How to apply for mathematics at the University of Reading: the Department of Mathematics and Statistics admits straight onto a named course, with computer science, finance and investment banking, and data science variants, A-Level ABC with an A in maths, entry routes and requirements for UK applicants, international students (including China) and transfers

Mathematics at the University of Reading is taught by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics on the Whiteknights campus. This guide summarises 2027/28 entry from Reading's official pages for UK applicants, international students (including those from China) and students who want to join at year two.

1. Which mathematics courses you can apply to

Reading says you can study mathematics as a single honours degree or combine it with finance and investment banking, computer science, or statistics and data science; all courses teach coding. You apply straight to a named course; the course pages do not describe a shared first year followed by a choice of subject.

• BSc Mathematics (UCAS code G100): three years, with a four-year BSc Mathematics with a Placement Year. The first two years cover algebra, calculus, differential equations, probability and statistics and mathematical modelling; most final-year modules are optional (the page gives number theory and cryptography, dynamical systems, numerical analysis and machine learning methods as examples) alongside a mathematical or statistical project.
• BSc Mathematics with Computer Science (GG14): three years, roughly two thirds mathematics and one third computer science, with a four-year placement-year version.
• BSc Mathematics with Finance and Investment Banking (G1N3): three years, about two thirds mathematics and one third finance and investment banking guided by Henley Business School. The page describes three dealing rooms with Bloomberg and LSEG Workspace terminals, and a trading simulation with a $50-100 million book. A four-year placement-year version is also listed.
• BSc Mathematics and Statistics with Data Science (GG13): three years covering mathematics, statistics and data science, including linear models, statistical computing, regression and classification and unsupervised machine learning, with a four-year placement-year version.
• Versions with an International Foundation Year: Reading also lists BSc Mathematics with International Foundation Year (September entry) and BSc Mathematics with Finance and Investment Banking with International Foundation Year (September entry), both four years; see the international section below.

The course pages say most mathematics courses are approved by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) as meeting the educational requirements for Chartered Mathematician status, followed by training and experience in employment; the four course pages above carry this statement. The mathematics page lists Computer Science and AI, and Meteorology and Climate, as related subjects. Joint Honours combinations such as mathematics with economics are not listed on the mathematics pages used for this guide; check the website for any not covered here.

The BSc Mathematics page also says you can spend two weeks or an academic year abroad, and that a placements team supports finding placements and applying for summer research through the Reading Internship Scheme.

2. Prerequisites and entry requirements

• A-Level: the typical offer for all four courses is ABC, including an A in A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics. If you also take the EPQ and get a B, Reading will accept ACC with an A in Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics.
• BTEC: not accepted unless studied alongside A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics; the BTEC Extended Diploma alone cannot meet the maths requirement.
• International Baccalaureate: 30 points overall including 6 in Maths at Higher Level.
• English: IELTS 6.5 with no component below 5.5; other English qualifications are on the international pages. A pre-sessional English course is available before entry.
• EPQ: Reading says EPQ results can be part of a formal offer.
• Admissions tests or interviews: the four course pages do not mention a maths admissions test (such as MAT, STEP or TMUA) or an interview. The general application page says some courses require an interview or portfolio and tells you to check the course page; the mathematics pages do not list this step. Check the website and UCAS for changes.
• Contextual offers: the mathematics page says contextual offers are made for all courses; the conditions are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check with Admissions.
• A conflict on the website: the top of the BSc Mathematics with Finance and Investment Banking page shows an A-Level offer of ABB, while the "Typical offer" section of the same page says ABC (with an A in maths). Both are given here; confirm with Admissions.
• Scottish Highers and other UK qualifications: the course pages list A-Level, BTEC and IB and say many other qualifications are accepted. Requirements for other UK qualifications are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask Admissions.

