English and Mathematics

English and mathematics is an unusual and genuinely complementary combination, bringing together two disciplines that develop very different kinds of thinking but that, studied together, produce graduates with an unusually broad and flexible intellectual toolkit. Mathematics develops rigorous analytical and problem-solving skills, both in pure mathematics, where the focus is on proof and structure, and in applied mathematics, where mathematical theories are used to model and solve real-world problems. English develops the ability to read carefully, interpret complex texts, construct sustained arguments and communicate ideas with precision and clarity.

The two disciplines reinforce each other in subtle ways.

At the University of Dundee, this four-year programme develops your mathematical skills in both pure and applied areas, giving you experience with mathematical software and preparing you for the quantitative demands of many careers, while also developing your literary and critical skills in English. You will study poetry, fiction, drama and other forms across historical periods and cultural traditions, building the analytical and expressive capabilities that English education cultivates. A year abroad gives you the opportunity to study at an international partner institution and extend your academic perspective beyond Dundee.

Graduates in English and mathematics enter careers across a wide range of fields. The mathematical training opens pathways in data analysis, finance, actuarial science, teaching, research and a range of quantitatively demanding professions, while the English dimension adds value in roles that require excellent written communication, critical thinking and the ability to interpret and present complex information to non-specialist audiences. Teaching is a particularly natural destination, as secondary schools consistently need well-qualified teachers in both subjects.

Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in mathematics, English, education or a field that benefits from both quantitative and humanistic training.