Mathematics / Education
Mathematics and education is a degree for those who want to develop genuine expertise in mathematical thinking while also building a deep understanding of how children learn and develop. Mathematics is one of the most demanding and rewarding intellectual disciplines, concerned with abstract structures, logical reasoning, and the precise language of number, space, and pattern. Education, studied alongside it, provides the sociological, psychological, and philosophical frameworks for understanding how learning happens, how educational systems are organised, and what influences children's development from their earliest years onwards.
At Aberystwyth, this three-year degree covers a broad spectrum of childhood development activities, examining the sociological, psychological, and educational factors that shape how children grow and learn. Alongside this you will study a substantial body of mathematical content, covering the range of topics expected of a rigorous mathematics degree, including pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and statistics. The combination gives you the subject knowledge to engage with mathematics at a high level and the educational understanding to think carefully about how that knowledge might be communicated, supported, and assessed in learning environments.
Whether your interest lies in the mathematics itself, in the educational dimensions, or in the interaction between them, the degree trains you to think carefully about both.
Graduates of mathematics and education degrees are particularly well placed for careers in teaching, and many go on to initial teacher training for primary or secondary mathematics. The strong mathematical content of the degree is an asset in a system where specialist mathematics teachers are in high demand. Beyond teaching, the degree also opens routes into educational research, curriculum development, educational publishing, and roles in the third sector working with children and young people.
The quantitative skills developed through the mathematics component are valued across business, finance, and data analysis.