Mathematical Modelling MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This MSc provides an ideal foundation for students wishing to advance their mathematical modelling skills. The programme teaches students the basic concepts which arise in a broad range of technical and scientific problems and illustrates how these may be applied in a research context to provide powerful solutions.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Students develop an understanding of the processes undertaken to arrive at a suitable mathematical model and are taught the fundamental analytical techniques and computational methods used to develop insight into system behaviour. The programme introduces a range of problems - industrial, biological and environmental - and associated conceptual models and solutions.

Who this course is for

The programme is aimed at students with a background in a highly numerate discipline who wish to advance their mathematical modelling skills. Successful students will be well placed to satisfy the growing demand for mathematical modelling in commerce and industry, and will learn and practise the skills necessary to pursue further research.

What this course will give you

UCL Mathematics is internationally renowned for its excellent individual and group research that involves applying modelling techniques to problems in industrial, biological and environmental areas. The department is currently 6th in the UK in the QS World University Rankings 2024 for Mathematics.

The department hosts a stream of distinguished international visitors. In recent years four staff members have been elected fellows of the Royal Society, and the department publishes the highly regarded research journal Mathematika.

This MSc enables students to consolidate their mathematical knowledge and formulate basic concepts of modelling before moving on to case studies in which models have been developed for issues motivated by industrial, biological or environmental considerations.

The foundation of your career

Finance, actuarial and accountancy professionals are constantly in demand for their high-level mathematical skills and recent graduates have taken positions in leading finance-related companies such as UBS, Royal Bank of Scotland, Societe Generale, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, and KPMG.

In the engineering sector, one recent graduate has progressed to a mathematical modelling role at a leading transportation planning consultancy; another became a graduate trainee at a business segment of Schlumberger that provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services.

In addition, a number of graduates have remained in education either progressing to a PhD or entering the teaching profession.

Employability

Our graduates have found employment in a wide variety of organisations such as Hillier-Parker, IBM, Swissbank, Commerzbank Global Equities, British Gas, Harrow Public School, Building Research Establishment and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather-Forecasting. 

Networking

Students are encouraged to attend research seminars in Applied Mathematics and lectures/talks by visitors to the Department as well as seminars organised at other London universities. Communication with our community of PhD students, especially in preparation to the summer research project, provides further opportunities to discuss various areas of research and career choices.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered predominantly in lectures, with some modules offering coursework assignments and the programming component accompanied by lab practicals.

The programme is delivered through seminar-style lectures and problem and computer-based classes. Student performance is assessed through a combination of unseen examination and coursework. For the majority of courses, the examination makes up between 90–100% of the assessment. The project is assessed through the dissertation and an oral presentation.

Typically, each taught module has 30 hours of lectures. About 20-25 hours a week are recommended for independent study. In addition, students are encouraged to use office hours provided by the lecturers. Research projects require a similar amount of time although the work is mostly individual accompanied by regular meetings with the project supervisor.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

In terms one and two full-time students can typically expect between 10 and 12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, crits and tutorials. In term three and the summer period students will be completing their own research project, keeping regular contact with their supervisors.

Modules

The taught component of the programme has five compulsory modules, four in term 1 and one in term 2. A further three taught modules are optional, these can be in either either 1 or 2. Examinations in the taught component take place in April/May. The individual research project is in term 3. The project starts immediately after the examinations with submission in early September.

The taught component of the programme has eight taught modules, which is split between two academic years on the part-time programme, four in year 1 and four in term 2. Five of these modules are compulsory. A further three taught modules are optional, these can be in either year. Examinations in the taught component take place in April/May. Individual research project is in term 3 of the 2nd year. The project starts immediately after the examinations with submission in early September.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Mathematical Modelling.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no programme-specific costs.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Naughton & Clift-Matthews Mathematics Scholarship

Deadline: 26 June 2025
Value: £15,000 (One year)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Mathematical Modelling at graduate level
  • why you want to study Mathematical Modelling at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic background meets the demands of a challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Got questions? Get in touch

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