Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
The STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) provide the intellectual and physical structures of modern economies. Students who study a masters in the physical sciences and maths can contribute directly to wealth and prosperity through their future careers.
Masters degrees in the physical sciences and maths require an advanced level of understanding. Students aptitude for physical sciences and maths is apparent from an early age. However, the main advantage of pursuing the study of physical sciences and maths is that these subjects are universally recognised.
All scientific research requires skills in physical sciences and maths, and therefore the impacts achieved through the study of STEM is clearly recognised.
A masters degree in the physical sciences and maths enables students to build upon the knowledge acquired at undergraduate level. For this reason courses are structured around a series of core modules with additional optional modules. These allow the student to widen their knowledge and build deeper understanding from additional pathways.
A masters in mathematics is built upon the core knowledge accumulated at undergraduate level. This means in addition there is a focus on offering a wide range of additional modules that cover specialist areas, with the core module usually being the dissertation and a literature review.
This allows the student to work on a supervised research project and submit a dissertation on this piece of work.
Some university programs will draw upon modules from within the sciences. In essence a typical mathematics masters will include optional modules covering Theoretical Physics, Complex Systems and Financial Mathematics.
University programmes at PGCert or PGDip level link directly into future careers such as accountancy or financial analysis. This is an excellent way to capitalise on a core strength in numbers or science if a student wants to pursue a shorter pathway to a worthwhile business career.
An investment analyst will additionally require extra qualifications in order to be selected for a role.
Masters courses in the physical sciences cover a huge range of possibilities. In general physical sciences subjects include: -
The masters student will use their underlying skills in mathematics and science and build upon their understanding with core modules. These core modules usually comprise:-
Once again the optional subjects enable the student to experience a wide range of specialist techniques. Students will choose three or more optional modules depending on the programme, in order to widen their experience.
At any rate students can accumulate their knowledge through PGCert and PGDip qualifications as they complete their masters course. There are a number of careers in healthcare that require specialist science certifications at Certificate and Diploma level.
Future employers value any qualification in the physical sciences and maths, as shown above. However it is important for the student to apply the skills learned in the most constructive and worthwhile way.
Having a masters in mathematics is not an open door to a well-paid career. As with all masters graduates, in order to realise the benefits the student needs to steer their career pathway, and apply the knowledge learned in order to realise the full advantages.
Science graduates have pathways open to them in medicine and health. Each year major employers commence their annual job opportunities ‘milk round’ using Graduate Entry schemes. Our Masters Scholarship winner Marjana shared her experience of the career process she went through from her time at Imperial Business School.
The same applies in business. In general the top accountancy and consultancy firms welcome qualified mathematics and science graduates to join their organisations. These firms look out for motivated individual as much as achievements in examinations.
Salaries on offer to science and maths graduates are among the highest. Graduates with good STEM degrees undoubtedly attract a premium rate when is comes to starting wages.
It is important to remember that if you crave the opportunity to express your individuality then a role in STEM may not afford you the kind of freedom that you might enjoy in the creative sectors.
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