School of Mathematics & Statistics

The Royal Institution Mathematics Masterclasses are a series of events designed to encourage young people in the art and practice of mathematics and to develop a sense of enjoyment in the subject. These classes are not intended to match the school curriculum but, instead, to stimulate the pupils’ mathematical interest and widen their knowledge.

The Strathclyde Series of the Mathematics Masterclasses is hosted by the University of Glasgow. It runs for 6 weeks in the autumn term, starting at the end of October. Each Saturday morning a different speaker is invited to share their favourite aspect of mathematics, which could be an interesting game they've played with, a part of their research, an unexpected connection between maths and another subject, or a beautiful application of maths to everyday life.

Classes are highly interactive and a great opportunity to develop problem-solving skills. Visit Masterclasses for further information, including programme details and how to apply.

Thinking about studying at the University of Glasgow? Come along to one of our Open Days to explore our campus, find out more about our degree programmes and see for yourself why we are one of the top 100 universities in the world!

Our Open Days give you the chance to meet our teaching staff and students to find out about what you can expect when you study here.

In the School of Mathematics and Statistics, we offer specific talks giving an overview of what the next few years could look like if you choose a Mathematics/Statistics degree. At the Open Day you can also get answers to all your subject-specific questions and an impression of our facilities.

Visit the Open Days page to find out about upcoming Open Days.

Maths is part of our daily life, have you ever thought about it? Your house, exercise route, daily dog walks and the weekly shop turned into a playground… your chance to get creative and make mathematical connections!

Maths inside is a photo competition open to everyone in Scotland. It is run each year in association with Maths Week Scotland with different categories for each edition.

In 2024 the categories are in the wild, and the ‘why’ of shapes.

Visit the Maths Inside webpage and watch the introduction video to find out more.

Each year the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Glasgow runs the Mathematics Ambassador Scheme. This scheme is part of wider University involvement in the STEM Ambassador Programme.

Sc., M.A., and M.Sci. students undertaking Honours Level 4 studies with a significant mathematics focus in their degree curriculum and who are passionate about pursuing a school career teaching are encouraged to consider applying to our Ambassador Scheme Projects. The application process involves crafting a thoughtful paragraph articulating the student's motivations for engaging in the Ambassador Scheme, detailing relevant experiences, and demonstrating why they would excel as a representative of the university.

Conducted by the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Glasgow, this initiative facilitates placements in local schools from October to December.

Ambassadors dedicate 2-3 hours per week to gain valuable hands-on experience in primary and secondary teaching, specifically emphasizing mathematics education. Additionally, participants have the chance to engage in various STEM Ambassador events hosted by the University.

For further details regarding the mathematics ambassador scheme, please reach out to the Ambassador Projects Coordinators Dr Ariel Ramirez Torres and Shazia Ahmed.

Life’s Not Fair

A boardgame to explore the complex interactions between inequality, privilege, and health (activity aimed at general adult public).

On the surface, it may seem that everyone in Scotland has an equal chance in life. However, people from the most deprived parts of the country are more at risk of poor health, live shorter lives on average and have reduced opportunities in education and employment.

Play our Life's Not Fair boardgame to explore the complex interactions between inequality, privilege, and health.

Optimal Shapes and Patterns

Our contribution to Science on the Sofa is still accessible. Explore our activities investigating optimal shapes and patterns. This activity will introduce you to special families of three-dimensional shapes called polyhedra.

In particular there are two activity sheets that will allow you to construct examples of polyhedra from the family of Platonic solids and the family of Archimedean solids. You will need to print out the activities and have access to scissors and glue.

Some of these three-dimensional shapes have connections to optimisation problems, and as we look to the future to make best use of our raw materials and make efficient use of space we need to be able to describe and understand three-dimensional shapes like the ones included in these activities.