Many Mathematics graduates enter fields where their combination of analytical, numerical and communication skills are valued.

Data obtained from

• Single and joint honours Mathematics courses (BSc and MSci), including those with study abroad
• Graduates from the UK 

Responses were received from 137 UK graduates from 2019/20; this is a response rate of 66.5%

Destinations

Most important activity	Percentage of graduates
Paid work for an employer	72.3%
Self-employment/freelancing	0%
Running my own business	1.5%
Developing a creative, artistic or professional portfolio	0.7%
Voluntary/unpaid work for an employer	0%
Engaged in a course of study, training or research	14.6%
Taking time out to travel	1.5%
Caring for someone	0%
Retired	0%
Unemployed and looking for work	6.6%
Doing something else	2.9%

Sector information

Regular recruitment sectors include actuarial work, operational research, government statistical and security services, engineering and management consultancy, IT, investment banking, financial modelling, accountancy and teaching.

Employment sector	Number of graduates
Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy	15
General secondary education	8
Information technology consultancy activities	8
Non-life insurance	5
Other sectors (34 sectors)	49

As 70% of all graduate vacancies don’t ask for specific degree subjects, mathematicians will also find many openings in fields unrelated to their degree. Bristol Maths graduates have entered a whole spectrum of careers from law, community work and sports coaching to filmmaking and the music business.

Employers and occupations

Examples of employers

• Department for Transport 
• Goldman Sachs Group
• Microsoft
• Office for National Statistics
• Teach First

Examples of occupations

• Actuarial Analyst
• Software Engineer
• Teacher
• Trainee Chartered Accountant 
• Web Developer

Further study

Many want a career where they can use particularly high level mathematical skills, such as research within universities, engineering, industry, financial institutions and public services.

Qualification type	Percentage of graduates
Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil, MRes)	20.6%
Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc, MBA)	29.4%
Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE)	2.9%
Professional qualification	35.3%
Undergraduate degree (including integrated master’s degrees) (e.g. BA, BSc, MBChB, MEng)	0%
Other undergraduate diploma or certificate not specified above	0%
Other qualification	2.9%
Not aiming for a formal qualification	5.9%