Mathematics provides the language and means to understand the symbolic and quantitative aspects of much of our knowledge, so many students will combine the study of Mathematics with Statistics, Computer Science and/or Information Science, a physical science (such as Geology, Chemistry or Physics), applied science (Engineering, Surveying), biological science, social science (Education, Psychology), commerce (Economics, Finance), or the humanities (Linguistics, Philosophy). And, quite apart from its usefulness, many students take mathematics simply because they like it! It is a subject with a strong cultural element, encapsulating much of the history of scientific discovery from the ancient Greek geometers to the latest developments in the theory of chaos.

Mathematics is valuable at all levels, either as a tool to allow physical systems to be modelled in a quantitative way, or as a logical framework that underpins and describes processes, objects or structures.

Students who pursue mathematics and statistics, even if it is not their major subject, will gain very marketable skills that will advantage them in the career of their choice. Clear thinking and deductive reasoning are valuable in all areas of modern life.