BSc (Hons) in Finance, Operations Research, Management and Statistics

Overview

Develop your mathematical and statistical skills and prepare for a career in quantitative business analysis.

You'll learn to use sophisticated tools from a broad range of mathematical disciplines, such as calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, to sharpen your mathematical and statistical reasoning. Alongside this, you'll develop an in-depth knowledge of the context in which business analysts, quantitative finance officers ('quants') and operations managers work.

You'll expand your knowledge of theoretical concepts, with a particular focus on finance and operations, and apply the techniques you learn to practical business problems.

This course is taught in collaboration by the Department of Mathematics and the York Management School.

Course content

You'll study mathematics and management modules throughout your degree, giving you access to academic experts in both disciplines. As you progress, you'll develop your skills, learning new techniques for analysis and applying them to practical issues facing organisations.

In your second and third year, option modules allow you to tailor your course to suit your interests and goals, exploring new areas of study or revisiting previous topics in greater depth.

Year 1

In Year 1, you'll take modules in mathematics, statistics, accounting, finance and economics that will give you a strong foundation on which to build advanced skills.

Year 2

Core modules in Year 2 introduce new techniques and concepts and give you a chance to use complex models for data analysis and operations research. You'll also choose one option module, which will give you a deeper understanding of how businesses operate.

Year 3

Your final year covers advanced statistical and financial skills, in addition to new topics, such as game theory and decision theory. Option modules allow you to focus on areas which interest you and include opportunities to work on real-life issues with a business consultancy project.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers.

Teaching format

Your mathematics modules are delivered through lectures, problems classes and small group teaching. Lectures describe the content to be learned; problems classes put it into practice. Small group teaching in seminars and tutorials allows you to get close support from your tutors to clarify concepts and discuss your ideas.

Lectures in accounting and finance introduce specific techniques, which you will practice as part of your independent study. You can discuss and clarify the application of techniques in seminars and to reflect on your learning. You can get further support, either one-to-one or in small groups in scheduled feedback and consultation sessions.

The rest of your time on the course will be spent on independent study. This may include preparation for lectures and seminars, follow-up work, wider reading, practise completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours will vary from person to person. In UK higher education the expectation is that full-time students will spend 1,200 hours a year learning.

Careers and skills

Our bespoke employability sessions help you identify and improve your skills. Our dedicated support team will help you to build an employability portfolio and to present yourself at your best for the next step of your career.

Our graduates go on to careers in all aspects of business and management. Many progress to postgraduate degrees at York and other leading universities.

Career opportunities

This course will prepare you for careers such as:

• Data analyst
• Financial analyst
• Operations manager
• Quantitative consultant

Transferable skills

• Problem-solving
• Mathematical modelling
• Computer programming
• Time management
• Communication and reporting

About the University

Founded on principles of excellence, equality and opportunity for all, the University of York opened in 1963 with just 230 students. Since then we have become one of the world's leading universities, carving out a reputation as an academic powerhouse where a clear focus on excellence has secured national and international recognition alongside longer established institutions.

Academic excellence

A member of the elite Russell Group of universities, we are a dynamic, research-intensive university committed to the development of life-saving discoveries and new technologies to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges.

There are now over 30 academic departments and research centres and the student body has expanded to over 18,000.

The University Strategy

In 2014, in consultation with all staff and students, Vice-Chancellor Koen Lamberts led the development of a new University Strategy. This strategy will guide and inform our activities until 2020.

Key objectives

To be a world leader in research To offer outstanding teaching and learning To offer all our students an outstanding and valuable experience

Supporting objectives

To be sufficiently large to be excellent, resilient and financially sustainable To be organised in the most efficient and effective way To work effectively with other organisations and stakeholders

Awards and achievements

The University of York is one of the success stories in UK higher education. Since our foundation in 1963, we have powered our way to a consistently high ranking in the UK and are one of just six post-war universities to have appeared in the world top 100.

The campus and the city

Located within walking distance of York city centre, our safe and attractive Heslington campus is home to our nine colleges and most of our departments. We also have several departments located in the city centre at the historic King's Manor.

In recent years, our £500m campus expansion has seen the opening of seven new buildings, increasing our capacity for student numbers and providing more world-class facilities for the 21st century. Sustainability plays a key role in this ambitious development.

How the University is run

When describing how the University is run, it is important to understand there is a difference between how it is governed and how it is managed.

Governance

All universities have a governing body that is responsible for overseeing their activities, determining their future direction and monitoring progress against strategic ambitions. The University's governing body is the Council.

Council is also responsible for ensuring we remain financially sustainable and that we meet our legal obligations. It takes the final decision on matters which have a significant impact on the University

Management

While Council takes on a monitoring and oversight role as the governing body, it delegates the operational running of the University to the Acting Vice-Chancellor and President.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor and President undertake his responsibilities with the support of his senior colleagues who meet twice a month as the University Executive Board.