Where can A Level maths take you?

An honest guide for Year 12 and 13 students who are wondering whether to study maths, or a maths-heavy subject, at university.

Most students choose a maths degree because they enjoy the subject at school. That's a good start, but university maths feels quite different. This site explains what changes, what the admissions process looks like, and where a maths degree can lead, so you can decide with your eyes open.

What a maths degree is likeProof, analysis and the big jump from A Level. Admissions testsSTEP, MAT and TMUA in plain words. CareersWhere maths graduates actually end up. Year 12 and 13 planWhat to do term by term. Using past papersHow to turn past papers into marks. Books to readThe best maths books before university. Personal statementThe 3 UCAS questions, answered for maths.

Meet the Mathematicians

From 2009 to 2012, Meet the Mathematicians was a free day for Year 12 and 13 students, held alongside the UK's biggest applied maths conference. Students heard research mathematicians talk about radar, sport, risk and medicine, and could ask them what studying maths is really like.

The event no longer runs, but many of the talks are still free on the Meet the Mathematicians YouTube channel. A good one to start with is What can I do with a mathematics degree?

Read the story of the event, where it was held and which talks to watch

Three things worth knowing early

Further Maths helps a lot. Many strong maths courses ask for it, or prefer it. If your school doesn't offer it, ask about the Advanced Maths Support Programme.
Some universities set an extra test. STEP, MAT and TMUA are used by some of the most competitive courses. They reward practice, so start early.
Maths is one of the most flexible degrees. Graduates go into data, finance, engineering, research, teaching and much more.

More places to meet real mathematicians

The best way to know if maths is for you is to see what mathematicians actually do. Some good places to start:

Plus magazine - articles and interviews about maths in the real world, from the University of Cambridge.
NRICH - rich problems that feel much closer to university maths than exam questions.
Maths Careers - case studies of people using maths at work, from the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
UK Mathematics Trust - the maths challenges and olympiads, a great way to stretch yourself.

Last updated October 2026.