Mathematics with Accounting
Mathematics with accounting is a degree that develops two disciplines with a natural and productive relationship. Mathematics provides the rigorous analytical framework and quantitative methods that underpin all serious accounting and financial analysis, while accounting develops the practical knowledge of how financial information is recorded, reported, and used to support decisions in organisations and markets. At the University of Exeter, the BSc Mathematics with Accounting is a three-year full-time programme that includes a sandwich year and work placement, and Exeter is a partner of the CQF Institute, a globally recognised body in quantitative finance.
The mathematics component develops your skills across pure and applied mathematics: analysis, algebra, probability, statistics, and the mathematical tools used in quantitative finance and data analysis are all part of the curriculum. The depth of mathematical training is a genuine differentiator: while many accounting and finance degrees include quantitative methods, a degree that takes mathematics as a primary discipline develops a much more rigorous and versatile analytical capability. The accounting component covers financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, and taxation, giving you practical knowledge of how financial information is produced and used.
The CQF Institute partnership provides access to a professional community in quantitative finance and the benefits of membership. The sandwich year places you in a professional environment, developing competence and building connections that are directly useful in career entry.
Graduates with this combination of mathematical depth and accounting knowledge are strongly competitive in the quantitative and financial graduate jobs market. Roles in accounting and audit firms, corporate finance, investment banking, asset management, quantitative analysis, actuarial work, financial risk management, and financial technology are all directly accessible. The combination of rigorous mathematical training and practical accounting knowledge is particularly valued in organisations that need people who can both build and interpret quantitative models of financial systems.
The sandwich year experience strengthens graduate employment prospects significantly. Many graduates go on to professional qualifications in accounting or actuarial science, while others pursue postgraduate study in finance, mathematics, or data science. The degree provides a strong and versatile foundation for a long professional career in quantitative and financial roles.