Heriot-Watt is a leader in applied mathematics research and education. Our faculty is at the forefront of many areas, including mathematical biology and ecology, machine learning, data science, financial modelling, and more.

This 2 year master's programme aims to provide students with the cutting-edge mathematical and statistical skills needed for success in today's data-driven world. Through a diverse curriculum and real-world projects, students will gain a solid theoretical foundation as well as hands-on experience applying mathematical concepts to tackle complex challenges across industries.

Whether your interests lie in mathematical biology and ecology, artificial intelligence, big data analytics or other emerging fields, this programme will prepare you with the sophisticated analytical abilities and computational tools to launch an impactful career.

The 2-year MSc breakdown

The first year (Stage 1) of this two year MSc Programme is a pre-masters year that will equip you with a solid, theoretical and practical foundation in applied mathematics. The second year (Stage 2) is the same as our current one-year MSc Programme in Applied Mathematical Sciences which is designed to equip students with the modern, transferrable mathematical skills to prepare them for careers in industry and research.

International students: please note our minimum IELTS entry requirement is 5.5 in all sections. The whole two year programme only requires one visa. We encourage applications from a broad range of technical backgrounds.

The Maxwell Institute of Mathematical Sciences

We are part of the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, a joint research institute bringing together within a single body the research activities of:

• The Department of Mathematics at Heriot-Watt University.
• The Department of Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics at Heriot-Watt University.
• The School of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh.
• We are part of the Edinburgh Research Partnership in Engineering and Mathematics, alongside the University of Edinburgh, which consists of five joint research institutes and a joint graduate school.

English Language Requirements

If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.

The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.

If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.

Please see our detailed English language requirements.