MA Mathematics/Philosophy

About this course

Mathematics and philosophy is one of the most intellectually distinguished combinations available at university, bringing together two disciplines that between them have addressed the deepest questions about the structure of reality and the nature of knowledge. Mathematics develops your ability to reason with absolute precision, to construct proofs, and to work with abstract structures that have extraordinary explanatory power. Philosophy trains you to examine the foundations and limits of knowledge, to analyse concepts and arguments with care, and to engage with questions that resist purely technical resolution. At the University of Glasgow, this part-time programme allows you to pursue both subjects seriously while managing other commitments. You will explore pure mathematics, including analysis, algebra, and topology, alongside applied areas, and you will study the major branches of philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and logic. The overlap between the two disciplines is particularly rich in the philosophy of mathematics, which examines questions about the nature of mathematical objects, the basis of mathematical knowledge, and the relationship between mathematical structures and the physical world. The programme includes a year abroad, and the ambassador scheme offers students the chance to spend time in schools, which develops communication skills and provides direct experience of teaching. Graduates from mathematics and philosophy programmes are found in a wide range of demanding careers. Finance, data science, software engineering, the civil service, law, academic research, and education all value the combination of logical rigour and analytical depth that the degree develops. Further study at postgraduate level in mathematics, philosophy, logic, or interdisciplinary areas such as foundations of mathematics or computational complexity is available for those who wish to pursue specialist expertise.

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