3. Applying and deadlines

• All undergraduate courses, including those with an integrated foundation year, are applied for through UCAS. Reading's institution code is R12, and you can choose up to five courses, including more than one at Reading; use the UCAS codes on the course pages. You write a personal statement and need a reference and predicted or achieved grades. UCAS charges most students a small application fee; check UCAS for the amount.
• Reading says most undergraduate courses have a UCAS deadline in January; check UCAS for the exact 2027-entry date, as the pages used for this guide do not print a date or year.
• If you miss the January deadline you can still apply through UCAS, and Reading will consider late applications until June; after June they go into Clearing. Reading also warns that some courses may be full after January, so apply early where possible.
• After you apply, UCAS passes your application to Admissions, which looks at your personal statement, predicted or achieved grades and reference. Offers are conditional or unconditional. Offer Holder Days normally run between February and April of your year of entry. To defer or change course, submit the Change My Offer Request form.

4. International students and applicants from China

• International students: the course pages point you to the country pages for country-specific entry requirements. If you do not meet direct-entry requirements, BSc Mathematics and BSc Mathematics with Finance and Investment Banking are both offered as four-year courses with an integrated International Foundation Year (IFY): completing it, together with any other entry requirements, guarantees progression into year one of the degree. Fees and scholarships are below.
• Applicants from China: Reading's China page says it accepts a wide range of equivalent qualifications depending on course and level. For undergraduate study it lists:
  • International Foundation Programme: Chinese High School Year 2 (Year 11) with a leaving certificate averaging 75%; High School Year 3 (Year 12) with a graduation certificate averaging 70%.
  • A recognised International Foundation Programme, or first-year study at a recognised Chinese university with at least 80%.
  • Gaokao: a minimum overall average of 80% for courses that require AAA at A-Level, 77% for AAB/ABB, and 74% for BBB.
  • Ambright (AST Maths 165, AST English 200; AST Physics case by case for science and life science courses); or the IB Diploma with 30-34 points depending on the programme.
  The mathematics courses ask for ABC at A-Level, which is not one of the three bands in that Gaokao list (AAA, AAB/ABB, BBB). Reading does not publish a Gaokao score for ABC, or say how a mathematics course reads the Gaokao maths result; ask Admissions. The China page also links a Chinese-language website and a list of approved representatives in China that you can check.

5. Fees and scholarships

• International fees for 2027/28 are £26,850 a year on all four mathematics course pages, with annual increases in later years as set out in your student contract.
• UK applicants: the home fee for 2027 entry is £10,050 a year for new UK and Republic of Ireland students, subject to annual increases in later years. The course pages do not distinguish England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; check the website.
• The course pages say some courses need extra payments for field trips and resources, and you should budget for accommodation and living costs.
• The international scholarships page lists, among undergraduate options, the Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarship: £6,000 a year for up to four years towards living costs, with 2027 deadlines not yet confirmed; the course page says up to 400 are awarded each year to high-achieving students from the UK and overseas who care about environmental sustainability. There is also the International Foundation Excellence Scholarship: £5,000 off tuition for eligible international students starting an International Foundation Programme or Year, with a deadline of 16 November 2026 for January 2027 entry. The page lists no automatic academic scholarship for international undergraduates on degree courses; ask Admissions.

6. Transfers and advanced entry

• Neither the mathematics pages nor the application page explains how to transfer into year two from another university or how credits are recognised; this is not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask the Department of Mathematics and Statistics or Admissions.
• The rules for moving between the mathematics courses after you start (for example from Mathematics to Mathematics with Computer Science) are also not given on those pages; ask the department.

7. Checklists

UK applicants:

• Have A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics at A, ABC overall; an EPQ at B allows ACC
• A BTEC alone is not enough; take an A-Level in a maths subject alongside it
• Apply through UCAS (R12) by the January deadline and check UCAS for the 2027-entry date

International students (including China):

• IB 30 points with 6 in Maths HL; IELTS 6.5 (5.5 per component)
• If you do not meet direct entry, consider the four-year versions with an International Foundation Year
• Reading's Gaokao list has no band for ABC, so ask Admissions how a mathematics course reads the Gaokao

Transfer students:

• Year-two entry rules are not published; contact the department or Admissions first

Sources: University of Reading, Mathematics undergraduate courses; BSc Mathematics; BSc Mathematics with Computer Science; BSc Mathematics with Finance and Investment Banking; BSc Mathematics and Statistics with Data Science; How to apply; Information for students from China; International scholarships. Information is for 2027/28 entry; module lists are those the pages give for 2026/27; fees, scholarships and deadlines may change, so check the University of Reading website for the latest.