Computational Applied Mathematics MSc

This programme involves two taught semesters of compulsory and optional courses followed by your dissertation project.

Compulsory courses have previously included:

• Applied Dynamical Systems
• Numerical Linear Algebra
• Python Programming
• Numerical Partial Differential Equations
• Research Skills for Computational Applied Mathematics

Optional courses have previously included:

• Applied Stochastic Differential Equations
• Statistical Methodology
• Stochastic Modelling
• Fundamentals of Optimization
• Statistical Programming
• Bayesian Theory
• Introductory Probability and Statistics
• Industrial Mathematics
• Data Analytics with High Performance Computing*
• Numerical Ordinary Differential Equations and Applications
• Time Series
• Large Scale Optimization for Data Science
• Optimization Methods in Finance
• Bayesian Data Analysis
• Mathematics in Action
• Machine Learning in Python
• Numerical Methods for Data
• Nonlinear Optimization
• Uncertainty Quantification

*delivered by the School of Informatics

Dissertation projects

Dissertation projects on this programme can be undertaken in partnership with public and private sector organisations. Other students choose an academic project without a direct link to an external organisation.

Past projects have included:

• Disease spread on a hypergraph model of Edinburgh
• Understanding ice-shelf basal channels through coupled ice-ocean modelling
• Creating habitat maps from sparse labels (project in partnership with Space Intelligence)
• Scaling machine learning training using data reduction techniques (project in partnership with Viapontica AI)
• Positron emission particle tracking reconstruction

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

At the end of this programme you will have:

• the ability to apply computational and mathematical techniques to problems in science and industry
• detailed practical experience of programming and numerical techniques
• developed transferable skills, including communication and presentation skills, as well as group work and time management
• encountered modern techniques in computational applied mathematics through studying recent research
• had the opportunity to study data-centric computing techniques such as machine learning

This programme will provide training in the tools and techniques of data science, mathematical modelling, and scientific computing. It will also provide students with skills for problem solving using modern techniques of applied mathematics.

Key graduate employment sectors include:

• software engineering
• data science
• banking and finance

In addition to entering employment, many of our graduates progress on to study a PhD in a variety of topics including:

• applied and computational mathematics
• computational biology
• biomedical engineering
• physics

Students have gone on to study their PhDs at a variety of highly-ranked universities such as ETH Zurich, Edinburgh, Bristol, and St Andrews.

Student Support Team

In the School of Mathematics, we have a dedicated Student Support Team consisting of six staff members. You will have a Student Adviser who is your first point of contact during your time at the University of Edinburgh, and who is available to help and advise on a range of issues connected to your postgraduate study. Study support will be provided by academics acting as Cohort Leads, with wider teaching teams, who will work with students to connect you with your programme of study and provide you with more specialist subject support.

Student blogs

Learn about what life is like as a MSc student in the School of Mathematics, by hearing from the people that have experienced it first-hand! Our student bloggers come from all across the world, and have studied on a variety of our MSc programmes.

• Postgraduate Blogs

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 degree, or its international equivalent, in a numerate discipline such as mathematics, engineering, computer or physical sciences.

Previous study of applied mathematics, probability and differential equations at university level will be required.

Applicants should have studied a university level course with a substantial programming element, or have an equivalent level of programming experience.

You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements.

Students from China

This degree is Band B.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Application fee

None.

Deposit

None.

Additional programme costs

None.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

School of Mathematics Masters Scholarships

The School of Mathematics is offering a number of 50% tuition fee scholarships for applicants applying to study a Masters programme in Mathematics. These will be based on academic merit and available to applicants domiciled in the eligible countries.

• Check your eligibility and apply for a School of Mathematics Masters Scholarship

Martingale Foundation Scholarships

We are one of the Martingale Foundation's newest university partners. The Martingale Foundation helps provide access to postgraduate mathematics study for UK students facing financial barriers by offering fully-funded MSc and PhD programmes. Applications for the 2024 Martingale Scholarship close on Wednesday 25 October 2023

• Apply for a Martingale scholarship

British Council GREAT Scholarships - Malaysia

This scholarship programme offers financial support to applicants from Malaysia pursuing one year of taught postgraduate study in the School of Mathematics. The scholarship has a value of £10,000 which will be deducted from tuition fees and will be tenable for one academic year.

*Apply for a GREAT scholarship

School of Mathematics funding

There may be School funding available for well-qualified candidates.

• School of Mathematics funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding