MSc in Mathematics and Computational Science
- Programme Director and Admissions Officer
- Dr. Tony Shardlow
- Tony.Shardlow [at] manchester.ac.uk
- +44(0)161 27 55821
On 21st of June 1948, the first stored-program electronic digital computer ("the Baby") was born at the University of Manchester and since that time Manchester has been at the forefront of research in computer science and computational mathematics. The School of Mathematics run an MSc in Mathematics and Computational Science that leads you into the world of modern scientific computing. It is ideal preparation for PhD studies in Manchester's vibrant postgraduate community and opens up a wide range of careers.
This MSc programme has two goals
- To develop research skills for study towards a PhD in the areas of numerical analysis, dynamical systems, PDEs, computational science, and related application areas.
- To develops skills in numerical computing in demand by industry. Mathematics and scientific computing are keys to solving problems and analyzing data in industry and commerce, such as biology (genomic research, medical imaging), finance (globalization of markets, sophisticated options trading), engineering (computational mechanics), and digital libraries (indexing and searching vast corpuses of data).
Students will study the folllowing core module
- Numerical Linear Algebra
- Applied Dynamical Systems
- Essential PDEs
- Scientific Computing
- Numerical Optimisation
and one further module is taken from the School of Mathematics fourth year programme, including modules on linear analysis and nonlinear waves.
Six of these modules are completed in the first two semesters and are worth a total of 90 credits. From early in the second semester, students work on a dissertation worth 90 credits. Usually students choose a topic in numerical analysis, inverse problems, mathematical finance, image processing, finite element methods and high performance computing, numerical solution of differential equations, numerical linear algebra, dynamical systems, or numerical optimisation. Dissertations are normally supervised by a member of staff from the applied mathematics group in Mathematics, especially the groups in
A list of recent dissertations is available online. Further details on the programme is available here.
Recent graduates
The MSc develops deep understanding of the mathematical and computational techniques used in scientific computing and provides a basis for studying for a PhD in mathematics or computer science. Recent graduates have started PhDs in imaging science, linear algebra, parallel computing for geotechnics, computational fluid dynamics, electrical impedance tomography, mathematical biology, and combustion theory.
Recent graduates have started careers with Numerical Algorithms Group, Polaris Consulting, MKS Instruments, and Royal London Actuaries.
Further comments by recent graduates is available online.
NAG Prize in Mathematics and Computational Science.
Each year NAG offers the NAG Prize for excellence in the January examinations. The prize was first awarded in the academic year 2007-8.
Admissions
This MSc course is suitable for mathematically well qualified graduates. Many of our students have an undergraduate degree in mathematics, others come from physics and engineering backgrounds and others join after working in industry for a time.
The programme starts in September and lasts one year.