Mathematics and Computer Science

Mathematics and computer science together provide one of the most powerful intellectual combinations available in higher education. Mathematics develops rigorous logical reasoning, the ability to construct and evaluate formal proofs, and the mastery of the quantitative and abstract frameworks that underlie computation, cryptography, data science, and artificial intelligence. Computer science develops the practical and theoretical skills needed to design, build, and analyse software and computational systems.

The two subjects reinforce each other at every level: the mathematics makes you a more principled computer scientist, and the computer science gives you powerful tools for applying mathematical ideas.

At the University of York, this five-year full-time programme leads to a master's level qualification, reflecting the depth and ambition of the combined course. You will study core areas of mathematics, including analysis, algebra, statistics, and discrete mathematics, alongside core computer science, covering algorithms, programming, software engineering, theory of computation, and computer architecture. Over the five years you will progress into advanced topics in both fields, and you will also undertake a year in industry, spending significant time with an employer in a relevant professional context.

This combination of rigorous academic training and industrial experience is particularly distinctive: you will graduate with both the depth of a master's qualification and the practical exposure that employers in technology, finance, research, and data science value highly.

York's research strengths in both mathematics and computer science inform the teaching, and you will develop the analytical and technical capabilities that make this degree one of the most versatile available.

Graduates go on to careers in software engineering, data science, quantitative analysis, machine learning, cryptography, financial technology, and research. The combination opens doors across sectors from healthcare to gaming to government. Postgraduate study is also an option for those wishing to pursue doctoral research in mathematics or computer science.