What are the top universities for maths?

username5243714

What do you think are the best universities to study maths at?

(I am asking this for a friend who doesn't have TSR).

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Reply 1

zetamcfc

Original post by Lightning720

What do you think are the best universities to study maths at?

(I am asking this for a friend who doesn't have TSR).

Cambridge, Oxford, ICL, Princeton, Harvard, Berkley, Stanford, MIT, Bonn, etc.

Reply 2

username5243714

Original post by zetamcfc

Cambridge, Oxford, ICL, Princeton, Harvard, Berkley, Stanford, MIT, Bonn, etc.

Any reasons why?

And I should have specified that he only wants UK unis.

Reply 3

ilililili

Cambridge oxford Warwick imperial

Original post by Lightning720

Any reasons why?

And I should have specified that he only wants UK unis.

Have the best researchers in the world. Access to high level seminars and events to meet people. Broad and difficult module choices that are available. Reasonably nice places to be as well.

Then add, Warwick, Manchester, Bristol etc.

Reply 6

Oxford Mum

Depends which course he prefers, frankly. But if he wants league tables:

https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/mathematics

Oxford

The Guardian puts Oxford top of the rankings too

https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2019/jun/07/university-guide-2020-league-table-for-mathematics

These world rankings put Cambridge ahead of Oxford:

https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/university-subject-rankings/top-universities-mathematics-2020

Unis in general, with small course overviews:

https://www.studying-in-uk.org/top-maths-universities-uk/

Warwick is also supposed to be a fantastic uni for maths.

Depends on what you mean by "top" really. Courses can differ from uni to uni. You friend needs to research each course thoroughly by looking at individual university websites.

Reply 7

Grim_Squeaker

All very good answers up there. Another answer would be that the best Uni for Mathematics is the one that offers your friend the best balance of quality teaching and quality of life/enjoyment.

Reply 8

owlknightdragon

Original post by Oxford Mum

also i might just add that u shouldnt always rely on league tables this comment is not a direct hit at Oxford mum btw

Reply 9

_gcx

Study Forum Helper

Spitballing good ones for him to do further research on: COWI, (of which Cambridge would probably be the very top) Bath, Lancaster, (particularly good for stats) Bristol, Lboro, UCL, Durham, Edinburgh.

The very very top generally pick Cambridge if they study in the UK, but some choose Oxford.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 10

A Rolling Stone

Original post by zetamcfc

Cambridge, Oxford, ICL, Princeton, Harvard, Berkley, Stanford, MIT, Bonn, etc.

US unis are terrible for undergrad whatever the degree, unless you want to study everything but your subject choice

Reply 11

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by 1st superstar

@mnot, @Muttley79

The typical unis seen to be top at maths: Cambridge Oxford Warwick Imperial.
of course there are lots of other great unis. But I think these are considered by most the top of the pile reputation wise.

Reply 12

zetamcfc

Original post by A Rolling Stone

US unis are terrible for undergrad whatever the degree, unless you want to study everything but your subject choice

Depends how you pick your modules tbh. There are plenty of modules which don't have pre-requisites to allow you to do proper mathematics earlier than anywhere else. Also the mere experience of being at these universities for mathematics I think is a massive benefit. With the amount of seminars, colloquia and events that they have and at nearby places.

Reply 13

Muttley79

Original post by Lightning720

What do you think are the best universities to study maths at?

(I am asking this for a friend who doesn't have TSR).

What sort of Maths does your friend want to study? What sort of assessment do they prefer? Are they study Maths and Further Maths?

It depends would be my answer ...[I teach Maths]

Reply 14

Muttley79

Original post by _gcx

Not always if they prefer a different assessment model or want to go into more 'applied' career options.

Reply 15

username5243714

How reliable would you say the Complete Uni Guide is?

Their top 5 for maths:

1. Oxford
2. Cambridge
3. St Andrews
4. Durham
5. Imperial

By the way, he knows not to base the entirety of his uni choices on league tables but they do give a general picture about a course and uni.

Reply 16

username5243714

Original post by Muttley79

What sort of Maths does your friend want to study? What sort of assessment do they prefer? Are they study Maths and Further Maths?

It depends would be my answer ...[I teach Maths]

He does study maths and further maths and doesn't have a particular area of maths he wants to study yet.

I'll ask him about the sort of assessment he prefers.

Reply 17

_gcx

Study Forum Helper

Original post by Lightning720

Generally as I said Cambridge is favoured over Oxford, and Warwick/Imperial would be favoured over St. Andrews and Durham which would generally appear lower on people's list.

This is all very roughly speaking, it will depend on individual tastes and preferences.

Reply 18

username5243714

Original post by _gcx

Generally as I said Cambridge is favoured over Oxford, and Warwick/Imperial would be favoured over St. Andrews and Durham which would generally appear much lower on people's list.

This is all very roughly speaking, it will depend on individual tastes and preferences.

Can I ask why Warwick is seen as "better" for maths than Durham and St Andrews? (I'm probably more interested in this to be honest :smile:

)

Reply 19

_gcx

Study Forum Helper

Original post by Lightning720

Can I ask why Warwick is seen as "better for maths" than Durham and St Andrews? (I'm probably more interested in this to be honest :smile:

)

Course is generally seen as more demanding, stronger research department. (not that this matters much to undergrad but does influence the content of the third and fourth year a lot)

Durham and St. Andrews' module choice can be restrictive so this is something to bear in mind. The latter I would advise against if you want to do a lot of pure options, you're not spoilt for choice at all.

FWIW people generally don't know what area of maths they want to do or look for in a course. This isn't abnormal, uni maths is very different to school maths, and "applied" at university can actually look a lot like what you did as pure at A-level.