The cross-section of rationale and belief
Year of entry: 2021/22
GV15
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
AAB (full entry requirements)
September 2021 (term dates)
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For thousands of years, maths and philosophy have occupied the same ground.
From Pythagoras to Bertrand Russell, both disciplines developed their own cultural identities, but naturally remained unified. Our contemporary maths and philosophy degree applies that marriage of logic and reasoning to the meaning of life and society.
Our comprehensive tutorial system will support you throughout your degree
Our departments host visits, seminars and lectures from many distinguished academics
University maths is about studying patterns in numbers, geometry and many other abstract concepts. It's also about applying those concepts in practical problem-solving.
Philosophy is not a body of knowledge, but an activity: the activity of seeking a reflective understanding of ourselves and of the natural and social worlds we inhabit. Your maths and philosophy degree will reflect that body of knowledge and range of thinking.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
You'll establish your base with introductory Maths and Philosophy classes during your first year.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
After establishing your basic mathematics, you'll take more advanced courses.
In the Department of Philosophy you take the following modules:
You'll also take some option modules, which last year included:
These will help you to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills that you'll use in more specialised investigations in your third year.
In your final year, you'll decide whether to complete the Maths Final-Year Project (40 credits), or take advanced Philosophy and Philosophy Extension modules. You'll also take optional modules in both departments.
Option research-led philosophy modules last year included:
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The fees and funding figures below are for 2021/22 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £18,350 |
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2021/22 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19)
We hope to deliver this course as advertised for 2021/22 entry, but it’s unclear when we’ll be able to return to a normal timetable. For an idea of how this course might be affected, see our changes for 2020/21 entry.
Lectures and seminars are the main mode of teaching in both Mathematics and Philosophy modules. We support these with small group tutorials in the first year and regular assessments throughout the degree. In addition, all modules are supported by online resources available via Moodle, our Virtual Learning Environment.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 9-11 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 3 hours per week |
| Tutorials | 3 hours per term |
| Problem classes | 1 hour per week |
These figures are based on an average student in an average week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practise completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during term time. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the departments of Mathematics and Philosophy, both of which are on Campus West. Teaching will take place at various locations across Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
The majority of your maths modules are assessed through examinations. Philosophy modules are assessed mostly through examination and essays.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 70% | 68% | 58% |
| Coursework | 30% | 32% | 42% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
Our maths and philosophy course not only provides technical and problem-solving skills sought-after by employers, but also the ability to construct a coherent argument and defend it.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB including A in Mathematics |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 including Mathematics |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% overall, with 85% in Mathematics. |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points overall, including 6 in Mathematics at Higher Level |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | We recognise the value of this qualification although it will not be included as a condition of entry. It may be taken into consideration when you receive your results. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Duolingo | 110 overall, with a minimum of 100 in each component |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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