an environmental audit - fantastic for your CVs!
For further information, please contact Sarah Taylor, Green Impact Assistant
An opportunity for your students to join Quest Overseas on our summer community projects in Peru and Malawi.
We have teams departing to work on these projects in July 2012, and wanted to make your department aware, as they may be of particular interest to your Mathematics students interested in overseas travel, volunteering and international development.
Malawi Orphans and Community Project – one month
Working in partnership with Joshua Orphan & Community Care, the aim of this project is to improve the quality of life for some of Malawi’s thousands of orphans. The majority of these children have been orphaned as a result the HIV/AIDS crisis and each community supports around hundred vulnerable children, a major strain on local resources. The project work aims to improve community facilities, e.g. schools and clinics to give these children a brighter start in life.
The focus of the work is construction, for example renovating schools or building a feeding centre. The exact nature of the work you will be doing depends on what is most needed in the area at the time, something Joshua work out in consultation with the local community. Aside from getting hands on with the construction, volunteers also have opportunities to get more involved with the community, such as working with the local scout groups and with local kids ‐ on health and hygiene, environment or HIV workshops‐ the options are endless! Work in local orphan feeding centres, and potentially work with local youth groups on projects on HIV/AIDS awareness. The project is extremely community based and offers volunteers a unique insight into the challenges and the warmth of rural Malawian life.
Volunteers will also have the chance to visit some of Malawi’s best sights, for example kayaking on Lake Malawi, trekking up Mount Mulanje or spotting wildlife on safari in Liwonde National Park.
Bolivia Wild Animal Sanctuary Project- 6 weeks
Quest Overseas has been working with the Inti Wara Yassi wild animal sanctuaries in Bolivia for the past 9 years, building the infrastructure, expanding the land of the parks, and working with the animals. Just over two years ago, the project expanded into its third location in the Bolivian Amazon, due to the ever increasing flow of animals arriving at the parks.
Work with the animals is extremely hands on, with each volunteer taking responsibility for their own animal, whether it be a monkey, bird or wild cat. Daily tasks will involve cleaning enclosures, feeding your animal and accompanying them out into the forest. With the monkeys and birds, it is often a case of working with them while they are getting used to their natural habitat again (most will have been rescued from the pet or circus trade) before releasing them back into the wild. With the wild cats, it is more often a case of making their life as enjoyable as possible as they almost always cannot be released into the wild - so they get taken for daily walks!
As well as the work with the animals, our teams also work to improve the infrastructure of the parks, building enclosures and clearing trails, for around two and a half weeks of the project. A substantial proportion of the cost of the project is a donation direct to the sanctuaries, allowing them to continue their work throughout the year. It is a fantastic project to be a part of and we are sure your students would benefit immensely from being part of it
If you would like to find out more about the projects above, please email rose@questoverseas.com, phone us on 01273 777206, or chat to us online. More information about Quest Overseas and how we work can also be found on our website and we’re more than happy to answer any further questions you may have.
