Mathematics

Mathematics at degree level is a very different undertaking from school mathematics. Where school maths is largely about applying known techniques to well-defined problems, undergraduate mathematics is concerned with proof, abstraction, and the construction of rigorous arguments from first principles. It asks not just whether a method works, but why, and it develops a kind of thinking that is precise, patient, and comfortable with ideas that cannot be visualised directly.

That capacity for rigorous abstract reasoning is the foundation of the discipline's extraordinary power and its wide applicability.

The Open University offers this programme on a part-time, distance learning basis, making it accessible to people who cannot or choose not to study at a traditional campus university. This might include those who are working, caring for others, living in places without convenient access to a university, or who simply prefer the flexibility and independence of distance learning. The OU's approach to mathematics education has been refined over decades, and the learning materials, online tutorials, and assessment systems are designed to support students who are largely self-directed.

You will cover a broad range of mathematical areas over the course of the programme, typically including calculus, linear algebra, analysis, probability and statistics, differential equations, and discrete mathematics. Depending on the modules you choose, you may also explore more specialised areas such as number theory, mathematical modelling, or numerical methods. The degree develops not just mathematical knowledge but the ability to formulate problems precisely, construct and communicate proofs, and think through complexity systematically.

Graduates from mathematics programmes go on to careers in finance, actuarial science, data analysis, software engineering, scientific research, teaching, and many other fields where quantitative reasoning is central. The OU degree is recognised by employers and universities alike, and many graduates use it as a foundation for further study at postgraduate level in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or related quantitative disciplines.